Tagged: Business

Controversy is overshadowing proposed improvements to the U.S. side of the Peace Bridge. The proposal is dividing members of the bi-national authority that administers the key piece of infrastructure.

Governor Andrew Cuomo outlined a plan while visiting the University at Buffalo campus Wednesday to encourage new businesses to locate near SUNY campuses. The initiative called “Tax Free NY” would allow businesses to operate without paying income, sales, property, or business taxes for ten years.

The SUNY Research Foundation is funding several institutions of higher education, including five in upstate. The funds will be used to foster entrepreneurship across New York State.

You may have heard of "flash mobs," where a mass of people invade a public space to make a scene. Now the idea has been turned on its head by "cash mobs," where large crowds of consumers show up at small businesses to spend money. But it's not just about propping up the local economy.

It's 5 o'clock on a Friday, and mostly quiet in the Lander's Men's Store, a mom-and-pop clothing store in Jamestown, N.Y. But shop owner Ann Powers is anticipating a mob.

More than 175 local businesses looking to rebuild Western New York turned out for an Economic Action Summit on UB's North Campus this morning. 

The forum included eight workshops covering small business, infrastructure and commerce, agriculture and energy, and education.  The session was sponsored by Rep.Kathy Hochul.   

A long-time ice cream and dessert shop on Elwmood  has called it quits. 

The Sweet Tooth announced on its facebook page that after 21-years, it closed it's business over the weekend. 

The facebook post says due to family health issues, increased expenses and uncertainty the operates have decided to shut its doors.  For year's Sweet Tooth was located on Elwmood Avenue between Hodge and Utica, but in May of 2006 it moved to the corner of Elmwood and Allen Street at 94 Elwmood. 
 
Here is the entire post on the Sweet Tooth facebook page:

Western New York's leading advocate for selling 100 percent made in America products is spreading his message nationwide.

Perhaps you've driven by -- or even shopped at -- the Made In America Store on Maple Street, just off the Route 400 exit in Elma.  It was opened by Mark Andol in April 2010 after his manufacturing company, General Welding and Fabricating, fell on hard times because of the recession.  Andol says his company lost $3 million in business to China.  He says keeping that money in the U.S. would save jobs and boost the economy.