BNE's business development staff was back in Canada again recently to participate in FABTECH Canada in Toronto.  FABTECH Canada is the only exclusive industry show for decision makers and leaders in the fabricating, welding and metal forming industries in Canada.  This was our first time attending FABTECH in what we were hoping would be an opportunity to connect with original equipment manufacturers and vendors in the advanced manufacturing targeted industry cluster.  I am pleased to report that we were not disappointed. 

Our partners and colleagues at the Canadian Consulate assisted us in our efforts with this show where we talked personally to between 50 and 60 of the exhibiting companies at the show.  We now have 18 new direct contacts that we will be following up with in our pursuit of new investment and economic development opportunities.  As we do on a number of our economic development attraction visits, while in Toronto for FABTECH we met with a local corporate real estate firm that hosted a very positive meeting and facility tour with one of our new Canadian project leads. 

As most readers of this space know, the Canadian market has been a strong focal point for the BNE dating back to our first Canadian win in 2002.  Since that time we have invested more than $800,000 on eight different and very successful marketing campaigns.  These initiatives have resulted in 51 Canadian project wins, representing nearly $457,000,000 in investment and a positive job impact on our region of more than 1,400 jobs.  Here's to hoping our participation at FABTECH Canada helps add to those impressive numbers. 

Last week's Buffalo Business First featured a great article on the positive impact that the new terminal at the Niagara Falls International Airport (NFIA) has had on the Niagara County economy.  A quick read of the article will show some very impressive numbers regarding the substantial increase in outbound passengers just a little more than a year after the terminal opened.  Private sector development has been on the rise as well with the Niagara County IDA assisting eight different hotel projects driven by the airport investment, four of them national brands.  Attention is being paid to developable land around the airport to make it shovel ready for more investment. 

All of this is good news for the City of Niagara Falls, the Town of Niagara and Niagara County in general.    At BNE we share the optimism of our Niagara County economic development partners and colleagues for the future impact of the airport on our region's economy.  That's why we continue to work so closely with them to capitalize on the momentum being generated by recent and planned state and federal investments in Niagara Falls International.  Examples of our collaboration include the marketing of the airport and surrounding sites, working with public and private partners on shovel ready applications and certifications and our role as founding members of the NFIA Stakeholders Group, formed to help attract and incentivize new commercial carriers.

It's been exciting work, fueled by what I believe is the perfect formula for economic success - public support used to develop the product that then attracts the marketing and investment from the private sector.

Thomas A. Kucharski

President & CEO

takucharski@buffaloniagara.org

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