Business First of Buffalo articles from June 1995

Business First of Buffalo archives from June 1995

Georgia-Pacific nails down expansion. (Georgia-Pacific Corp.)
June 5, 1995... Lumber supplier scours area for sites for 150,000-square-foot warehouse Buoyed by the explosion in home-repair and lumber-supply stores locally, Georgia-Pacific Corp. has started a search for a new warehouse. Real estate and economic...

April turns out as cruel month for local economy. (1995; Western New York)
June 5, 1995... Economic storm clouds are gathering over Western New York. April brought three clear warning signs of possible turbulence to come: * The monthly Business First Economic Index dropped 5.3 percent in April to 1,032 points, its lowest score in...

Bank of Holland names new CEO to replace Haws, 93. (Harold Haws)
June 5, 1995... Whoever succeeded Harold Haws at the Bank of Holland knew that it would be like following legendary coach Vince Lombardi. Haws, 93, led the tiny bank as CEO since 1958 and has been a director for almost 50 years. Others can only imagine what...

HMO executives enjoy healthy compensation packages. (Western New York health maintenance organizations)
June 5, 1995... What Western New York HMO executives bring to a health plan is experience. A [TABULAR DATA OMITTED] good salary and benefits package keeps them here. That's according to Dr. Arthur Goshin, founder and president of Health Care Plan, the area's...

Artcraft Burow closes, business sold to Savage Printing. (Artcraft Burow Printers; Savage Printing Co.)
June 5, 1995... Artcraft Burow Printers has closed and the printing business will be sold to Savage Printing Inc. of Buffalo. The 128-year-old Buffalo-based Artcraft ceased production May 31 and laid off its remaining 11 workers. Administrative staff will...

HMOs, specialists spar over plan by Legislature to open networks. (health maintenance organizations; physicians; New York)
June 5, 1995... HMOs could be forced to accept more doctors while allowing members to seek care outside the HMO network under proposals before the state Legislature. Supporters say the bills would protect patients, doctors and other providers, but the HMOs...

Connor, Smalt assume posts at Greater Buffalo Partnership. (Harold Connor; Bev Smalt)
June 5, 1995... The Greater Buffalo Partnership has hired a local businessman and the president of a suburban chamber of commerce to fill two key vice president posts. The business advocacy group has hired Harold Connor, recently retired president of Business...

Mayer Bros. taps spring water to quench thirst for new markets. (Mayer Brothers Inc.)
June 5, 1995... Like a medieval alchemist, John Mayer hopes to turn water into gold. In recent years Mayer has expanded an old-fashioned family business far beyond origins rooted in a red wooden barn, golden brown cider and the sweet smell of autumn. Mayer...

Acme says it has no clues on what's driving up stock. (Acme Electric Corp.)
June 5, 1995... It might be the company's supplier link to electronics giant AT&T, officials at Acme Electric Corp. say. Or it could be speculation that the East Aurora company, having fought its way back to profitability in 1994, has turned itself into an...

Executive appointments put Society's imprint on KeyCorp merger. (Society Corp.; KeyCorp Inc.)
June 5, 1995... The naming of KeyCorp top-level executives, including former Buffalo banker Gary Allen, is seen by some analysts as yet further evidence that Society Corp. has emerged as the dominant partner in 1994's so-called "merger of equals" with Key-Corp....

Area companies prosper in Amherst. (New York)(Amherst Chamber of Commerce: Business to Business Product & Service Expo)
June 5, 1995... The same high quality of life that has made Amherst a popular location for residents has also assisted in attracting more than 580 companies - ranging from light industry and high technology to administrative support services and corporate...

Amherst maintains big share of top 100 companies. (New York)(Amherst Chamber of Commerce: Business to Business Product & Service Expo)
June 5, 1995... Ask Jordan Levy what sparked his company's stunning rise, and you'll get a surprising answer. "Luck. A lot of luck," he says. "Luck and sheer hard work of 400 people at UCA allowed us to capitalize on our opportunities." UCA is shorthand...

Amherst, Williamsville put the zip into new businesses. (New York)(Amherst Chamber of Commerce: Business to Business Product & Service Expo)
June 5, 1995... Jay Steinbrenner followed the classic advice of career counselors everywhere. He chose a field - vocational rehabilitation services - and began climbing the occupational ladder, one rung at a time. Steinbrenner worked for 15 years at several...

Amherst bucks Buffalo out as leader of retail industry. (New York)(Amherst Chamber of Commerce: Business to Business Product & Service Expo)
June 5, 1995... A recent report from the U.S. Census Bureau confirms what has been apparent for several years: Buffalo no longer is the retail hub of Western New York. That title now belongs to Amherst, according to the 1992 Census of Retail Trade, released...

WNY faces challenge in readiness for tomorrow's jobs. (Western New York)
June 12, 1995... The 21st century arrives with bells, whistles and hoopla in less than five years. But is the Niagara Frontier ready for the new millennium? Or is it imprisoned by its past? Some businesspeople, educators and others fear that the area's...

By clinging to past, area can't get grip on future, critics say. (Western New York)
June 12, 1995... Minneapolis, one of the nation's top 10 cities in college education levels, has Medical Alley, a cluster of high-paying, fast-growth companies. Its roots grow from the pacemaker, first manufactured there, but invented in Western New York by...

Lenders seeing refi mini-boom. (mortgage refinancing)
June 12, 1995... Drop in mortgage interest rates perking up consumer interest The refinancing boom in home mortgages dried up in 1994 when interest rates climbed. But with rates in the Buffalo area having dipped below 8 percent on 30-year, fixed-rate...

County lawmakers express support for ECMC reforms. (Erie County Medical Center)
June 12, 1995... Erie County Medical Center is finding general support in the county Legislature for plans to build a health network that would be on par with networks forming in the private sector. ECMC officials envision expanding the role of the 550-bed...

WNY proves tough market for small business enterprises. (Western New York)
June 12, 1995... Susan Kerrigan has simple advice for anyone starting a small business in Western New York: Think big. Kerrigan speaks from personal experience. She is chairwoman of Marketing Resources of New York Inc., a direct-response advertising agency...

Home Depot in North Buffalo adds McDonald's to the menu.
June 12, 1995... When the 117,000-square-foot Home Depot opens in North Buffalo next month, shoppers will find the golden arches tucked into the store along with lumber, nails and paint. In what will be one of the first such ventures in the nation, McDonald's...

Study pegs economic impact of Peace Bridge at $6.9 billion.
June 12, 1995... When Stephen Mayer took his first look at preliminary numbers for the Peace Bridge's local economic impact, he thought a decimal point was misplaced. The study, commissioned by the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority, found that $23...

Area needs makeover, but lacks foundation for change. (Western New York)
June 12, 1995... Western New York built its image on steel, the iron horse and the horseless carriage. But except for the auto industry, most of the rest of the area's former economic backbone has disappeared. The area needs a makeover for the 21st century in...

Talk of the town is about Buffalo's future downtown.
June 12, 1995... There's a new parlor game in town. It's called What's Wrong with Downtown Buffalo? The players are ivory tower think tanks, colleges, urban planners and community groups. It's been the subject of a downtown summit jointly organized by Buffalo...

Construction industry must stay informed on schools.
June 12, 1995... The construction and renovation of schools is big business in Western New York. Many real estate and construction firms do business with schools, and architects are also frequently called upon to design or renovate schools. The profound...

USAir cuts back jet service to Buffalo. (Buffalo, New York)
June 19, 1995... Smaller commuter planes replace larger aircraft to several destinations More travelers in and out of Buffalo are flying on planes that barely allow space to open a briefcase and don't accommodate as much luggage. USAir, Greater Buffalo...

Moss pledges to sharpen up dull Sabres. (Buffalo Sabres CEO Doug Moss)
June 19, 1995... Just as the Buffalo Sabres get one construction project off their backs, the team faces another, more vexing building job. Though the Sabres secured the last of the public and private financing packages needed for the $127.5 million Crossroads...

Convenience business fuels decline of corner repair shop.
June 19, 1995... For most of the 20th century, service stations that pumped gas and repaired cars were common sights in Western New York and across the American landscape. But these traditional businesses called "combo" stations - are being pushed aside by the...

State court system floats plan for unit for commercial suits. (New York State)
June 19, 1995... A state court system proposal would create a unit specifically to handle commercial lawsuits. But whether a new arm of the state courts is needed in Buffalo is up for debate. Area lawyers show general support but a local task force says...

Extending medical care: nurse practitioners and physician assistants free doctors for complicated cases.
June 19, 1995... The health-care worker in the white lab coat who gave you your last physical or stitched your son's cut knee might not have gone to medical school. The individual might have been a nurse practitioner or a physician assistant hired by your...

WNY computer companies expect little fallout from IBM-Lotus deal. (computer firms in western New York State)
June 19, 1995... International Business Machines Corp.'s takeover of Lotus Development Corp. could mean gains for Buffalo's Computer Task Group Inc., company officials said. CTG is one of three area computer service companies to do regular business with IBM....

Labatt taps WNY to roll out Copper-brand specialty brew. (John L. Labatt Ltd. launches Labatt Copper in Buffalo, New York)
June 19, 1995... Buffalo's thirst for beer helped make it one of the first U.S. cities to land the latest product from John L. Labatt Ltd. Labatt Copper has made its U.S. debut in Buffalo and a handful of other Northeastern markets including Vermont, Maine and...

Companies find ISO process includes educating customers. (manufacturing quality standards)
June 19, 1995... When pioneers left to settle the West, few worried about having to explain why the trip was necessary. Yet as small manufacturers explore a new world of international standards, some are taking time out to tell their customers on what ISO...

Difficulties at Lafayette Court typify Buffalo's office troubles. (Buffalo, New York)
June 19, 1995... Faced with losing an anchor tenant in a soft downtown market, the owner of the Lafayette Court building has transferred it back to the mortgage holder. ACG Lafayette Square Associates turned the eight-story, 200,000-square-foot Class A office...

Wellness programs: "hard sell" with a big payoff.
June 19, 1995... Health-Care reformers use words like "networks" when they're talking about doctors and "capitation" when they're referring to payment systems. But when they get to "prevention" or "wellness," they're talking about you. Reformers are pinning...

Ginger Kids is the result of a well-baked idea with an international flavor. (Buffalo, New York-based cookie company)
June 19, 1995... Patricia Green is banking on two common traits she believes most children possess: a love of all kinds of cookies and a never-ending sense of curiosity. Green is owner of Ginger Kids, a Buffalo company that ties together different cultures and...

Paladino buys Courtyard Mall. (real estate developer Carl Paladino; Buffalo, New York)
June 26, 1995... Investment group pays $367,500 for long-vacant building on Main Street The long-vacant Courtyard Mall in downtown Buffalo has been sold to an investment group led by Buffalo developer Carl Paladino. In a deal that ends a decade's worth of...

Baxter to construct 150,000-square-foot Lancaster building. (Baxter International Inc.; Lancaster, Ohio)
June 26, 1995... Baxter International Inc. is consolidating three operations into a 150,000-square-foot building on Walden Avenue in Lancaster. Construction is expected to start early next month on the project, which is being developed by Uniland Development...

Private-sector participation puts welfare recipients on the job. (Career and Success Program)
June 26, 1995... When Connie Fulgham's husband walked out on her three years ago, he left her with no skills, no job prospects and two children. Fulgham depended on a dead-end assembly-line job and then welfare until she heard about the CAST - short for Career...

Sonwil Distribution plans warehouse on parcel at airport. (Sonwil Distribution Inc.; Greater Buffalo International Airport)
June 26, 1995... Sonwil Distribution Inc. plans to convert a vacant hangar at Greater Buffalo International Airport into a 150,000-square-foot warehouse complex. A development plan presented to the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority also includes new...

St. Bonaventure backs plan to upgrade Olean Airport. (St. Bonaventure University)
June 26, 1995... St. Bonaventure University believes a consultant's plan that would bring private investment and daily scheduled flights to Olean Airport has more behind it than a wing and a prayer. Under a plan submitted to the Olean Common Council on June 20,...

Buffalo banks not fearing rumble of merger of two banking giants. (First Union Corp.; First Fidelity Bancorp.)
June 26, 1995... While executives at Marine Midland Bank and M&T Bank see no immediate threat, some analysts say a merger to create the "Beast of the East" is a warning shot. The planned merger of First Union Corp. and First Fidelity Bancorp will create the...

HMOs, PPOs stake out Southern Tier for growth. (health maintenance organizations; preferred provider organizations; Western New York)
June 26, 1995... The rural counties of Western New York have become popular destinations for old and new HMOs. * The Buffalo-based Health Care Plan Inc. received state approval May 31 to go into Allegany, Chautauqua, Orleans and Genesee counties. * North...

Manufacturers fight fatigue factor of longer day-shorter week cycle.
June 26, 1995... Come Monday morning, almost every employee longs for a longer weekend and a shorter workweek. At least two local companies are fulfilling those wishes, but there's a catch: 12-hour workdays. Those businesses are watching the effects as they...

Consulate's Leduc links Canadian-WNY business. (Canadian senior trade commissioner Leo Leduc)
June 26, 1995... From his offices in the Marine Midland Center, Leo Leduc sees Western New York as part test lab and part launching point for Canadian service companies that want to export. Leduc has been appointed the senior trade commissioner at the Canadian...

IDAs debate policies on assisting hotel development. (industrial development agencies)
June 26, 1995... Should industrial development agencies offer bond packages to hotels? The Erie County Industrial Development Agency says yes, but is reviewing its policy. The Amherst Industrial Development Agency steadfastly says no. Others like the...

BJ's Wholesale uses Allegany to test prototype for rural club. (BJ's Wholesale Club Inc.)
June 26, 1995... Fans, friends and employees of BJ's Wholesale Club only have to visit Allegany to get a glimpse of a part of the warehouse chain's future. And that's just what about 12 regional managers from East Coast clubs did earlier this month when they...

Four of a kind: small business flashes credit cards to pay daily bills.
June 26, 1995... When Eskay Metal Fabricating goes shopping for nuts, bolts and other small supplies, Jeff Subra probably pulls out the plastic. "I don't carry purchase orders or checks with me, so credit cards are the convenient way to go for...

Viatical companies offer payout for terminally ill.
June 26, 1995... It's safe to say that most people who buy life insurance policies have in mind a way to provide for their family's future after they have departed. But some people have life insurance policies and no family. For them, the insurance policy can...