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Community & Capacity Spotlight
Building business readiness through education, access, and real-world learning.
Capacity building does not happen in isolation.
It happens in community.
The Buffalo Niagara MWBE & SDVOB ecosystem is strengthened by Minority, Women, and Veteran-owned businesses that invest their time, talent, and expertise into creating meaningful learning environments.
This page highlights community partners who support this work; not just by showing up, but by helping build experiences rooted in culture, professionalism, and collaboration.
Community Spaces
Oakk Haus
Instructional Learning Space
Oakk Haus is a Black-owned professional lounge space in downtown Buffalo that supports intentional learning, dialogue, and business development.
As the instructional home for monthly capacity building sessions, Oakk Haus provides an environment designed for focus, conversation, and applied learning. This space supports structured workshops, readiness training, and educational sessions that help businesses strengthen their operational and contractual capacity.
Oakk Haus represents expansion; where vision meets preparation and growth becomes actionable.
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Kern’s Avenue Bowling Center
Community Incubator & Cultural Anchor
Kern’s Bowling Alley is the only Black and Veteran owned bowling center in New York State and a longstanding cultural landmark on Buffalo’s East Side.
More than a venue, Kern’s serves as a community gathering space where entrepreneurs connect, collaborate, and build relationships beyond formal programming.
Within the Buffalo Niagara MWBE & SDVOB ecosystem, Kern’s hosts our peer accountability sessions and industry labs; creating an environment where businesses can learn from one another, exchange insight, and grow collectively.
Kern’s represents the heart of community; rooted, accessible, and committed to keeping Black-owned spaces thriving.
Program Service Partners
Timeless Tunez LLC
Entertainment & Experience Partner
Minority Owned Business
Timeless Tunez LLC provides professional DJ and audio support for program events, helping create welcoming, high-energy environments that encourage engagement and connection.
As a Minority owned business, Timeless Tunez plays a key role in shaping the atmosphere of learning; reminding participants that professionalism and culture can exist in the same space.
Their presence reinforces the importance of contracting with certified businesses within our own ecosystem.
Meraki Collective
Culinary & Hospitality Partner
Minority Women-Owned Business
Meraki Collective provides food and hospitality services for program sessions, ensuring participants are supported in ways that feel thoughtful, intentional, and community centered.
As a minority women-owned business, Meraki Collective contributes not only nourishment but experience; demonstrating how MWBE businesses can operate professionally within programmatic and institutional settings.
This reflects our commitment to circulating opportunity within the community we serve.
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Building the Ecosystem Together
The Buffalo Niagara MWBE & SDVOB Capacity Building Program is rooted in collaboration.
By intentionally contracting and partnering with Minority, Women, and Veteran-owned businesses, we are modeling what real utilization looks like; creating opportunities, strengthening relationships, and building systems that support long-term sustainability.
This work is not done alone.
It is built; together.
