U.S. Department of Commerce Invests Approximately $25 Million to Strengthen Advanced Manufacturing Sector in Buffalo, New York, Through American Rescue Plan Regional Challenge

WASHINGTON – Today, President Biden will announce the Western New York Advanced Manufacturing Coalition as one of 21 American Rescue Plan Build Back Better Regional Challenge, the most impactful regional economic development competition in decades. Funded by President Biden’s American Rescue Plan and administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), the Regional Challenge is awarding approximately $25 million in grants to the Western New York Advanced Manufacturing Coalition, led by the Empire State Development Corporation, to strengthen the advanced manufacturing sector in Buffalo, New York.

With this funding, the Western New York Advanced Manufacturing Coalition will invest in the distressed eastern side of Buffalo, New York and accelerate the growth of advanced manufacturing in the region.  The projects funded as part of this award include development of the Northland Corridor in Buffalo’s East Side, renovating two industrial buildings and creating a clean energy microgrid to power the campus. Funding will also expand a small- and mid-sized manufacturer training program at the Buffalo Manufacturing Works and build out a career readiness program to expand on-ramps into advanced manufacturing careers.

“I am grateful to Senator Schumer for his leadership on economic development and critical attention to this vital project,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “Thanks to funding from the American Rescue Plan and the efforts of the Western New York Advanced Manufacturing Coalition, this project will revitalize manufacturing, create jobs, and build a diverse workforce for Buffalo and the surrounding region.”

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity that can transform Western New York’s legacy as an industrial powerhouse into a new national advanced manufacturing and tech hub, bringing back good-paying jobs from overseas and training our workforce to equitably benefit from those new opportunities. This game-changing $25 million award, for which we thank President Biden and Commerce Secretary Raimondo, will help to revitalize East Buffalo and show the rest of the country what I’ve long known: Western New York can be the foundation for America’s advanced manufacturing future,” said New York Senator Chuck Schumer. “I observed, listened and channeled the voices of the people of Western New York all the way to the President — to help make this major initiative in workforce training and industrial revitalization a reality. This funding will make sure that East Buffalo and Western New York are driving forward in the effort to bolster and expand advanced manufacturing in the USA.”

“EDA is proud to support the vision of the Western New York Advanced Manufacturing coalition,” said Alejandra Y. Castillo, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. “This EDA investment will help transform Buffalo, bringing economic opportunities to communities that need it most and positioning the region for an upward trajectory for decades to come.”

“This funding represents a significant investment in Western New York’s manufacturing sector and will create jobs and economic opportunities in East Buffalo,” said New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. “As I wrote to Secretary Raimondo in March, this funding will invest in Western New York’s advanced manufacturing corridor, support an inclusive workforce, and provide the necessary infrastructure for the growth of advanced manufacturing as a facet of the regional economy.”

“The American Rescue Plan was enacted to help our country get back on its feet after the shock caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The investment that the Biden Administration is making in the City of Buffalo through this $25 million Build Back Better Regional Challenge award is catalytic, and recognizes the tremendous potential of our community, and the hard-working people of Western New York, which is so critical especially now, in the wake of the racist mass shooting that took place here in May,” said Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26). “We are truly thankful that, through this award, President Biden, Secretary Raimondo, and Assistant Secretary Castillo are recognizing this potential and helping us build a better future.”

The Western New York Advanced Manufacturing Coalition is one of 21 winners – each a regional coalition of partnering entities – that will receive awards between $25 million and $65 million to implement an average of six integrative projects that will enable each region's economic transformation and competitiveness.

The Build Back Better Regional Challenge (BBBRC) is an unprecedented competitive federal grant program that provides each regional coalition with significant investments to tackle a wide variety of projects – including entrepreneurial support, workforce development, infrastructure, and innovation – to drive inclusive economic growth. Each coalition’s collection of projects aims to develop and strengthen regional industry clusters – all while embracing economic equity, creating good-paying jobs, and enhancing U.S. competitiveness globally. Projects span 24 states and include $87 million to two primarily Tribal coalitions and over $150 million for projects serving communities impacted by the declining use of coal.

The 21 BBBRC awardees were chosen from 60 EDA-designated finalists that each received approximately $500,000 in funding and technical assistance to continue developing their cluster strategies. The funding for each coalition is approximate, with awards to be signed later in September. Those 60 finalists were chosen from a Phase 1 applicant pool of 529 applications, which exemplifies the tremendous demand for transformational economic development approaches. EDA will continue to support all 60 finalists with the creation of a Community of Practice that will provide technical support, foster connectedness with peer regions and build capacity.

The Build Back Better Regional Challenge is one of EDA’s many programs aimed at building strong regional economies and supporting community-led economic development. EDA was allocated $3 billion in supplemental funding under the American Rescue Plan to assist communities nationwide in their efforts to build back better by accelerating economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and building local economies that will be resilient to future economic shocks. As a part of this funding, EDA allocated $300 million through a Coal Communities Commitment to support coal communities in pandemic recovery and help them create new jobs and opportunities, including through the creation or expansion of a new industry sector. Specifically, EDA has dedicated $100 million of its Build Back Better Regional Challenge funds and $200 million of its Economic Adjustment Assistance funds to directly support coal communities. Grantees for EDA’s full suite of American Rescue Plan programs will be awarded on a rolling basis through September 30, 2022. For more information, visit https://www.eda.gov/ARPA/.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.