The Buffalo Niagara Partnership has teamed up with Ontario’s Hamilton Chamber of Commerce and Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce to present Unleashing the Power of the Mega-Region, a unique summit focused on business opportunities on both sides of the border. The afternoon event takes place on Thursday, April 14, 2016, from 1:30 to 5:00 p.m. at the Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel in Niagara Falls, NY. Dottie Gallagher-Cohen, President and CEO of the Partnership says the summit aims to inform, educate and motivate both American and Canadian businesses to explore cross border growth.
“The Mega-Region encompasses a population of over 8 million and generates a GDP of over $400 billion. This single, international marketplace is one of the most powerful economic regions in North America,” said Gallagher-Cohen. “It is for that reason we partnered with our counterparts immediately across the border to develop a program aimed at helping companies tap into that engine to drive business growth and investment on both sides of the border.”
Keanin Loomis, president and CEO of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, echoes Gallagher-Cohen’s sentiments, expressing the likenesses between the two cities and the importance of collaborating to overcome any obstacles that exist.
“Hamilton has such a similar history to Buffalo and we’re so close, that it makes so much sense to talk about shared challenges and opportunities,” said Loomis. “I applaud the Partnership for advancing the concept of the Mega-Region and for helping break down the psychological, cultural and economic impediment that the border has become.”
Mishka Balsom, president and CEO of the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce, believes this event will allow greater collaboration throughout the cross-border business community.
“The Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce is eager to support and foster the growth of cross border business in this region,” said Balsom. “This summit will be a wonderful opportunity for members of these great organizations to learn and network with one another to realize the Mega-Region’s full potential.”
Unleashing the Power of the Mega-Region will feature keynote speaker Nadja Piatka, CEO of Nadja Foods, who built her food business on cross-border opportunities. She will share her expertise and explain how she grew her business from a one-hundred-dollar investment in her own kitchen to an international supplier to the food industry with locations in the U.S. and Canada. The afternoon event will also feature facilitated discussions with opportunities for attendees to take part in the creation of a detailed white paper on doing business in the Mega-Region. A coordinated networking hour will follow, enabling companies to interact with other attendees who are interested in growing their business in the bi-national region.
In addition to Gallagher-Cohen, Unleashing the Power of the Mega-Region will include addresses by Loomis and Balsom, as well as Audrey Oswell, Chief Operating Officer of Seneca Gaming Corporation, the title sponsor of the summit. The event sponsor for the occasion is Enabling Ideas and supporting sponsors include Barclay Damon, the Niagara International Transportation Technology Coalition (NITTEC) and Sonwil Distribution Center.
Mega Region Event Day Partners include:
- Great Lakes Metro Chambers Coalition
- Infotech WNY
- Innovate Niagara
- Niagara County Industrial Development Agency
- Niagara Region
- Small Business Development Center – Niagara
- U.S. Department of Commerce
- World Trade Center Buffalo Niagara
Tickets to the Unleashing the Power of the Mega-Region business summit are available now for members of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership and Greater Niagara and Hamilton Chambers for $50 (US); $75 (US) for non-members. Tickets can be purchased and more information is available online at www.thepartnership.org/events-calendar.
