JEFFERSON AVENUE MARKETPLACE OPENS FOR BUSINESS

BUFFALO—Mayor Byron W. Brown and Buffalo Economic Renaissance Corporation President Timothy E. Wanamaker were joined by New York State Superintendent of Banks Diana Taylor and other community leaders to celebrate the grand opening of the new Jefferson Avenue Marketplace Plaza. The new plaza will be the home to a new M & T Bank branch as well as three brand new small businesses: Print EFX, Flashy Toppers and Mr. G’s Fashions. 

 

“The opening of the Jefferson Avenue Marketplace is another exciting chapter in the rebirth of Jefferson Avenue,” said Mayor Byron W. Brown. “In the past few years we have seen the tremendous changes on Jefferson Avenue, thanks to the hard work of the Buffalo Economic Renaissance Corporation, Bethel Community Development Corporation, and our faith-based partners. I applaud their commitment to growing this community.”

 

Two of the new business owners completed the Buffalo Economic Renaissance Corporation’s Entrepreneurial Assistance Program (EAP) and all three businesses are receiving financial and technical assistance from the BERC.    Bethel CDC oversaw the project for the BERC, Jeremiah Partnership, and others. The Jeremiah Partnership, a group of East Side community leaders from several East Side Churches, is working on an overall plan for a series of East Side Community Development projects.

 

“The goal of the Marketplace is to encourage more development in the already growing Jefferson Avenue corridor,” said BERC President Timothy E. Wanamaker. “The Marketplace will bring more life to Jefferson Avenue, which will attract more businesses and private sector development to the area.”

 

This development is the result of an effective collaboration among private foundations, government, the business sector, and the faith-based community,” said Benathan Upshaw, Executive Director of Bethel CDC. “We hope that it serve as a model and a catalyst for economic development for the Jefferson Avenue corridor as well as the City of Buffalo.”