Initiatives
CRS works with partners on a portfolio of placemaking, workforce and small business economic growth initiatives in New York State.
East Side Avenues
East Side Avenues was a unique community-driven public/private partnership that provided capital and organizational support to transformational projects in targeted areas along four commercial corridors on the East Side of Buffalo. New York State initially invested $65M in capital that supported small business improvements, invested in key mixed-use properties, promoted historic preservation and reinvigorated fundamental East Side anchors. To strengthen the work of local nonprofit organizations to implement this work, local foundations and corporations invested more than $8M in capacity-building funds.
Regional Revitalization Partnership (RRP)
The Regional Revitalization Partnership (RRP) is a comprehensive, multi-year $300M economic development strategy. Building upon and accelerating collaborative, community-driven work that was already underway, this public/private initiative co-invests in three interconnected geographic areas (Buffalo’s East Side and the cities of Niagara Falls and Rochester) to create a holistic economic development strategy with investments focused on small business development, placemaking and workforce development. RRP is an outgrowth of East Side Avenues. Program implementation is led by the Center for Regional Strategies.
Springboard Prize Competition
In 2024, the Center for Regional Strategies launched and implemented a new entrepreneurial prize competition called Springboard. Springboard awarded nearly $600,000 in cash prizes to 26 organizations that help grow the entrepreneurial landscape in Buffalo-Niagara, Rochester and the Southern Tier in three rounds throughout 2024. In 2025, 12 winners were awarded a total of $551,625 from Buffalo, Rochester and the Southern Tier in amounts ranging from $6,000 to $100,000. Springboard was designed to incentivize a new wave of participants, energy, and entrepreneurial activity throughout WNY.
Western New York Manufacturing and Tech Workforce Coalition
The Western New York Manufacturing and Tech Workforce Coalition (the Coalition) is a strategic, coordinated, ecosystem-based approach to workforce development that maximizes job growth, expands career opportunities for the underserved and leverages federal, state and local dollars. This strategy is unique in that it was built by aligning trainers, industry, intermediaries, pipeline developers and community-based organizations around a shared vision and coordinating their roles and projects to support ecosystem building and workforce improvements.
Small Business Growth Initiative
The Small Business Growth Initiative (SBGI) is a comprehensive initiative that offers a dedicated support network for small businesses. To implement the SBGI, CRS coordinates partnerships with trusted community-based business support organizations such as The Exchange at Beverly Gray, The Foundry, and the Small Business Development Center at SUNY Buffalo State. SBGI is designed to strengthen the small business ecosystem and aligns critical resources, making them easily accessible/navigable for small businesses. These programs support small business growth, develop future entrepreneurs and help to build generational wealth along with the regional economy.