Cinderella Programs

National Grid invests in the communities it serves through several programs that support development of housing and the growth of businesses. One of the most famous examples of our efforts is the award-winning Cinderella Program. In 1966 we created Cinderella, a program which has stimulated the renovation of hundreds of homes and storefronts. In 2003 we created the Green Cinderella program.
The original concept for the Cinderella program was to demonstrate that by making a modest investment, excellent housing stock could be refurbished into great living space. We also recognized that another critical component to the restoration of our territory was the commercial strips that adjoined the housing areas. For almost 40 years we have led an intense program of community development and support that has received widespread attention through the years.


Our response to this problem was to also work with local shopping districts, encouraging owners to improve their stores with the help of Cinderella grants. Cinderella became a model that has been copied by other cities throughout the United States, and in other countries as well. With a Cinderella grant and additional funding from the New York City Partnership, 70 units of two-family housing were recently built in the Bedford Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn as part of a multimillion dollar development of affordable housing. Local businesses are also being helped.


While the need for affordable housing remains a top priority for New York City and many surrounding counties, the management of energy and other natural resources must be addressed. National Grid has taken a proactive approach by expanding our signature Cinderella program to include the innovative use of “Green” technology. This program provides grants to raise awareness and to spark interest in the development in the next generation of building technologies utilizing “green” components.


The Cinderella Programs are not yet available in New England. Stay tuned to this website for details on availability in New England.
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