BUFFALO, NY – Today, Invest Buffalo Niagara (InBN)—the nonprofit, privately-funded economic development organization representing the eight counties of Western New York—announced strong results in attracting Canadian businesses to the Buffalo Niagara region.
From July 2017 to June 2018, InBN successfully attracted seven Canadian businesses to Buffalo Niagara to expand their businesses. The seven manufacturing companies will invest over $9 million and create 69 jobs as a result of their expansion in the United States via Western New York.
|
Company Name |
Jobs |
Capital Investment |
| SWS Warning Lights Inc. | 6 | $2,335,784 |
| Rembrandt Charms | 5 | $424,420 |
| iNano Vision | 5 | $45,000 |
| Coreio Inc. | 11 | $168,500 |
| Microart Services | 25 | $448,000 |
| Uratech Tooling | 4 | $200,000 |
| GVA Lighting | 13 | $525,000 |
Tom Chopp, SWS Warning Lights Inc. managing partner said, “Invest Buffalo Niagara afforded us peace of mind throughout what could have been a very complex process. They built the business case and we couldn’t be more happy to now expand to Buffalo Niagara.”
InBN’s attraction of Canadian companies is a result support provided by the organization’s dedicated investors, including Erie County. Erie County’s contribution goes specifically to an economic development and lead generation partner on-the-ground in Canada, CIDEP.
Tom Chopp and SWS Warning Lights Inc. were discovered by InBN through CIDEP. SWS is a Canadian-based advanced manufacturing company that assembles safety warning lights for the construction industry. Upon seeing increased U.S. sales, SWS decided to expand to Erie County to obtain a Made in U.S. label to grow American sales. SWS will invest over $2.3 million and create six jobs through its expansion to Kenmore Avenue in Tonawanda.
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said, ““Erie County is a natural home for Canadian firms interested in establishing American operations, and we have the business infrastructure and competitive workforce to make their investment grow. Companies such as SWS Warning Lights, Inc. are finding that Erie County is a good place for business, and I thank Invest Buffalo Niagara for showcasing all that our region has to offer to prospective Canadian partners.”
Since County Executive Poloncarz took office in 2012, InBN has attracted 45 Canadian wins, creating 1,030 jobs and investing $146,344,405. And since its founding in 1999, InBN has helped 99 Canadian companies expand to Buffalo Niagara investing $602,792,339 and creating or retaining 2,472 jobs.
Carolyn Powell, InBN director, international business development said, “The case for doing business in Buffalo Niagara continues to be compelling to Canadian companies, specifically those based in Ontario, whether because of low operating costs, available space, or talented workforce. Our organization is thrilled to welcome these companies to our region and help them strengthen their U.S.-based business.
InBN has an extensive network of experts in Buffalo Niagara, making expanding here both possible and painless. InBN helps manage the process that comes with U.S. expansion and any unique challenges the companies may encounter, such as incorporation, immigration, tax and accounting, or human resources.
InBN develops its list of target Canadian business leads through aggressive online marketing. Over the 2017-18 fiscal year, InBN launched a Guide to Canadian Business Expansion to the U.S., hosted a webinar on the same topic, and hosted two Nexus application events offering expedited processing. InBN’s Canadian marketing efforts are funded by Erie County, National Grid, New York State Electric and Gas Corporation (NYSEG), and others.
ABOUT INVEST BUFFALO NIAGARA
Invest Buffalo Niagara is the area’s leading private sector economic development and business attraction organization, focused on research, marketing, and business development outreach. With exceptional community connectivity, Invest Buffalo Niagara’s staff provides comprehensive services and project management for companies looking to expand or relocate. From research all the way through ribbon-cutting, Invest Buffalo Niagara is the primary point of contact for economic development in the eight-county Buffalo Niagara region. Learn more: buffaloniagara.org.
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