This is the new Niagara Falls, and you can help define it. LiveNF is a comprehensive program to help you build a life here. The incentives can assist you in purchasing, renting, or renovating a home in a Niagara Falls neighborhood, as well as starting or improving a local business.

LiveNF is an innovative program that makes it as easy as possible to become or remain a part of this community. You can invest your time and energy anywhere in the world, but we want to help you create a neighborhood, create a business, create a livelihood right here in Niagara Falls. So, check out the website and learn more about the approach. Most importantly, let us know what you think. We value new ideas here.

Learn more about the Downtown Housing Incentive and how to apply to become an urban pioneer here.

• Originally funded through support from the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo
• GLDP aims to create new youth and adult resident leaders in Niagara Falls
• The program will address the leadership gap that exists in the city
• The program's goal is to disprove common misconceptions that regular citizens are not engaged in their community
• Participants create the change they wish to see, on a grassroots level, while preparing to pursue other advanced programs and certifications in leadership

GLDP provides knowledge and skills that will allow participants to transform their neighborhood and city into a place they can be proud to call home.

The program is designed to be as flexible as possible, in order to meet the needs of each specific group of participants.  Past participants have enjoyed workshops in the following subject areas:

• Community Leadership
• Resource Development
• Environmental Justice
• Cultural Competency
• Advocacy
• Project Management
• Public Relations
• Creative Problem Solving
• Storytelling

Participants are also asked to design and implement a neighborhood improvement project as part of the program. Past project include:

• Rehabilitation of a park/playground and creation of an outdoor education center in the Highland Community
• Paint the Rain rain barrel art project
• Creation of a "found item" sculpture with Buffalo artist Scott Bye

GLDP is an extremely versatile program that can be offered in a variety of formats.  Anything from one-day workshops, weekend retreats, or longer 8-12 week programs are possible.

If you are interested in learning more or would like to apply for the program, please contact Tom Lowe at tlowe@niagara.edu or (716) 205-0289.

In 2009, ReNU Niagara partnered with the Highland Community Revitalization Committee, Inc. and the Henry J. Kalfas Magnet School along with several other community organizations, churches and block clubs to install the Highland Community Vegetable Garden (HCVG).

2004 - Highland Community resident, Mrs. Gore, starts work on a city-owned lot on Highland Ave. between Centre and Garden

Fall 2009 - Coalition of community organizations convened to brainstorm program ideas related to Community Gardening 

Mission

The mission of Greenprint Niagara is to address the abundance of vacant lots in the City of Niagara Falls, using a variety of creative reuse strategies, including community gardens and natural green spaces, thereby increasing the overall civic engagement of residents, combating community deterioration, and lessening neighborhood tensions in the City of Niagara Falls, NY. 

History

Greenprint Niagara was created by a coalition of community organizations and individuals in the City of Niagara Falls, NY.  The initiatives’ role is to implement and facilitate creative reuse strategies for the vacant lots in the City. 

Collaborative discussions began in 2009 and in the Spring of 2012 the coalition of community organizations was officially titled and incorporated as Greenprint Niagara, Inc.  Greenprint Niagara also formulated bylaws in the Summer of 2012.  Comprised of the original and expanding vacant lot coalition members, Greenprint Niagara’s incorporators have developed an application for community members to complete and if qualified, these members will be able to use their selected city-owned vacant lot.  Greenprint Niagara, Inc. has also signed a lease with the City of Niagara Falls, NY to be able to provide this service for community members.  Through an insurance policy covering general liability on the lots, all members and organizations are covered for their activities. 

Thanks to Grow WNY and the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo’s Green Bowl grant, Niagara University’s raised-bed vegetable gardens were contructed and first planted during the summer of 2011.

The goal of the campus gardens, which are handicapped-accessible, is to encourage university students and employees to become more aware of the environment around them and understand the principles of self-sustainability. There is also anticipation that once the university community becomes passionate about the projects, they will be enthusiastic about expanding their work into the Niagara Falls area via efforts coordinated by ReNU Niagara. 

As with any garden, the campus garden needs to be regularly maintained, including:

• Watering
• Weeding
• Cultivating
• Harvesting

If you are a student, faculty or staff member, or a member of the local community and you are interested in helping with garden maintenance, please contact ReNU Niagara Program Coordinator, Tom Lowe, at tlowe@niagara.edu.

Creating a Healthier Niagara Falls is a collaborative effort between the City of Niagara Falls, the P2 Collaborative of Western New York, Niagara University (via ReNU Niagara) and over 30 community implementation partners.

Niagara University, in partnership with the Mayor's Task Group to Create a Healthier Niagara Falls and the P2 Collaborative of WNY, was awarded $300,000 from the John R. Oishei Foundation to implement the Creating a Healthier Niagara Falls project.

The concept for this project grew from the Mayor/City Council approved National Urban Fellow.

The target area for the Creating a Healthier Niagara Falls project is broken into three phases:

Phase 1: Bounded by Main Street, Portage Road and Pine Avenue

Phase 2: Bounded by Main Street, Portage Road, Pine Avenue, and Ferry Avenue

Phase 3: Bounded by Main Street, Portage Road, Ferry Avenue and Niagara Street

• Creating a Healthier Niagara Falls is an 18-month pilot project that started on July 1, 2011 and will run through Decemeber 31, 2012.
• A Clearing House will commence from the Niagara Falls Housing Authority's Spallino Tower.

The goals of the project include:

• To improve the quality of life and individual health of neighbors.
• To effectively align and leverage existing resources.
• To create healthier, more livable and safe neighborhoods.