BUFFALO, N.Y. — There is a new initiative aimed at helping Buffalo residents and business owners continuing to deal with the economic challenges brought on by the COVID-19 crisis.
The Small Business, Tenants, And Neighborhood Development Underwriting Program (STAND UP) will use $11 million from the CARES Act and other funding to give people hope and the resources needed to keep operating.
“For almost a year now, Buffalo’s residents and small businesses have had to find innovative ways to cope with the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the guidelines that have been put in place to help slow the spread," said Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown. "Today’s announcement of a new set of assistance programs will help our City’s tenants, homeowners, and entrepreneurs access the resources they need to continue operating during these difficult circumstances and give people the hope they need as the vaccine becomes more widely accessible and the end of the pandemic’s restrictions are within sight.”
If eligible, the grant money can be used to meet the following specific needs:
- Eviction Prevention
- Foreclosure Prevention
- Fair Housing
- Owner & Rental Housing Rehab
- Microenterprise Assistance
- Digital Inclusion Analysis
The Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency (BURA) and several community agencies will be providing services to qualifying recipients. Eligible applicants must have incomes below 80 percent of the area median income. Applications will be available starting February 8. For more information call the newly established BURA Central Intake System by calling either 2-1-1 or 3-1-1.
