releases: http://higgins.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/the-buffalo-center-for-arts-and-technology-makes-a-formal-debut-with-a
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| http://higgins.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/the-buffalo-center-for-arts-and-technology-makes-a-formal-debut-with-a | The Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology Makes a Formal Debut with a Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony at 1221 Main Street in Buffalo | 2013-12-06 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Democrat | House | NY | Brian Higgins | H001038 | higgins.house.gov | legacy | The Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology (BCAT) made its official debut Friday, at 1221 Main St., in mid-city Buffalo. The Center began holding after-school arts classes for high school students from three Buffalo high schools this week. The students are enrolled in both digital and traditional design courses. Health Sciences career training for under-employed and unemployed adults will start in January, with an application period beginning later this month “Our two fold mission of supporting high school students through graduation and helping unemployed Buffalonians get back to work, begins in a Center full of beauty and light, designed to reflect the promise we see in the students who will join us here,” said Center Executive Director Amber M. Dixon. The Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology is modeled after Pittsburgh entrepreneur Bill Strickland’s highly successful Manchester Bidwell Corporation, a two-pronged template which marries the arts and vocational programs to create social change. "The Buffalo center symbolizes a powerful example of the city's willingness to help those most in need. This is a strong sign that good things are happening in Buffalo," said Mr. Strickland, who was a special guest at Friday’s ribbon-cutting. John Koelmel, President of the BCAT Board, said the Center is tremendously pleased and proud to partner with Bill Strickland and his team to fuel dreams for Buffalo’s Inner City residents with new learning opportunities. "The Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology will ‘Make the Impossible Possible’ and position those who have been disadvantaged and underserved for real and sustainable success. Starting today, we will change the lives of those we touch by giving them the ability to realize their dreams with a renewed sense of excitement, focus and confidence. In so doing, we celebrate today another very important piece of the puzzle in solving the education and human challenges we face as a community," Mr. Koelmel said. Congressman Brian Higgins applauded the local effort to create a Buffalo-specific version of Strickland’s time-tested formula. “Often success comes not through reinventing the wheel but by taking what works and building on it,” Higgins said. “The Buffalo Center of Arts and Technology is based on a program that is working already in other communities. With this grand opening we bring that tested success to Buffalo and give our city’s youth and job seekers the tools to thrive. I commend the many partners who saw the opportunity, believed in the vision and made this center possible.” The John R. Oishei Foundation, First Niagara Financial Group, Empire State Development Corporation, Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo and the Peter C. Cornell Trust were prime movers in establishment of BCAT. To date, they have committed more than $4 million in public-private seed money for the design, build-out and operation of the youth and adult programs. “This opening is the culmination of a major collaborative effort to bring a proven, successful educational and workforce development model to Buffalo…one with measurable outcomes. It is an outstanding example of what can be accomplished when organizations pull together and share a vision -- a vision of a better Buffalo,” said Robert D. Gioia, President, The John R. Oishei Foundation. “BCAT will support our kids, helping them graduate from high school, and train unemployed adults for current, in-demand job openings. It is designed to create hope and opportunity here,” Mr. Gioia added. ”The Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology is a ‘priority project’ of the Regional Economic Development Council. BCAT was selected because of the positive educational experience and training for opportunities within the Medical Campus that it will provide to both at-risk youth and adults struggling with employment” said Michael Ball, Deputy Director, Empire State Development, WNY. “This type of attention and training can make a difference in peoples’ lives by giving them the confidence to graduate and putting them on a fruitful career path that will ultimately have a positive impact on the local economy.” Class offerings for high students include traditional studio arts, digital music and video arts courses. BCAT has contracted with Arts Partners for Learning to tap into a deep pool of local teaching artists. Health Sciences career courses in Pharmacy Tech and Medical Coding, running nine months, will begin in January. Training will be geared toward employment opportunities at the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus and throughout the local health care sector. “Across Buffalo, new projects are creating new jobs for city residents, particularly on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, and all of our residents deserve to be part of the growth and progress in Buffalo,” said Mayor Byron Brown. “The new Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology is a beacon of hope to young people, as well as under-employed and unemployed adults in Buffalo. By addressing the disconnect between training, education, and the job market, the new facility will help ensure that city residents are ready to capitalize on educational and training opportunities that will help them succeed in the 21st century workforce,” Mayor Brown added. “Matching employees with available jobs can be a challenging task, and it becomes even more difficult if those employees lack the skills necessary to compete in today’s workforce,” said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz. “Through the efforts of the Buffalo Center for Arts & Technology, more students and adults looking to transition into promising careers will have access to the programming, professional guidance, and education they need to fill available positions and foster future success.” The Center projects that it will serve over 400 Buffalo high school students and train 200 under-employed or unemployed adults over the next three years. HHL Architects of Buffalo, the firm which designed the building’s adaptive reuse from a circa 1900 automobile factory to Artspace Buffalo’s work/live lofts in 2007, also designed BCAT’s space. R & P Oak Hill Development LLC was the general contractor. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |