Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - "The health of this market is important to the health of downtown, but the health of small businesses in every section of our city is important to the health of our city."
The fight to save the Braymiller Market in Downtown Buffalo continues, as one prominent local developer, who helped build and open the market in September of 2021, is chipping in to give Braymiller what it needs to survive.
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Paul Ciminelli, President and CEO of Ciminelli Real Estate Corp. announced on Monday he is set to contribute another $500,000 to Braymiller Market, contingent on the city funding their grant request of more than $560,000.
"There's an old saying in life, 'Everyone gets in line to be second.' Well, Stuart Green stepped up to be first. We found Stuart, Stuart found us, and together, we, in a very collaborative approach with the community, planned this development out. That was pre-COVID," said Ciminelli during Monday's announcement just outside the market downtown. "Since then, we all know the challenges that COVID has had, not only on restaurants, but also on downtown office building owners - I am one - and about the remote work aspects of what's going on downtown for employment and occupancy in the office buildings. So there's been a challenge on all of us.
"We're starting to see that come back slowly. Companies are bringing their employees back, there's been more activity downtown. It stimulated more growth within the restaurants and the amenities for downtown, and we very much believe in downtown as a company, and myself personally."
Ciminelli is also committed to providing a $20 gift certificate for every tenant in the building at 201 Ellicott to shop at the Braymiller Market.
"We're very proud of this development, and we also see this has stimulated other developments," Ciminelli said. "Douglas Development up the street is going to be doing a number of apartments at the Simon Electric and the Mohawk Ramp site. This whole neighborhood is seeing a lot of momentum and a lot of development."
Like Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, Ciminelli believes a food retailer like Braymiller is critical for the infrastructure and the social infrastructure of Downtown Buffalo. Not only is it good for residents right around the market, but it's also good for office workers and anyone visiting downtown, whether it's for entertainment, work, live, or play.
In addition, Mayor Brown was on-hand for Monday's announcement with the city's Executive Director of the Office of Strategic Planning, Brendan Mahaffey, to announce a proposal heading for the Buffalo Common Council on Tuesday to continue the Small Business Financial Assistance Program.
"We have continued to listen to residents of the City of Buffalo, we have listened to members of the City Council, I've been in discussions with the members of the City Council. We know how important it is to continue a small business grant program, loan program in the City of Buffalo," said the Mayor on Monday. "The assistance to Braymiller Market is just a continuation of our assistance to small business in the City of Buffalo.
"We will continue that financial assistance with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars that the city already has secured. We have provided a generic plan to the City Council, but we will be submitting a proposal to the Council that will specifically outline the continuation of our Small Business Financial Assistance."
Mayor Brown stated Monday the city has already assisted 102 small businesses in the in all nine of its councilmanic districts with grants, and the plan is to continue their assistance for other small businesses across the city
"The program will be designed in a way that Councilmembers can also contribute [a portion of] their member item dollars, if they choose to, in the city budget through different streams of resources," Mayor Brown detailed. "Members of the City Council get member item dollars, they have the discretion to spend those member item dollars in different ways. This proposal will be structured so that not only is there general financial assistance continuing to small businesses, other lenders can participate, and Councilmembers themselves with their member item dollars can participate."
The amount of grants will vary and depend on the need. The application process for the program is being developed, and an announcement regarding the application process will take place this fall.
This grant would be offered through use of the city's ARPA funds.
It was two weeks ago when the Buffalo Common Council originally denied Braymiller's request for the $560,000-plus grant to help the market, but it has been Mayor Brown's goal to do what he can to get the funding it needs. That's why Tuesday's Common Council meeting will see the Mayor providing information, answering questions and providing other sources of detail for the Council's approval.
"We're making it clear that Downtown Buffalo is an engine for the entire City of Buffalo. We need a healthy downtown to have a strong city, and one of the amenities, one of the resources that downtown residents, downtown businesses are saying they want and they need is a market," Mayor Brown said. "I am working as hard as I can with others, with the private sector, with Evans Bank, to salvage this market in Downtown Buffalo, to see that it is successful in Downtown Buffalo so that our downtown continues to grow and provide job opportunities and resources that will benefit our entire City of Buffalo."
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