The Western New York Power Proceeds Board awarded nearly $2 million worth of funds to two major Niagara County projects this week.
The Riviera Theatre in North Tonawanda received $350,000 toward its latest refurbishment project, adding new dressing rooms to replace the original ones still used in the theater’s basement.
“Despite its long track record of cultural programming, the theater’s original basement dressing rooms are flood-prone and non-ADA-compliant, limiting the venue’s ability to attract larger touring productions that require accessible, modern performer infrastructure,” the project application reads.
The $1.63 million project, aside from adding new dressing rooms, includes LED lighting, new HVAC systems, insulation, and production support spaces that would enable more diverse programming and multi-night engagements. It would add 10 to 20 performances per year on top of the more than 125 already performing there.
With these additions allowing more shows, the theater predicts that between 7,000 and 14,000 additional patrons would come to shows, generating between $245,000 and $700,000 in regional economic activity per year.
Other listed funding sources include pending awards of $781,714 from the state Council on the Arts and $175,000 from the Niagara River Greenway, $256,713 in senior debt, and $150,000 in equity.
The Riviera went through a $3.5 million renovation, expanding and refurbishing its lobby space, which was finished in 2024.
The new $17 million Kenan Civic Arena in Lockport received $1.62 million for covering project costs, as the 64,200-square-foot arena looks to open this September. The facility has plans to operate more than 340 days a year, attract more than 200,000 visitors through concerts, festivals, conferences, farmers markets, and sporting events, and generate more than $20 million in economic activity.
“The project addresses a significant gap in modern large-scale event infrastructure in eastern Niagara County, secures the long-term sustainability of a valued community institution, and advances downtown Lockport’s ongoing revitalization,” the project application reads.
Other listed funding sources include $6 million from the Kenan Charitable Trust, $3 million from the Grigg Lewis Foundation, $350,000 from the East Hill Foundation, and $2.59 million from other funders. It is still waiting on a $3.5 million grant from the state Council on the Arts.
The two Erie County projects that got funds were the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, which got $2.9 million for its $31.4 million expansion, Breadhive, a Buffalo-based bakery, which received $329,269 for setting up a new location that would cost them $1.54 million.
The funds given out come from the net earnings of the New York Power Authority’s sale of unutilized expansion and replacement power.