Peoples-Stokes, Rivera announce $400,000 in state aid to fund upgrades at 2 Neighborhood Health Center clinics

Funds will support construction and infrastructure upgrades at Niagara Street & Delaware Avenue locations

Press release

New York State Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes and Assembly member Jon D. Rivera recently announced they secured $400,000 in state funding to support significant construction and infrastructure upgrades at Neighborhood Health Center of Western New York Inc., strengthening access to high-quality, community-based health care for Buffalo residents.

The funding will support capital, site and technology infrastructure improvements at two Neighborhood Health Center locations in Buffalo: 1569 Niagara St. (Riverway location), and 2497 Delaware Ave.

At 2497 Delaware Ave., the investment will fund renovations necessary to operate the location as a Federally Qualified Health Center. The facility previously operated as an urgent care center, and planned renovations will ensure the building meets New York State Department of Health architectural standards required to provide comprehensive primary care services.

Improvements at this site will include the addition of intake rooms and an extra exam room, converting two existing exam rooms into counseling spaces for integrated nutrition and behavioral health providers, and creating office space for administrative support staff as well as workstations for community health workers and care coordinators. The project will also include flooring and wall upgrades throughout the facility to improve accessibility and safety for patients and staff.

Once operational as a Federally Qualified Health Center, the site – Neighborhood Health Center Delaware – will expand access to care for a medically underserved population. In the surrounding 14216 ZIP code, 32% of households report incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, while 22% of residents rely on Medicaid for health care coverage. Nearly 4,000 residents report having no usual source of care, and more than 2,500 have delayed seeking health care due to cost.

Neighborhood Health Center of Western New York provides high-quality, integrated primary care services regardless of a patient’s personal, social or economic circumstances.

At 1569 Niagara St., the funding will support improvements to the facility’s information technology infrastructure, along with upgrades to parking and fencing to enhance safety and accessibility for patients, staff and community members.

In 2025, the Niagara Street location (Neighborhood Health Center Riverway) provided care to more than 10,000 patients across a wide range of services, including primary care, obstetrics and gynecology, behavioral health and psychiatry, nutrition and wellness counseling, optometry, podiatry, dental services and pharmacy services. Continued investment in the facility and its grounds will help maintain and expand the services available to patients across Buffalo’s West Side and surrounding neighborhoods.

Peoples-Stokes and Rivera noted that, by investing in these critical upgrades for an organization that has served as a cornerstone of community health in Buffalo, they’re helping ensure that the provider can continue delivering comprehensive, patient-centered care to thousands of Western New Yorkers for years to come.

Peoples-Stokes said, “Access to affordable health care, especially in underserved neighborhoods in the City of Buffalo, is critical. This $400,000 to two Neighborhood Health Center locations on Buffalo’s east and west sides will expand access and strengthen the structural components of these health centers. I am happy to stand with Assembly member Rivera in providing this investment to our communities.”

Rivera said, “Access to high-quality, affordable health care should never depend on a person’s income or ZIP code. This $400,000 investment will allow Neighborhood Health Center of Western New York to expand its services and strengthen the infrastructure needed to care for more patients in our community. By supporting improvements at both the Delaware Avenue and Niagara Street locations, we are ensuring that families across Buffalo, especially those in medically underserved neighborhoods, can access the primary care, behavioral health services, and wellness resources they need to live healthy lives.”

Joanne Haefner, president and CEO of Neighborhood Health Center, said, “I thank Assembly Majority Leader Peoples-Stokes and Assembly member Jon Rivera for this support. Data tells us that people have better health outcomes when they get patient-centered primary care and preventative services, and they avoid more costly care choices, such as emergency rooms and hospital stays. This investment in Neighborhood’s expansion is an investment in the health of Buffalonians. Everyone should have the opportunity to achieve their highest level of health and wellbeing.”