$421,630 in grants stabilizes, improves century-old Genesee Street center
All-Volunteer organization; in addition to cultural programs, Dnipro works to provide humanitarian aide to Ukrainian victims of Russian military invasion
ERIE COUNTY, NY— The Ukrainian Cultural Center Dnipro is enjoying robust new life following an investment of $421,630 in two rounds of Erie County Cultural Capital Grant funding, with work completed throughout the facility. The 35,0000 square-foot building, built in 1914 in the Genesee-Jefferson neighborhood of Buffalo, has served as home to the local Ukrainian community since being purchased in 1955 by Ukrainian immigrants displaced by World War II. Today, Dnipro offers a wide variety of cultural programming and also provides humanitarian aid to Ukrainian victims of the Russian war against their country.
“The Cultural Capital Grant program was intended to complete projects just like this, helping organizations like the Ukrainian Cultural Center Dnipro tackle larger projects that will ensure the continuation of their programming and their heritage here on Genesee Street,” said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz. “This building is an anchor of the neighborhood and serves the community in many ways so investing in the Center helps today and into the future.”
Poloncarz was joined at the Ukrainian Cultural Center today by Center President Emil Bandriwsky, personnel from the Erie county department of Environment and planning, and community members.
With the first round of grant funding ($160,000) the Center resurfaced the parking lot; constructed a basement children’s activity room including waterproofing, rough carpentry, electrical, and finish work; and began renovation of the second-floor banquet kitchen including installing a new electric service,
ventilation, Ansul fire suppression system, and dishwasher.
Additional grant funding of $261,630 in the second round was invested in the completion of the second-floor banquet kitchen, stabilization of the building’s architecturally significant masonry façade and parapet in conjunction with Preservation Buffalo Niagara, and completion of a rear entry enclosure.
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