Overview
Through collective capital grant and consultant awards, Empire State Development is committed to the successful completion of diverse commercial and mixed-use capital projects throughout the East Side with the goal of supporting the residents, business owners, cultural institutions and patrons of East Buffalo and enhancing the community as a thriving place to live, work, learn and play.
Projects
East Side Building Fund – $10 million
This program aims to assist in private building renovations and infill development to help revitalize neighborhood business districts in the East Side. The fund specifically grows from three former ESD programs (East Side Commercial Districts Program, Commercial Building Stabilization Fund and Community-Based Real Estate Development Training Program Fund), each with individual application requirements and funding limits. The East Side Building Fund takes a more streamlined and holistic approach — by focusing on the overall needs of a particular building and allowing funding through a single process, so resources can move into the community more quickly. Applications must be submitted by 4 p.m. on Friday, June 27, 2025.
For more information, visit https://esd.ny.gov/east-side-building-fund.
African Heritage Food Co-Op - $3 million
The project involves the $3.5 million historic rehabilitation/adaptive reuse of 238 Carlton Street in the City’s “Fruit Belt” neighborhood to equip and operate it as a ~3,500 square-foot, full-service grocery store. The project would be operated by the African Heritage Food Cooperative (AHFC), which was formed in 2016 to increase access to nutritious and affordable food in Western New York communities identified as food deserts by the NY Healthy Neighborhoods Program.
Goodskills Career Builder Program - $1.5 million
The Goodskills Career Builder Program, established by Goodwill Industries of WNY, started as a small pilot effort in 2021. In 2022 Governor Hochul infused it with $1.5 million in additional New York State funds to set the stage for over $3.5 million in federal support through the Build Back Better Regional Challenge.
The program promotes innovation and collaboration in a partner-driven career pipeline approach for workforce training, with opportunities targeted to underrepresented communities that align with local employer staffing needs in tech and manufacturing companies in Western New York. Based on labor needs, companies in these sectors offer the most promise for meaningful, family-sustaining jobs. Participants are provided four weeks of workforce readiness training, together with wraparound services, and career coaching, and then placed in a job with a local employer. The program’s outreach process ensures adults are prepared to take on the requirements of jobs in tech and manufacturing and are best placed in the most appropriate training track to match their needs – with an intent to help recipients to move from un/underemployment into higher-paying careers, while building the pipeline of skilled and diverse talent for local employers.
For more information about the program, visit the Goodwill of Western New York website.
Small Business Working Capital Grant Program
The East Side Commercial District Program provided funds for facade and building renovations for eligible business and property owners in four target business districts throughout the East Side: Jefferson Avenue, Broadway-Fillmore, MLK Park portion of Fillmore, and Kensington Bailey. Over three rounds of funding, and a progressive expansion of the geography of the program, over 140 small businesses have been recipients of nearly $3 million in total grant funds from the East Buffalo Small Business Working Capital Grant Program. In turn, technical assistance—primarily in small business accounting advice—has been provided to recipients. In response to this need, the small balance of the program funding will be allocated to continue these technical assistance efforts over the upcoming year. The program is now closed, and funds expended.
News
Governor Hochul Announces Ribbon Cutting for Eckhardts August 12, 2024
Empire State Development Announces Round 3 of Small Business Grants March 15, 2024
Governor Hochul Announces State of Construction of 950 Broadway Development Septembers 27, 2023
Empire State Development Announces Round 2 of Small Business Grants After Successful First Round June 23, 2023
Governor Hochul Announces Availability of $3 Million Small Business Grants February 23, 2023
ESD Reminds Commercial and Mixed-Use Property Owners that Applications are Available for East Side Commercial Districts Program in Buffalo August 16, 2022
Governor Hochul Announces Applications Open for Comprehensive Programs Supporting East Side Residents
June 30, 2022