Amanda Cruise and Ash Patel interview Thomas A. Kucharski, president and CEO of Invest Buffalo Niagara, about how his organization has helped transform Western New York from a legacy manufacturing market into a growing tech and advanced industry hub. He explains how their team centralizes regional data, builds commercial listing systems, and acts as a neutral connector to incentives, infrastructure, and workforce programs—without taking commissions—so companies can de-risk expansions and relocations. Tom shares case studies ranging from Odoo’s tech expansion and Milk-Bone’s reinvestment to Tesla’s solar facility and large industrial site redevelopments on former steel mill land, highlighting the importance of shovel-ready sites and public–private collaboration. He also digs into cross-border Canadian investment, tariffs, and why developers and local businesses “pay to play” not for sweetheart deals, but to collectively grow jobs, investment, and the regional tax base.
Thomas A. Kucharski
Current role: President & CEO, Invest Buffalo Niagara
Based in: Buffalo, New York
Say hi to them at: https://buffaloniagara.org
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