| Description: | “Anchor institutions” are organizations with a stable commitment in the community; they have major investments where they are located and are not readily moved. Economic development that involves anchor institutions as foundational to its success is a strategy that has been utilized in urban communities to foster collaboration among and between education, health, business and government sectors. Such collaboration maximizes the impact of economic development initiatives. The anchor convening, “Anchor Institutions and the New Economy in Buffalo” was an outgrowth of the Economic Opportunity Panel (EOP) Report project. Led by the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, and as a result of EOP Partner discussions, several EOP partners agreed on the need for facilitating a city-wide discussion about an anchor institution strategy that could expand upon and enrich the workforce and economic development goals inherent in recommendation one of the EOP Report. A city-wide convening was held in February 2015 to provide a forum for national foundations and other leaders in this movement to begin exchanging information about this approach with local community leaders. National co-sponsors included the Ford Foundation, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the F.B. Heron Foundation, the Open Society Foundations and the Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities. |
| Project/Activity Leader(s): | Mary Gresham, Vice Provost |
| Unit: | Educational Collaboration and Engagement |
| Department: | Educational Collaboration and Engagement |
| City: | Buffalo |
| State: | NY |
| Country: | United States |
| External Funding: | Yes |
| Funding Source: | Ford Foundation |
| Start Date: | 2014-03 |
| End Date: | active |
| Internal Partners: | UB Regional Institute, School of Architecture and Planning |
| External Partners: | Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo; John R. Oishei Foundation; Ford Foundation; City of Buffalo, Mayor's Office; People United for Sustainable Housing (PUSH) Buffalo; Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus Inc. (BNMC); Annie E. Casey Foundation; F.B. Heron Foundation; Open Society Foundations; Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities |
| Are UB students involved? | No |
