Small Business Grants for East Buffalo
 

East Buffalo Small Business Working Capital Grant Program

As part of her Juneteenth announcement, and in response to the May 14, 2022 racially motivated mass murder of 10 persons at Tops Friendly Markets in the Jefferson Avenue Business District in East Buffalo, Governor Hochul committed to making $50 million in community investments in housing, business, and other types of relief available. The East Buffalo Small Business Working Capital Grant Program is part of this investment.

The $3 million program will provide grants of $5,000 to $50,000 to eligible small businesses in a designated area of East Buffalo to help largely minority-owned establishments rebound from the social and economic impacts of the mass shooting at Tops Friendly Market on Jefferson Avenue earlier this year.

We thank Governor Hochul for the East Buffalo Small Business Working Capital Grant Program - another step in the State’s long-term commitment to the East Buffalo community.

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    Apply for the East Buffalo Grants

    Qualifying small businesses must be located in East Buffalo within the target area delineated on the map below.

    We will begin accepting applications on March 15, 2024, on a first come first served basis.

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    East Buffalo Grants FAQ

    Eligibility, requirements, andapplication process questions can be found here.

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    About the Grants

    Grants will be calculated based upon the business’s gross receipts:

    • Annual gross receipts: $5,000 -$49,999: Award is $5,000 / business
    • Annual gross receipts: $50,000 -$99,999: Award is $10,000 / business
    • Annual gross receipts: $100,000 -$1,000,000: Award is 10% of gross receipts (maximum grant is $50,000)

    Qualifying businesses must be located in the area designated below. Area bounded by:

    • Main Street (properties fronting on both sides) south to North Street;
    • North Street (properties fronting on south side) east to Michigan Avenue;
    • Michigan Ave (properties fronting on east side) south to I-190;
    • I-190 east to the Norfolk-Southern RR overpass and the Buffalo River;
    • Buffalo River east to the City of Buffalo border; and
    • City of Buffalo border north to Main Street, (excluding the University at Buffalo South campus).


    Ineligible businesses, specified by ESD include the following:

    • Home-based businesses which are primarily oriented to serve customers and clients outside of the region.
      • Examples: retail shops and online marketplaces that sell to a statewide or national customer base are not eligible
    • Business that received funding through ESD’s $800M Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program are not eligible. Applicants must attest that they have not received funding from this program.
    • Business that received funding through ESD’s $200M flexible grant program for early-stage businesses are not eligible. Applicants must attest that they have not received funding from this program and do not intend to apply for funding through this program
    • Religious organizations, lobbying organizations, and elected officials who are the owner of a small business are ineligible to receive grants under this program.

    NOTE: This grant opportunity is first come, first served. If you submit multiple applications, only the latest application and timestamp will be reflected in the submission portal.

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