Highland Planning’s public outreach and technical assistance drives early success of $5 million revitalization program
BUFFALO, N.Y. (Oct. 13, 2025) – Highland Planning is making headlines for its pivotal role in administering the Niagara Falls Small Business Property Improvement Grant Program (NFSBPIP), a major initiative aimed at revitalizing small businesses and commercial corridors in downtown Niagara Falls.
Highland Planning’s work was recently highlighted in the Buffalo News and through a joint announcement by USA Niagara Development Corporation, NFC Development Corporation, and the City of Niagara Falls regarding the success of the Niagara Falls Small Business Property Improvement Grant Program (NFSBPIP), a $5 million initiative designed to revitalize downtown Niagara Falls’ traditional mixed-use business districts.
Bridging the Gap Between Funding and Small Businesses
Highland Planning’s Senior Planner, Heike Jacob, AICP, serves as the administrative consultant for the $5 million NFSBPIP, conducting extensive public outreach and providing technical assistance to encourage local businesses and property owners to apply for grants. The program provides funding of up to 50% of eligible costs, with a maximum of $100,000 per property, to support facade restoration and mixed-use building upgrades.
“Our role has been to bridge the gap between available funding and the small businesses who need it most,” said Jacob. “Through office hours, community outreach, and one-on-one consultations, we’ve worked to demystify the application process and help business owners understand how these grants can transform their properties and contribute to the broader revitalization of the City and its commercial corridors.”
Proven Results in Downtown Revitalization
The outreach efforts have proven successful. As announced in September 2025, the program has awarded over $500,000 in grants to seven projects on Pine Avenue, Main Street, and downtown Niagara Falls, totaling more than $1.1 million in total project costs.
The first completed project—a $39,681 grant to developer Sam Savarino for the build-out of SkinCare Essentials by Jill at the historic Tugby-Lennon block on Niagara Street—exemplifies the program’s impact in activating commercial spaces and revitalizing historic structures. The grant enabled all three commercial spaces at the historic Tugby-Lennon block to become fully occupied, contributing to the activation of the Niagara Street commercial corridor and downtown as a whole.
The NFSBPIP is funded through the Regional Revitalization Partnership, with $3 million contributed by New York State and $2 million from private philanthropic and corporate partners, including KeyBank, M&T Bank, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, and others. The Regional Revitalization Partnership focuses on Buffalo, Rochester, and Niagara Falls as interconnected communities requiring coordinated investment strategies.
Business and property owners interested in the Niagara Falls Small Business Property Improvement Grant Program can contact Highland Planning’s Heike Jacob at (585) 649-1600, heike@highland-planning.com or visit the NFC Development Corporation website for more information about guidelines and application procedures.
