Checking the boxes ?

An international company such as Odoo could have picked any of the traditional tech markets a couple years ago when it was looking to expand its U.S. operations.

But it didn’t. It chose Buffalo.

Not because it was the hometown of Nicholas Kosinski (that was a bonus), the Odoo managing director who was put in charge of making that decision. But because of the boxes this city checked that makes it a compelling place that enables growth:

Over 270,000 college students within a 200-mile radius. One of the most affordable places to live in the country. People who are willing to collaborate and help.

All of those advantages not only convinced executives with no local ties that Buffalo was a place that could support Odoo's expansion. More importantly, it’s led to success, with more than 300 current employees and an expectation of 500-plus by the end of 2027.

This is just one example of the possibilities we can accomplish in Western New York. If we want to see more, then as an ecosystem we must continue to provide people with pathways to build in-demand skills that these companies need to flourish.

I’m thinking of people like Lennon Williams , a recent Per Scholas Buffalo graduate who was hired by Odoo this month. My colleague Rachel Eastlack , our community impact program lead at TechBuffalo, and I recently had a chance to sit down with him, and he shared part of his journey as a young father whose career path was redefined through the support of a non-degree program.

Lennon was able to turn a mock interview Per Scholas had arranged with Odoo into a real interview and subsequent job offer. He told us that although he felt prepared for parts of his new role as a functional support analyst, it still requires him to spend quite a bit of time outside of work learning and continuing to develop his skills. But as someone who has experienced a wide range of challenges throughout his life, it was clear that Lennon is confident and determined to succeed and that he's committed to building a career in tech.

It’s stories like these that are transforming our downtown corridor into a place that attracts and retains talent, which is the only way Buffalo will become an attractive destination for companies to build or relocate to.

While talent is one layer to remaining competitive, how we structure employer and worker incentives is also vital to this increasingly global marketplace.

There are some areas where we are doing well here. One local incentive that has proven effective is the Excelsior Jobs Program, which encourages businesses to expand or relocate to New York through fully refundable tax credits tied to job creation, capital investments, and research and development. Another is the Research & Development Tax Credit, which rewards companies for developing new or improved products, processes and technologies. Both have enabled multiple companies in Buffalo – from manufacturing firms to tech startups – to reinvest in innovation and workforce growth.

We can also learn from successful models outside the region. Pittsburgh, for example, has implemented programs that offer relocation assistance and mentorship for recent graduates and young professionals – initiatives that lower barriers to entry for new talent and help them settle into the local community. Meanwhile, Indiana’s Venture Capital Investment (VCI) Tax Credit allows the transfer or sale of tax credits, a benefit aimed at attracting more out-of-state investors and fueling additional capital flow into growing businesses.

Adopting elements of these approaches in Buffalo – whether through financial support for movers, structured mentoring or flexible investment incentives – can further strengthen our competitive edge.

Success is twofold. More companies lead to more hiring of talent for good-paying jobs. And the more talent we have in Buffalo, the more companies will want to build and move here.

And, most importantly, the more stories we’ll have like Odoo and Lennon.

– Jeffrey Botteron

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