BUFFALO, NY – New York State Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes and Assemblymember Jon D. Rivera today announced that they have 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 healthcare for Buffalo residents.

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

At 2497 Delaware Avenue, 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 percent of households report incomes at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, while 22 percent of residents rely on Medicaid for healthcare coverage. Nearly 4,000 residents report having no usual source of care, and more than 2,500 have delayed seeking healthcare 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 Street, 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.

Majority Leader Peoples-Stokes and Assemblymember 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.

Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes said, “Access to affordable healthcare, 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 Assemblymember Rivera in providing this investment to our communities.”

Assemblymember Jon D. Rivera said, “Access to high-quality, affordable healthcare 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 & CEO of Neighborhood Health Center said, “I thank Assembly Majority Leader Peoples-Stokes and Assemblymember 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.”