Mayor Scanlon, City of Buffalo Announces Release of Financial Empowerment Center and Wealth & Opportunity Blueprint RFPs
To learn more about these three major Requests for Proposals, go to www.buffalony.gov/bids.
Submission Deadline is Wednesday, November 26, 2025, by 11:00 a.m.
Buffalo, NY - The City of Buffalo, under the leadership of Mayor Christopher P. Scanlon and through the Division of Citizen Services, is proud to announce the release of three major Request for Proposals (RFPs) that will advance the City’s efforts to expand financial opportunity, strengthen household stability, and build long-term wealth for Buffalo residents.
Mayor Christopher P. Scanlon
These RFPs mark the next phase of two transformative initiatives, the Buffalo Wealth & Opportunity Blueprint and the planned establishment of the City of Buffalo’s Financial Empowerment Center (FEC), supported by grant funding from the national nonprofit Cities for Financial Empowerment (CFE) Fund. Together, these initiatives will help the City take an innovative, community centered approach to promoting financial wellness and economic inclusion for residents across Buffalo. Learn more at www.buffalony. gov/bids.
“When I first took office, I made it a priority to put the financial well-being of Buffalo residents at the center of our city’s work,” said Mayor Christopher P. Scanlon. “The Financial Empowerment Center and the Wealth & Opportunity Blueprint are not just programs — but they’re part of a larger vision to help every family in Buffalo build stability, security, and long-term wealth. For too long, access to opportunity has depended on where you live or who you know. That ends here. We’re laying the foundation for a more equitable Buffalo — one where every resident has the tools and support to thrive.”
The City of Buffalo is seeking a Non-Profit Financial Counseling Provider to serve as the lead partner in operating the Financial Empowerment Center. The selected organization will deliver free professional, one-on-one financial counseling to residents, helping them manage their finances, pay down debt, increase savings, establish and build credit, access safe and affordable mainstream banking products, engage in legacy planning, and access city and community-based financial resources.
In addition to direct service delivery, the FEC provider will assist in the development of the new financial empowerment programming and help leverage additional funding opportunities to sustain and expand the FEC’s impact. The FEC will serve as a trusted, accessible local resource for residents seeking to strengthen their financial footing, using evidence based practices proven successful in cities nationwide.
The City of Buffalo has been accepted as a Planning Grantee in the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund’s FEC Academy, the first step towards launching a Buffalo Financial Empowerment Center (FEC). Across the country, almost 40 municipal Financial Empowerment Centers offer professional, one-on-one financial counseling and coaching as a free public service to local residents.
Jonathan Mintz, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Cities for Financial Empowerment (CFE) Fund, praised Buffalo’s leadership for its commitment to integrating financial empowerment into local government infrastructure, stating, “We are proud to support Mayor Scanlon and the City of Buffalo as it continues to work towards advancing financial empowerment at the local level. These initiatives are part of a growing national effort that helps residents access the tools and resources they need to build stability and security for their families.”
As part of the city’s broader economic opportunity strategy, the Buffalo Wealth & Opportunity Blueprint will establish a comprehensive, data driven roadmap to strengthen financial mobility and access to opportunity citywide. Buffalo’s Blueprint will be developed as part of work with the CFE Fund’s CityStart initiative, which assists local leaders looking to develop and implement proven strategies aimed at helping families and communities become more financially stable.
Two companion RFPs are being released to support this work:
Data Analysis and Research RFP – The City is seeking qualified firms or organizations to collect, analyze, and summarize economic and household financial data. This analysis will inform future planning, outreach, and program design aimed at closing local wealth gaps and improving economic outcomes for residents.
Community Outreach Services RFP -The City is seeking an experienced organization to lead community engagement and outreach efforts, particularly in neighborhoods that have experienced historic disinvestment. The selected partner will coordinate listening sessions, focus groups, and neighborhood-based activities to ensure that residents’ voices and lived experiences help shape the final Blueprint.
Executive Director of the Division of Citizen, Oswaldo Mestre, Jr. said, “This work is about meeting people where they are, removing barriers, and ensuring that every resident has access to fair, effective pathways toward financial security. The partnerships we’re building through these RFPs will help us move that vision forward.”