Erie County Legislature

Majority Caucus

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: Friday, January 26, 2018
CONTACT: Erich Weyant (716) 796-1619 | erich.weyant@erie.gov

Baskin Working to Ensure Equal Access in

Economic Development
In her capacity as Chair of the Minority and Women Business Enterprise Committee, Erie County
Legislature Majority Leader April N.M. Baskin invited Stephen Tucker, President and CEO of the
Northland Workforce Training Center to address a meeting of the committee.

Scheduled to open in the fall of 2018 in the heart of the East Side of Buffalo, Northland is a collaborative
initiative led by The Economic Development Group – a nonprofit that includes the Buffalo Niagara
Manufacturing Alliance, Catholic Charities of Buffalo, Inc., Goodwill Industries of WNY, Inc., and the
Buffalo Urban League with support from Alfred State College and Erie Community College. The
Workforce Training Center’s mission is providing a comprehensive pathway to manufacturing and
energy careers. The range of services includes: industry education, job training, leadership development,
life skills training, quality of life and community assistance, and job placement.

“I am excited for the workforce training and educational opportunities the Northland Corridor will bring,
as well as its location on Buffalo’s East Side,” said Majority Leader Baskin. “In addition it is my top
priority to insure that the center insures equitable contracts for minority and women business
enterprises in terms of their facility operations, that there are clear lines of communication of
opportunity with the community and a transparent bidding process accessible to those who would
benefit.”

“The Northland Workforce Training Center has the potential to transform Buffalo’s workforce by
creating a population who possess the high-technology skills necessary for jobs in advanced
manufacturing,” said Legislator Barbara Miller-Williams “In my role as a member of the Minority and
Women Business Enterprise Committee, I am particularly interested in the strides the center is taking to
include minority vendors in the development of the center. I thank Mr. Tucker for providing insight into
Northland’s bidding process and the steps they are taking so that minority and women owned
businesses receive fair access. Ensuring that MWBE vendors are included from the ground up in this
process will bode well for the end result. I pledge to support their efforts and this committee will remain
in contact with them throughout the development process.”

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