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What's important to you?

IDA's have a wide range of influences in your local community. Which focus area is most important to you?

Creating/saving local jobs for local workers

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Somewhat Important
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Investing in our local communities

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Growing the local tax base

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Helping local businesses grow

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Supporting the next generation of workers

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Genesee County Economic Development Center

Moving at the speed of business

Residents of Genesee County benefit from the ambitious efforts and notable successes of the Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC). This progressive IDA moves nimbly “at the speed of business.” It is a one-stop shop that:

  • Manages the county’s Empire Zone
  • Coordinates local and state incentives, including tax abatements, grants and low-interest loans
  • Facilitates the permitting process for projects
  • Promotes workforce development
  • Consults on capital formation

In 2003, the GCEDC launched a strategic five-year plan with rewarding results:

  • Participated in 183 projects
  • Created 2,361 jobs
  • Enabled nearly $402 million of investment

 

Top three industries

The GCEDC identified three strategic industries in Genesee County:

  • Advanced Manufacturing
  • Life Sciences
  • Agri-Business/Green Energy

With these industries as its focus, the GCEDC developed business parks to support the top industries and capitalize on the County’s unique assets, which include:

  • Industrial infrastructure with water delivered via a county water system sourced from two Great Lakes, Erie and Ontario
  • Sites located in the New York Power Authority low-cost hydropower zone with redundant transmission level service (115kw)
  • A 2.1 million workforce pool from New York’s second- and third-largest cities, Buffalo and Rochester

The result is several successful business parks that support our emerging industries:

  • Buffalo East Technology Park and WNY STAMP support the Advanced Manufacturing industry
  • Upstate Med and Tech Park and Commercialization Center (a joint effort between GCEDC, Genesee Community College, and University at Buffalo) support Life Sciences
  • Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park supports Agri-Business/Green Energy

 

A success story

The Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park is a 200-plus acre park dedicated to food processing and green energy. It was funded in part by a $3 million City-by-City grant from New York State and $2.3 million in funding from Genesee County and the Town of Batavia.

Owned by a rare public/private venture including the GCEDC’s real estate affiliate and Farm Credit of Western New York, the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park is serviced by industrial class electric and natural gas with access to a local aquifer able to produce up to 6 million gallons/day of low-cost process water to park occupants.

Phase one of infrastructure begins in the spring of 2009 as the park’s first occupant, a Canadian food processor, breaks ground on a $15M project that will create 100 jobs.

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In 2008 alone:

  • Created 232 jobs
  • Enabled $60 million of investment
  • Completed 43 projects

2003-2007:

  • Created 2,361 jobs
  • Enabled nearly $402 million of investment
  • Participated in 183 projects