Empire State Development Blog

New attractions include Creators at Sunset and Family FriYay!, with returning Outer Harbor concerts and specialty fitness classes Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) and Be Our Guest, a subsidiary of Rich Entertainment Group, today announced the initial 2023 summer season lineup of events at the Buffalo Waterfront. From Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, Canalside and the Outer Harbor will host over 100 events and programs.  See pictures of activities on Buffalo’s waterfront here. “Canalside is celebrating its 15th anniversary with a stellar summer lineup of activities and events, “ said ECHDC Chairman Robert Gioia.  “Music, family fun, exercise options, food, and friends will all be a part of the busy summer schedule. Governor Hochul is encouraging everyone to take advantage of the waterfront - which we have all worked hard to make into one of the region’s greatest success stories.” “We’re excited to share with the community the exciting summer we have planned at the Buffalo Waterfront,” said Kevin Parkinson, vice president of finance and operations for Rich Entertainment Group. “We encourage everyone to check out some of the special events at Canalside and the Outer Harbor this summer, or simply enjoy a stroll, take in a sunset and stop for a drink at the Wilkeson Pointe Beer Garden or Clinton’s Dish. There’s something for everyone this year.” The returning Seneca Casinos Outer Harbor Concert Series will kick off May 20 with The Gaslight Anthem to open an exciting lineup of artists coming to the Buffalo Waterfront this summer. Other announced shows include the BPO with the Strictly Hip, Alter Bridge, Dark Star Orchestra, Arkells and Jimmy Eat World & Manchester Orchestra. The full lineup will be announced in the coming weeks. This will mark the final year the series will be held at the Lakeside Event Lawn presented by the Upstate Honda Dealers, as the new Outer Harbor Events Center will be ready to host next year’s shows. Concert tickets can be purchased at www.buffalowaterfront.com/concerts. Fitness in the Parks, sponsored by Independent Health, will also make its return to the Outer Harbor, along with several large-scale events, such as the Water Lantern Festival on July 8 and the Buffalo Irish Festival July 28-30. Food and drinks will be offered at the Wilkeson Pointe Beer Garden, the Nosh and Nibble Food Truck and the Lakeside Bike Park Café, along with bike and water sport rentals. “As the official health and wellness partner of Outer Harbor Buffalo, we are proud to work with the Buffalo Waterfront to connect the community with free or affordable healthy activities along our beautiful waterfront,” said Kathy Glieco, vice president of marketing, Independent Health. “The Outer Harbor is the crown jewel of our waterfront and a wonderful way for individuals and families to experience its many picturesque settings and wellness activities, from kayak rentals and Fitness in the Parks classes to our Wellness Trail and Lakeside Bike Park.”   New events at Canalside include Family FriYay! and Creators at Sunset. Family FriYay! will feature Free Play Friday with Explore & More, a kids activity zone sponsored by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of WNY, interactive boat building with the Buffalo Maritime Center at the Longshed and ice cream specials at Clinton’s Dish. Family FriYay! will run weekly from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays from June 23 through August 25. Creators at Sunset will feature local artists and vendors, live music and entertainment, food trucks and of course, sunset views at Canalside. Sponsored by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of WNY and Upstate Honda Dealers, the event will be held on one Friday per month (May 26, June 9, July 7 and August 18). In addition to the returning Fitness at Canalside series, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of WNY will also sponsor specialty fitness classes, including puppy yoga, goat yoga, biking on the boardwalk, fitness cruises and salsa classes. “As we kick off our 12th season of Fitness at Canalside, we’re pleased to offer a full schedule of engaging and inclusive offerings that showcase Buffalo’s beautiful waterfront while encouraging our entire community to get healthy this summer,” said Michael Ball, vice president, community affairs, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of WNY. Additional new events include: A comedy series on the Great Lawn held June 8, July 13, July 27 and August 10 from 7 to 8 p.m. Buffalo Waterfront will partner with Buffalo Comedy Collective on this free programming series, where two comedy teams will compete as the audience judges. “Yappy Hour” at Clinton’s Dish and the Wilkeson Pointe Beer Garden on Thursdays from June 1 through August 31. Enjoy $1 off hot dogs and a free treat for your pup with a drink purchase. The Canalside Food Truck Lunch Series from noon to 3 p.m. every Wednesday. Starting May 17, one-to-two food trucks will be parked each week for lunch in the sun. Seasonal vendors at Canalside and the Outer Harbor, including the Buffalo Boat Tour, BFLO Harbor Kayak, Water Bikes of Buffalo, Canalside Caricatures, and Longboards Paddle Co. will also reopen this Memorial Day weekend. New this year, Buffalo Bike Tours will be open at the Commercial Slip at Canalside and Explore Buffalo will provide historical walking tours. There’s still plenty to do along the water this weekend as well, prior to the official kick-off. Clinton’s Dish Open Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Buffalo Heritage Carousel, which offers rides for just $1 each Open Saturday & Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Longshed, which is being used by the Buffalo Maritime Center to construct a replica of an 1825 Erie Canal boat. This will be the last summer to visit this attraction before the boat is completed and launched next spring Open Saturday & Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Buffalo Boat Tours, which offers a host of tours available for every occasion at various times throughout the day, including: Cocktail Cruises Silo City Tour Buffalo River History Tour Sunday Brunch Cruise For the latest updates to the summer schedule, visit https://buffalowaterfront.com. About Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) is governed by a nine-member board consisting of seven voting directors and two non-voting, ex-officio directors. The seven voting directors are recommended by the New York State Governor and are appointed by the New York State Urban Development Corporation d/b/a Empire State Development as sole shareholder of ECHDC. The two nonvoting, ex-officio director positions are held by the Erie County Executive and the City of Buffalo Mayor. For more information on ECHDC, visit: www.eriecanalharbor.com. Buffalo Waterfront Buffalo’s Waterfront is a growing regional destination and entertainment district encompassing Canalside and Outer Harbor. The Buffalo Waterfront hosts large events and daily activities of all types and strives to provide public access to the land and waterways on the Lake Erie shoreline. Operated by the Buffalo Waterfront Management Group, part of Rich Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of Rich Products, the Buffalo Waterfront is the go-to place for locals and out-of-towners of all ages to learn, play and relax. For more information, visit www.buffalowaterfront.com.   Contact: Pamm Lent (Governor’s Office) | [email protected] | (716) 846-8309 | (800) 260-7313 Shannon Holfoth (Be Our Guest) | [email protected] | 716-913-5071 Laura Magee (ESD/ECHDC) | [email protected] | (716) 846-8239 | (800) 260-7313

New York State Consolidated Funding Application Now Open With Available Funding from 30 Programs Councils Will Update Strategic Plans to Reflect Regional Strengths and Priorities New Competition Will Award Three Regions with $10 Million Each for Implementing Creative Solutions to Statewide Challenges New Micro Programs Will Award Capital Grants to Craft Beverage Manufacturers and Non-Profit Organizations Governor Hochul today announced the launch of Round XIII of the Regional Economic Development Council Initiative. Round XIII includes core capital grant and tax-credit funding combined with a wide range of programs from 10 State agencies, including $150 million in grant funds from Empire State Development, available to projects on a continuous basis. The Councils are encouraged to support projects that advance or address strategic State priorities - including green buildings and sustainable development, child care, distressed communities, and innovative public-private partnerships; those projects, will be eligible for additional award funding. New this year, two new micro programs will award capital grants to support New York State craft beverage manufacturers and non-profit organizations, and a new $30 million Challenge competition will award $10 million to up to three regions to implement creative solutions to tackle persistent barriers to economic growth. Also, for the first time since 2015, the Councils will be tasked with updating their strategic regional economic development plans. "Our Regional Economic Development Council Initiative continues to transform communities across the state, creating jobs and driving private investment all over New York," Governor Hochul said. "The launch of this latest round builds on state efforts to address our most pressing economic priorities — from sustainable development to the growing demand for childcare — all while empowering communities to tap into their regional strengths. Thanks to the work of the REDCs, New York is continuing to make the catalytic investments that foster economic growth and continued success in every corner of our state." "I am proud to lead the next round of the Regional Economic Development Council initiative and guide the councils on a path forward that re-establishes each region's priorities for growth," said Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado. "Through coordination and collaboration, we will identify opportunities to advance key industries, advance projects that meet regional needs and enhance each region's economic vision for the future." Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, "While the Regional Economic Development Council Initiative has been a successful model for economic growth in New York State, at the direction of Governor Hochul, we have been tasked to improve and enhance key programs that will expand on our many successes. Each region will update their strategic plans to re-establish their priorities for growth, continue to guide the deployment of resources, and create an updated road map for each region to achieve its economic vision for the future."  Read the full press release here.

View all grants to be presented at the batch virtual public hearing.

Company Selects Location Due to New York State’s World-Renowned Reputation as Agribusiness Global Leader: Expects to Create Approximately 250 New Jobs in the Town of Webster Investment Complements “Finger Lakes Forward” – The Region’s Comprehensive Strategy to Revitalize Communities and Grow the Economy See Product Photo Here; See Site Photo Here Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that The Coca-Cola Company has selected New York State for its preferred location for a new fairlife production facility. The 745,000 square-foot facility is expected to create up to 250 new jobs and be built on property on Tebor Road in the Town of Webster, Monroe County. The company expects to break ground on the project sometime this fall, subject to appropriate approvals and final diligence, with the facility slated to be operational by Q4 of 2025. The total project investment has been estimated at $650 million. “This decision by fairlife to expand their operations in Monroe County marks the next chapter in New York’s agricultural success story,” Governor Hochul said. “New York’s dairy industry serves as a crucial economic engine for our state, and this $650 million investment from fairlife will create jobs and drive economic impact, particularly in the Finger Lakes. We were in tough competition with other states for what will be the largest dairy processing plant in the Northeast and this decision, which comes on the heels of investments from major companies like Micron and Li-Cycle, confirms that New York continues to offer a competitive business environment. Coming from a family of dairy farmers in Ireland, I am proud to have secured this major opportunity to position our state as one of the nation’s top dairy producers.” Founded in 2012, fairlife has designed a line of products that are made through an ultra-filtered milk process that removes the lactose and much of the sugar and leaves behind more of the protein and calcium. The company offers a wide range of products including fairlife® ultra-filtered milk, Core Power® protein shakes, and fairlife® Nutrition Plan® meal replacement shakes. The Coca-Cola Company has been a strategic partner to fairlife since it was launched in 2012 through the company’s ultimate acquisition of it in 2020. fairlife Chief Executive Officer Tim Doelman said, “Consumer demand for fairlife products is at an all-time high, and a new production facility will allow us to significantly increase capacity and deliver fairlife to even more households across the country. As we continue to grow in the Northeast, Webster’s proximity and access to best-in-class dairy farmers make it an excellent location to support our next phase of growth in the region and beyond. We are sincerely grateful for the collaboration from Governor Hochul and her administration throughout this process.” ESD is providing up to $21 million in assistance for the project through the performance-based Excelsior Jobs Tax Credit Program in exchange for the job creation commitments. Additionally, the Monroe County IDA is expected to apply to ESD for a $20 million Capital Grant so that they can work to provide adequate power and other related infrastructure costs to service the site. The NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, the Monroe County Industrial Development Agency, the Town of Webster, Rochester Gas and Electric and Greater Rochester Enterprise were additionally instrumental in bringing the company to New York State. The company selected New York State due to the invaluable assistance of these committed stakeholders, and to its world-renowned reputation as an agribusiness global leader with an unparalleled, innovative dairy community. Read the full press release here.