First customers praise convenience and expanded access to County services
Erie County, NY – Erie County Clerk Michael P. Kearns announced the successful grand opening of the Northtowns Outreach Center, now operating inside the Eastern Hills Mall adjacent to the Erie County Auto Bureau. The new location is already expanding access to essential government services for residents across the Northtowns, including Alden, Amherst, Clarence, Lancaster, Newstead, and the Tonawandas.
The Outreach Center officially opened on Monday, May 4, marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony with local leaders and strong community turnout. The first customer through the doors, Joanne Clayback of Amherst, who came into to take advantage of passport services and expressed appreciation for the convenience of having services closer to home, noting how valuable it is to have a dedicated County Clerk services presence in the Northtowns.
“It's actually acknowledging that Northtowns are being represented now and that this office is available to us," she said. "And that really, was really great, because I didn't have to drive all the way out to West Seneca to get a service or go Downtown, so I was pleased with that.”
Clarence Town Supervisor Pat Casilio also took the opportunity, while present for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, to utilize the Outreach Center's passport photo and application services.
The Northtowns Outreach Center operates the following hours:
Monday and Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
The Outreach Center offers a wide range of services, including:
- Acceptance of new U.S. passport applications
- On-site passport photo services
- Assistance with DMV-related forms and scheduling appointments
- Distribution of various departmental forms and guidance
- Enrollment for veterans in the Clerk’s THANK-A-VET Discount Card Program
- Registration for the William J. Donovan Book of Merit honoring Purple Heart recipients
“This Northtowns Outreach Center reflects our continued commitment to bringing government services directly to the people we serve,” said Erie County Clerk Michael P. Kearns. “Following the tremendous success of our Southtowns Outreach Center, expanding this model to the Northtowns was a natural next step. The positive feedback from our first customers reinforces that we are meeting a real need—making services more accessible, efficient, and convenient for our residents.”
The first-ever customer to the Northtowns Outreach Center was Snyder resident Joanne Clayback, who came into to take advantage of passport services.
“It's actually acknowledging that Northtowns are being represented now and that this office is available to us," she said. "And that really, was really great, because I didn't have to drive all the way out to West Seneca to get a service or go Downtown, so I was pleased with that.”
The addition of the Northtowns Outreach Center underscores the Clerk’s Office’s ongoing efforts to enhance customer service, improve accessibility, and ensure all Erie County residents have convenient access to vital government resources. No appointments are required at either Outreach Center location, allowing residents to access services at their convenience.
For more information, visit erie.gov/clerk or contact the Erie County Clerk’s Outreach Center at 716-858-8864.
