Categories for Co-produced with WGRZ

Nov 21

2013

The skinny on Buffalo’s big jobs announcement

Published by

Investigative Post teamed with WGRZ to provide insight into Thursday’s announcement by Gov. Andrew Cuomo that the state is investing $225 million to build and equip facilities that will house two fledging clean energy firms. Dan Telvock provided background on the two companies, both based in California. They have small work forces and are still searching for profitability, but are nevertheless regarded as innovation leaders in their industries. The deal with the state obligates the firms to invest $1.5 billion and operate in Buffalo for at least 10 years. Jim Heaney interviewed Alain Kaloyeros, the chief architect of the deal, and[...]

Posted 11 years ago

Nov 20

2013

Major jobs boost for Buffalo

Published by

It was nearly two years ago when Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced his intention to invest $1 billion to revitalize the Buffalo area economy. Not much of that money has been earmarked so far, but that will change Thursday morning when the governor is scheduled to come to town to announce what is shaping up as the state’s largest investment ever in the local economy. Sources tell Investigative Post this deal has been months in the making and far surpasses the first Billion To Buffalo deal involving drug research, development and manufacturing at the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. That project, scheduled to[...]

Posted 11 years ago

Nov 16

2013

Expanded air monitoring at Peace Bridge

Published by

Responding to an Investigative Post report, state environmental officials announced Friday they will resume air quality testing near the Peace Bridge. Unlike the last round of testing, the monitoring will include the summer, when pollution levels are higher.

Posted 11 years ago

Nov 13

2013

A smell surrounding Peace Bridge air study

Published by

State officials proclaimed a month ago that air monitoring results near the Peace Bridge showed no serious pollution problem in the adjacent neighborhood plagued by high asthma rates that studies have linked to bridge traffic. In fact, officials went so far as to declare: “the data suggest that there are no significant differences between air quality in the plaza neighborhood and in the City of Buffalo overall.” However, an Investigative Post analysis has determined that conclusion is “not scientifically valid,” in the words of Sherri Mason, associate professor of chemistry at SUNY Fredonia, one of nine experts interviewed for this[...]

Posted 11 years ago

Nov 8

2013

Smaller subsidies for Delaware North HQ

Published by

Uniland, which has proposed building a new corporate headquarters for Delaware North, is no longer seeking tax breaks beyond the normal package offered to office projects. The developer appears to have miscalculated whether the project was fully eligible for some of the extra incentives it was seeking. Its original plan sparked an outcry.

Posted 11 years ago

Nov 4

2013

Major developers vying for Buffalo project

Published by

A half-dozen firms, including some of the region’s most prominent developers, have entered the competition to build economic development hubs the Cuomo administration has proposed for Buffalo, Investigative Post has learned. Firms responding to a request for proposals include LP Ciminelli Inc., Uniland Development and Acquest Development. Others submitting proposals include McGuire Development, TM Montante Development and Mark Balling on behalf of Lend Lease, an international contracting and finance firm. The developers, in their submissions, identify elements of the team they would assemble to first design, finance and construct the hubs and then recruit companies function as anchor tenants. At least[...]

Posted 11 years ago

Oct 24

2013

State to test for contamination at Gallagher Beach

Published by

The Cuomo administration has relented and agreed to test Gallagher Beach in South Buffalo for possible contamination before deciding whether to open it for swimming. In fact, crews began work this week to collect water, soil and sediment samples. An employee on the job for Ecology and Environment Inc., the contractor hired to collect and analyze samples, said the testing is the most comprehensive the firm has conducted for a beach. The decision to conduct comprehensive tests follows two Investigative Post stories earlier this month (found here and here) that reported the beach rests in a harbor basin contaminated with[...]

Posted 11 years ago

Oct 24

2013

State pursuing major jobs initiative for Buffalo

Published by

The state has quietly launched a major initiative to develop a series of economic development hubs in Buffalo aimed at attracting medical, energy and technology companies that would generate thousands of good-paying jobs. The state recently issued a request for proposals seeking developers to construct two or three facilities in the city and partner with a handful of anchor tenants who would employ an estimated 1,500 to 2,000. Much like a shopping mall, these large tenants would attract small and mid-sized firms that would add to that employment base and build a critical mass in fields regarded as regional strengths. The[...]

Posted 11 years ago
Investigative Post