By Jillian Bannister
Buffalo, NY – The City of Buffalo will award $100,000 in grants to block clubs and other civic associations to make physical and visual improvements in their neighborhoods.
The announcement was made Tuesday at the Massachusetts Avenue Project, where public funding and community involvement have been successful in improving neighborhoods. Tim Wanamaker, Executive Director of the Office of Strategic Planning, says the program will enhance the mayor's Livable Communities Initiative, which started a year ago.
"If you look at Massachussetts Avenue Project here in the Buffalo West side, you still see another example of other residents, what they can do in working with the private sector and the public sector. Our grants are going to enhance those efforts," Wannamaker said. "This is not a new program. We were given direction from residents from this community and communities across the city on bringing it back. What we're doing, though, is we are enhancing it and we are targeting it."
Grant applications are due by April 25th.
Grants will range from $300 to $5,000. Any block club or civic association located in a low to moderate income area in the city is eligible.