WNY History

LISC Buffalo was established in March 1998 through the hard work and dedication of Victor Rice and the Buffalo Niagara Partnership. The City had missed an important national philanthropic funding opportunity and LISC was created, in part, to help secure similar funds in the future. At that time, National LISC committed to providing up to $1 million in matching funds to the contributions of local LISC financial supporters. Buffalo LISC launched through the contributions of 26 foundations, lending institutions and corporations. The challenge for Buffalo LISC at that time was to demonstrate and support community development organization in adopting new ways of doing business that will have greater impact through more targeted development. LISC would also work to show that new public/private collaborations provide more effective and widespread solutions.

For 20 years, under the direction of LISC’s first Executive Director, Michael Clark, LISC Buffalo worked to build neighborhood level community development capacity through training and technical assistance for community development corporations, project development and financing, and policy advocacy. Since 1998, LISC Western New York (LISC WNY) has invested $155 million in grants, loans and equity resulting in over 1,000 affordable homes and apartments, nearly 250,000 square feet of commercial and community space and $233 million of total development costs leveraged throughout the region.

2018 - Current Day

Following Mike's retirement, Julie Barrett O’Neill, LISC Buffalo’s 2nd Executive Director, joined LISC in Fall 2018. With foundation and national LISC support, the local office undertook a thorough and comprehensive strategic planning process in consultation with stakeholders and the Local Advisory Committee. The final five year plan was completed in December 2019 and publicly launched in January 2020 with a change of the office's name to LISC Western New York. The plan lays out a tiered geographic agenda that includes racial equity, neighborhood revitalization, affordable housing, commercial and community real estate development, inclusive neighborhood small business development, and family income and wealth building goals. The plan positioned LISC WNY to respond in real time to the 2020 COVID-19 economic and health crises. LISC will work with its Local Advisory Council to review the plan annually - beginning in September 2020 - adjusting priorities as necessary in response to changing circumstances.