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NIAGARA COUNTY, NEW YORK COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY (CEDS) Submitted To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION JUNE 2015 Prepared by: 6311 Inducon Corporate Drive Sanborn, New York 14132 www.NiagaraCountyBusiness.com Samuel M. Ferraro, Commissioner NIAGARA COUNTY LEGISLATURE www.niagaracounty.com William L. Ross, Chair Clyde L. Burmaster, Vice-Chair Mark J. Grozio Owen T. Steed Jason A. Zona Dennis F. Virtuoso, Minority Leader Kathryn L. Lance Richard L. Andres Randy R. Bradt David E. Godfrey Anthony J. Nemi Wm. Keith McNall Richard E. Updegrove, Majority Leader Dr. John Syracuse Michael A. Hill Jeffrey M. Glatz, Niagara County Manager ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Legislator Richard E. Updegrove, Chair Legislator Kathryn Lance, Vice Chair Legislator Richard L. Andres Legislator Randy Bradt Legislator William Keith McNall Legislator Jason Zona Niagara County, New York Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy 2015 i COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMICDEVELOPMENT STRATEGY COMMITTEE Ross, William L. Updegrove, Richard E. Ferraro, Samuel M. Alterio Brennen, Deanna Bittner, James Butcher, John Cliffe, Robert Collura, Joseph DeSantis, Thomas Dyster, Paul A. Ellis, Wright H. Helfrich, George Johnson-Renda, Angela R. Lovejoy Maloney, Cathy MacDonald, Kevin Oswald, Lynn M. Redman, Michael Restaino, Anthony Roma, Frank See, David Smith, Brian Solomon, Erik M. Wallace, Lee Weeks, Thomas Wolfgang, Jerald Zimmerman, Michael Glatz, Jeffrey M. * Schoepflin, Christopher * Ortt, Honorable Robert G.* Ceretto, Honorable John D. * Corwin, Honorable Jane L.* Schimminger, Honorable Robin * Walter, Honorable Raymond * Higgins, Honorable Brian * Collins, Honorable Chris* * Ex-Officio Niagara County, New York Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy 2015 ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The development of this Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) document for Niagara County was made possible by the insightful guidance and devotion of the CEDS Committee. The diversity of interests represented on the CEDS Committee and their shared vision for the future of Niagara County ensures that the benefits resulting from this effort will be distributed equally throughout the county. Many organizations and county government departments provided input critical to the analysis of data and development of the vision statement and program goals. Chief among these are the Niagara County Department of Economic Development and the Niagara County Industrial Development Agency. Special thanks are extended to the staff of the Center for Economic Development for their valuable input and preparation of this report. Gratitude is owed to all those who assisted in this collaborative effort to devise a strategy to bring sustainable prosperity to the people of Niagara County. Special appreciation is extended to the twenty chief elected officials, municipal clerks, and community development directors of Niagara County’s cities, towns and villages. The U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration’s effort to promote cohesive planning, within the bounds of the entities eligible for financial assistance, has been favorably received by Niagara County’s mayors and supervisors. Recognition of the importance of comprehensive economic development planning is illustrated by the timely and thoughtful priority projects list contributions made by each community and duly noted. The Niagara County Legislature, on behalf of the citizens of Niagara County, wishes to thank all organizations and individuals who participated in the preparation of this important document. Because the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) is a living document which is expected to evolve, responding to changing needs and opportunities, every effort will be made to guarantee the integrity of the productive working relationships that made this high quality report possible. Niagara County, New York Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy 2015 iii Table of Contents I. Background Information ........................................................................................................................ 1 A. Demographic and Socioeconomic Data .............................................................................................. 1 1. Population ................................................................................................................................ 1 2. Employment ............................................................................................................................. 2 3. Per Capita Income ................................................................................................................... 3 B. Natural and Cultural Resource Profile ................................................................................................ 3 1. Geography and Climate ........................................................................................................... 3 2. Environment and Natural Resources ....................................................................................... 4 C. Infrastructure ....................................................................................................................................... 4 1. Transportation .......................................................................................................................... 4 2. Water and Sewer Service ......................................................................................................... 7 3. Utilities .................................................................................................................................... 7 4. Buildings and Sites .................................................................................................................. 8 D. Industry Sectors ................................................................................................................................... 9 1. Manufacturing ......................................................................................................................... 9 2. Hospitality and Tourism .......................................................................................................... 9 3. Agriculture ............................................................................................................................. 10 E. Regional and State Context ............................................................................................................... 11 1. General Context ..................................................................................................................... 11 2. Regional Economic Development Council............................................................................ 11 F. Factors Affecting Economic Performance ......................................................................................... 12 1. Direct Factors ........................................................................................................................ 12 2. Indirect Factors ...................................................................................................................... 12 G. Community and Economic Resiliency .............................................................................................. 12 II. SWOT Analysis ................................................................................................................................... 13 A. Business Climate ............................................................................................................................... 13 1. Strengths ................................................................................................................................ 13 2. Weaknesses ............................................................................................................................ 13 3. Opportunities ......................................................................................................................... 13 4. Threats ................................................................................................................................... 13 B. Industry Sectors ................................................................................................................................. 13 1. Strengths ................................................................................................................................ 14 2. Weaknesses ............................................................................................................................ 14 3. Opportunities ......................................................................................................................... 14 4. Threats ................................................................................................................................... 14 C. Infrastructure ..................................................................................................................................... 15 1. Strengths ................................................................................................................................ 15 2. Weaknesses ............................................................................................................................ 15 3. Opportunities ......................................................................................................................... 15 4. Threats ..................................................................................................................................