Economic Development

Parkview Apts Opening

"This has been an incredible decade of growth, development and progress in the City of Buffalo. It is a special time in our City's history - we are in the midst of a transformation that will be felt for generations to come." - Mayor Byron W. Brown

Our Work

Mayor Byron W. Brown continues to foster an economic development strategy that spurs the growth of a diverse economy, creates quality jobs and encourages equal access to economic prosperity. His administration continues to focus on inclusive development, infrastructure investment, business growth, job creation and employment training - to create a City of Opportunity for all residents. There has been nearly $6.7 billion in new economic investment since 2012, which is projected to create 12,000 new jobs

$100 million+ Northland Corridor Redevelopment Project

The game-changing Northland Corridor Project on Northland Avenue is transforming an idle, 35-acre former industrial site into a light industrial business hub that will include the state-of-the-art Western New York Workforce Training Center. The project also includes dramatic streetscape upgrades to the East Delavan-Grider neighborhood.

The project, which includes $4 million in city funding, is already transforming Buffalo’s east side and benefitting the entire City of Buffalo, by providing construction jobs and pre-apprentice training for Northland neighborhood residents.

Mayor Brown and Governor Cuomo set a goal of 25 percent minority-owned and 5 percent women-owned participation in the bid process on work taking place on the Northland Corridor. Those hiring goals have been exceeded, with minority-owned firms awarded 28.16 percent of the Northland work, while women-owned companies secured 5.89 percent according to the Buffalo Urban Development Corporation.

The $65 million, 80,000-square-foot Northland Workforce Training Center will welcome its first class soon, creating pathways to well-paying careers in Advanced Manufacturing.

$900 million Solar City/Tesla Project at Riverbend 

As Mayor Brown continues to champion a diverse workforce and inclusive workplace to further broaden and accelerate Buffalo’s economic resurgence, the solar facility at Riverbend, owned by Elon Musk’s Tesla Motors, symbolizes the future of Buffalo, with a projected creation of over 3,000 new jobs.

Mayor Brown envisioned ‘something great’ for this site back in 2008 when he directed staff to acquire the property for $4.6 million.

Tesla’s project partner, Panasonic Eco Solutions Solar New York, has begun production of solar panels.

The Exchange at Beverly Gray 

Mayor Brown has championed the development of the Beverly Gray Business Exchange Center (now known as "The Exchange at Beverly Gray), located in the former North Jefferson Library, on Buffalo’s east side. The City has invested $2.3 million to ensure Minority- and Women-owned Businesses have access to a one-stop resource center where they can make their dreams a reality.

The Green Code

This historic update of the city’s 63-year-old zoning code and land use policies was signed into law in January 2017.

It is based on Mayor Brown’s place-based economic development strategy to further promote private and public sector investment, facilitate job creation, restore the environment and continue to improve Buffalo’s quality of life for residents.

Additional Economic Development Achievements and Initiatives

  • The Highland Park development, in the old Central Park Plaza, and the multi-phased investment along Jefferson Avenue that will include affordable housing.
  • The opening of the John R. Oishei Children's Hospital, the UB Medical School, Canterbury Woods at Gates Circle, and continuation of the highly-successful Queen City Pop Up program.AMC Theaters and Benchmark Development signed a long-term lease to bring a state-of-the–art movie theater to downtown Buffalo, and the film industry continues to pick Buffalo as a location to film major movies.
  • Mayor Brown continues to champion the development of Canalside, and the city’s entire inner and outer harbors. In 2014, the $200 million state-of-the art hockey/entertainment complex HABORCENTER opened, spurring economic opportunities in downtown Buffalo and putting city residents to work. This project came out of a competitive process launched by Mayor Brown several years prior when he sought proposals from the development community for what was once a city-owned parking lot. The new  $29 million Explore & More — the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Children's Museum will have a soft opening in December 2018, continuing as the exhibits are installed floor by floor, through March 2019. The children’s museum, which will create another local and regional draw for Buffalo’s booming waterfront, is expected to add $90 million in tourism revenues in its first 10 years. The Mayor also located a new police sub-station at Canalside in 2017 to enhance public safety for the nearly 2 million annual visitors.
  • Mayor Brown’s Summer Youth Employment Program is providing paid jobs for 1,500 young people in 2017, with over $10 million spent on the program since 2006, it has provided nearly 24,000 employment opportunities for our City youth.

Mayor Brown's Support for Growing Industries

Mayor Byron Brown is working closely with public and private sector partners in identifying and aligning the supply of workers in Buffalo with the needs of growing businesses, particularly in the science, technology, engineering and math industries. Through a series of programs, Mayor Brown is helping to attract and train citizens to fill the necessary positions, while working with local businesses to customize training.

Buffalo Employment & Training Center (BETC) brings together a variety of workforce development organizations and partner agencies with a primary goal of assisting residents of Buffalo to gain employment and assist employers in finding qualified workers.

Buffalo Urban Development Corporation is the official non-profit organization tasked with leading a number of major development initiatives for the City of Buffalo.