irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2025
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $0NETWORKING & INFORMATION EXCHANGE - MEMBERS ARE PROVIDED ACCESS TO LATEST INDUSTRY TRENDS AS WELL AS CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND BENCHMARKING IDEAS.
- #2 $0TRAINING - MEMBERS CAN ATTEND MONTHLY FORUMS WITH SPEAKERS TO DISCUSS LATEST TRENDS AND TOOLS AVAILABLE TO MANUFACTURERS.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
AI Education Series
Webinar series in collaboration with HeronAI to help manufacturers understand and adopt practical AI strategies through small, actionable steps.
Goodskills Career Builder
Four-week, no-cost training program in partnership with Goodwill to prepare local jobseekers for careers in advanced manufacturing and technology.
ISO 9001 Transition Webinar Series
Three-part educational series to help manufacturers understand upcoming changes to ISO 9001 standards and the business value of certification.
Manufacturing Productivity Program
Matching grant program in partnership with National Grid to support lean manufacturing initiatives that reduce waste and increase productivity.
Workforce OJT Reimbursements
Assists member companies in accessing federal and local funding to offset wages during on-the-job training for new hires with skill gaps.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Training 3 activities
- Building manufacturing workforce capacity through training pipelinesOperates a no-cost workforce training pipeline to prepare local jobseekers for careers in advanced manufacturing and technology, including technical training in machining, automation, and welding, and facilitates employer access to students and graduates through internships, co-ops, and job placement partnerships.
- Delivering workforce training programs in advanced manufacturingOffers structured training programs including a 12-week CNC basics course, a 23-week night machining course, and a 72-hour Industrial Automation course covering PLC and robotics fundamentals to prepare adults for careers in advanced manufacturing.
- Supporting manufacturers with upskilling and training reimbursement programsProvides members with access to qualified candidates and upskilling programs to meet workforce needs, supports employee retention and productivity through on-the-job training reimbursements, and offers guidance on accessing reimbursement programs including documentation and local contacts.
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Women Entrepreneurs Grant Programs 1 activity
- Awarding matching grants for lean manufacturing and productivity improvement projectsFunds lean manufacturing and manufacturing assistance projects through matching grants aimed at reducing waste and increasing productivity in shop floor and office operations.
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Professional Association Capacity Building 1 activity
- Facilitating member networking and information exchange on industry trendsProvides members with access to the latest industry trends, continuous improvement opportunities, and benchmarking ideas through networking events and information exchange, including monthly forums featuring expert speakers.
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Member Business Referral & Discount Programs 1 activity
- Operating a manufacturing business directory and connectivity platformMaintains and operates an online directory to connect manufacturing companies based on capability, process, industry, certifications, and location, facilitating supply chain collaboration and business development in the Buffalo-Niagara region.
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Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
- Producing monthly ecosystem updates on regional manufacturing activityProduces monthly recaps highlighting workforce development progress, supply-chain collaborations, new member achievements, and upcoming events within the Buffalo-Niagara manufacturing ecosystem.
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Workforce Readiness Training 1 activity
- Providing candidate screening and hiring support for manufacturing employersOffers candidate screening services to employers hiring for manufacturing roles and provides pre-screened local candidates as part of a workforce development pipeline, facilitating direct connections between trained jobseekers and employers.
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Industry Trade Association Services 1 activity
- Representing and organizing a regional manufacturing allianceRepresents 186 member organizations across more than 50 manufacturing-related sectors and over a dozen B2B support services, serving as a collective voice and collaborative network for the Buffalo-Niagara manufacturing sector.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Designing and manufacturing industrial size reduction equipmentDesigns, manufactures, and supplies custom-engineered industrial equipment such as hammer mills, crushers, shredders, and pellet mills for material processing; has installed equipment in over 17,000 locations globally and provides complimentary size reduction testing to support customer selection.
- Hosting educational webinars on manufacturing standards and emerging technologiesHosts webinars to educate manufacturers on upcoming changes to ISO 9001 and AS9100 certification, assess readiness, and explore business benefits; also offers sessions on AI strategy and practical implementation in collaboration with HeronAI.
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financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$331K
Contributions & grants$84K25%
Program service revenue$235K71%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$13K
expenses
Total expenses$255K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$194K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$300K
Cash$296K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$300K
Liquid reserves14.0 mo
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +3.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PETER AHRENS | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $132K |
board members · 13
- ANTHONY PAVELL — DIRECTOR
- BENJAMIN RAND — ASSOCIATE CHAIR
- BILL ROBBINS — DIRECTOR
- BRIAN TURTON — VICE CHAIR
- CANDICE PINEAU — CHAIR
- DOMINIC MYERS — DIRECTOR
- ERIC WATSON — DIRECTOR
- JOHN CONWAY — SECRETARY
- JON SIEMINSKI — DIRECTOR
- JONATHAN ROLLER — TREASURER
- KATIE HURLEY — DIRECTOR
- PETE SZULC — DIRECTOR
- RICK HOWE — DIRECTOR
relationships · 10
Who they work with
- ECIDA Partner — Strategic partner of BNMA.
- Erie 1 BOCES Partner — Collaborates with BNMA to deliver CNC machining and industrial automation training programs.
- Goodwill Partner — Collaborates with Goodwill's Goodskills Program to connect trained candidates with employers in advanced manufacturing and technology in Western New York.
- HeronAI Partner — Collaborates with BNMA to deliver AI education and strategic guidance to organizations.
- Local County Agencies Government — Collaborates with local county agencies to administer federally supported on-the-job training reimbursement programs.
- National Grid Partner — Collaborates with National Grid on the Manufacturing Productivity Program to provide matching grants to manufacturers.
- SUNY Erie Community College Partner — Collaborates to provide technical training and workforce development in advanced manufacturing and skilled trades.
- Schutte Hammermill Partner — Recognized as BNMA Member of the Month, representing Western New York manufacturing excellence.
- T&T Legacy Partner — Collaborated with BNMA to create a 15-second advertisement for the Transit Drive event.
- TDO (Train, Develop, Optimize) Partner — Collaborates with TDO to deliver expert-led webinars on ISO 9001 and AS9100 certification.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Employer-Aligned Workforce Training with Direct Placementmethodology: employer-aligned_workforce_trainingBy designing no-cost training programs in direct alignment with employer needs and including credentialing and job placement, the organization produces faster workforce integration and higher employer satisfaction because training is grounded in real-time labor market demands and reduces hiring friction.
- Matching Grant Incentive for Management Commitmentmethodology: matching-grant_incentiveBy requiring matching financial contributions from member companies for lean manufacturing initiatives, the organization increases leadership engagement, which in turn drives successful implementation and sustained operational improvements because skin-in-the-game fosters accountability and long-term adoption.
- Regional Manufacturing Ecosystem Strengtheningmethodology: ecosystem_accelerationBy connecting manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers while integrating training, advocacy, and progress sharing, the organization accelerates regional growth because interconnected networks amplify resource access, peer learning, and collective resilience.
- Registered Apprenticeship as Skill Bridgemethodology: registered_apprenticeshipBy combining foundational education with structured on-the-job learning through registered apprenticeships, the organization enables CNC machining graduates to transition into skilled roles because experiential learning under supervision closes the gap between academic training and workplace performance.