Buffalo Awards $10M to 35 Commercial Development Projects

Buffalo, NY — Governor Kathy Hochul announced on December 16, 2025 that the state is awarding $10 million from the East Side Building Fund to 35 commercial and mixed-use projects in Buffalo's East Side. This significant investment accelerates private building renovations and infill development across the revitalization zone, directly supporting commercial corridor recovery and emerging developer initiatives.

East Side Building Fund Awards

The East Side Building Fund stems from a collaborative effort among Empire State Development (ESD), philanthropic organizations, and community partners to improve East Side commercial corridors. According to Governor Hochul's office, the $10 million in awards represents a strategic deployment of resources to revitalize neighborhoods that have historically faced economic challenges.

The fund operates on two tracks based on project scope:

• Small Projects: Provide grants covering up to 90% of project costs (maximum $400,000) for roofing, structural stabilization, storefront/facade, and signage improvements
• Anchor Projects: Provide grants up to 50% of total costs (maximum $2 million) for major restorations, adaptive reuse, new construction, and site improvements

Featured Award Recipients

Among the 35 awardees are several high-impact projects demonstrating community-driven development:

Loads of Love – Laurel Street: A new construction mixed-use building featuring a community laundromat, café, and affordable housing units. This project addresses a critical service gap while providing workforce housing in an underserved neighborhood.

Legacy Developers – Hickory Street: A mixed-use adaptive reuse project creating 29 affordable apartments and over 6,000 square feet of commercial space in the Willert Park neighborhood. This project preserves historic character while adding housing stock.

Styles of Man, Ladies of Charity, Phat Catz Restaurant & Bar, Doris Records, and Imperial Food Market: Smaller projects receiving facade improvements, exterior renovations, HVAC/energy efficiency upgrades, and structural repairs to strengthen community-serving businesses.

Community-Based Real Estate Development Track

A particularly noteworthy element of the awards is that 11 of the 35 project participants are graduates of the Community Based Real Estate Development Training Program. This program demonstrates the state's commitment to supporting emerging developers and ensuring the next generation of property owners can lead neighborhood revitalization efforts.

According to Governor Hochul, these funds serve a dual purpose: reducing the financial burden on property owners while ensuring commercial corridors are revitalized and equipped to anchor neighborhoods for years to come. The program graduates represent the ongoing need to support Buffalo's emerging developers as they improve their communities.

Eligible Project Requirements

To qualify for East Side Building Fund support, projects must:

• Involve commercial or mixed-use property (ground-level commercial with residential upstairs)
• Be located on Buffalo's East Side
• Preferably be in or adjacent to a priority business district: Jefferson Avenue, Fillmore Avenue, Michigan Avenue, Genesee Street, or Bailey Avenue

Broader Regional Revitalization Strategy

The East Side Building Fund is part of the Regional Revitalization Partnership (RRP), a $300 million comprehensive economic development strategy and public-private partnership. The RRP maximizes impact and leverages additional investment across Buffalo's East Side, Niagara Falls, and Rochester.

The partnership includes Empire State Development, ESL, the Max and Marian Farash Charitable Foundation, Five Star Bank, KeyBank/First Niagara Foundation, M&T Bank, NBT Bank, and the John R. Oishei Foundation, among others. This collaborative approach ensures public and private resources work in concert to build community wealth through multiple development paths.

What This Means for Buffalo Construction

For construction contractors, design firms, and building trades professionals, the East Side Building Fund represents a significant pipeline of project opportunities. The phased funding approach means work will spread across 35 different properties, creating ongoing demand for facade work, structural repairs, MEP systems, and new construction services.

The Small Projects track particularly benefits local contractors who specialize in facade restoration and building envelope work, while Anchor Projects create opportunities for larger general contractors managing complex adaptive reuse and new construction efforts.

Looking Ahead

This announcement builds on previous successful grant programs that have supported over 60 projects in East Buffalo community development. The continued investment signals New York State's sustained commitment to Buffalo's revitalization and demonstrates that coordinated public-private partnerships can drive meaningful economic development.

Westside Construction Group understands the value of community-driven development and complex, phased construction projects. With 30+ years managing commercial construction across Upstate New York, WCG brings expertise in navigating multi-property initiatives and delivering quality results for downtown revitalization. Learn more at buildwcg.com.