UB, business owners, state officials highlight success of START-UP NY

Karyn Tareen grew up in Tonawanda and graduated from UB in 1998. Like many of her classmates, she left Western New York to start a career. Now, the Florida resident is replanting roots here by expanding her business into UB’s Baird Research Park in Amherst.

“We are really looking forward to pulling the brain power out of UB,” said Tareen, chief executive officer for Geocove, a company that creates geographic information system (GIS) products for emergency management.

She was lured back to the Buffalo Niagara region by START-UP NY, an economic development program created by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo that allows universities to identify areas where new and expanding businesses can operate for 10 years without paying state business, corporate, income, sales or property taxes, or franchise fees.

Tareen was among a handful of business owners to speak during a roundtable discussion Wednesday at UB’s Gateway Building in downtown Buffalo about how START-UP NY is helping them build their respective companies.

The program is creating a “thriving culture of innovation” statewide by linking universities with businesses and industry, President Satish Tripathi said.

UB has been the most active institute of higher learning in START-UP NY since Cuomo announced the program in October 2013, with 48 companies having pledged to move or expand in Western New York and work with the university to further their respective businesses. The companies plan to create 1,540 jobs and invest more than $47 million in the region.

Each company has ties to the university’s academic and research strengths, will collaborate with UB faculty researchers and offer internships, scholarships or jobs to students.

Christina Orsi, UB associate vice president for economic development, said the program is changing the perception that New York State is an unfriendly environment for business.

Leslie Whatley, START-UP NY’s executive vice president, urged patience because job growth and sustained economic development often require years of work.

“This is a marathon, not a sprint,” she said.