Having spent the last decade studying, working and living in five different EU and US cities, I felt clear in what I wanted from a place. Significant scale would help access to the career opportunities I valued, and bring with it the cultural experiences you can only get in a big city.
Without having to push it, Buffalo directly challenged the views I held on what it means to be in a place of opportunity and growth, through the neighborliness, innovative mindset, and hard work ethic of its people and businesses.
Here are a few things I’ve learned so far:
- Buffalo people really love Buffalo
There’s a local pride here that manifests itself as excitement and generosity. People love this city and want to help you experience that as well. From restaurant recommendations to endless happy hour and event invites, I’ve never experienced such a sense of close-knit community in a major city before and have been blown away by how much those I’ve met sincerely want to add to my experience here. This extends to the professional scene where I’ve found a refreshing openness and energy to progress from those now in my network – and all in record time!
- Some big industry leaders are located here
I won’t use the “R-B” phrase, but I will say I completely underestimated the vibrancy of industry in Western New York. Whether it’s Cummins in Jamestown, manufacturing one in three truck engines on the road in the US, or innovative start-ups coming through the 43 North program and going public like ACV Auctions, the success stories here far outperform the scale I expected. The strength of investment coming into the local economy suggests we’re in good shape to see market leaders thrive here.
- Working at Invest Buffalo Niagara is letting me make a real impact
Coming from a global consulting firm, I was nervously excited to move back to my roots of economic development, and into the non-profit sector for the first time. While I’ve had the opportunity to work with great mentors, colleagues and clients in previous roles, there’s something about supporting a business with not only their individual success, but the success of others who benefit from new jobs, growing industry hubs and additions to the B2B customer base in the region. Getting to play even a small part in their stories by helping businesses navigate a move here is a pleasure. In an innovative and passionate culture like the one here, making an impact is so possible and rewarding.
- I have landed in the right City, why others should choose Buffalo too
Hard work is so important, but finding a place that makes hard work as fruitful and successful as Buffalo does can be like finding a diamond in the rough. There’s so much opportunity to develop professionally and personally here, and to have it all with a comparatively low cost of living, 15-minute commute, strong creative culture, and all while surrounded by architectural excellence and fun people is beyond what I could have planned for myself.
[Hear from our CEO Tom, celebrating 25years at the helm]