The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) Board of Directors has approved three new contracts that will continue the revitalization and maintenance of the Buffalo waterfront. The contracts, which were awarded to Rich Entertainment Group and Elbers Landscape Service, will provide a variety of services, including hospitality, programming, food and beverage, merchandise, marketing and advertising, operations and maintenance, management and staffing, facilities management, and grounds management.
Rich Entertainment Group will continue to provide hospitality and programming at Canalside and the Outer Harbor. The company will develop a new retail location in the Gateway Building at Canalside. Rich Entertainment Group will also be responsible for marketing and advertising the diverse activities at the Buffalo Waterfront.
The second contract approved by the ECHDC board was also awarded to Rich Entertainment Group for facilities management services.
The $10,974,059 contract, funded by the New York Power Authority, requires the operator to provide all staffing, materials, fuels and supplies required for general operations and maintenance of buildings, structures, utility systems, rink/fountain, public spaces, FF&E, vehicles, capital project management, seasonal transitions, daily custodian services, etc. Scope of services may include, but not be limited to: the operation, maintenance, cleaning, repair, preventative maintenance, renovation, addition to or modification of the structures, property and systems. The Contract will cover fees and expenses for a period of five years, ending on March 31, 2029.
Elbers Landscape Service will provide groundskeeping services at Canalside and the Outer Harbor. The company will be responsible for lawns, landscapes, trees, shrubs, seasonal horticulture, snow removal, and invasive species management.
“The success at Canalside and the Outer Harbor is spurring the first private investment in Buffalo’s waterfront in more than 50 years – which is attracting more visitors to Western New York and making the citizens of Buffalo even prouder of our rich history.” said ECHDC Chairperson Joan Kesner.
A percentage of the profits will be allocated from Rich Entertainment Group to ECHDC. The terms of the Agreement will include a base flat fee that increases each year, a percentage of gross sponsorship, a percentage of gross revenue; and a portion of live event ticket sales.
Rich Entertainment Group has managed the Outer Harbor since 2016 and Canalside since 2017.
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