Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology powers up with Erie County cultural capital grant

$189,350 grant funds IT investments to support workforce training, high school arts and technology afterschool programs

√ BCAT mentors & prepares adult students for careers, provides opportunities for youth to explore new interests, talents

By the Press Secretary to the Erie County Executive

The Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology, at home in its new east side facility on Sycamore Street in Buffalo, will be helping more students and adults seeking career advancement thanks to a $189,350 Erie County cultural capital grant that funded information technology equipment at the site.

BCAT offers two cost-free programs designed to provide tools, support and opportunities for students to realize their potential and create positive futures.

Today, Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz joined BCAT Board Chair Dr. Michael Cropp, BCAT President and CEO Gina Burkhardt, and Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Environment and Planning Thomas Baines to discuss the grant and how it will assist BCAT in helping students realize their career goals.

“The Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology provides the education and environment that students need to succeed and to build a future for themselves, whether they are adults needing workforce training and upskilling to move into a new job, or high school students who want to stay in school and explore pathways into careers that interest them,” Poloncarz said. “Using a cultural capital grant to invest in IT here is not only an investment in BCAT, but also an investment in Erie County residents. We are building a stronger community with these investments.”

The cultural capital grant funded the purchase of three servers with firewall and switches, 70 PC workstations, and 20 Mac workstations; the procurement of interactive boards, smart displays, teleconferencing, document cameras, and audio/visual equipment is in progress.

Offered in a welcoming, supportive and inspiring environment, BCAT’s cost-free programs are designed to provide tools, support and opportunities for our students to realize their potential and create positive futures:

•BCAT’s adult workforce training programs lead to nationally recognized certifications and meaningful employment with family-sustaining wages.

•BCAT’s high school arts and technology afterschool program motivates students to stay in school and graduate with an actionable pathway into college and fulfilling careers.

"BCAT students bring tenacity, creativity and ambition, but often face significant barriers including limited resources and tools," Burkhardt said. "Thanks to Erie County’s cultural capital grant, our new east side facility is now fully equipped with essential technology – from computers and networks to security and networking systems. This investment not only supports free, high-quality programs, but also sends a powerful message to our students: They are valued, and their futures matter. We deeply appreciate Erie County’s support for our students in their efforts to create successful futures for themselves and their families.”

For more information on BCAT, visit https://buffaloartstechcenter.org/; or on the Department of Environment and Planning, visit https://www3.erie.gov/environment/.