Erie County Government - Official website of the Erie County, NY Government
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Kenneth J. Swanekamp - Director of Business Assistance
Edward A. Rath County Office Building
95 Franklin Street, 10th Floor
Buffalo, New York 14202
Phone: (716) 858-8390
The Office of Economic Development (OED) is responsible for providing information and assistance to the business community, and for the development of business sites that provide the opportunity for business attraction and expansion.
These responsibilities are delivered through the following services provided by the OED:
The OED is a resource for individuals and businesses of "any size" for questions and for direction to the appropriate agency(ies) that can assist with their needs and/or opportunities.
In addition, the OED has developed online resources that provide information to the business community, and promote and encourage business expansion for manufacturers located in Erie County.
The Erie County Online Business Assistance Directory is a resource for obtaining information on agencies that offer assistance in the following areas: economic development (financial and/or technical assistance), export, government, minority and women, small business and workforce development. The OED also provides a printed version of the directory on an annual basis.
The Manufacturers Web Index Directory is a list of over 300 local manufacturers that were identified by the Office of Economic Development research to have a web site. The index provides the address, phone number and direct link to the company web site. Searches can be done by name, location or industry descriptions. These two resources along with links to other valuable economic development resources are located on the right hand side of this page under "Related Links."
The goal of OED's business retention and expansion program is to enhance communication between the private sector and public sector by personally visiting the companies at their facilities. The objective is to learn about the company, and introduce and facilitate contact with local agencies that provide business assistance. Started in November of 2000, the OED has visited over 160 manufacturers and warehouse/distribution companies.
OED works in conjunction with and compliments the efforts of the Buffalo Niagara Enterprise (BNE) business retention and expansion program. The BNE target industries include back office operations, medical and Canadian owned business. The OED works together with the BNE on developing common policies countywide, and on a common database for tracking information.
OED is charged with implementing County Executive Giambra's goal to develop 500 acres of industrial land in five years. OED works with municipalities and developers, providing technical and financial support to develop shovel ready properties.
To encourage smart growth, OED also provides technical assistance and financing for economic development planning studies.
The urban center and first ring suburbs are now victims of their earlier success in attracting industry and commerce to the Western New York area. Often these lands are dotted with urban blight or are considered brownfields, which mean these lands may have some level of contamination. Brownfield sites range from abandoned gas stations to rail yards and former heavy industrial manufacturing plants.
The OED brownfield services offers technical assistance and financing tools to encourage redevelopment of these sites. The OED will provide facilitation services among environmental agencies and the project's redevelopment team.
Your information resource from the government of Erie County, New York
