By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – Erie County's two largest economic development agencies took the first step Monday toward becoming one. The Erie County Industrial Development Agency voted to begin merger talks with the Amherst Industrial Development Agency.
For years, the two powerful agencies have been vying for the same business. In many cases, that has resulted in a hop-scotch between townships as businesses jump after the best deal.
Now, officials hope to finally end the competition by creating a one-stop shop where developers will find the region's best deals. Dennis Penman is chairman of the ECIDA. He said the new political climate in Albany demands it.
But even before Governor Eliot Spitzer came into office, the political winds had already begun to shift in Amherst with the election of Satish Mohan.
The town's new reform-minded supervisor has pushed for a merger of the agencies ever since he took office. Mohan said it took some persuading. But he's pleased that the town board eventually saw the bigger picture.
Mohan and others would also like to see the region's four other IDAs, in Clarence Colden, Hamburg and Lancaster, come on board. Still, most agree that even the first step between Amherst and the Erie County IDAs will be a challenge.
Andrew Rudnick is president of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership. He sees tremendous benefits from a merger. But Rudnick said only if they can reach agreement on a host of economic development policies.
No one wants the merger more perhaps than Erie County Executive Joel Giambra. The embattled county executive had hoped to leave a legacy of regionalism. But he was jokingly reminded at the meeting Monday that he has only nine and a half months left in office.
Still, Giambra said he is hopeful there will be one major regionalism victory before he goes.
However, Giambra and others agree that the success of the talks will hinge largely on Jim Allen, the Executive Director for the Amherst IDA.
Allen was not available for comment. But in a written statement, he said that this "gives a significant opportunity to sit down and discuss what constitutes a real, world-class economic development organization."
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