Governor Hochul Announces Availability of $3 Million Small Business Grants in East Buffalo

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that applications will be available for the East Buffalo Small Business Working Capital Grant Program from February 3 to February 17. The $3 million program will provide grants of $5,000 to $50,000 to eligible small businesses in a designated area of East Buffalo to help largely minority-owned establishments rebound from the social and economic impacts of the mass shooting at a Tops Friendly Market on Jefferson Avenue earlier this year. The Local Initiatives Support Corporation - New York will administer the program on behalf of Empire State Development. Eligible businesses can submit pre-applications here. For more information on the program, including eligibility and FAQs, click here.

"The East Buffalo Small Business Working Capital Grant Program is the latest step in the State's long-term commitment to uplifting this community," Governor Hochul said. "As a born-and-raised Western New Yorker, I witnessed first-hand the strength, resilience, and passion that runs through this community. Now, we are addressing decades of disinvestment and neglect through programs like this Small Business Working Capital Grant Program to help the largely minority-owned businesses in East Buffalo continue serving residents and forge a new path forward for the region's economy."

Senior Executive Director of LISC NY, Valerie White said, "The foundation of all initiatives for LISC NY are concentrated around the principles of conscious and effective investment into community programs where New Yorkers are in the most need. East Buffalo has been uniquely affected recently by domestic terror, and severe, incessant climate emergencies. This considerable investment into the people and local economy of East Buffalo, NY will directly benefit the local small businesses already making a concentrated impact within the community. We commend Governor Hochul for recognizing the needs of varying types of small businesses unique to regions of the state and those amongst commercial corridors in East Buffalo. We look forward to working side by side with Empire State Development to administer this pivotal grant program for the people of East Buffalo, strengthening the backbone of this resolute community - reinforcing and developing the celebrated region for generations to come."

Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight said, "The horrific acts of this past May will not define the community of East Buffalo, nor undermine its strength and spirit. With $3 million in targeted working capital grants to help eligible small businesses defray operating costs, New York State is taking additional steps to ensure the area's predominantly minority-owned enterprises have the support they need to serve the community."

The East Buffalo program area is bounded by the following streets/highways: NYS Route 33, NY Route 198, Main Street, North Street, Michigan Avenue and Goodell Street. See map of eligible area here. Grants will be made available based upon an eligible business' documented gross annual sales.

If needed, translation services for the application will also be available through the International Institute.

A public information session will take place at Buffalo Employment Training Center on Tuesday, February 7 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at 77 Goodell Street. An additional webinar will be held on February 9 at 5:30 pm, hosted by Beverly Gray. For more information on the webinar and registration click here.

As part of her Juneteenth announcement in response to the May 14, 2022, racially motivated mass murder of 10 persons at a Tops Friendly Markets in the Jefferson Avenue Business District in East Buffalo, Governor Hochul committed to making $50 million in community investments in housing, business, and other types of relief available. The East Buffalo Small Business Working Capital Grant Program is part of this investment.

Other investments stemming from this announcement include a significant community-led food access initiative involving assistance to a new African Heritage Food Co-op project and expanding free resident transportation services immediately surrounding Tops for additional food options; small business façade/capital assistance programs in East Buffalo business districts; support for job training efforts such as Goodwill's new Goodskills Career Builder office on Jefferson Avenue; and tens of millions for foreclosure prevention, home repair assistance, and access to capital for first-time home buyers.

All these are in addition to Governor Hochul's East Buffalo commitments under the Regional Revitalization Partnership announced this spring with local philanthropic partners and the City of Buffalo, which is providing a combined investment of $180 million in East Buffalo for small business support and key projects such as revitalizing the Broadway Market and restoring iconic historic resources like the Buffalo Central Terminal, the Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor, and MLK Park.

LISC-NY was established in 1980 and is the New York chapter of a national, not-for-profit organization that equips underinvested communities with the capital, strategy, and know-how to become places where low- and moderate-income Americans can thrive.

State Senator Tim Kennedy said, "In the aftermath of the mass shooting on Jefferson, we witnessed the power of community, and what we can accomplish when we come together. Now, we need that community to rally together once again to make sure these small businesses know this help is out there. The only way we can get this $3 million in critical state aid into the hands of the small business owners that truly need it is by making sure they know it exists in the first place. My office stands ready to help people navigate the application process so they can secure the assistance they need to remain rooted in our community."

Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes said, "I applaud Governor Hochul on turning words into action for the $3 million in Eastside small business assistance surrounding the Jefferson corridor. Area businesses have endured through COVID, a very tragic mass shooting, and a generational blizzard that caused massive property damage. People, small businesses and neighborhoods define communities. Our communities have considerable needs and it will take continued collective efforts from agencies such as Empire State Development to leave a positive impact, we appreciate your partnership."

Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz said, "Small business is the lifeblood of our economic sector, and the East Buffalo Small Business Working Capital Grant Program will help small business owners in Buffalo rebound after the mass shooting last year. I thank Governor Hochul for her continued focus on assisting our community."

City of Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown said, "Small businesses in this area were directly impacted by the 5/14 racial mass shooting. These grant funds will go a long way towards helping these establishments. I am grateful to Governor Kathy Hochul for her continued support of East Buffalo, and our community as a whole."

About LISC NYC

LISC NYC is the flagship New York City office of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). LISC NYC supports local partners whose services and programs aim to create a more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable New York City. Since 1980, LISC NYC has invested over $3.1 billion and leveraged an additional $7.6 billion in support of low-income communities. LISC NYC's investment strategy is guided by a belief that the time has come to forge a future for New York City that eradicates the racial wealth gap for good, protects affordable housing, and builds pathways of meaningful economic opportunity for all New Yorkers.