Hundreds of small businesses across Erie County are rejuvenating their storefronts and reinvigorating business thanks to the Erie County Storefront Revitalization grant program, which is investing $15 million over two years in the program to assist local small business owners. Today Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz joined Erie County Legislator Howard Johnson (1^st District) and Mr. Efrain Burgos and his son, Alexandre Burgos, at Burgos Hair Salon on Niagara Street in Buffalo to review the improvements made there.

“Erie County continues to invest in local small business with programs like the Storefront Revitalization grant program and the results are great to see. By increasing curb appeal, we are helping them to increase foot traffic and draw new customers. It’s also wonderful to see what a bright, dramatic transformation of a business such as we see here will do for a neighborhood or a street,” said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz.  “I thank the Legislature for their support of this grant program, which has been popular with businesses all around the county. These investments in our community are good for business owners, good for customers, and good for Erie County.”

Located in the Hispanic Heritage District in Buffalo, Burgos Hair Salon used a grant of $40,000 to completely remake the storefront to look like Old San Juan and fulfill a longtime dream of the owner, Efrain Burgos, who was born in Puerto Rico. Work at the site included removal of old roofing and installation of new rubber membrane roofing, replacement of the existing storefront door and windows with an insulated glass panel aluminum storefront, and extensive wall work to repair the cementitious coating and trim to create a smooth, level, and plumb finish. Concrete window openings, heads, jambs, and sills were all repaired to provide a weathertight construction. Installation of new decorative balconies, a composite signboard and cornice trim, new lighting, and paint were also included in the revitalization along with new window graphics.   

Efrain Burgos, Owner of Efrain Burgos Hair Salon, said, "I am so grateful to have been a recipient of the Erie County Storefront Revitalization grant. The support of this incredible program helped bring my dream to reality, and makes the neighborhood look more vibrant."

"The Storefront Revitalization program is just one of the innovative ways Erie County is investing in small businesses amidst the on-going renaissance of Western New York,” added Alexandre Burgos, Community Leader and son of Efrain Burgos. “By beautifying, stabilizing and investing in our neighborhoods, we can make the Buffalo region an even better place to live, work and visit!"

Alexander Burgos, Owner of Draghi Burgos Construction, said, "The storefront revitalization program provides a direct investment into our collective community by beautifying our commercial strips, and rewarding the small business owners who call it home. I expect the grant program to spur further neighborhood development in response."

“Small businesses have been hit hard by events in recent years,” said Erie County Legislator Howard Johnson. “The Storefront Revitalization program provides these hardworking men and women with funding to upgrade their businesses and attract more customers. For a relatively small sum, the county is helping to spur real economic development, which will benefit everyone in Erie County.”

“I was proud to support the creation of the Storefront Revitalization program,” said Erie County Legislature Chair April N. M. Baskin. “In ways both large and small, the Majority Caucus has partnered with the County Executive in recent years to develop innovative ways to improve the lives of the residents of Buffalo. Storefront Revitalization is a perfect example of the kind of creative, small-scale approaches that have an outsized impact on neighborhoods all over our community.”  

Commissioner of the Department of Environment and Planning Dan Castle and departmental personnel were also attending; the Department of Environment and Planning administers the highly successful grant program.  Approximately two dozen businesses have had their storefronts fully completed as of today while another twenty-five are currently underway.

“The Storefront Revitalization grant program has been very well-received, and the results are evident in communities around the county,” said Commissioner Castle. “No two businesses are alike but all the business owners are happy with the results of the work, which is drawing new customers and invigorating Erie County’s economy.”

For more information:

On the Department of Environment and Planning, visit https://www3.erie.gov/environment/

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