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Niagara Falls Community Development: First round of small business support fund grants announced

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Wed, Mar 20th 2019 11:30 am

The Niagara Falls Community Development Department (NFCD) is announcing Small Business Support Fund (SBSF) grant awards to three local, neighborhood-based renovation projects. The SBSF is a new, federally funded NFCD program that offers matching grants to businesses willing to significantly improve their properties.

“These three buildings are gathering points for their surrounding areas,” said Seth Piccirillo, director of Niagara Falls Community Development. “We are excited to be a part of these transformative projects that will have positive impacts on property values and help strengthen their neighborhoods. In total, these grants will help create $310,000 in new local investment.”

Awarded projects include:

Location: DiCamillo Bakery expansion/renovation

  • Address: 811 Linwood Ave.
  • Grant amount: $75,000

Description: Four adjoining properties will be connected to create a larger flagship store and production facility, as DiCamillo Bakery prepares to celebrate its 100th year of business.

Location: 1702 Pine Ave. (Garibaldi Square)

  • Grant amount: $50,000

Description: A new exterior staircase will be constructed, LED lighting added in the courtyard, as well as public art installation, window/doorway replace, roof repair and exterior painting in support of the creation of “Class B” office space or better. The building’s new owners are completely reimaging this space in the heart of the Pine Avenue Business District.

Location: Loxstock & Barrel Saloon

  • Address: 2602 Niagara St.
  • Grant amount: $30,000

Description: Interior renovation and the addition of a new kitchen space to compliment a new patio area that was installed within the past two years. Loxstock has been a Niagara Street staple for decades, and now will offer a full menu.

DiCamillo Bakery Vice President Mathew DiCamillo said, “We are very excited to update our flagship location on Linwood Avenue, transforming the boarded-up, industrial-looking nature of these four properties into a more attractive, connected and engaging complex with a totally updated, destination type retail store at its center. This retail store will be completely redesigned from floor to ceiling with many new features, including a glass-enclosed cake decorating/chocolate-enrobing room so customers will be able to see production in real time. Work has already begun on this project, and we expect completion in time for our centennial in January 2020.”

City of Niagara Falls Councilman Bill Kennedy said, "It's always great to see small business development and, in this case, each business represents a different section of our city characterized by longevity."

The SBSF is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, replacing NFCD’s commercial façade renovation program. The new grant program offers a wider range of applicable renovations. NFCD called for competitive applications on Feb. 11, and will do so again in August.

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