USAN, Niagara Falls announce completion of 5 projects funded by NF Small Business Property Improvement Grant

Niagara Falls Magic Theatre file photo.

Thu, Apr 30th 2026 01:05 pm

$370,000-plus distributed to date

USA Niagara Development Corp. press release

USA Niagara Development Corp. (USAN) and the City of Niagara Falls announced the completion of five projects funded by the Niagara Falls Small Business Property Improvement Grant program (NFSBPIP).

USAN President Anthony Vilardo and City of Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino were on hand to distribute checks to the following businesses:

•650 Park Place – Kashmir Museum ($100,000): Grant funds were used to restore windows and doors and install exterior lighting as part of the greater restoration of a nearly 100-year-old former church into a modern, state-of-the-art museum that will house the largest collection of Kashmiri art and artifacts outside of Kashmir.

•1717 Pine Ave. – Commercial building that includes O’Reilly Auto Parts Store as a tenant ($71,685): Grant funds were used for a roof replacement, fencing and landscaping along 18th Street and Pine Avenue.

•1 Prospect Street – Niagara Falls Magic Theatre ($62,378): Grant funds were used to transform the existing basement space at Comfort Inn The Pointe into a high-end theatrical experience. New, professional-grade theatrical equipment, including state-of-the-art sound, lighting, video and special effects systems, were installed along with exterior signage. The theater will provide a residency for award-winning illusionist Leon Etienne, who has made appearances on “America’s Got Talent” and “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.”

•745 E. Market St. – Dosa Place ($52,971): Grant funds were used for roof replacement, exterior and interior painting, as well as new flooring, fencing, countertops and exterior door. This grant enabled a small local business, which has been in operation for over five years, to make essential renovations to address leaks, improve security, and make their kitchen space more functional.

•1313-1319 Main St. – Historic Main Street mixed-use building ($44,141): Grant funds were used for a partial roof replacement, masonry repair, and exterior painting to restore this historic building.

More than $370,000 in grants has been awarded to date. The $5 million program, announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul in November 2023, provides grants of up to 50% of total eligible costs, up to $100,000 per property, to eligible small businesses to foster revitalization of traditional mixed-use business districts. It is funded by the Regional Revitalization Partnership (RRP), a multiyear $300 million collaborative initiative between New York state’s Empire State Development (the parent entity of USAN), local municipalities and private philanthropic partners.

Vilardo said, “These five completed projects represent the tangible momentum we are building in Niagara Falls. By partnering with local small businesses and building owners – from the restoration of a historic church into a world-class museum to essential upgrades for small businesses – we are ensuring that the governor’s vision for a revitalized, mixed-use downtown for both residents and visitors is reflected in our business districts.”

Restaino said, “Investing in our business districts creates a more vibrant city, and these awards continue the commitment by Gov. Hochul to invest in structures that are key to revitalizing our downtown. We urge other businesses and developers to take advantage of the opportunities provided through the funding program created by New York state to continue the momentum of reinvigorating our various business districts.”

Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Program Officer Marissa Rossman said, “Revitalization is most meaningful when the people who have long invested in and cared for a neighborhood are able to share in its growth. We’re proud to be one of the many partners supporting this program. Helping local business owners improve and strengthen what they have built for their communities creates stronger pathways to wealth and opportunity while still preserving the character that makes Niagara Falls so unique.”

M&T Bank Executive Vice President/Community Reinvestment Brad Dossinger said, “The Regional Revitalization Partnership is grounded in the belief that meaningful progress happens when public, private and philanthropic partners work together. M&T Bank is proud to contribute to the continued growth of Niagara Falls’ commercial districts, helping small businesses strengthen their operations and enhance their properties. Each completed project reflects the momentum building across the community.”

To date, the NFSBPIP has distributed $370,000-plus in grant funding to six projects on Pine Avenue, Main Street and downtown Niagara Falls that total more than $758,600 in overall project costs. The $5 million program provides grants of up to 50% of total project costs, up to $100,000 per property, to eligible small businesses to foster revitalization of traditional mixed-use business districts. The funds to small businesses and property owners can be used for commercial improvements such as façade restoration and other mixed-use building upgrades. 

Eligibility is based, in part, on whether a business is located within the designated program district. For additional guidelines and to learn more about how to submit an application, visit the N.F.C. Development Corp.’s (NFC) website. The program is funded through the Regional Revitalization Partnership, a $300 million private and public regional co-investment in three interconnected geographic areas: Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Rochester.

Business and property owners who are interested in the program can book office hours with the NFSBPIP administrative consultant, Heike Jacob, from Highland Planning, at https://tinyurl.com/heikejacob or 585-649-1600.

The total state investment for this program is $3 million, with philanthropic and corporate entities committing to contribute the remaining $2 million toward the total funding amount, to be used for both capital grants and operational support of NFC.

USAN, a subsidiary of Empire State Development, is solely dedicated to the support and promotion of economic development initiatives in Niagara Falls by leveraging private investment and encouraging growth and renewal of the tourism industry in the City of Niagara Falls. More information is available here.

N.F.C. Development Corp. is a not-for-profit corporation created by the City of Niagara Falls to provide programs relieving and reducing unemployment; bettering and maintaining job opportunities; providing aid to attract new business or retain business and industry; assisting/providing aid to small business concerns; receiving grants/loans for the purpose of assisting and aiding small businesses; and entering into necessary covenants, loans and agreements with small businesses, all to stimulate economic development in Niagara Falls. More information is available here.