Niagara Global Tourism Institute’s TReC Becomes 11th WIN Member
Niagara University’s Niagara Global Tourism Institute announced the affiliation of its emerging TReC Incubator with the Western New York Incubator Network.
TReC is the 11th member of the WNY Incubator Network (WIN). The incubator network members support almost 200 startups that have created hundreds of jobs and attracted more than $20M in outside investment.
WIN is a collaborative effort of incubators and entrepreneurial service providers from Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, and Niagara counties working together to turn the region into a hotbed of entrepreneurial activity. The group shares best practices, networking, mentoring, educational, and financial resources to better assist incubator client companies.
“We couldn’t be more pleased to be part of the Western New York Incubator Network. Our affiliation with the incubator network opens up Niagara County and its entrepreneurs to a host of resources not previously available to our area,” said Patrick Whalen, the Director of the NGTI. “This is especially important for the city of Niagara Falls as the unprecedented overhaul of its downtown is setting the stage for a local economic renaissance.”
WIN is funded through the NYSTAR Innovation Hot Spot program, which offers a unique set of opportunities for companies in their earliest stages. As a member of the incubator network, TReC can assist fledgling companies in benefitting from WIN’s support system, which includes formal connections to the University at Buffalo, tax incentives for incubator companies; professional services deals & discounts; SBIR / STTR assistance; and pitch prep services.
TReC, located at 616 Niagara Street, in Niagara Falls, is a coworking incubation space with a mission to help would-be entrepreneurs formulate ideas and launch businesses. Operated by the Niagara Global Tourism Institute, TReC anchors a transformational live-work-play redevelopment of historic buildings in Niagara Falls, NY.
TReC’s tourism-technology focus is a unique asset in WNY designed to magnify the region’s existing momentum in the entrepreneurial and tourism fields. TReC works directly with entrepreneurs starting a new company from conceptualization to their eventual establishment in the community. In addition to WIN’s benefits, TReC provides startup companies with full suite of services through its business incubator including business plan development and implementation, mentoring, and guidance with legal and financial matters.
“As economic development practices have changed to focus on nurturing small businesses from their earliest stages, we felt that it was imperative for Niagara County to have a place where entrepreneurs can get the best help possible in taking their ideas for a new company from the drawing board to the real world. Becoming part of WIN helps us do just that”, Whalen said.
“TReC is a natural fit with WIN as we seek to support companies that will grow and thrive in Western New York,” said Tom Murdock, GM for the WNY Incubator Network. “The natural asset of the Falls combined with the business smarts of NGTI represent an exciting opportunity to build forward-looking companies and jobs in Niagara Falls and beyond.”
With plans to open its doors in September of 2019, TReC has already been selected by the International Business Innovation Association (InBIA) to host its 2019 eBuilders Forum on October 3-4, 2019. The conference is expected to bring 150 business incubation professionals from around the world to Niagara Falls.
About Niagara Global Tourism Institute
As part of Niagara University, the NGTI is an initiative focusing on collaborative partnerships between the public and private sector to enhance the regional tourism product and global competitiveness.
About Western New York Incubator Network
Managed by the University at Buffalo, WIN connects startups to UB’s vast resources, including student talent, faculty expertise, entrepreneurial support programs, and world class facilities. WIN is funded through the NYSTAR Innovation Hot Spot program and chartered by the WNY Regional Economic Development Council (WNY REDC). Our incubators serve the western region of New York State, including Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, and Niagara Counties.
About Niagara University
Founded by the Vincentian community in 1856, Niagara University is a comprehensive institution, blending the best of a liberal arts and professional education, grounded in our values-based Catholic tradition. Its colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, Education, and Hospitality and Tourism Management offer programs at the baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral level.
As the first Vincentian university established in the United States, Niagara prepares students for personal and professional success while emphasizing service to the community in honor of St. Vincent de Paul. Niagara’s institutional commitment to service learning has led to its inclusion on the President’s Honor Roll for Community Service every year since its inception in 2006, and its recognition with the Carnegie Foundation’s Classification for Community Engagement.
