Joined by Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, local leaders are spending Tuesday showing off some of the fruits of the so-called "Buffalo Billion" to delegates from seven Upstate New York regions, who hope they may soon join Buffalo in an economic renaissance boosted by big bucks from Albany.
The Upstate Revitalization Conference kicked off inside the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center Tuesday morning with remarks from Hochul, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz.
Lt. Gov. Hochul presented a video to visitors in Tuesday morning's opening remarks. The video featured several local leaders and scenes of a renewed region. The video ended with the display of the phrase: "This is the new Buffalo. What can your region do?"
"It's a hopeful message," said Hochul. "It's a chance to show off a little bit, but also as a representative of the entire State of New York, to tell other regions that are feeling left behind and are still waiting for their economic recovery that this competition - the Upstate Revitalization Initiative - is an opportunity for three of seven regions to win $500 million."
Each region was set to present their plans to the conference on Tuesday afternoon. Following the presentations, delegates were scheduled to gather at Canalside, one of the developments made possible from New York State's big investment in Buffalo three years ago. Delegates were also shown the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Solar City project at Riverbend and Buffalo Manufacturing Works.
Hochul, in her remarks to guests, cited a recent survey in which 88 percent of respondents expressed optimism in downtown Buffalo. When asked why the other 12 percent remains skeptical, she suggested some are not seeing the results of the state's investment in the form of a new job. She insisted that will soon change.
"I think eventually we're going to get to the point where everyone who wants to have a job in this community will have something available to them," Hochul told reporters.
"There's going to be something for everybody, and we are just at the very beginning. We're going to be able to lift up this entire community eventually. We understand the ones who feel we're there yet. We're going to get there."
