A networking group of African-American business enterprises.

Designs and operates loan programs that invest in industrial and commercial projects in the City of Buffalo. Manages industrial incubator facilities in the City of Buffalo, including the Buffalo Free Trade Complex.

The City=s ombudsman to all companies located within the City, and to new companies interested in locating in the City of Buffalo. Provides access to City services such as building permits and rezoning requests. Facilitates contact with the Buffalo Enterprise Development Corporation, the Community Economic Development Initiatives Office and other regional economic development agencies.

A Aone stop@ office targeting the economic needs of Buffalo=s inner city; houses five economic divisions:

• Buffalo Economic Development Zone
• Buffalo Federal Enterprise Community
• The Alliance for Minority and Women Business Enterprise Advancement Program
• The Office of Compliance
• The Entrepreneurial Assistance Program

The Economic Development Zone and Federal Enterprise Community may provide investment tax credits, utility rate reductions and other benefits to businesses that choose to locate in designated areas.

Ombudsman for minority and women business enterprises. Assists and certifies minority and women business enterprises. Helps recruit minorities for civil service exams and county job openings.

State agency, accesses all NY State business development programs, including financing, training, export assistance and planning. Contact for accessing Global New York Export Programs. Outline of four key programs below:

• Economic Development Fund (EDF) - grants/loans for interest subsidies, infrastructure and training.
• Jobs Now - similar to EDF, but more flexible; only for companies creating 300 or more jobs.
• Job Development Authority (JDA) - fixed and variable rate direct term loans.
• Linked Deposit Program - provides an interest break on first two years of loan with banks that have State deposits; up to $1 million and 500 employees.

County-wide agency authorizes industrial revenue bonds for eligible industrial and commercial projects within county limits. Administers revolving loan fund for fixed-assets and working capital for business projects in specific county areas. Operates a public-private venture capital fund to invest in high-tech companies which have large growth potential. Works in conjunction with local area banks, and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) on loan program targeted at minority, women and /or start-up business enterprises. International program has available financial products to support export trade, including EXIM Bank and SBA financing. Licensed Broker in New York State for export credit insurance. Organizes 2 to 3 trade mission per year.

Provides one-to-one counseling to start-up and existing small businesses on a wide range of advisory, training and research services including the preparation of business plans, marketing programs and financial strategies. Export Assistance Program target both the beginner, and the more experienced small business exporter.

Programs assist with every aspect of starting a business, from developing a business plan to obtaining financing, from marketing products and services to managing a company. The general loan program, which represents the majority of the agency=s total loan effort, promotes small business growth by guarantees of up to 80% of the amount provided by commercial lenders. Also offers Surety Bonds and Minority Enterprise Development program.

Provides assistance for major corporations to identify and certify qualified minority business persons who can supply these firms with goods and/or services. Maintains directory that is updated semi-annually of certifies minority business persons and their capabilities for its members so they have a readily accessible source of MBE information.

Authorizes industrial revenue bonds for eligible industrial and commercial projects in the Town of Amherst.

A networking group of local elected officials for Erie County.

Provides census, demographics, export and business research information. Resource for information on accessing the Internet.

Serves as an integral link between the U.S. and Canada for the import and export of commercial goods and raw materials.

Versatile site for conventions and trade show, with 62,720 sq. Ft. of exhibit space.

Designs and operates loan programs that invest in industrial and commercial projects in the City of Buffalo. Manages industrial incubator facilities in the City of Buffalo, including the Buffalo Free Trade Complex.

A not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the economic health and quality of life in the downtown business district. Actively promotes the downtown business district.

Provides help to new and existing businesses in need of guidance in federal, state and local obligations; specifically has expertise in federal and New York State tax information. Resource for completing business plans, registering for a DBA, obtaining permits, licenses, and regulatory requirements for businesses. For established businesses, provides assistance in responding to business tax questions, interpreting and explaining notices, account and procedural issues, as well as, distributing pertinent tax forms and publications relating to businesses.

Private sector lobbying group for New York State businesses. Offers members group insurance including life, medical, long-term disability and dental. Provides seminars and conferences to keep companies up-to-date on compliances with latest regulations and legislation affecting labor, the environment, OSHA, and move. Provides information resources through its Public Policy Institute and Economic Development Council.

The consulate has offices which handle tourism, immigration and public affairs. Facilitates trade from Canada into the United States.

A networking group of businesses on both sides of the border. Offers educational programs on issues of mutual concern.

Uses academic faculty, local entrepreneurs and professional experts to enhance the growth of new and established businesses by offering programs, workshops and individual counsel. A new Urban Community Service Program is targeted at helping small businesses in the City of Buffalo=s Masten, Ellicott and University districts.

Located at the Advanced Training, the 25,000 sq,-ft. Facility offers a wide menu of educational options to fit almost every employee=s training or retraining needs. The center includes computer labs, classroom, a video conferencing center, a satellite down-link and a manufacturing wing. Provides local businesses with affordable, state-of-the -art training facilities and professional instructors who will design classes to meet their employees= unique needs.

The City=s ombudsman to all companies located within the City, and to new companies interested in locating in the City of Buffalo. Provides access to City services such as building permits and rezoning requests. Facilitates contact with the Buffalo Enterprise Development Corporation, the Community Economic Development Initiatives Office and other regional economic development agencies.

A one stop office targeting the economic needs of Buffalo=s inner city; houses five economic divisions:

• Buffalo Economic Development Zone
• Buffalo Federal Enterprise Community
• The Alliance for Minority and Women Business Enterprise Advancement Program
• The Office of Compliance
• The Entrepreneurial Assistance Program

The Economic Development Zone and Federal Enterprise Community may provide investment tax credits, utility rate reductions and other benefits to businesses that choose to locate in designated areas.

Ombudsman for minority and women business enterprises. Assists and certifies minority and women business enterprises. Helps recruit minorities for civil service exams and county job openings.

A non-regulatory County program that (free of charge)helps Erie County businesses, municipalities, citizens and institutions understand and comply with environmental laws and regulations.

County=s ombudsman to local businesses. Assists contact with local government officials. Manages infrastructure revolving loan fund for assistance to municipalities in Erie County=s CDBG consortium* for economic development projects. Works with ECIDA in management of business revolving loan fund for the consortium. Oversees county owned rail lines.

State agency, accesses all NY State business development programs, including financing, training, export assistance and planning. Contact for accessing Global New York Export Programs. Outline of four key programs below:

• Economic Development Fund (EDF) - grants/loans for interest subsidies, infrastructure and training.
• Jobs Now - similar to EDF, but more flexible; only for companies creating 300 or more jobs.
• Job Development Authority (JDA) - fixed and variable rate direct term loans.
• Linked Deposit Program - provides an interest break on first two years of loan with banks that have State deposits; up to $1 million and 500 employees.

Specializes in training programs for manufacturers.

County-wide agency authorizes industrial revenue bonds for eligible industrial and commercial projects within county limits. Administers revolving loan fund for fixed-assets and working capital for business projects in specific county areas. Operates a public-private venture capital fund to invest in high-tech companies which have large growth potential. Works in conjunction with local area banks, and the U.S. Small Business Administration on loan programs targeted at minority, women and/or start up business enterprises. International program has available financial products to support export trade, including EXIM Bank and SBA financing. Licensed broker in New York State for export credit insurance. Organizes 2 to 3 trade missions per year.

Offers permit assistance and general information regarding regulatory reform. For permit assistance only, call 1-800-342-3464.

Alliance to assist local businesses within Grand Island and to attract new companies.

An association of individuals within the commercial real estate industry. Offers Real Property Administrator(RPA) program.

Contact for tourist related material, and for assistance in booking conventions. Annually publishes Buffalo and Erie County Visitors Guide ,which provides information on both local and regional attractions, architecture, events and festivals, sports and recreation, and local accommodations (including maps of Downtown Buffalo and Erie County).

Promotes community businesses through membership and governmental relations and lobbying. The A Chamber of Commerce for Western New York,@ originated the theme, Niagara Attracting the World@, and is now in the midst of a attract tourism and trade to Western New York and Southern Ontario. At the end of this directory (after page 18) see the Greater Buffalo Partnership=s A Publications Information and Order Form,@ which includes the Niagara Industrial Directory, the Border Net Region Health Care Industries Directory and Destination Buffalo.

Provides small business loans, and authorizes industrial revenue bonds for eligible industrial and commercial projects in the Town of Hamburg.

A professional group of 12 major industrial real estate brokers set up to assist city, county, and state development agencies, utility companies and trade associations handle either out of town or local inquires for communication or industrial space. President of organization will assign all projects on a rotating basis.

Versatile site for conventions and trade shows. Has 50,000 sq. ft. Of exhibit space.

Arranges translation and interpreting services.

Offers low cost financing and technical assistance to present businesses in the City, and to new companies interested in locating in the city of Lackawanna.

The City=s ombudsman to all companies located within the City of Lackawanna, and to new companies interested in locating in the City.

Assists companies interested in locating in Lackawanna=s economic development zone.

Authorizes industrial revenue bonds for eligible industrial and commercial projects in the town of Lancaster.

Offers assistance to local businesses and new companies interested in the Village of Lancaster.

Networking group of machine shop operators.

Delivers natural gas to all areas of Erie County. Provides technical assistance and incentives for energy conservation projects and methods. Offers a discounted rate within a New York State Economic Development Zone (EDZ).

Representing, informing, assisting and educating the machining and tooling industry of Western New York.

Operates mass transit systems( rail and bus) and airports for both Erie and Niagara counties.

Economic development services include electric pricing, emissions credits, site location assistance, productivity enhancement assessments. Distribution area in Erie County: Amherst, Brant, Buffalo, Cheektowaga**, Collins, Eden, Evans, Hamburg**, Grand Island, Lackawanna, North Collins, Tonawanda, and West Seneca**. (** indicates service part of town).

Provide technical assistance in telecommunications for local businesses.

Regional office is the first point of contact for obtaining and renewing DEC permits and for reporting environmental or natural resources problems. Uses permits to control pollution of air and water, transport and disposal of solid and hazardous wastes, pesticide use, mining an mined land reclamation.

Provides electric transmission and distribution service to communities of Cheektowaga, Clarence, East Aurora, Hamburg, Orchard Park, West Seneca, and eastern and southern Erie County. Provides technical assistance and energy price incentives for economic development purposes.

Offers assistance to present businesses in the Town, and to new companies interested in locating to the town of Orchard Park.

Will find, recruit, screen, evaluate, and help train people to work, but the company still has the autonomy to make any final decision on hiring or firing. For certain situations involving on-the-job-training, will pay up to 50% of job training costs.

A small business revolving loan fund which can be used on or off the reservation, and for both Seneca-owned businesses and those non-Indian-owned businesses which demonstrate a significant employment of Seneca Nation of Indians members.

Free business counseling by men and women who have had successful business careers as company executives or owners of their own business.

Assists companies and government agencies locate University research and training resources, or any University program related to economic development.

Specialized training programs designed for international managers and international students of management. Fosters opportunities for participant to interact with colleagues from around the world and to become familiar with U.S. culture.

Center established to develop and expand geographic information systems (GIS). Provides custom-designed maps and routings; useful for such areas as agriculture, transportation, construction and waste disposal. Assists with market analysis and demographic studies enabling a company to select sites, evaluate new products and target markets.

Will assemble a training team (consultants include members of SUNY at Buffalo faculty and staff, as well as out side specialists where appropriate to meet a firm=s particular needs in such areas as TQM, statistical process control, strategic planning and marketing, plant layout, management information systems, and ISO 9000 certification. Contact for accessing NYS Strategic Partnership for Industrial Resurgence (SPIR) grants which are available to assist small and medium-sized manufacturers with technical projects to improve products and processes using the >School of Engineering and Applied Sciences faculty, students and facilities. See inside back cover.

Offers ombudsman services which respond to the needs of new and expanding companies for assistance in Abrick-and-mortar@ projects, including site location, public financing, or programs such a Tonawanda Business Community Child care Consortium and the Town of Tonawanda Internet initiative which respond to emerging workplace issues in Child care and technology

Engineering, transportation and planning of navigable waterways.

Responsible for assessment and collection of all duties, taxes and fees on imported merchandise, the enforcement of customs and other related laws, and administration of other federal regulations.

Professional trade specialists offer expert assistance to small businesses interested in exporting,. Can assess a company=s export potential and provide one-on-one counseling. Helps to identify target markets. Find potential partners and develop sales leads. A resource for identifying state and federal programs designed to assist exporters

Responsible for border patrol, pre-trial detainees and criminal aliens.

Provides assistance for major corporations to identify and certify qualified minority business persons who can supply these firms with goods and or services. Maintains directory that is updated semi-annually of certified minority business persons and their capabilities for its members so they have a readily accessible source of MBE information.

Operator of FTZ=s Site 1 - Gateway Trade Center, Railroad, tuck, water and air transportation are conveniently available. Duty free domestic and distribution, and third party services. Special tax advantages available for qualified firms.

Assists businesses in participating successfully in global trade with emphasis on exporting, education and investment activity. Promotes networking for exporting companies. Holds major seminars and monthly international traders luncheons. Publishes Annual Membership Directory and World Market Directory.

Is Western New York=s Manufacturing extension Partnership. Assists manufactured to adopt improvements that increases their global competitiveness through a staff of engineers and manufacturing professionals who work with manufacturers on a one-to-one or group basis to understand their needs and provide technical assistance. Contact for the State=s Industrial Effectiveness Program (IEP), and the Federal Government Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. Runs technology incubators.

Provides entrepreneurs an opportunity to present their business plans to interested investors.

Offers technical assistance and coordinates financial assistance to present businesses in the Town, and to new companies interested in locating to the Town of West Seneca.