Southwestern New York State Economic Plan

about

engagement

background & swot

action plan

evaluation

conclusion

data visuals

pdf plan

Built Environment

Focus Group Meetings

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Infrastructure surfaced as a primary concern in every focus group and is a major barrier to regional resilience. Investing in public works, creating equitable access to broadband, repairing and replacing housing, and creating robust transportation systems are all critical to ensure the region is resilient to adverse weather events and economic crises.

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Strengths

natural environment, waterways, downtowns with infrastructure ready to be revitalized

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Weaknesses

aging housing stock and lack of modern options, limited public transit and unserved areas, areas without broadband, decreased DPW budgets, failure to use a collaborative regional approach

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Opportunities

incentives for EV purchases and charging equipment, new federal infrastructure funding, regional collaboration opportunities, potential tax revenues from increasing demand for residences

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Threats

global instability, inflation affecting cost of construction materials, lack of funds allocated to region

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Households Without a Vehicle in 2021: Regional average 11.3%
Allegany County       Chautauqua County      Cattaraugus County
7.4%                        12.9%                               10.8 %

According to the U.S. DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics, U.S. households "spent an average of $10,961 on transportation in 2021—the second largest household expenditure category after housing when spending on behalf of households, such as healthcare benefits, is excluded... Rural households spent more on transportation ($13,665) and experienced a higher transportation cost burden (17.3 percent) than urban households ($10,362 and 13.2 percent, respectively) in 2021."

Objectives

• Objective #1 Invest more resources into public works to repair infrastructure, manage water, and increase climate resilience
• Objective #2 Strengthen the region's infrastructure workforce
• Objective #3 Invest in all modes of transportation and expand availability of public transit
• Objective #4 Improve housing quality at all income levels
• Objective #5 Expand equitable access to broadband
• Objective #6 ​Support transition to renewable energy

ACTION PLAN