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Home > City Departments > Office of Strategic Planning > Economic Development

Economic Development

Economic Development (BERC)


The Business Development Group is responsible for providing an array of services and programs to help retain and expand existing City firms. The Buffalo Economic Renaissance Corporation (BERC) will be the lead agency in this effort. Special emphasis is given to the retention and growth of Small, Women & Minority owned firms. The Business Development Group also carries out a series of marketing and business recruitment activities designed to attract new businesses to the City. Working closely with the Erie County Industrial Development Agency (ECIDA), Buffalo Niagara Enterprise (BNE), and Development Downtown Incorporated (DDI) the Business Development Group provides site assistance to expanding, existing firms or new firms considering a location in the City.


The Business Development Group also provides professional, technical assistance services for small and minority-owned businesses. These services include assistance with business management, marketing, financing, personnel administration, and other related small business needs. Partnerships with other agencies such as the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) allow the Business Development Group to provide these services.


The Business Development Group is also responsible for operating Small Business Resource Centers through out the City of Buffalo, which provides assistance to businesses outside of City Hall and into the community, managing the Bond Readiness Program and the Commercial Area Revitalization Effort (CARE) Program.


The Business Financing and Incentives Group facilitates access to and administers several business financing and incentive programs. Such programs include: the Business Loan Fund, the SBA Micro Loan Program, Neighborhood Micro Enterprise Loan Program; Minority Contractor Loan Program, Entrepreneurial Assistance Program, Commercial Area Revitalization Effort, and Empire Zone Program.