Southwestern New York State
Economic Plan
Charting A Course for Regional Prosperity 2023-2028
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Southwestern New York State
Summary Background
Located in a landscape and climate that is environmentally resilient, resource rich, ecologically diverse, and beautiful, the region of southwestern New York – which includes Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua counties and lands of the Seneca Nation – has tremendous natural assets and appeal for residential living and business. The region is conveniently located within easy reach of Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and Cleveland, and well positioned to take advantage of new developments in remote work and outdoor recreation economies.
The Region and Its Environment
The region covered by Southern Tier West Regional Planning and Development Board extends for 3,400 square miles. Each of Southern Tier West's three counties is also adjacent to lands of the Seneca Nation: the Allegany Territory, which rests adjacent to Cattaraugus County on 30,469 acres; the Cattaraugus Territory, which follows Cattaraugus Creek from Gowanda downstream to Lake Erie on 21,618 acres along Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, and Erie counties; and the Oil Springs Territory, which is 1 square mile with Cuba Lake access along the borders of Allegany and Cattaraugus counties.
The region is the entire home to the Allegheny River Watershed, and it also contains large portions of the Genesee River Watershed and small portions of the Chemung River Watershed. The Allegheny River Watershed alone contains over 26,335 acres of freshwater lakes, ponds, and reservoirs and 4,086 miles of freshwater rivers and streams. The region is also home to Allegany State Park, the largest state park in New York and the third largest state park in the U.S.
The region is the entire home to the Allegheny River Watershed, and it also contains large portions of the Genesee River Watershed and small portions of the Chemung River Watershed. The Allegheny River Watershed alone contains over 26,335 acres of freshwater lakes, ponds, and reservoirs and 4,086 miles of freshwater rivers and streams. The region is also home to Allegany State Park, the largest state park in New York and the third largest state park in the U.S.
Demographics
Southern Tier West's region contains 124 towns and villages with a total 2020 decennial census population of 251,155. Largest population centers are located in Wellsville, Alfred, Olean, Salamanca, Jamestown and Dunkirk. The Seneca Nation currently has a total enrolled population of over 8,000 citizens, many of whom live within the Southern Tier West region. In 2021, 6.2% of the region's population identified as people of color, and 5% identified as Hispanic or Latino regardless of race. Educational attainment of a bachelor's degree or higher is 20%-25% across the region. Six percent of the region's residents do not have health insurance coverage.
Employment, Wages, and Major Industries
The region slowly but steadily proceeds along the path to economic recovery after the 2020 crisis. Job growth occurred across the region, at rates between 2% and 3% in both 2022 and 2023. Average wages are rising substantially each year since 2019, with growth from $38,433 in 2019 to $44,828 in 2022 (NYS DOL Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, July 2023). The region has a substantial base in manufacturing, retail trade, and health care and social assistance services, as well as construction, accommodations and food, and agriculture. There are seven higher education institutions and a robust number of businesses: 4,961 employer enterprises according to the 2020 County Business Patterns surveys. Interest in small business development services is rapidly climbing per data from SBDC (page 12). Appendix B, pages 26-29 presents more detailed regional data.
SWOT Analysis
Over the past four decades, southwestern New York State has struggled with the same themes that many rural communities are facing across the United States: aging population, exodus of young adults, decline of industry, and a decreasing tax base that is unable to support necessary upgrades to infrastructure. The task of the 2023-2028 CEDS focus groups was to hone in on the opportunities that are unique to this region.
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Opportunities to Pursue 1) Attracting Remote Workers and Increasing The Region's Tax Base 2) Reusing Empty Buildings and Open Sites Available for New Industries and Green Energy 3) Pursuing New Opportunities to Support Workforce Development 4) Directing More Capital Into the Region, Especially For Infrastructure 5) Attracting Trails and Waterways Tourism 6) Pursuing New Opportunities for Tech Hubs, Business Incubators and Other Entrepreneurship Support Structures 7) Working Collaboratively Across the Region to Improve Infrastructure, Increase Resilience, and Strengthen The Business Community Strengths To Build UponFreshwater Lakes and Rivers; Forested Lands; Outdoor Recreation Opportunities; Higher Education Institutions; Work Ethic and Tenacity of Citizens; Talented Generation of Retirees with Skills to Offer.
Top ASSET: WATER |
Analysis: What Opportunities is SWNY Uniquely Positioned to Pursue? Using a reinvented SWOT analysis rubric from Creative Disrupters, the CEDS focus groups analyzed the region's opportunities foremost: Identify Opportunities That Build on Strengths and Pursue Those Opportunities While Addressing Weaknesses and Monitoring Threats |
Weaknesses To Address
Infrastructure; Low Capital; Housing Stock; Public Transit Coverage; Lack of Connected, Attractive Communities; Lack of Shovel-Ready Sites and MWBE-certified businesses; Resistance to Change; Poor Efforts Toward Collaborative Leadership
Top CHALLENGE: INFRASTRUCTURE
Top CHALLENGE: INFRASTRUCTURE
Threats To Monitor
Regulatory Barriers; Inflation; Assets Owned Outside Region; Global Instability
