By Joyce Kryszak
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wbfo/local-wbfo-826480.mp3
Buffalo, NY – Local leaders say now is a bad time to make changes to the state's empire zone program. Erie County Executive Chris Collins and Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said Tuesday that the Governor should retreat from his plan to scale back the program.
Although Collins and Brown represent different constituencies, they are of one mind when it comes to urban revitalization. Both leaders sit on the board of the Erie County Industrial Development Agency.
A recent vote by the board, allowing incentives for adaptive re-use, is expected to encourage greater investment in some of Buffalo's oldest buildings. But they say any benefits extended by the ECIDA could be hampered if the governor sticks with his original plan to scale back the empire zone program. That plan is on hold for now. But Collins said the plan needs to be completely scrapped.
"The city has several Empire Zones operating right now...what we need to do is to make sure Albany continues some business friendly initiatives," said Collins. "because as the city prospers, the county prospers."
Empire Zones have come under fire by some who say many businesses fail to produce the jobs expected in exchange for lucrative tax breaks. The governor's original plan would have taken away the zone benefits from about 300 companies in the Buffalo area.
A compromise calls for greater investments from companies that would get the tax breaks. But Mayor Brown says changes now could undo positive momentum that is finally visible with projects throughout the city.
"People want to be with a winner. When they see things happening in a community that says to them that's a community I should be looking at," said Brown.
According to the Governor's office negotiations over any changes to the Empire Zone program are continuing.
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