Top 11 of 2011

1. We helped establish Benefit Corporations as law in New York State

Delaware District Councilman Michael LoCurto and Buffalo First Executive
Director Sarah Bishop, seen here celebrating the Buffalo Common Council's
endorsement of Benefit Corporation legislation

After nearly two years of advocacy by Buffalo First and our network of partners, New York has become the seventh state to pass Benefit Corporation legislation in mid-December. This landmark law will usher in a new era of business for New York State. It will enable businesses to have the legal protection to make decisions not solely based on profit, but rather in accordance with their organizational mission and fundamental values – harnessing the power of business to solve social and environmental challenges.

2. We Occupied Black Friday

On Black Friday, stores in the Elmwood Village reported an average 62 percent jump in sales from the previous year. Local independent shopping districts throughout Western New York saw increased traffic and spending this holiday season. In no small part because of the active efforts of local business association marketing campaigns, Buffalo First’s “Give Local a Chance” initiative saw overwhelming success throughout the region. More and more, people are turning to local independent retailers for their holiday shopping, keeping more of their money in the local economy. The rebirth of bustling, social, local marketplaces that support the work of local artisans, artists and entrepreneurs signals a major shift in spending priorities.

3. We equipped entrepreneurs with the skills to Grow

Buffalo First launched its quarterly series of business workshops aimed at giving local independent proprietors a leg up and a strong network of peers. These business-to-business events serve as a great way to empower our membership, make locally owned business a priority and strengthen our self-determined local economy.

Business workshops in 2011 included “Mission-based Event Planning” presented by Jennifer Devor of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia and “#GrowLocal: Social Media and Marketing” with panelists from across Western New York including: Steve Soroka, Project Manager and Digital Director at Block Club Media, Inc.; Bernice Radle of Buffalo Energy, Inc.; Kevin Purdy, longtime Lifehacker contributor and author of The Complete Android Guide; Artvoice’s Chris Smith; and moderator Todd Salansky of online thymes, llc.

4. We committed to making local business the anchor tenant at Canal Side

When plans for the redevelopment of Buffalo’s historic waterfront were first introduced to the public, the priority was given to a subsidized mega-retailer to serve as an anchor. This retailer often received significant public funding, while consistently failing to deliver on its economic responsibilities that justified the subsidies in the first place.

Since that time, we have seen the plans modified, but not entirely devoid of the prospect of a mega-retailer. However, through good-faith negotiations, Buffalo First and the Canal Side Community Alliance have pushed the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation to think local first.

As Buffalo First enters another year of advocacy and work to promote local, independent, socially and environmentally responsible businesses first in our region, let’s put the question of Canal Side’s anchor tenant to rest, once and for all. Let’s reserve one of our region’s greatest assets for those who own it—us. Sign the petition now!

5. We moved our money

On November 6th, Buffalo First led Buffalo Bank Transfer Day, part of a national movement, which encouraged people to transfer their savings and loans from large multinational banks to local credit unions, where money literally stays in the community. Buffalo First also held an open community workshop on how to most effectively and responsibly move savings and loans to credit unions in the area. Close to 100 people participated in the protest, and since that time over $100,000 in community assets have been transferred to Western New York credit unions.

6. We celebrated Memorial Day with our local and independent community

On Memorial Day weekend, Buffalo First presented IndieSound in Allentown, a unique musical experience that showcased local musicians while reconnecting Western New Yorkers with Buffalo’s historic Allentown and the independent businesses therein. From jazz to house music, art galleries to clothing stores, people followed their ears in and out of storefronts from Wadsworth to Main Street and everywhere in between.

7. We trended (according to the Wall Street Journal)

The brainchild of Artvoice’s Chris Smith, the #BuffCashMob is taking on the economic revitalization of our region, one local independent business at a time. The #BuffCashMob is a “reverse-Groupon. Instead of businesses offering crazy discounts to get people to mob their stores, the Buffalo hivemind is going to take the initiative and spend money for goods and services at posted prices. The best way to promote and grow Buffalo businesses is to support and patronize them.” Buffalo First has partnered with #BuffCashMob and Smith to promote local and independent establishments as the cash-mob destinations week in and week out.

8. We promoted a greener economy

We partnered with Green Options Buffalo in providing the community with a progressive bicycling program called Bicycle Benefits in order to reward individuals and businesses for their commitment to cleaner air, personal health, and the use of pedaling energy to create a more sustainable community.

9. We Gave For Greatness

Earlier this year, we pledged five percent of new membership income for generated during the Give for Greatness campaign. Why? We understand that our cultural institutions are the lifeblood of our community, and serve as bedrock for many small local businesses, from print shops to restaurants, office supply stores to craft stores, carpenters to data processors, accountants to used furniture dealers. Most area cultural workers live here, raise families, buy and rent property, pay taxes. Many volunteer for their cultural work while holding jobs in other sectors of the economy. They eat, drink, and shop in this region, while being perhaps our most visible and effective ambassadors to the outside world. The work they do, cultural and otherwise, helps make Buffalo and the whole region—which has struggled for decades with severe economic and social distress and an unwarranted image problem—a wonderful and singular place.

10. We Taught By Example

In 2011 we launched “Teaching By Example,” a lecture series that brought one local expert every month to speak and answer questions on their work, their story and their contributions to a new economy in Western New York. Speakers included Kevin and Melissa Gardner of Five Points Bakery, Tyra Johnson of Blue Sky Design Supply, investigative reporter Jim Heaney, city planner Chris Hawley, Geoff Kelly of Artvoice, Prish Moran of Sweetness 7 Café, Tim Bartlett of the Lexington Cooperative Market and Aaron Bartley of PUSH Buffalo.

11. We Put Buffalo First!

81 businesses, 9 nonprofit organizations and 88 individuals. Together, we envisioned and furthered the new economy, in which businesses are investors in the quality of life for all citizens, and profitable enterprises serve community needs, share wealth, and protect the environment. We built the infrastructure for a more just, sustainable, and egalitarian local economy that isn’t measured solely by the bottom line, but also by the quality of life in the place we proudly call home.