BUFFALO, N.Y. – Two National Grid economic development grants have been awarded to fund rehab projects that are being undertaken by Buffalo Urban Development Corp. subsidiary NorDel II LLC. The grant amounts of $290,000 and $100,000 support NorDel II’s separate efforts at 631 Northland Ave. and 777 Northland Ave. and represent National Grid’s continued commitment to revitalizing the city’s historic manufacturing district.

            “For almost two decades, National Grid has played a significant supportive role in Buffalo Urban Development Corporation’s various economic development initiatives, and they are a prime contributor to the success of the Northland Corridor project on Buffalo’s East Side,” said Buffalo Urban Development Corp. President Peter Cammarata.
            These successes include Northland Central anchor project Northland Workforce Training Center, which is located at 683 Northland Ave. There, training center enrollees earn for-credit education, training and workforce development services. In 2019, National Grid provided the center $550,000 in economic development grants and made a separate $10,000 donation for a van to transport students to and from the facility.


631 Northland Ave. 

            In addition to operating the training center Buffalo Urban Development Corp. – through its subsidiary NorDel II – is renovating additional nearby properties. Among them is a $12 million remediation project at the abandoned 41,000-square-foot building at 631 Northland Ave. NorDel II has plans to transform the building, which dates to 1953 when it was a metal fabrication shop, into light industrial workspace. The project calls for environmental site remediation, hazardous and regulated materials abatement, a new roof, new electricity service, HVAC, plumbing and more. To support this transformation, National Grid approved an economic development grant of $290,000.
 

777 Northland Ave. 

            The second NorDel II building at 777 Northland Ave. dates to 1913, when it was used by Otis Elevator Co. Ownership eventually transferred to Buffalo Stainless Casting Corp. and then to Curtiss-Wright Corp., which held the property from 1951 until its abandonment in the 1990s. At 777 Northland Ave., NorDel II’s first of a multi-phased project includes demolishing a portion of an 86,000-square-foot structure to create a shovel-ready site. To support the demolition, National Grid approved an economic development grant of $100,000.
            National Grid’s economic development program was designed to meet a wide variety of needs and supports businesses and municipalities whose projects may be focused in a myriad of areas including business recruitment, strategy development, marketing or more. More information about National Grid’s suite of programs is available at www.shovelready.com.  Funding for the 631 and 777 Northland Ave. projects was made through National Grid’s Brownfield Redevelopment Program, which funds utility-related infrastructure improvements and other costs necessary to progress the redevelopment of a brownfield site or building.

            “We’ve enjoyed a long partnership with Buffalo Urban Development Corp. and NorDel II who bring energy and excitement to the Northland Corridor; and our grants exemplify the kind of supportive role that National Grid can provide to customers who are looking to grow, rehab or rebuild,” said National Grid Regional Director Ken Kujawa. “It’s always gratifying to see progress on such important, forward-thinking projects that are designed to sustain or grow jobs and the economy.”              

National Grid’s Economic Development Programs
            Since 2003, National Grid’s 18 economic development programs have provided more than $100 million in assistance, helping to create or retain more than 50,000 jobs and supporting almost $10 billion in private and public investment across upstate New York.

Additionally, National Grid provides economic development support during the pandemic through its Manufacturing Productivity Program. The program fast tracks economic development requests to assist businesses that transitioned their facilities to produce critical medical equipment and supplies needed to fight COVID-19. The company also has committed resources and funding to assist families and customers who were impacted by the pandemic.

About National Grid

National Grid (NYSE: NGG) is an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company serving more than 20 million people through our networks in New York and Massachusetts. National Grid is focused on building a smarter, stronger, cleaner energy future — transforming our networks with more reliable and resilient energy solutions to meet state climate goals and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.