The East Side Building Fund is a $10 million joint, consolidated fund that aims to assist in the community-driven revitalization of mixed-use commercial districts on Buffalo’s East Side by providing ESD capital grant funds for targeted building and associated site improvements, such as stabilization measures, facade renovations and interior building upgrades to commercial and mixed-use buildings. 

The East Side Building Fund takes a more streamlined and holistic approach to capital funding. By consolidating the three former ESD/East Side Avenues programs (East Side Commercials Districts Program, East Side Commercial Building Stabilization Fund and Community-Based Real Estate Development Training Program Fund), considers the overall needs of a particular building and funds those needs through one source—cutting down on confusion and eligibility for multiple funding sources so that resources can move into the community more quickly.

The fund offers grants through two initiatives—Small Projects and Anchors.

1. Small Projects: East Side Small Projects funding is intended to cover the costs of renovations per building, for stabilization-related activities, exterior facade and storefront renovations, interior renovations, and/or selected site improvements for commercial or mixed-use buildings.  Building owners are eligible to receive grants from a Local Program Administrator of a minimum of $100,000 to a maximum of $400,000. Applicants must contribute 10% of the total project cost. 

2. Anchors: East Side Anchor funding is intended for projects that are larger in size and scope. Building owners can receive $400,000 to $2,000,000 in funding from ESD to support a stand-alone, single-site, “shovel ready” renovation/rehabilitation project. Grants for eligible activities through this fund should not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the total project cost and the applicant must invest a minimum of ten percent (10%) of the total project cost in the form of their own “equity” (e.g., funds that are not borrowed/must be paid back as part of a loan).

Program Purpose & Goals:

The East Side Building Fund is intended to assist projects that contribute to the overall revitalization of mixed-use neighborhood commercial districts by:

• Building on existing planning processes to ensure that capital investments of public funds will enhance the aesthetics and economics of East Side commercial districts;
• Stimulating the economic revitalization of East Side commercial districts by providing financial incentives for the rehabilitation of traditional commercial building stock;
• Fostering small business development, thereby providing economic opportunities and promoting economic activity in neighborhood business locations;
• Fostering the next generation of developers on the East Side to emerge from the community itself;
• Supporting owner-occupied, not-for-profit and underrepresented neighborhood-based businesses to improve the overall community’s benefit of revitalization;
• Preserving significant and historic buildings and providing an environment that attracts new investment to enable the adaptive reuse of these buildings for new enterprises;
• Preventing further cases of “demolition by neglect” and preserving the existing urban fabric along commercial corridors;
• Addressing existing accessibility, code compliance, environmental, energy efficiency and health and safety issues to return vacant commercial spaces to active use; and
• Creating an incentive for comprehensive and enhanced rehabilitation projects rather than deferred maintenance and repair assistance.

• The building must be a commercial or mixed-use property (commercial space and residential space) located on Buffalo’s East Side.
• Applicants must demonstrate ownership of all buildings/real estate considered part of the proposed project. Buildings must be privately owned.

In addition, strong preference will be given to projects that fall within one or more of the following categories:

• Projects located within identified Commercial District target areas.
• Projects that involve at-risk historic buildings to preserve the community’s historic fabric.
• Projects initiated by graduates of the 2020, 2021, 2022 or 2023 Community-Based Real Estate Development Training program.

Questions about the East Side Building Fund Application and should be submitted in writing via email to [email protected] with the subject line: East Side Building Fund.