Center for Regional Strategies
ActiveCommunity ImprovementFunds Individuals
About Center for Regional Strategies
Plan, develop and implement economic growth strategies to build sustainable community wealth—especially in underserved areas—by focusing on placemaking, workforce and small business development, and nonprofit capacity building.
Focus Areas
PlacemakingWorkforce developmentSmall business developmentNonprofit capacity buildingEntrepreneurship support / prize competitionsCommercial building stabilization
Who They Fund
small businesses / startupsearly-stage / prize-winning companiesarts organizations / historic theatersworkforce trainees / job seekersregional communities (Niagara Falls, Northland)
About Center for Regional Strategies
The Center for Regional Strategies Inc uses economic development as a tool for community wealth building, with grantmaking tied to placemaking, workforce development, small business support, and nonprofit capacity building in underserved areas. A defining feature of the portfolio is the mix of large place-based initiatives and smaller award-based support for organizations that help regional entrepreneurs grow. The largest named place-based commitment in the data is the $65 million East Side Avenues effort, a public/private partnership tied to Buffalo’s East Side, while the Regional Revitalization Partnership extends that model across Buffalo’s East Side, Niagara Falls, and Rochester through a multi-year co-investment framework. The foundation also backs technical assistance and project-specific capital support, including commercial building stabilization and historic preservation work. Recent grantees show how that strategy translates into practice: Niagara Arts & Cultural Center Inc received support for theatre restoration, and Nfc Development Corp received funding for the Niagara Falls small business development program. Across the record, the foundation’s work centers on regional systems that connect business growth, workforce pathways, and community-serving institutions.
What Center for Regional Strategies Funds
Small business development is one of the clearest threads in the portfolio. In 2024, Nfc Development Corp in Niagara Falls received $235,000 for the Niagara Falls Small Business Development Program. The foundation also uses intermediary organizations and peer-learning models to support entrepreneurs, including Bricks Collaborative in Buffalo, which received a Springboard Prize award for company development. Workforce development is another recurring focus. The Economic Development Group dba Northland Workforce Training Center in Buffalo received $100,000 for professional services, and the Western New York Manufacturing and Tech Workforce Coalition sits within the active program lineup as a regional ecosystem effort. Placemaking and historic preservation appear through building and venue support. Niagara Arts & Cultural Center Inc received $190,000 for theatre restoration, and the Commercial Building Stabilization Fund is referenced as a source for restoration and stabilization projects. These grants align with the foundation’s emphasis on community wealth in targeted local geographies.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$833K
Total Assets
$12.2M
Total Revenue
$4M
Total Expenses
$3.3M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $15K and $25K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$25K
Geographic Reach
Local1 state funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
LAURA QUEBRAL
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