Links

This page contains information on and links to various other organizations of interest to entrepreneurs and industry. Anyone doing business in the WNY area should have this page bookmarked!

Organizations/Agencies that provide assistance to WNY business:

Allegany County Industrial Development Agency

The Allegany County Office of Development offers a variety of services and programs to assist business development in the county.

Amherst Chamber of Commerce

An association comprised of over 1,750 member businesses working to facilitate group action and maintain a positive economic, political and social climate in Western New York.

Amherst Industrial Development Agency

A proactive not-for-profit public benefit corporation empowered by article 18-A of New York State's Municipal Law. Since 1973, the agency's primary purpose has been the creation of employment growth through the attraction, expansion, and retention of companies within the Town of Amherst and Niagara Frontier Region.

Buffalo Economic Renaissance Corporation

The Buffalo Economic Renaissance Corporation is a Buffalo based development corporation that works to provide low cost, fixed rate expansion loans, in conjunction with private financing, to companies set to expand within the city of Buffalo.

Buffalo Niagara Partnership

Promotes economic and community vitality in Niagara - the eight counties of Western New York and the Niagara Peninsula of Southern Ontario. It carries out this role by providing services directly to its more than 3,300 members who employ over 200,000 individuals, and by providing services to the region on behalf of these members.

Buffalo & Erie County Workforce Investment Board 

The WIB is committed to creating and promoting a workforce development system that is user friendly and responsive to the needs of both the individual training/job applicant, and/or the business organization seeking our assistance. Click here for their 2010 Advanced Manufacturing brochure

Canadian Consulate General in Buffalo, NY

The Canadian Consulate General in Buffalo includes tourism, immigration, and public affairs responsibilities. Each division offers a range of programmes and services essential to Canada and to the bilateral relationship, many of which are tailored specifically to the border region. The consular territory encompasses western and upstate New York, western Pennsylvania, and the State of West Virginia.

Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency

303 Court Street
Little Valley, NY 14755
(716) 938-9111

Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency

The primary objective of the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) is to position the county as a world-class business environment offering an exceptional quality-of-life experience. Among its more traditional services, CCIDA helps businesses secure financial assistance, provides business advocacy services and develops both infrastructure and industrial parks.

Cornell Center for Materials Research
The Cornell Center for Materials Research (CCMR) Small Business Outreach Program is a New York State-focused, NYSTAR-funded effort that helps companies access materials expertise and research equipment at Cornell University.

DoD TechMatch
This is a web-based portal designed to provide industry and academia a DoD-sponsored solution to find R&D opportunities, licensable patents, and information on nearly 120 DoD labs across the U.S.

Dunkirk/Sheridan EDZ

The Dunkirk/Sheridan EDZ, located in the Chadwick Bay Region, provides free and confidential assistance to businesses seeking to locate or expand operations within the EDZ.

Empire State Development

Provides access to all New York State business development programs; including financing (investment incentives), training, export assistance and planning. Contact Timothy Doolittle, WNY Regional Director for specific Niagara Region information nys-westernny@empire.state.ny.us

Erie County Industrial Development Agency

275 Oak Street
Buffalo, NY 14203
(716) 856-6525

infoTech Niagara

infoTech Niagara is a diverse coalition of companies and individuals involved in information technologies. infoTech Niagara has established a network of members to share and discuss common interests and objectives.

Institute for Local Governance and Regional Growth

Assists area governments and other service providers in promoting regional opportunity throughout Western New York. The Institute supports and advances collaboration among governments; private, non-profit, and civic organizations; community leaders; and school districts and other service entities.

Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier (MAST)
An association that promotes the common interests of their membership through the development of information and services of benefit to the S. Tier members.

Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP)

A program of the Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology- is a growing network of services to assist smaller manufacturers in becoming globally competitive. MEP partners federal support with state and local organizations. Services are locally driven so that they address the specific needs of area manufacturers. At the same time, MEP is developing common tools and resources to address recurring and consistent challenges faced by all manufacturers nationwide.

National Business Incubation Association

NBIA offers professional development activities that help business assistance professionals create and administer effective incubation programs.

New York State Centers of Advanced Technology

The New York State Centers for Advanced Technology were initiated to stimulate economic growth through the commercialization of high-growth technologies. Affiliated with universities throughout the state, each Center has a specific technology focus. Use the link (http://www.nystar.state.ny.us/cats.htm) to find out more about the activities and services available at each Center!

Niagara County Center for Economic Development
The Niagara County Center for Economic Developmenty is a not-for-profit public benefit corporation established in 1972 by the County Legislature. The Agency's primary goal is to encourage economic growth and expansion through financial incentives and other support services, thus stimulating the investment climate for existing industrial expansion, as well as encouraging new industry to locate in Niagara County.

New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics & Life Sciences (COE)
Located in Buffalo, NY, the COE was created with investment from state, federal and industry philanthropic souces to create a hub of life sciences expertise and innovation in Upstate New York.

New York State Foundation of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR)
NYSTAR is a leader in funding high-technology academic research and economic development, providing a host of new, unprecedented programs and initiatives to assist New York businesses and technology development.

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)
NYSERDA strives to facilitate change through the widespread development and use of innovative technologies to improve the State’s energy, economic, and environmental wellbeing. NYSERDA’s programs and services provide a vehicle for the State to work collaboratively with businesses, academia, industry, the federal government, environmental community, public interest groups, and energy market participants. 

Other New York State Regional Technology Development Centers 
As a network of 10 independent, not-for-profit organizations, Regional Technology Development Centers cultivate the growth of high-tech industry and help smaller manufacturers modernize. The organizations share a common commitment to providing direct, strategic assistance to companies in the areas of entrepreneurship, technology commercialization, product development, high-tech business incubator management and technology transfer services.

Small Business Development Center

The Small Business Development Center, administered by the State University of New York, provides management and technical assistance to start-up and existing small business firms in New York State. The SBDC specializes in providing direct one-to-one counseling to small business owners/entrepreneurs and offers training and instructional programs designed to meet the needs and interests of small business persons.

Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program (SATOP)

The Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program (SATOP) can offer up to 40 hours of FREE technical assistance to small businesses, utilizing the engineering expertise of NASA and participating Alliance Partners (NASA contractors or Universities). SATOP encourages economic growth by transferring Space Program knowledge to the private sector.

State University of New York at Buffalo

A part of the SUNY system of higher education.

The Greater Jamestown Economic Development Zone

The Greater Jamestown Economic Development Zone (GJEDZ) mission is to engage the economic development team and coordinate resources, incentives, and benefits to encourage economic growth in the Zone and the region.

U.S. Small Business Administration

The US Small Business Administration (SBA) was created by Congress in 1953 to help America's entrepreneurs form successful small enterprises. If your business is independently owned and operated, not dominant within its field, and falls within size standards met by the SBA, the SBA can help you.

UB Office of Science, Technology Transfer & Economic Outreach (STOR)

STOR is the "one-stop shopping" entry point to immediately access the specialized expertise and world-class facilities of a nationally ranked research university. We facilitate the appropriate linkages between business and industry and resources within the University at Buffalo. We are committed to being flexible, responsive, and entrepreneurial for our partners in business, industry, and government.

Western New Venture Association (WNYVA)

A not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing a business opportunity and investment forum to the Niagara Region. The WNYVA holds a series of networking meetings throughout the year to facilitate the exchange of information between investors and entrepreneurs.

World Trade Center Buffalo Niagara (WTCBN)

Is an organization dedicated to the advancement of world trade. They provide customized services and programs to companies relating to international trade.

Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce

The Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce (the Chamber) is a nonprofit business membership organization. The mission of the Chamber is to promote and encourage economic development in Wyoming County.