The State has awarded $83.9 million to 125 economic development projects in Western New York. City projects include infrastructure work, upgrades at the Buffalo Zoo and RiverWorks, extension of Lafayette Avenue thru the Gates Circle project, and others.
City Highlights:
Gates Circle Infrastructure – $2 million
Construction of the Lancaster Extension and Lafayette Connector and undergrounding of utilities at the Gates Hospital redevelopment site.
Buffalo Sewer Authority – $1,815,000
The Scajaquada Creek restoration project will help mitigate flooding and improve water quality between Main Street and Elmwood Avenue.
Niagara Street Revitalization/Seaway Trail (City of Buffalo) – $1.5 million
Traffic calming, universal access, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, LED lighting, smart traffic signal technology, and improved transit stations along the Niagara Street section of the Great Lakes Seaway Trail National Scenic Byway.
University at Buffalo – $1 million
Move the graduate schools of Social Work and Education from the Amherst Campus to the Main Street Campus while restoring two historic buildings and constructing a new building.
Niagara Street Revitalization (City of Buffalo) – $937,500
Infrastructure work between Porter Avenue and Ontario Streets.
Buffalo RiverWorks – $900,000
Green infrastructure retrofits including porous pavement, green roofs and two green walls. These infrastructure features will be highly visible and marked with signage in order to educate the public on the importance and impact of these new technologies.
Entertainment District (City of Buffalo) – $500,000
Streetscape work along Franklin Street.
Buffalo Zoo – $500,000
Renovations to the historic Reptile House.
Massachusetts Avenue Project – $385,000
Construct an 11,413 sq.ft. multi-use community food hub and job training facility.
Buffalo Place – $300,000
Grants to assist in the renovation of mixed-use buildings along Main Street.
Broadway Market (City of Buffalo) – $74,000
New commercial kitchen to be used by small businesses in the market and for cooking demonstrations and classes.
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra – $63,000
Partner with the Richardson Olmsted Complex to turn the Complex’s main building into a canvas for a light projection show choreographed to live musical and theatrical performance.
Shelton Square – Erie Street Greenway (City of Buffalo) – $50,000
Improvements to the Erie Street pedestrian corridor.
Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society – $44,250
Restoration of three ground level entrances and four lakeside windows to reclaim 3,000 sq.ft. of space under the portico.
Old First Ward Community Association – $20,000
Feasibility study for property redevelopment along the Seneca Cazenovia Commercial Corridor.
The REDC process has transformed economic development by streamlining the funding application process and creating a statewide framework for regional economic growth in New York State. Since 2011, nearly $3 billion has been awarded to support over 3,100 projects that are supporting the creation or retention of more than 150,000 jobs statewide.