The Erie County Legislature voted at its last session to approve up to $200,000 for on-the-job training at the new GEICO facility in Amherst, NY.

"Erie County is proud to be home to the new GEICO Service Center, as well as the 2,500 jobs that come with it," said Legislature Chairman George Holt (D-Buffalo). "GEICO will soon be able to expand their employment to some of the hardest working men and women in America."

In the next three years alone, GEICO expects to hire 650 sales, service and claims associates, who will work at a new major operation center located in Erie County.

"The creation of good paying jobs remains one of this Legislature's top priorities," said Majority Leader Lynn Marinelli (D-Tonawanda, Buffalo). "We are sending out the message to every corporation thinking about opening a new facility that Erie County is a great place to run a business and we are pleased to match the funds of the Workforce Investment Board for this very important project."

"People often talk about a 'brain drain' in Western New York, where our talented young people, fed up with the local job market, leave their families and homes for greener pastures in different parts of the country," said Legislator Edward Kuwik (D-Blasdell), a former teacher. "This helps clog that 'brain drain' by adding quality job opportunities and making Erie County more attractive to potential employers."

Erie County will provide 50% of the training for sales associates and service associates for a 12 or 20-week period. It is estimated that 100 training positions will be funded as a result of this legislation.

"Good paying jobs are in a limited supply in Buffalo and across the United States," said Legislator Demone A. Smith (D-Buffalo). "Erie County has to be competitive with other regions in providing incentives for job creation in order to get our local economy to prosper. By fulfilling our pledge to GEICO to assist in job training costs, we have taken a positive step toward our goal of having a stronger local economy."

"This Legislature is committed to providing quality jobs to the many talented men and women of Erie County. My colleagues hope to make job creation success stories like this the norm, not the exception, for the Buffalo region," said Legislator Albert DeBenedetti (D-Buffalo).

"The deal that brought GEICO to Buffalo, which involved partners at all levels of government and business, should be a blueprint from which we construct our economic strategy," added Legislator Mark J. F. Schroeder (D-Buffalo, Cheektowaga), Chair of the Economic Development Committee. "This Legislature is committed to working with our partners in business and government in order to propel Western New York's economy forward."

"This funding fulfills not only Erie County's pledge to GEICO to assist with training costs, but this Legislature's pledge to its constituency to be a leader in Western New York's economic development," said Legislator Timothy M. Wroblewski (D-West Seneca/South Cheektowaga).

"Workforce training is an important component in improving our competitive edge in the local economic market and new job opportunities such as this improve the quality of life for the entire region," concluded Legislator Raymond K. Dusza (D-Cheektowaga) said.

GEICO is the fifth largest private passenger auto insurer in the United States, serving over 5.3 policyholders nationwide. GEICO currently employs 22,000 associates at its 12 major locations across the country.

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