Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the grand opening of the new national headquarters of EmergenceTek Group Inc. in Buffalo. ETG's capabilities are focused on creating organizational efficiencies through software development solutions, including transaction-based development, reporting and analytics, mobile application development and more. The company's headquarters, located in the Brisbane Building at 403 Main Street in Lafayette Square, features a 7,000-square-foot state-of-the-art work space on the third floor. This $500,000 project will retain 30 existing jobs and create 40 new jobs over the next five years in Buffalo.
"EmergenceTek's decision to expand its headquarters in Western New York is a testament to the economic opportunity and revitalization taking hold of the Queen City," Governor Cuomo said. "The region's high quality, experienced workforce will fuel the company's continued growth as this investment supports the creation of new jobs while putting Buffalo on the map as a top place to establish and grow 21st century businesses."
"EmergenceTek's expansion at the Brisbane Building highlights downtown Buffalo's emerging hi-tech industry and is another milestone in the development of the new regional economy," said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, who announced the project's completion. "From a two-person startup in 2012, this company has now grown to 30 employees and is committed to a payroll of 70 within five years after support from Excelsior tax credits. Once again, we see how public investment can leverage private sector growth, make use of valuable existing commercial space and provide new opportunities across Western New York."
Since the company was founded in 2012, EmergenceTek Group has grown its employee count tenfold, increased revenues 700 percent and has been nominated for several organizational awards for outstanding company culture and exceptional employee engagement. ETG Co-Founder Bab Namugundu from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Africa, and Co-Founder Brian Lehman, a Buffalonian, are creating Information Technology jobs while more than doubling the national percentage average of employment in the I.T. arena for women.
ETG provides custom software solutions across a number of industries including healthcare, manufacturing, and real estate. The company's clients include CareSource, HEALTHeLINK, Catholic Health, Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, Compu-Mail and others.
To encourage ETG to remain and expand in Buffalo, Empire State Development offered up to $500,000 through the Excelsior tax credit program in return for the company’s job commitments.
ETG Co-Founders Bab Namugundu and Brian Lehman said, "EmergenceTek Group is well underway for continued success. We are experiencing significant growth and we’re very enthusiastic about starting a new business chapter in our new, high-end headquarters. After evaluating sites around Western New York we decided the best location to support our sophisticated software development and testing activities was right in downtown Buffalo, in close proximity to the rapidly growing medical campus, which is home to some of our clients and we continue to engage other companies there."
Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Howard Zemsky said, "The expansion of EmergenceTek is a demonstration of how software companies can succeed in Upstate New York and is great news for the region. Our goal is to continue to make smart investments that support job creating projects and we look forward to seeing the new facility open in Buffalo, along with the 40 new employees that will be hired."
Senator Tim Kennedy said, "EmergenceTek is providing the types of high tech jobs that will attract millennials to Western New York. The software solutions they are developing and providing to area businesses are invaluable tools for future economic growth in the region."
Assemblymember Crystal Peoples-Stokes said, "Buffalo is open for business and positioned for growth in the information technology field. High pay technology careers are good for Buffalo and capitalize on our highly skilled local workforce. The new national headquarters of EmergenceTek Group Inc. symbolizes the renewal and diversity of our great city, with increased investment in the Brisbane Building and a diverse workforce. The national spotlight on Buffalo will continue to grow as EmergenceTek expands into a leader in the custom software solution industry. I applaud Governor Cuomo and his regional economic development staff on making today a reality."
Mayor Byron W. Brown said, "The expansion of EmergenceTek Group in downtown Buffalo is another piece in our expanding economy that's creating new jobs and more employment opportunities for our residents. I'm also pleased ETG's corporate culture includes community involvement, especially their work with Buffalo youth, introducing them to the fast-expanding world of software development."
As part of its local efforts, ETG has engaged with SUNY Buffalo on multiple occasions in being a top-tier sponsor of the annual UB "Hackathon," providing charitable contributions to not-for-profits like Buffalo Promise Neighborhood, and partaking in community service efforts with inner city youth. The company is in talks to collaborate with SUNY Buffalo's Computer Science/Engineering program in an effort to facilitate an internship program for students to receive hands-on experience in the real world of software development.
About EmergenceTek Group Inc.
EmergenceTek Group Inc. ("ETG"), founded in 2012, is a technology organization, with a focus in healthcare, that writes software code to help companies become more efficient. ETG's software development team also serves as an outsource solution to Information Technology departments of its customers.