MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

BY COLLEEN C DIPIRRO

THE WNY REGIONAL COUNCIL PRESENTS OUR PLAN IN ALBANY

As many of you know, I was honored to be appointed to the WNY Regional Economic Development Council by Governor Cuomo.  Thirty individuals - representing the region with expertise in business, arts and culture, tourism, manufacturing, health and health services, workforce development, agriculture, professional services and logistics - worked diligently for three months to create a blueprint for the development and sustainability of our regional prosperity.  Additionally, almost 200 other community stakeholders, participating as work group members, provided us with the data and background necessary to ensure that all segments of our geographical service area and population were considered as we created 'our plan.'  To further ensure citizen input and engagement, multiple public meetings were conducted.

A delegation presented the Western New York plan to a five-member panel in Albany December 1^st.  The proposal, which includes a wish list of 20 specific capital projects, included ideas to increase tourism, encourage smart growth of central business districts and increase the skilled worker pools, in an effort to both retain local firms and encourage new firms to locate here and make an investment in our region.

Ten regions across the state have submitted proposals for the economic development dollars the governor has allocated for this initiative.  Four of those 10 will each be awarded $40 million in grants and tax credits when the governor makes the announcement in Albany December 7^th.  The other six regions will share in the remaining $40 million.  Our local council, headed by Howard Zemsky and Satish Tripathi, is very excited and encouraged about our chances to be awarded these dollars. 

While I agree that receiving this money would certainly be a coup and also a great tribute to all of the individuals who worked so diligently to reach consensus on a vision for our region, our work is not done.  The ancillary benefit of this whole exercise is - we have a plan!  And, we have multiple groups of people who now share a commonality in our desire to work together toward specific goals that will benefit the entire region.  The council does not dissolve when the monetary awards are announced - our work will continue.  We will continue to meet, we will continue to talk and brainstorm and we will monitor the actions and movement on our stated goals and objectives.  We have developed some unique synergies across political lines and geographic boundaries.  Outcomes include recognition for challenges faced by multiple communities and obstacles to industry expansions.  We have found a way to work together and we are committed to continuing to do so until we can celebrate some systemic changes that will make our region an even better place to live, work and play.