December 14, 2000

Meeting Minutes

Jeff Albert, Foit-Albert Associates

Jessica Brason, Keep WNY Beautiful

Erin Cala, SUNYAB, UB Green

Dan Castle, Ecology & Environment

Paul Ciszkowski, SUNYAB, School of Dental Medicine

Lorraine Clemente, Buffalo Economic Renaissance Corporation

John Cinquino, HSBC

Judy Einach, Community Market Garden

Drew Eszak, Erie County Environment & Planning

Meghan Fay, SUNYAB, UB Green

Charley H. Fisher, III, Councilmember-at-Large

Gordon Fraser, Buffalo State College, Great Lakes Center

Laura Gang, Buffalo Niagara Partnership

Kevin Georger, M&T Bank

Joe Iannarelli, Business First

Rachel Kaiser, Hatch Associates

Thomas Kucharski, Buffalo Niagara Enterprise

Michael Lodick, SEER Buffalo

Randi Mail, Green Gold Development Corporation

Brian Meyer, Buffalo News

Sandy Nasca, Office of Strategic Planning, City of Buffalo

Bill Nowak, Buffalo Common Council

Terry Paquin, Erie County Industrial Development Agency

James Pitts, Buffalo Common Council President

Joe Purcell, Diversified Controls & Systems

Laura Roberts, Buffalo Niagara Partnership

Tom Siener, Ecology & Environment

Marc Schneckenberger, Environmental Compliance, Inc.

Ed Zielinski, www.environment-buffalo.org

Tom Kucharski, President and CEO of the Buffalo Niagara Enterprise (BNE), gave a comprehensive presentation on his organization’s effort to market the WNY region as a lucrative place to do business. Currently, the BNE staff includes 11 professionals and is housed in the Main Place Tower. BNE has been endorsed by other community development agencies to take the lead in attracting new industry to the area. The Enterprise is quite unique, in that it is one of two organizations of its kind in the entire country. And their goal is very clear – to remediate WNY’s image in the marketplace, with a special focus on Buffalo.

A key selling point for WNY is our proximity to the Canadian border, particularly to Toronto. BNE plans to bring 50,000 new jobs and $1 billion in investment to the region in the next 5 years with $27 million in public and private funds committed to this effort. BNE’s concentration is on creating industry clusters, much like what Green Gold’s Eco-Industrial Park concept entails. The following sectors have been quite successful thus far in our region and have gained BNE’s focus due to existing infrastructure and a skilled workforce: Medical Research and Products, Professional Support Centers Logistics, Distribution and Trade, and Technology Intensive Manufacturing.

Mr. Kucharski pointed to Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, cities that have successfully reversed negative perceptions. To bring similar accomplishment to WNY, BNE has begun a national campaign that responds to common

To entice businesses, Mr. Kucharski stressed the need for growth corridors, trusting relationships with municipalities, international collaborations and impressive events. Our region can tout a low cost of living, a diverse housing stock, a 4.3% unemployment rate, endless cultural attractions, and many other advantageous selling points.

Bill Nowak suggested several ideas regarding collaboration with BNE including links between the BNE website and Green Gold’s, BNE expanding their market foci to include the environmental solutions industry and providing assistance for our marketing goals, and BNE involvement in the Green Gold Business Showcase.

Mr. Pitts highlighted several steps taken recently to secure the old Buffalo Forge steel plant as a site for the Eco-Industrial Park. On Wednesday December 13^th, Ecology & Environment did a follow-up walk through to determine whether the 1998 environmental assessment needed supplemental information. There were no additional findings.

Next on the agenda will be to initiate a Feasibility Study. Involvement from all Green Gold members is welcome, as this step will determine how we coordinate and move forward on the pieces of this project. Moreover, Mr. Pitts indicated that Buffalo is garnering national interest as the Eco-Industrial Park project continues to unfold. He has been sending out copies of the power point presentation on the Buffalo Forge site to several key people.

Currently, three property negotiation issues remain to be resolved including environmental contamination, determining a cost-effective remediation plan, and figuring out the project role and EIP involvement for the current owners. Furthermore, a draft proposal for EIP funding is ready for evaluation. Joe Gardella from SUNYAB’s Environment & Society Institute, Joe DeMare, president of Alternative Energy Systems and Mr. Pitts will be reviewing the application. The proposal is for the Ford Foundation’s, Innovations in American Government grant.

Randi Mail, Green Gold’s Project Coordinator, gave a colorful power point presentation entitled, "Sustainability Initiatives Across the County". Ms. Mail based the presentation on a recently completed report detailing the progressive initiatives of five cities – Toronto, Santa Monica, Austin, Seattle, and Portland – that have decided to redirect themselves on a sustainable path. This common ambition is in response to the growing recognition that we are living beyond the natural limitations of our planet. Natural resources such as land, water and air are quickly being degraded at a rate faster than they can recuperate from the stresses placed upon them.

Green Gold’s mission outlines sustainable development, good jobs, a better environment, and a prosperous local economy among our organization’s goals for the City of Buffalo and the WNY region. By looking towards sustainability – a framework that allow us to meet our needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs – we can bring restoration to our environment.

Dialogue once claiming that environmental sensitivity comes at the expense of the economy, has shifted. A growing number of communities, businesses and individuals now understand and others are gradually realizing that environmental quality and economic health are mutually dependent. The two can reinforce each other when disregard for the natural environment is eliminated.

Unfortunately, time did not allow for Mark Schneckenberger to give a presentation on his company and their international experience in helping companies solve environmental problems. Mr. Schneckenberger will be on January’s agenda.