Letter Sent to the WNY Regional Economic Council.

Hello,
 
I write on behalf of Young Citizens for ECC, an advocacy group of students and young professionals dedicated to the growth and development of Erie Community College.
 
We are interested in bringing to the attention of the WNY Regional Economic Development Council an unprecedented opportunity to bring ECC's proposed $30 million Health Sciences Center for Excellence, slated for its North Campus, to the City Campus in downtown Buffalo. Such a facility could become the hub of the college's health sciences programs and contribute to the ongoing growth and development of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, now the leading job creator in Western New York.
 
We believe bringing this facility to the City Campus is the only alternative consistent with the smart growth and workforce development objectives of the WNY Regional Economic Development Strategy Plan. With 50% of all health sciences workers in the United States being educated at community colleges, it only makes sense for Erie Community College to become a more active partner in Buffalo's fast growing health sciences industry. The proposal simply must be shifted to the regional hub of downtown Buffalo where this investment can have the strongest impact.
 
The State University of New York recently submitted a proposed $15 million budget earmark to build this academic building at ECC's North Campus to Governor Cuomo for his consideration. The Governor has a 30-day window to amend this proposal. We are seeking the support of the WNY Regional Economic Development Council for such an amendment to shift this State investment to the City Campus where it can contribute to the ongoing development of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.
 
We would be pleased to present our case at the next scheduled meeting of the WNY Economic Development Council. Thank you kindly for your consideration. Please do not hesitate to contact me at (760) 408-7898 for further information.
 
Sincerely,
 
Bernice Radle
Chair, Young Citizens for ECC

Buffalo common council passes resolution!!

On Monday, the Buffalo common council voted and passed unanimously a resolution that asks ECC to build their health sciences center for excellence in downtown Buffalo instead of Amherst! Great news!!
We are very thankful to have such understanding, progressive political leaders in the Buffalo
Common council.
More information will be posted soon.

Young Citizens for ECC to Cuomo: "Over our dead bodies!"

Young Citizens for ECC to Cuomo: "Over our dead bodies!"

BUFFALO, NY -- Young Citizens for ECC delivered a message today to Gov. Andrew Cuomo: “The ECC North Campus expansion happens over our dead bodies!”

The group is protesting the State University of New York’s proposed $15 million budget earmark to build a Health Sciences Center for Excellence at ECC’s North Campus, rather than the City Campus where it can tap into emerging opportunities at the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.

“We are calling on Gov. Cuomo to stop this runaway freight train,” says Bernice Radle, chair of Young Citizens for ECC. “It’s time to bring this Health Sciences Center for Excellence downtown where it belongs.”

Young Citizens for ECC is calling on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to amend the earmark and shift the proposal to the City Campus, consistent with smart growth and workforce development goals of the Governor’s recently released WNY Regional Economic Development Strategic Plan.

“When Gov. Cuomo unveiled his regional economic development plan, there was reason for optimism,” says Bernice Radle. “Now we see this plan is already being ignored.”

SUNY forwarded the proposed earmark to Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday for his consideration. The Governor has a 30-day window to amend the proposal.

“Buffalo has a long history of not implementing its plans, but we believe Gov. Cuomo can discontinue this pattern,” says Radle. “The smart growth solution to ECC expansion is to build in the regional hub of downtown Buffalo.”

The Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus is now the leading job creator in the Buffalo/Niagara Falls region, which the Brookings Institute recently found had the nation’s 4th highest income growth among metro areas during the past two years.

“Why would ECC ignore an unprecedented opportunity to locate steps from the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus?” asks Radle. “ECC's proposal is insanity, pure and simple.”

In recent months, both the UB Medical School and the Health Sciences Charter School have have either relocated or committed to relocate to the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. Young Citizens for ECC is counting on Gov. Cuomo and his Regional Economic Development Council to make Erie Community College a more active partner in Buffalo’s fast growing health sciences sector.

“It’s time to expand ECC’s City Campus,” declared Radle. “It’s downtown or bust!”

For more information, contact Bernice Radle, Chair of Young Citizens for ECC, at (760) 408-7898 or youngcitizensforecc@gmail.com.

Cuomo announces 15 million for ECC North?!

This came out today.
http://www.buffalonews.com/city/communities/amherst/article714275.ece

Do not stress. We are working on this. We have been growing in numbers over the last 6 months and ramping up silently.
We will have an official press release soon.

Thanks for everyone's support!

Just some great examples of how the BNMC is spurring growth in the area.

We decided to show some great examples of how the BNMC is really spurring growth. ECC should really be on top of this and take advantage of it. Students want to be in a walkable, dense area with access to everything. We want to have a campus that can provide internship possibilities, networking and ultimately jobs. ECC needs to realize that the BNMC is our future and putting a heath and science building in Amherst does exactly the opposite of what we want.

Today the global vascular building was featured in Buffalorising because it is almost complete. This building will provide many jobs that ECC can provide education for. Great stuff!
http://www.buffalorising.com/2011/09/construction-watch-global-vascular-institute.html

Today another project was featured - this is housing related. This building has been rehabbed and was a spin off of all the jobs and growing housing demand that the BNMC is providing!
http://www.buffalorising.com/2011/09/1040-delaware-avenue-nears-completion-benefits-from-medical-campus-growth.html

Today on WBFO there was an article about the completion of St. Vincents Health and Science Charter School. This is a high school that felt that they needed to relocate from Tonawanda to the BNMC area in order to take advantage of the location and opportunities to link students to the industry. Additionally, they rehabbed a beautiful, vacant building that was abandoned by ECC!
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wbfo/news.newsmain/article/1/0/1848948/WBFO.News/.Health.Sciences.Charter.School.opens.in.new.building

August ECC Updates!

August was a quiet month.. sorta..
Bernice had a five question interview in Artvoice which can be viewed here: http://artvoice.com/issues/v10n27/five_questions

On the 31st of August, Greg, Bernice and Jim went to the ECC Board meeting where Greg had the opportunity to speak for two minutes. It was great to see that Darius Pridgen and Joel Giambra showed up! The meeting went so well, the board is now twisted into a pretzel as they try to decide how to fund this unwanted Amherst project.
The link is here: http://www.buffalorising.com/2011/09/ecc-north-campus-cxpansion-dead-or-dying.html

To recap - If you want to sign our petition, here is the link: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/595/026/589/

Again, we thank you all for your support. We are working very hard to get ECC to link the students to the jobs, internships and networking potential that the BNMC holds. Here are some photos of the action.

Is ECC in Trouble???

This article was published on Wednesday.... looks like they are having some trouble over there with their accreditation.

http://bit.ly/qhYGms