Regional Revitalization Partnership (RRP)

Buffalo East Side

A combined $180 million RRP investment will scale up East Side Avenues’ foundational investments that support small business improvements, redevelop key mixed-use properties, promote historic preservation, reinvigorate fundamental East Side anchors, and build capacity for nonprofit partners to implement this critical work.

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Rochester

A combined $80 million RRP investment builds upon a community-driven planning process and invests in placemaking and redeveloping community anchors along the Genesee River to connect people, attract new businesses, and promote long-term economic growth; workforce development that leverages industry partnerships to provide the unemployed and under-skilled with training, employment readiness, and job placement and retention; and small business growth while revitalizing Main Street—an important downtown gateway and commercial corridor.

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Niagara Falls

A combined $40 million RRP investment builds upon the community-driven planning process of the Niagara Falls Strategic Economic Development Plan and invests in: Niagara Falls’ waterfront and community anchors to tell the story of the City’s unique history and heritage; commercial corridor improvements that revitalize business districts and generate wealth for small business owners; and a cohesive food ecosystem that builds on the region’s food and agriculture strengths.

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It started with a vision and was built through collaboration

The Regional Revitalization Partnership is a $300 million comprehensive economic development strategy and public private partnership that maximizes impact and leverages additional investment for Buffalo’s East Side, Niagara Falls and Rochester. This community-driven, collaborative strategy takes a holistic approach to economic development and is designed to build community wealth through multiple paths. The RRP was developed in collaboration with New York State Governor Kathy Hochul and Empire State Development (ESD) and is supported by ESL, Max and Marian Farash Charitable Foundation, Five Star Bank, KeyBank/First Niagara Foundation, William & Sheila Konar Foundation, M&T Bank, NBT Bank, John R. Oishei Foundation, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, and partners in the cities of Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and Rochester. RRP program implementation is led by the Center for Regional Strategies in partnership with University at Buffalo Regional Institute (UBRI). The strategy was developed in 2021 by a team led by UBRI, a research center of the University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning.

Read the RRP Book

About the RRP

RRP takes a public private approach that will maximize impact and leverage additional investment for Buffalo’s East Side and the urban cores of Rochester and Niagara Falls. This holistic economic development strategy can demonstrate how New York State’s (NYS) partnership with cities, as well as private/philanthropic sectors, can drive catalytic initiatives that help communities and lay the foundation for economic growth. This strategy has the potential to become an unprecedented and innovative national model for community and economic revitalization.

Built for the Community by the Community

The RRP was designed through interactive and ongoing community and stakeholder input and engagement. Increased capacity and sustainability of community-based organizations ensures that programs directly engage with community members. Strong local intermediaries connect the dots while assessing, problem solving and ensuring resources are getting to the community.

The outreach model started with stakeholder meetings where participants review community assets, discuss challenges, and provide input.
Community members were then asked to submit project ideas. All ideas were reviewed and considered.
Listening sessions were held to gather project details.
Community-informed projects were identified and are being implemented/supported.
Strong candidates were given technical assistance for plan implementation.
Community informed projects were identified and are being implemented/supported.
Community voices are continually lifted up through storytelling.

COMMUNITY WEALTH BUILDING

Community Wealth Building Emerges Through Targeted Investment in:

NEW PATHS TO BUILD ECONOMIC PROSPERITY: Invest in building the small business ecosystem to grow revenues, ensure higher wages and increase household income.

BUILD CAPACITY AND SCALE UP SUCCESS: Strengthen core existing nonprofits through capacity-building programs, leverage recent investments and enhance successful programs.

TRANSFORMATIVE COMMUNITY ANCHORS AND HERITAGE AREAS: Invest in iconic, catalytic large-scale community anchors and unique historic assets/areas.

Community Projects and Progress

Projects and initiatives funded by RRP, as well as contextual indicators that track progress of RRP goals, are summarized in an online dashboard that is updated annually alongside the RRP Annual Reports (linked below).

VISIT THE ONLINE DASHBOARD HERE