Applications are now open for the second round of the East Side Commercial District Program (ESCDP) in the JEFFERSON AVENUE COMMERCIAL DISTRICT. Commercial properties located on Jefferson Avenue between East Ferry Street and BFNC Drive are eligible for New York State grant funding to complete renovations to commercial and mixed-use properties.
Empire State Development (ESD), the state’s chief economic development agency, is working with Citizens Alliance (CAI) in partnership with the Black Chamber of Commerce of WNY (BCCWNY) to administer the program and allocate an additional $1 million to the JEFFERSON AVENUE COMMERCIAL DISTRICT. Since 2020, Citizens Alliance has been successful in administering Round 1 of ESCDP, as well as several similar renovation grants and is looking forward to producing more wins for business development in the JEFFERSON COMMERCIAL DISTRICT.
Round 2 program guidelines have been revised from Round 1 to allow for up to $100,000 in grant assistance to commercial property owners with buildings in need of exterior and interior repairs and are inclusive of architecture/engineering support and a contingency fund. Building owners are required to contribute 10% of the total project costs.
Interested in applying and want to learn more about the program?
Please join ESD and the other ESCDP Local Program Administrators (LPAs) at a program-wide information session on Tuesday, August 9th at 5:30 p.m. at PS 309 East Community High School, located at 820 Northampton Street in Buffalo. There will also be a virtual option.
Please RSVP here and a Zoom link will be sent to you.
See here for Information Session Flier. ESCDP Flyer Round 2_with District Map
We will also be hosting a JEFFERSON COMMERCIAL DISTRICT specific information session on Wednesday, August 17th, 12:30p at Group Ministry 1333 Jefferson Avenue. Please contact Citizens Alliance at (716) 597-0262 if you’d like to attend.
Applications will be accepted until Friday, September 16, 2022.
Applications are available here and at https://citizensallianceinc.org/get-an-application-for-the-east-side-commercial-district-program-jefferson/.
You can email your application to c_alliance836@yahoo.com or mail/drop off your application at: Citizens Alliance/Black Chamber of Commerce of WNY, 836 E. Delavan Avenue, Buffalo NY 14215.
Contact Sydney at (716) 597-0262 with any questions you have about applying!
About the East Side Commercial District Program
The East Side Commercial District Program is an initiative for the City of Buffalo as part of the East Side Corridor Economic Development Fund (ESCEDF), through Empire State Development (ESD). This program is creating an expanded building renovation program in four investment areas—Jefferson Avenue Commercial District, MLK Park Business District, Broadway Fillmore, and Kensington Bailey—to improve the business climate, combat commercial vacancies, and contribute to the corridors’ overall revitalization. Funding will help to revive traditional main streets and commercial corridors through the preservation of historic buildings, funding of capital improvements in neighborhood assets, and expansion of commercial opportunities in these neighborhoods.
To learn more about Empire State Development’s East Side Corridor Economic Development Fund, visit https://buffalobillion.ny.gov/east-side-corridor-economic-development-fund
To learn more about the East Side Commercial District Program, visit https://buffalobillion.ny.gov/east-side-commercial-districts-program
Visit the East Side Avenues website to learn more about the initiative and the investments being made in Buffalo’s East Side. Go to www.eastsideavenues.org
