BUFFALO-As part of Gov. Eliot Spitzer's regional economic development plan for the Buffalo/Niagara Falls region, the state's chief executive reports millions of dollars in state funding commitments are earmarked for four major projects here. In announcing state funding for the Buffalo waterfront district, Spitzer says that Bass Pro Shops has agreed to be an anchor tenant occupying approximately 100,000 sf of space at the Canal Side project by the city's Inner Harbor.

The plan calls for a Great Lakes Museum, a marketplace, public plaza, hotel and a 500,000-sf, $275-million mixed-use development. The plan, state officials say, calls for the demolition of the Aud sports arena and the old Donovan State Office building. Bass Pro Shops will be housed at the site of the Aud.

The entire Inner Harbor development project is expected to run approximately $300 million. The full amount of state grants for the venture has yet to be determined, however to date the state has already committed $28 million for the Canal Side project and $22 million for other inner harbor improvements from Empire State Development Corp.