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Home > About BNE > Press Room > Current Articles > March > Organizers preparing for Buffalo Homecoming 2008

Organizers preparing for Buffalo Homecoming 2008

Renamed event aims to lure natives back

 

By Jonathan D. Epstein NEWS BUSINESS REPORTER
Updated: 03/06/08 6:39 AM

Representatives from Western New York’s political, economic development, business and academic worlds joined together Wednesday evening to launch the region’s third annual campaign to lure Buffalo natives back home.

Buffalo Homecoming 2008, formerly known as Buffalo Old Home Week, will be held June 26-29 as a “celebration of the best of Buffalo,” according to a press release announcing the event.

The event touts the region as a place to live and do business in a bid to keep the area’s college students from leaving, while getting potential workers and entrepreneurs who have left home to consider returning.

“Buffalo Homecoming is a wonderful way to reintroduce people to Buffalo and Erie County, and I would encourage the local business community to back this important effort,” Erie County Executive Chris Collins said in the release.

Officials say Western New York needs more people living here, both to fill jobs as well as to start new businesses that will drive the region’s economic growth.

“People start businesses where they live. We need more people to live here to start more businesses,” said Brian Reilly, Buffalo’s new chief economic development officer.

The event’s schedule will include a career fair and “Ask the CEO” event, a Homecoming Concert, the annual Sunday brunch and dozens of tours.

“We are partnering with businesses, arts and cultural organizations, civic groups, colleges and universities, high school alumni organizations, area sports teams and their fans, veterans organizations — virtually any group that would benefit by growing our community and strengthening our economy,” said event organizer Marti Gorman.

Last year, thousands of people attended, Gorman said, and officials are hoping to double or triple the participation this year. She said organizers on March 26 will ask for 5,000 people in Buffalo to each invite five people to come.

Registration for the event is free online at BuffaloHomecoming.com.

Created in 1907, Buffalo Old Home Week was relaunched a century later in 2006 and 2007, but officials decided to give it a new name this year to reflect a new era, Gorman said.

“It’s not about old homes,” she said. “This embodies what we want to say. It’s not just about those who left. It’s about those who are here, too. It’s for all of us.”

jepstein@buffnews.com