New York Fed president to speak on economy at Buffalo State Oct. 7

Federal Reserve Bank of New York President John C. Williams will share his thoughts on the regional and national economy, as well as monetary policy, at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 7, in the Burchfield Penney Art Center Tower Auditorium on the SUNY Buffalo State campus.

The event is free and open to the public.

Ted Schmidt, Buffalo State professor of economics and finance, will moderate the discussion, asking Williams specific questions about the Western New York economy, interest rates, inflation, and more in a “fireside” chat format. A Q&A session will follow with the audience.

Williams’s talk is part of a two-day visit to Buffalo to meet with leaders in government, business, education and community development.

On Thursday, Oct. 6, Williams will meet with Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz to hear about his economic plan and key initiatives underway in the region. He then will meet with officials at the Peace Bridge to learn how cross-border traffic has evolved since the pandemic, as well as the bridge’s impact on the supply chain and regional economy.

Later, Williams will meet with start-up and entrepreneurship sector leaders in downtown Buffalo, tour a neighborhood on Buffalo’s east side, and visit the Northland Workforce Training Center. He will meet with stakeholders of the Local Initiatives Support Corp. to hear how affordable housing developers are working with local stakeholders to raise capital and increase the affordable housing supply.

Before his talk at Buffalo State on Friday, Williams will attend a breakfast meeting with members of Employ Buffalo Niagara and the Greater Buffalo Racial Equity Roundtable to focus on initiatives aimed at ensuring economic inclusion and growth in the region.

According to the New York Fed, “These meetings serve to inform President Williams on regional issues and are part of the New York Fed’s ongoing efforts to assess economic conditions across the Federal Reserve’s Second District.”