Home > About BNE > Press Room > 2007 Archive > March > WNY Agricultural Forum

Buffalo Niagara Enterprise in cooperation with National Grid and Empire State Development

For Release: March 5, 2007

Therese Hickok/ Buffalo Niagara Enterprise
(716) 842-1357 x 109

Steve Brady/ National Grid
(716) 831-7744

Paul Pfeiffer/ Empire State Development
(716) 856-8123, ext. 224

Agriculture Business Experts Announce Western New York's Economic Opportunities
Results of 2006 Agriculture business study could mean new jobs and investment for Buffalo Niagara

Results of a Western New York Agriculture-Dependent Economic Development Study commissioned by National Grid, Empire State Development and Buffalo Niagara Enterprise were announced today by agricultural business experts John Rhodes of Moran Stahl and Boyer, LLC and Tom Scott and John Whims of Informa Economics, Inc. The study was commissioned to identify immediate agricultural opportunities and techniques to attract and stimulate agriculture-dependent industry growth within the region. Key opportunities identified are renewable energy, dairy and wine/agritourism.

"Global and US agriculture are undergoing a rate of change the likes of which has not been experienced in a generation," said Tom Scott, Informa Economics, Inc. "Western New York has a tremendous opportunity to capitalize on these changes, with new ways of thinking and new relationships within agriculture, and with other sectors of the economy. The Informa study has identified sectors such as fluid milk production, yogurt, specialty cheese, renewable energy, greenhouse vegetable production and wineries as important areas of emphasis."

Informa Economics, Inc., an international agriculture consulting firm, partnered with Moran, Stahl and Boyer, LLC a consulting firm with expertise in site selection, to execute the study. 

"Buffalo Niagara's competitive land costs, close proximity to major markets and diversity of agricultural products are fundamental for attracting companies to the region," said John Rhodes, principal, Moran Stahl and Boyer, LLC.  "This can be accomplished through facilitating access to new markets, developing new partnerships, and improving brand awareness."

In 2002, Buffalo Niagara Enterprise with funding support from National Grid, contracted Moran Stahl and Boyer, LLC to execute a Back Office Service Center Study. Shortly after the findings were released, Geico decided to locate its facility in Buffalo Niagara.

"We are pleased to support Buffalo Niagara's agricultural industry," said Marilyn Higgins, Vice President of Economic Development, National Grid. "Results of the agricultural study are vital to developing a business sector that, until now, hasn't been explored to its fullest potential."

The results of the study indicate that the best method of maximizing growth of this sector is through marketing the existing assets of Buffalo Niagara's eight county region and recruiting external companies to the region.

"The 2002 Back Office Study was instrumental in landing Geico and Definity Health," said Thomas A. Kucharski, President and CEO, Buffalo Niagara Enterprise. "Similarly, implementing the agriculture-dependent findings will play a major role in attracting agri-opportunities and fostering economic vitality to the region."

For additional information on the 2006 Western New York Agriculture-Dependent Economic Development Study, please visit: www.buffaloniagara.org/agstudy.

Buffalo Niagara Enterprise is the point of contact for business attraction, retention and expansion for the eight counties of Western New York.

Visit www.buffaloniagara.org to learn more about Buffalo Niagara:: Where Life Works.