LOCKPORT – Nineteen community groups across Niagara County will benefit from the 16th annual round of grants funded by the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission.
The William G. Mayne Business-Community Enhancement Grants were presented at last week’s Niagara County Legislature meeting.
The Bridge Commission, which operates the three international bridges in the county, has provided the funds from the outset.
“The program is designed to create public-private partnerships, with the goal to assist business associations with projects to physically enhance and market their respective business districts,” said Legislator Kathryn L. Lance, R-Wheatfield, chairwoman of the Economic Development Committee. The county’s economic-development staff screens the applications and decides how much money to give each.
Lance said requests this year totaled $47,559, but only $38,988 was available for grants.
The largest grant was $3,000 to the Newfane Business and Professional Association for flowers, a granite bench, three lighted holiday decorations and a renovated “Welcome to Newfane” sign.
Lockport Main Street Inc. also won $3,000, to publish a new Lockport visitors guide.
The Youngstown Business and Professional Association received $2,984 to update the village’s brochure and place village flags and flower baskets on utility poles.
Western New York Historic Parks Associates received a $2,500 award for hanging baskets and median plantings on Main Street in Lockport, a driveway extension at Lockport’s John Henry Park and a brochure for this year’s “Lockport in Bloom” garden walk.
The Lockport Business Association was approved for $1,515 to upgrade two signs at city entrances and provide signs for “Lockport in Bloom.”
The Niagara USA Chamber scored $1,850 toward a computer software upgrade.
In Niagara Falls, the Highland Community Revitalization Committee was granted $1,500 for landscaping and gardening supplies.
Among the Falls’ business and professional associations, the Main Street organization received $2,500 to place U.S. flags on utility poles and for two benches in Cenotaph Park.
The LaSalle group won $1,500 for sidewalk repairs along Buffalo Avenue, and the Niagara Street Area group won $566 for a sign at Niagara Street and Portage Road.
The Town of Niagara organization received $2,500 for flowers along Military Road.
The Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas was granted $1,750 toward its “Walkway to Webster” beautification project.
The Downtown Merchants Association of North Tonawanda won $1,372 to place a large business district map at the Gateway Park information kiosk.
A $2,500 grant went to the Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce for digital signage in its welcome center, a new visitor guide and website upgrades.
The Ransomville Business and Professional Association was granted $1,000 for flower baskets and promotional literature for summer concerts and holiday wreath lighting.
Its Sanborn counterpart won $2,000 toward landscaping at the “Welcome to Sanborn” sign.
Watch Wilson Grow received $2,380 for renovation of a pavilion in Krueger Park.
The Olcott Beach Community Association won $2,750 for sidewalk repairs, a flagpole and flag for the beach area, lighting of the Main Street gazebo and flowers around the Civil War monument.
The Gasport Beautification Committee received $1,911 for construction of a memorial garden with a concrete walkway and an engraved bench.
email: tprohaska@buffnews.com
The William G. Mayne Business-Community Enhancement Grants were presented at last week’s Niagara County Legislature meeting.
The Bridge Commission, which operates the three international bridges in the county, has provided the funds from the outset.
“The program is designed to create public-private partnerships, with the goal to assist business associations with projects to physically enhance and market their respective business districts,” said Legislator Kathryn L. Lance, R-Wheatfield, chairwoman of the Economic Development Committee. The county’s economic-development staff screens the applications and decides how much money to give each.
Lance said requests this year totaled $47,559, but only $38,988 was available for grants.
The largest grant was $3,000 to the Newfane Business and Professional Association for flowers, a granite bench, three lighted holiday decorations and a renovated “Welcome to Newfane” sign.
Lockport Main Street Inc. also won $3,000, to publish a new Lockport visitors guide.
The Youngstown Business and Professional Association received $2,984 to update the village’s brochure and place village flags and flower baskets on utility poles.
Western New York Historic Parks Associates received a $2,500 award for hanging baskets and median plantings on Main Street in Lockport, a driveway extension at Lockport’s John Henry Park and a brochure for this year’s “Lockport in Bloom” garden walk.
The Lockport Business Association was approved for $1,515 to upgrade two signs at city entrances and provide signs for “Lockport in Bloom.”
The Niagara USA Chamber scored $1,850 toward a computer software upgrade.
In Niagara Falls, the Highland Community Revitalization Committee was granted $1,500 for landscaping and gardening supplies.
Among the Falls’ business and professional associations, the Main Street organization received $2,500 to place U.S. flags on utility poles and for two benches in Cenotaph Park.
The LaSalle group won $1,500 for sidewalk repairs along Buffalo Avenue, and the Niagara Street Area group won $566 for a sign at Niagara Street and Portage Road.
The Town of Niagara organization received $2,500 for flowers along Military Road.
The Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas was granted $1,750 toward its “Walkway to Webster” beautification project.
The Downtown Merchants Association of North Tonawanda won $1,372 to place a large business district map at the Gateway Park information kiosk.
A $2,500 grant went to the Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce for digital signage in its welcome center, a new visitor guide and website upgrades.
The Ransomville Business and Professional Association was granted $1,000 for flower baskets and promotional literature for summer concerts and holiday wreath lighting.
Its Sanborn counterpart won $2,000 toward landscaping at the “Welcome to Sanborn” sign.
Watch Wilson Grow received $2,380 for renovation of a pavilion in Krueger Park.
The Olcott Beach Community Association won $2,750 for sidewalk repairs, a flagpole and flag for the beach area, lighting of the Main Street gazebo and flowers around the Civil War monument.
The Gasport Beautification Committee received $1,911 for construction of a memorial garden with a concrete walkway and an engraved bench.
email: tprohaska@buffnews.com