Five Appointed to Buffalo, N.Y., Economic-Development Board
The rapid evolution of Erie County's economic development agency continued Monday with County Executive Joel A. Giambra announcing the appointment of five new board members. The ECIDA will take a more Republican flavor when Giambra's appointees replace members seated by former County Executive Dennis T. Gorski, a Democrat. The board will also have new leadership because the term of ECIDA Chairman William A. O'Loughlin Jr., an investment broker appointed by Gorski, has expired, and he was not reappointed.
The ECIDA is a public benefit corporation authorized to grant tax abatements, low interest loans and venture capital to help stimulate the local economy.
The agency currently manages several large projects, including public infrastructure improvements for the General Motors plant expansion in Tonawanda. Also leaving the ECIDA board are Thomas F. O'Donnell Jr., an assistant regional director for the United Auto Workers, and businessman Anthony Diina.
Two ECIDA positions held by members of the Erie County Legislature are also changing hands. Named to the ECIDA board for two-year terms are Kevin J. Clarke, vice president and general manager of Quebecor World Buffalo; Fred B. Saia, president of Lackawanna-based Oneida Group, and Susan A. McCartney, director of the small business development center at Buffalo State College.
Giambra said Saia, a Native American, joins the board with a good understanding of minority-owned business issues.
Former Legislature Chairman Charles M. Swanick is being replaced by Chairman Albert DeBenedetti.
Michael H. Ranzenhofer, a Clarence Republican, is replacing Michael A. Fitzpatrick, a South Buffalo Democrat who retired from the legislature at the end of December. "I think this is a well-balanced group and I'm very pleased with the nominees that we have," Giambra said. The board changes follow the permanent appointment this month of a new executive team at the agency with 26 employees and a $ 2.6 million annual budget.
Thomas A. Kucharski, president of the Buffalo Niagara Enterprise marketing campaign, was named president and CEO of the ECIDA. James J. Allen, executive director of the Amherst Industrial Development Agency, was named to a dual position as executive director of the ECIDA.
Giambra has actively sought to overhaul the agency, and merge it with similar economic development agencies representing cities and towns, to fulfill a 1999 campaign pledge to grow the county economy and create jobs. Most of those agencies now operate as an "economic development alliance" led by the ECIDA. Saia believes further consolidation is needed.
"I like the regional IDA idea. That's where my ideas come in strong," he said. Giambra also reappointed Patrick P. Lee, chairman and CEO of International Motion Control in Buffalo, to a two-year term.
O'Loughlin was ECIDA chairman for 11 years, the longest tenure in the agency's history. He said he has enjoyed working with the ECIDA board and staff, and respects Giambra's right to appoint different members.
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