Buffalo - Mayor Byron Brown and the Buffalo Economic Renaissance Corporation has announced plans to transform the former East Utica Library into a state of the art business incubator with eight separate incubator spaces, as well as the East Side location for the BERC Resource Center. Mayor Brown announced a $500,000 commitment from the City to move the project forward.

Located on Utica Street at the heart of the Jefferson Avenue commercial corridor, the site is adjacent to the Cold Springs and Hamlin Park neighborhoods. The incubator is well positioned to capture some of the increased commercial development and expanded employment opportunities occurring in Buffalo’s east, north and south sides. The space will offer low-rent, state-of-the-art offices for start-up businesses or businesses graduating from “home-based” status to professional office space. The center will also provide free, quick and reliable solutions to business needs in the city, whether the request is from an entrepreneur or an on-going enterprise. There will also be space for employment training and opportunities, as well as an opportunity for contractors to view RFP’s and other City of Buffalo opportunities.