"UB Believers" Announce Effort to Better WNY's Future

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- A coalition of business and community leaders has formed a new initiative -- UB Believers -- dedicated to strengthening the Western New York economy today and for future generations through growing the University at Buffalo by 40 percent between now and the year 2020.

The broad-based advocacy group with a shared belief that a strong UB will translate into a brighter future for all of Buffalo Niagara was launched at a news conference held today in UB's New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences.

Plans to grow UB by 40 percent will increase its annual economic impact -- currently at $1.5 billion -- to a projected $2.6 billion (as measured in 2006 dollars) by the year 2020, according to a new report by the UB Regional Institute.

Other data in the report released at the news conference indicate that with the projected growth, the number jobs in Buffalo Niagara created outside of the university will approach 20,000 and UB-generated income and sales tax returned to New York State will increase to $97 million a year.

UB Believers, starting with a core group of more than 100 members, plans to grow the number of its participants into the thousands. The diverse membership includes representatives from business, education, community organizations and nonprofit agencies, as well as UB alumni, parents, students, faculty and staff.

Committed in their support of both the region and UB, and willing to advocate on behalf of UB's efforts to increase its impact on the economy and qualify of life in Buffalo Niagara, the members have pledged to recruit others to grow the coalition. To augment their personal efforts, the university this week will begin an email recruitment drive reaching out to thousands of individuals, inviting each to join and, in turn, recruit other members of UB Believers.

Among the first to proclaim his support as a UB Believer at the news conference was Jeremy M. Jacobs, a UB alumnus and civic leader who is chairman and CEO of Delaware North Companies and chair of the UB Council, the university's local governing body.

"For almost four decades, I've enjoyed a close relationship with the university, watching it grow and adapt. Now, more than ever before, UB is essential to helping our community prosper in the 21st century. We need for UB to forge ahead and continue its quest to build its world-class reputation as one of the preeminent research universities in this country."

UB President John B. Simpson thanked members of the core group of UB Believers.

"The University at Buffalo," he said, "is fortunate to have the support of a rapidly growing number of individuals who recognize that the future of Western New York -- an improved economy and quality of life -- is tied directly with the future of UB. Their willingness to advocate on behalf of the university to achieve those goals is very much appreciated."

Simpson noted that as UB grows and prospers, so will the community.

"Every great American city or region has a great hometown university," he added. "The University at Buffalo is ours and it has plans to grow by 40 percent between now and the year 2020.

UB's 40-percent growth agenda is tied to its plans to transform into a model 21st-century public university and rise among the ranks of this country's leading public research universities. The ambitious undertaking is being guided by its UB 2020 strategic plan, focusing on excellence in all areas, and investment in academic programs and research in areas where UB has strategic strengths that place it at an advantage over competing institutions.

Marsha S. Henderson, UB alumna and its vice president for external affairs, said implementation of the university's growth plan, with student enrollment expanding by 10,000 to 37,000 and the size of its faculty and staff increasing to more than 11,300, "will be tangible and impressive, yielding significant economic gains for the region and the state.

"More students equal more academic degrees, and therefore we will have a larger pool of skilled, educated labor to fuel the region's knowledge-driven economy," Henderson noted. "UB investment in research will result in more inventions, patents and start-up ventures, strengthening the university's role as a regional center of innovation.

"A larger UB will also enhance the region's quality of life by offering more educational, cultural and recreational resources and programs to the public, and by having a greater presence in the community."

Four members of the UB Believers core group spoke at the news conference, explaining their reasons for joining the coalition and expressing their support of the university.

Among them was David Barthel, president and chief executive officer of SmartPill Corp., which owns the license to a UB-developed electronically controlled diagnostic capsule.

"I am a true UB Believer because I have seen and lived the UB experience," Barthel said. "SmartPill is a result of the collaborative efforts of UB's technology transfer program, its financial and clinical trial expertise and educational infrastructure that have led to the successful launch of a one-of-its-kind capsule diagnostic medical device."

Kathleen Granchelli, chief executive officer of the YWCA of Niagara, noted that "the YWCA of Niagara has been a University of Buffalo 'believer' for many years.

"In fact," Granchelli added, "we could not have completed Carolyn's House, a supported residence for homeless women and children, without the support of the UB Law School's Affordable Housing Clinic and its Women, Children & Social Justice Clinic. We encourage others to be UB Believers and look forward to our continued partnership." The UB Law School's Affordable Housing Clinic secured $5.6 million in financing for Carolyn's House.

Geraldine Horton, principal of East High School, the first school in Buffalo to create a bioinformatics program, added: "As an educator, I have the pleasure of working with tomorrow's leaders on a daily basis. The University at Buffalo's commitment to improving opportunities for our public school students is vital to our efforts to develop the minds of Buffalo Niagara's young people."

Tim Klein, president and chief executive officer, ATTO Technology, Inc., noted that "UB plays an important role in our economy as a center of innovation and the foundation for our region's competitive workforce."

Klein, who received his engineering degree from UB, added: "As a business owner, I rely heavily on the highly educated and talented people the University at Buffalo graduates every year. Typically, 30-40 percent of the ATTO Technology workforce is University at Buffalo alumni. In addition to the human resources, ATTO has relied on support programs such as the University Incubator program to grow a successful local technology company. UB plays an important role in our economy as a center of innovation, a source of business resources and the foundation for our region's competitive workforce."

Membership in UB Believers is free and open to everyone who wants to support UB's growth to greatness. Those who join UB Believers will be asked to communicate messages to elected officials, as well as to their colleagues and friends, in support of UB initiatives that will positively impact Western New York.

To learn more about UB Believers and become a member, go to http://www.buffalo.edu/YourUB.

The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, the largest and most comprehensive campus in the State University of New York. UB's more than 27,000 students pursue their academic interests through more than 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. Founded in 1846, the University at Buffalo is a member of the Association of American Universities.