National Grid has awarded $100,000 to the in-development Center for Kashmir in Niagara Falls.
The utility awarded an economic development grant to the center, which is turning the former First Church of Christ, Scientist at 650 Park Place into the world’s first museum dedicated to the South Asian region. Funds would go toward completing its construction.
“This grant helps revive an abandoned historic building in Niagara Falls, while promoting cultural heritage and economic development, aligning with our vision of a downtown arts and cultural corridor,” said the center’s board chair Dr. Khurshid Guru in a news release.
The grant, given through National Grid’s Main Street Revitalization programs, is meant for projects that turn vacant structures into state-of-the-art buildings in Western New York central business districts.
Renovations for the church involved replacing the roof, resealing windows, removing false ceilings, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical work, painting, and adding fixtures. The $5 million museum, in the works since 2020, will display donated artifacts originally from the region by the Kashmiri diaspora, have a library and archive space, and a conference room.
The center has previously received $1 million from Empire State Development and a combined $573,000 from the Cataract Tourism Fund, along with receiving more than $2 million in private donations.
Ali Muzammil, the center’s Chief Operating Officer, said that while construction has been going nonstop, it has faced numerous delays and is looking to open this coming winter.
The four other grants National Grid awarded in this round, all in Erie County, include:
• $250,000 to Buffalo Urban Development Corp. for building a 44,000-square-foot building at 541 East Delevan Ave.
• $100,000 to Buffalo Urban Development Corp. for renovating a 15,000-square-foot building at 612 Northland Ave.
• $100,000 to the Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology to support its move to a vacant 21,000-square-foot warehouse at 368 Sycamore St.
• $100,000 to the African Heritage Economic Initiative for rehabilitating 238 Carlton St.