Shuffle Off To Buffalo |
VITAL STATS Bi-national location puts the region in the center of North Americas business community. |
| Population: 2 million |
| Land Area: 1,512 sq miles |
Border Patrol: An international commerce center, accommodating 38 percent of the total trade conducted between the U.S. and Canada. |
Telecommunications: Buffalo is one of the most wired cities in the U.S. |
Got 20 Minutes? Buffalo is called the "20 minute city" because most points of interest are 20 minutes apart |
| Some say the Buffalo, NY, region is in an enviable location. Within an 8 hour drive, you can reach markets catering to 55 percent of the U.S. population and 62 percent of the Canadian population. |
| Just to give you an idea of the numbers, the Buffalo--Niagara Gateway between Buffalo and Canada is the second--busiest gateway in the country (Detroit--Windsor being first), according to the Erie County Industrial Development Agency. (ECID) |
| The Buffalo region has long played a pivotal role in food manufacturing and distributionall the way back to the grain industry in the 1800s, when Buffalo was one of the countrys largest grain--milling communities. In fact, grain producers today still use barge to transport the commodity. More than 5,200 food companies operate in the Buffalo--Niagara region. |
| The ECID is enthusiastic about the benefits for food logistics and distribution operations in the region over the next two decades. "This is an excellent location for serving markets in southern Ontario, New York State, northern Pennsylvania and New England." |
| Rail and highway accessibility is a top benefit attracting companies considering a food manufacturing or processing operation in the area. In fact, Buffalos history as the second--largest rail center in the country at one time means the region supports an excellent rail infrastructure for todays companies. Theres the CSX, running east--west from the East Coast to Chicago; the Norfolk Southern with major north--south access; and the Canadian National. "We are only one of two points of entry into the Northeast for the Canadian National". |
| A number of food facilities in the region are active users of rail and rail--to--truck intermodal. The highway infrastructure includes east--west I--90, a connecting spur to I--95, and U.S. 219. On the Canadian side of the region, the QEW runs right into the Hamilton and Toronto markets. |
| One of the regions aggressive projects involves a partnership with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. "Its all about how to package the region as a logistics center and create an inland port in the Buffalo area," explains Cappellino, adding the partnership also includes the Buffalo-Niagara Enterprise and the CSX Railroad. |