ECIDA Spotlight                               

Do "cloth diapers" conjure up thoughts of white cotton and safety pins? Well, think again. These eco friendly diapers come in a variety of styles and options - covers with washable or disposable inserts. The store draws customers from all around the area; many come with questions about using cloth diapers and find the variety of Made in America products Stephanie offers to be an added bonus. "Next week, a bunch of Moms from the northtowns are piling in a van and taking a road trip to my shop." Open just 2 months, Stephanie is already expanding to include gift baskets and online sales. Will we see another F & F store in the future? "It's something that I'm already thinking about" she confesses.

Contact the ECIDA at 716.856.6525 to see if a microloan is right for your small business.

If you are a small business, don't miss this opportunity to meet with buyers from federal, state and local government agencies and national businesses who are looking to buy your products and services! Not sure how to take advantage of this opportunity? Sign up for one of the FREE "Selling to the Government Pre-Matchmaker Training" webinars or workshops to help you put your business on the fast track to securing government contracts. To find a training session near you - check out the sessions being offered March through May at various locations throughout WNY (PDF Brochure). Will you be attending the Small Business Week Awards Luncheon, also being held on May 9th? Join us in congratulating Rani Orzechowski, Owner of The Cleaning Pixies (http://www.thecleaningpixies.com) who is the ECIDA's 2012 Small Business Award winner! To learn more about the event or to register, please click here: http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/event/59541#register

We also manage several short line railroads including the Buffalo Southern Railroad (BSOR) that runs from Buffalo to Gowanda. This track continues on to Jamestown and eventually to Pennsylvania! The railroad siding in Eden stores the Erie County Fair train cars used by James E. Strates Attractions to bring the Fair to Hamburg each year. In 2011, the BSOR was selected as a recipient of a New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) grant aimed at replacing railroad ties, upgrading a failing side track and installing a new switch. The total project costs were $817,500 - funded primarily by the NYSDOT with assistance from the BSOR and ECIDA. Bert Feasly (BSOR) teamed up with Phil Riggs (ECIDA) to oversee the construction and logistics of completing this work on an active track. To learn more about the BSOR please visit their website at www.buffalosouthernrr.com. To inquire about railroad service to your site please contact the ECIDA at 716.856.6525. And the next time the Erie County Fair rolls into town, think of the ECIDA!