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Former Medaille University campus sells for $9.9M
Come September, students of the Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School will be taking classes at the former Medaille University campus. Charter School Development Corp., a nonprofit working with Buffalo Academy of Science, purchased the 14-acre campus...
Small-business grants you can apply for this month
Small-business owners are optimistic about their growth prospects as we move toward the midpoint of 2024. <\p> According to a recent WalletHub survey of business owners, more than 60% of small-business owners believe now is a good time to grow. That's despite 64% who believe inflation won’t be coming down soon, and 60% who say their business is in need of financing more than it was a year ago. <\p>
What an evolving retail landscape means for America's downtowns
The challenges facing America's downtowns are frequently linked to the staggering amount of empty office space sitting in towers. But another important segment of the downtown revitalization conversation is how to fill a growing amount of vacant retail space in cities across the country.<\p> Once the core shopping hubs of cities and metro areas, downtowns for many retailers have lost favor to more suburban locations, even predating the Covid-19 pandemic, thanks to population and demographic patterns. Even the suburban retail story has faced challenges, though, with U.S. malls posting an average vacancy rate of 8.7% in 2023 — the highest of any retail property type tracked by Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. (NYSE: JLL).<\p>
25 WNY professionals win Excellence in Health Care Awards
The 24 winners of the sixth annual Excellence in Health Care awards make a difference in their workplace every day. These high-achieving professionals in the health care industry are physicians, nurses, administrators, board members, advocates and...
Country club waitlists are surging. What about initiation fees?
Country clubs that made it through the leaner years of the Great Recession and the turmoil of the Covid-19 pandemic are expected to see blue skies in 2024 and beyond — and that means waitlists at well-situated clubs will likely remain robust. <\p> Right now, indicators are showing clubs are largely in the driver's seat in 2024 with increased demand and limited supply, according to Chris Davis, a director at Club Benchmarking, which uses club data and evaluations to help them plan for their capital needs.<\p>
These are America's wealthiest colleges and universities
Endowments at the 100 wealthiest colleges in America fell by an average of 3.3% between 2021 and 2022, but they rose an average of 35% since 2019. <\p> That’s according to a recent Business Journals analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Education.<\p>
This startup took a hard look at its staffing and employment costs
The past two years have been challenging for startups. But at Circuit Clinical, the team has used the time to focus on what’s really important, restructure as needed and reduce costs while growing its business. <\p> “The key question we had to ask ourselves is 'what are we at our core really great at?' ” CEO Irfan Khan said. “And let’s focus on that.”<\p>
Buffalo Unlocked: This month, prime (yet vacant) real estate
Few things embody the idea of untapped potential quite like the site of the former Seneca Mall in West Seneca, the subject of this month's installment of Buffalo Unlocked.<\p> The 40-acre site right off the Thruway has sat largely vacant for three decades. Plenty of proposals have emerged, but none has come to fruition. <\p>
Work from home doesn't work for this Amherst CEO
A.J. Baynes is CEO of the Amherst Chamber of Commerce with a membership of 1,084 individuals and companies that come from 79 ZIP codes from here to Rochester. A majority of those members are CEOS of companies with 2 to 20 employees. <\p> A graduate of St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute and the University at Buffalo, Baynes has been head of the chamber for the last six years. Before that, the 2016 40 Under 40 winner was chief of staff for state Sen. Patrick Gallivan for eight years. A resident of Amherst, Baynes, 41, is married to Lauren Baynes, vice president of operations at Bounce Imaging, and the father of 23-month Cecilia.<\p>
More than 100 restaurants have opened in WNY so far this year
No one can complain there's nowhere new to eat in Western New York.<\p> Buffalo Business First reported on more than 100 restaurant openings since January across the eight-county region. We excluded reopenings for eateries that closed for renovations or other reasons.<\p>
Buffalo's malls are 67% occupied on average; one came in at 32%
When walking through regional malls — even now, during what is typically the busiest quarter for retailers — it’s not uncommon to see mall walkers who aren’t shopping, empty storefronts and closing or moving signs.<\p> One sign at an Eastern Hills Mall store even read: “I do not know what is going on with the mall.” <\p>
New restaurant planned at former Rue Franklin in Buffalo
A new French restaurant is in the works for the former Rue Franklin in Buffalo.<\p> Quenelle is under development at 341 Franklin St. by business partners Rachel Herman-Gross, Mary “Leacel” Hillenbrand and Bryan Bryndle, who are planning a French bistro-style restaurant in the space that has housed the Crabman seafood restaurant since 2019.<\p>
CEO became much more than a consultant for her clients
What started out as a consulting business has evolved into something much bigger for Christian Johnson, owner of Beautiful Brains. <\p> The firm, which has a subcontract with the Department of Defense for compliance and information technologies consulting, became a distribution company during the pandemic, Johnson said. <\p>
Where distressed commercial real estate loans are piling up the fastest
The rate of loans backing office properties that are considered distressed or delinquent is on the rise as landlords of outdated office towers struggle to refill vacant spaces and cash flow on those buildings becomes a bigger challenge. A recent analysis by New York-based credit-ratings agency Kroll Bond Rating Agency...
Onboarding AI? There are ethical risks to consider.
Long-time telecommunications attorney explains ethical risks and best practices for companies onboarding AI tools. Travel insurance more popular thanks to canceled and delayed flights. Niagara University to house Medaille's records, transcripts. One of Buffalo's biggest law firm names a new managing partner.
Hispanic Heritage Cultural Institute to break ground on $30M project
The project has grown in size and scope, culminating in a 38,000-square-foot facility that will focus on Buffalo's Hispanic heritage and history. $18M Hispanic Heritage Institute eyes summer groundbreaking. Building a Better Buffalo: Casimiro Rodriguez boosts Hispanic heritage. Redeveloping former houses of worship presents opportunities. Architects and engineers priorities' shift...
Villa Maria creates position for former Bitwise exec; new director at UB's Gender Institute
Christopher Banks was one of 900 employees to get laid off from Bitwise earlier this year. He's starting a new position at Villa Maria: special assistant to the president. Niagara University to house Medaille's records, transcripts. 3 WNY colleges slip, 1 rises in Niche's 2024 Best Colleges Rankings. UB sets...
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