Inside Western New York
The Western New York Region is located in the western
part of the State and includes the Buffalo-Niagara
Metropolitan area, which is compromised of Erie and Niagara
counties, and also includes Allegany, Cattaraugus, and
Chautauqua counties. The Western New York (WNY) region
covers 4,974 square miles. It is strategically located on
lakes Eric and Ontario, and shares a border with Canada.
WNY boasts a wonderful quality of life, with the distinct advantage of both city and suburban living. As such, it has an affordable housing market as well as great public and private schools and universities. Visitors and residents of WNY alike are impressed by its majestic scenery, not to mention the numerous sites and attractions that provide opportunities for recreation in each of the four seasons.
The region has a large and vibrant economy with a particular
focus in manufacturing. Manufacturers of hard goods such as
transportation equipment, machinery and fabricated metal
products are the important export income-generating
industries. Advanced manufacturing in Buffalo Niagara
encompasses automotive part producers and their suppliers,
aerospace and defense, industrial chemical, advanced
plastics, and new polymers processing and packaging of
foods. Western New York’s honored history as an industrial
center makes it a natural choice for companies interested in
integrating sophisticated technologies into
Buffalo Niagara’s manufacturing facilities.
General Overview
Area – 5,022.18 square miles
Population (2009) – 1,396,153
Allegany – 49,157
Cattaraugus – 79,689
Chautauqua – 133,503
Erie – 909,247
Niagara – 214,557
2009
Labor Force: 719,500
2009
Per capita income: $24,837
BUSINESS INFORMATION
Market Access
Highways
Interstate 90 (I-90) passes through Western New York,
providing local companies with high-speed access to points
east, as well as west to the Pennsylvania border. In
addition, Route 219 provides a north-south corridor to I-86
along the Southern Tier. The Western New York Region is also
a gateway to Canada with four bridges that provide fast,
easy access into the country.
Air Service
Buffalo Niagara International Airport is the region's
largest air passenger and cargo facility, serving 3.4
million passengers per year with more than 200 flights per
day. Air passenger service is also available from Niagara
Falls International Airport and Chautauqua County Jamestown
Airport. Niagara Falls International Airport provides the
longest runway in the area with the capacity to land large
transport and carrier planes, such as the C5A and 747. The
Niagara Falls International Airport also functions as an Air
Force and Army Reserve Base. Scheduled airfreight service is
provided through Buffalo Niagara International Airport and
through Canadian international airports in Toronto and
Hamilton.
Rail Service
Four Class I railroads including CSX, Norfolk Southern,
Canadian National, and Canadian Pacific provide service to
Western New York.
Port Services
Access to ports includes the Port of Buffalo, located on the
Great Lakes System with access to intercontinental
destinations through the Welland Canal. Many Buffalo
shippers also access the Ports of Toronto and Montreal for
container shipments.
Hospitals
Notable hospitals in Western New York:
Complete List of Western NY - Buffalo Region Hospitals
Principal Industries
Manufacturing
Agribusiness
Life Sciences
Renewable energy
Back office industry
Colleges and Universities
Western New York is home to 15 four-year colleges and
universities and 20 two-year schools and professional
programs annually graduating 20,000.
The top Bachelor’s degree schools in the region include
(based on Buffalo Business First 2010 Book of Lists):
Alfred State College
Alfred University
Bryant & Stratton College – Buffalo Campus
Buffalo State College
Canisius College
Daemen
College
D’Youville College
Empire State College
Hilbert College
Houghton College
Medaille College
Niagara University
St. Bonaventure University
SUNY College at Fredonia
University at Buffalo
Villa Maria College
The top Associate’s degree schools in the region include
(based on Buffalo Business First 2010 Book of Lists):
Erie Community College
Niagara County
Community College
Jamestown Community
College
Trocaire College
Cornell University
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
Local Utilities
National Grid
National Fuel
Gas Company
New York State Electric &
Gas
Erie County Water
Authority
Jamestown Board of
Public Utilities
Top Five Western New York employers by employment
State of New York
University at Buffalo
Kaleida Health
United States of America
HSBC Bank USA N.A.
Top Five Private Companies (Ranked by 2008 revenues):
Rich Products Corporation,
$2.8 Billion – 1300 WNY employees
Delaware North
Companies, Inc. - $2.2 Billion – 1062 WNY employees
Osmose Holdings Inc.
– $530.9 Million – 167 WNY employees
Schmitt Sales Inc.
- $494 Million – 70 WNY employees
Wilson Farms
Inc. - $425 Million – 2284 WNY employees
Top Five Public Companies (Ranked by most recent
audited fiscal year revenues):
National Fuel Gas Company - $2.4 Billion
M&T
Bank Corporation - $2 Billion
Moog Inc. - $1.9 Billion
Gibraltar Industries
Inc. - $1.2 Billion
Seneca
Gaming Corporation - $749.6 Million