Credit TechBuffalo.org The initiative is the result of a coalition between M&T Bank and other area partners, including Empire State Development and the City of Buffalo, and an effort to help both individuals and the Western New York region recover from the pandemic’s negative financial impact. “If you think about the economy and tech, the skills needed for a workforce to be successful are changing so quickly, and this was one opportunity to provide free access to some of those skills,” said Sarah Tanbakuchi, senior technology manager at M&T Bank. “Secondly, it’s really an opportunity to play a part in helping to build an inclusive workforce.”