(NIAGARA FALLS) - The New York State Building & Construction Trades will hold its annual convention in Niagara Falls in early June, a decision that was made after two Western New York Building Trades Executive Board Members successfully lobbied the state group, and one that will mean an economic shot in the arm for Niagara-Buffalo Region.

The New York State Building Trades - whose statewide Union membership totals around 200,000 - last held its convention in Western New York in 1992 in Buffalo.  It's anticipated more than 300 individuals, with the majority being Union Representatives, will attend the convention to be held at the Niagara Falls Conference Center - located adjacent to the Crowne Plaza Hotel and across the street from the Seneca Niagara Casino - from June 6th through the 9th.  Traditionally, chamber of commerce officials say each dollar that is spent within a community can be multiplied at least three times, and it is expected the Niagara Falls convention will pump in several hundred thousand dollars into the local economy.

For the past two years, the New York State Building Trades has held their annual convention in Cooperstown, and previous to that in Saratoga.  This year's convention, which is also a constitutional convention, will be the first time since the early 90s that the State Building Trades have held their convention in Upstate New York.

Donald Winkle, Jr., business manager for the Buffalo-headquartered Elevator Constructors Local 14, and Daniel Boody, business manager for Painters District Council 4, both sit on the 15-member New York State Building Trades Executive Board, and joined together to convince the state Unionized Construction Organization to hold its upcoming constitutional convention in Niagara Falls where State Building Trades President Edward Malloy will seek re-election.

"Early last year during an executive board meeting, the topic of the convention came up and it was discussed about going back to Cooperstown.  With that said, I raised the issue of moving it to the other end of the state to Niagara Falls, because the casino work was done one-hundred-percent Union, as were the renovations at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and convention center.  It seemed like the right thing to do and just made sense.  A couple of the others guy spoke up and said it wasn't a bad idea.  I'm happy about it and glad Don Winkle jumped in and supported it," Painters District 4 Business Manager Boody tells WNYLaborToday.com. 

"Dan had brought it up and I supported it," Winkle tells WNYLaborToday.com.  "We're excited about it because we can show off Niagara Falls and Buffalo in the summer.  A lot of Union hours were put in to the construction of the Seneca Niagara Casino and the renovation of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, so it made sense to have it Niagara Falls.  Plus, there's so much going on up in Niagara Falls that there is plenty to see and do.  Since it will be summertime, many who will attend the convention will also bring their families."