Southern Tier Empire Zones of Western New York

A Land of Opportunity

Our four Empire Zones in Western New York's Southern Tier region offer unique opportunities to nourish the roots of your growing business.

In an ongoing professional and proactive partnership, the Cattaraugus, Friendship, Greater Jamestown, and Dunkirk/Sheridan Empire Zones facilitate business expansion or relocation to the region.

The Southern Tier offers a receptive and responsive government, an excellent location, carefully planned and developed infrastructure, a dedicated workforce, extensive educational and training support, and abundant natural resources.

Strategically Located

Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Allegany Counties, the three counties comprising Western New York's Southern Tier, are strategically poised to reach inter continental and international markets. Two interstate highways, I-90, the New York State Thruway, and newly designated I-86, the Southern Tier Expressway, as well as two rail lines, CSX and Norfolk Southern, supply the commercial heart of all three counties, connecting area businesses to major commercial hubs and international ports from New York City to Chicago and from Toronto to Pittsburgh.

More than 120,000,000 people reside within a 500-mile radius of the Southern Tier, representing more than 50% of the U.S. population and 60% of the nation's buying power. Sixty-two percent of Canada's population and 80% of its manufacturing activity are also in this radius.

Within a 60 minute commute, more than 30 colleges and universities in New York and Pennsylvania provide education and training in engineering, ceramic technology, electronics, machining, biomedics, education, communications, computer technology, petroleum technology, arts, music, business and administrative sciences, and other liberal arts disciplines.



WNYEZ POPULATION BY COUNTY Allegany - 49,927 Cattaraugus - 83,955 Chautauqua - 139,750 WNYEZ LOCATION 70 miles southwest of Buffalo 150-175 miles to Rochester, Toronto, Hamilton, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland 250 miles to Albany 350 miles to NYC, Detroit, Washington D.C., and Philadelphia 500 miles to Chicago, Louisville, Cincinnati, Boston WNYEZ EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Agriculture 15.7% Mining 0.4% Construction 2.2% Manufacturing 18.5% Transportation & Pub. Utilities 3.8% Trade 21.1% Finance, Insurance & Real Estate 2.2% Services 27.9% Government 23.8% TOTAL 100%		A Land of Opportunity Our four Empire Zones in Western New York's Southern Tier region offer unique opportunities to nourish the roots of your growing business. In an ongoing professional and proactive partnership, the Cattaraugus, Friendship, Greater Jamestown, and Dunkirk/Sheridan Empire Zones facilitate business expansion or relocation to the region. The Southern Tier offers a receptive and responsive government, an excellent location, carefully planned and developed infrastructure, a dedicated workforce, extensive educational and training support, and abundant natural resources. Strategically Located Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Allegany Counties, the three counties comprising Western New York's Southern Tier, are strategically poised to reach inter continental and international markets. Two interstate highways, I-90, the New York State Thruway, and newly designated I-86, the Southern Tier Expressway, as well as two rail lines, CSX and Norfolk Southern, supply the commercial heart of all three counties, connecting area businesses to major commercial hubs and international ports from New York City to Chicago and from Toronto to Pittsburgh. More than 120,000,000 people reside within a 500-mile radius of the Southern Tier, representing more than 50% of the U.S. population and 60% of the nation's buying power. Sixty-two percent of Canada's population and 80% of its manufacturing activity are also in this radius. Within a 60 minute commute, more than 30 colleges and universities in New York and Pennsylvania provide education and training in engineering, ceramic technology, electronics, machining, biomedics, education, communications, computer technology, petroleum technology, arts, music, business and administrative sciences, and other liberal arts disciplines.