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Three Economic Development Organizations Collaborate to Deliver Over $675,000 in FundingCHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, NY --- The County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA), Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Jamestown Community College (JCC), and CHQ Chamber have announced the completion of their successful business assistance programs. Since 2021, the three organizations have been collaborating to assist area businesses or nonprofits with grant funding to upgrade their marketing tools and presence, with more than 80 different employers directly benefitting from the related programs intended to assist with recovery from the effects of the COVID pandemic. The largest program to be implemented was the CCIDA Business Marketing Assistance Program, which focused on marketing grants of up to $10,000 for small businesses (less than 50 employees), with funding provided through Chautauqua County’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocation. The first round of the program, launched in late 2021, resulted in 41 businesses receiving grants. It proved to be so successful that several businesses were placed on a waiting list until a second round of funding could be secured. That occurred in early 2023 through a grant from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. As a result, an additional 35 business were assisted through the marketing program. A third round of the program was initiated in June 2023 following a second allocation of Chautauqua County ARPA funding, with eight additional businesses being assisted. In all, 84 businesses benefited from the marketing grants, averaging approximately $7,750 each. All said, more than $650,000 was granted out to businesses, not-for-profits, and other agencies as a result of this program. COMPLETE LIST OF BUSINESSES IMAGE INFORMATION: More than 80 different Chautauqua County businesses benefitted from the recently completed Business Marketing Assistance Program, including (clockwise from upper left): Carlberg Farm, Ohm Nohm Gluten Free, Pearl City Cycle, and Integrity First. “The pandemic presented unprecedented challenges, and local business owners had to adapt to succeed,” said Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and CCIDA CEO. “Helping businesses to evolve and expand their marketing reach became the driving force behind this program – ways to help businesses increase foot and on-line traffic in order to boost their sales. Marketing is crucial; however, it is typically the one area that gets reduced during difficult financial times.” The administration of the Marketing Assistance Program was provided by both SBDC and CHQ Chamber, which helped to promote and market the grant opportunity to businesses across the county.  “While marketing is a critical aspect for any business, it tends to be pushed off to the side due to limited time and resources,” said Courtney L. Curatolo, Ph.D., Director, SBDC at JCC. “The ARPA and Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation funds enabled these businesses the freedom to be creative in an effort to promote their businesses in unique and diverse ways. Not only did the businesses that were awarded the funds see an impact, but we also encouraged everyone to use local vendors for their marketing needs to increase the impact. This has been a great partnership between the CCIDA, SBDC, and CHQ Chamber.”  “One positive during the pandemic was a renewed focus on shopping and supporting local,” said Daniel Heitzenrater, CHQ Chamber President & CEO. “These grants helped small local businesses market their products while connecting them with support organizations like the Chamber, SBDC and CCIDA. In addition to supporting many traditional marketing and advertising projects, it has also been exciting to see our local businesses thinking outside of the box to propose and implement new ideas.” Another program that was launched to assist businesses was the Economic Gardening Program, which provided customized data, analysis, and technical assistance to select “Stage 2” Companies (those poised to grow) to help elevate their business planning, with the intent of growing revenue and employment. The program was offered through the Invest Buffalo Niagara economic development agency. The total amount of funding committed to the program was $25,740 and was provided through the County’s ARPA allocation. A total of six county businesses benefited (two of which also received funds from the Business Marketing Assistance Program). Companies benefitting from the Economic Gardening Program included Jamestown Plastics, Jamestown Advanced – Homestead Implements, Dahlstrom Roll Form, Double A Vineyards, El Greco Furniture, and Barton Tool. The CCIDA, SBDC, and CHQ Chamber also worked with Insyte Consulting to launch a third program to assist businesses. The Company Culture/ESG Program was launched to assist manufacturers (up to 500 employees) with developing strong Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) polices, which help to guide companies toward long-term success. Through this program, Insyte Consulting and the CCIDA developed a self-auditing “white paper” that was widely distributed to manufacturers throughout the county. Over $700,000 in total funding was provided for the three programs through Chautauqua County ARPA funding and from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation. County Executive PJ Wendel said, “The COVID Pandemic was a trying time for employers of all types and sizes across the country and around the world, including here in Chautauqua County. We recognized it was extremely important to help as many of our local businesses as possible, and are grateful that we as the County and the Wilson Foundation understood this and were in a position to assist businesses with the necessary funding needed to implement these program. We hope these businesses were not only able to stay open, but also flourish, as a result of our support. I also wanted to commend the CCIDA, the JCC SBDC, and the County Chamber for teaming up to bring these programs to fruition.” A list of all businesses that benefitted from the grant programs can be found online in the news section of ChooseCHQ.com. About CCIDA - The CCIDA is an economic development organization authorized and empowered by the State of New York to make Chautauqua County a better place to work, live, and visit. It facilitates development by attracting new businesses, while promoting the retention and expansion of existing businesses. Assistance in the form of incentives – tax abatements, low interest loans, and bond financing – enhances the opportunities for job creation and retention by our businesses. For more information visit ChooseCHQ.com. About SBDC - The New York Small Business Development Center (NYSBDC) provides small business owners and entrepreneurs in New York with the highest quality, confidential business counseling, training, and business research at no cost.  New York SBDC is a Partnership Program with the SBA, administered by the State University of New York. Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA. All SBA funded programs are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. For more information visit SBDCJCC.org. About CHQ Chamber - The CHQ Chamber is the third largest business advocacy organization in Western New York and represents over 900 businesses throughout Chautauqua County. Our mission is to build vital connections, provide professional resources, and champion our local businesses in Chautauqua County. For more information visit CHQChamber.org.

Local Public and Private Partners Recognized During Annual Conference in IthacaRepresentatives from the City of Jamestown, Gebbie Foundation, CCIDA, Chautauqua County Planning & Development, CCPEG, C&S Companies, and the Harrison Studio were recently in Ithaca to accept the American Planning Association (APA) New York Upstate Chapter’s “Best Practice” award for the development and completion of the Chadakoin River Strategic Business Plan. (Image courtesy of APA New York Upstate Chapter) ITHACA, NY -- The American Planning Association (APA) New York Upstate Chapter has awarded the Chadakoin River Strategic Business Plan with its “Best Practice” award. The award was presented to the numerous individuals involved with developing the plan during the chapter’s annual meeting in Ithaca earlier this month. The Chadakoin River Strategic Business Plan was designed as an easy-to-deploy blueprint for the development of the City of Jamestown’s river corridor as a unique and vibrant destination that capitalizes upon existing assets, identifies important public improvements, increases the amount of activity while improving quality of life, and leverages future investments. Armed with a clear understanding of the existing conditions, the plan proposes a series of individual activities - varied in nature - but all designed to enhance the Chadakoin corridor as a vibrant urban waterway with exceptional recreational and ecotourism opportunities. It was completed in the spring of 2021. The concept to develop the plan as a “business strategy” is the result of the public-private collaboration between a variety of stakeholders, including the City of Jamestown, Gebbie Foundation, County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) /Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG), Jamestown Board of Public Utilities, Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy, Jamestown Renaissance Corporation, and several Jamestown-based businesses. The core group that worked on completing the plan included the City of Jamestown, Gebbie Foundation, CCIDA, Chautauqua County Planning & Development, CCPEG, C&S Companies, and the Harrison Studio. “A lot of time and effort went into the development of this plan by multiple partners and we were thrilled to see all of our hard work being recognized through this special award,” said Mark Geise, CCIDA CEO and CCPEG Advisory Board Co-Chair. “Implementation of the recommendations suggested in this strategy will result in activation of this critical downtown asset.” “The Chadakoin River Business Plan is an invaluable tool in helping to guide the development of the Chadakoin River corridor for years to come, helping to lead to a stronger and more vibrant economy for the city of Jamestown and Chautauqua County. Thank you to Upstate New York APA for recognizing the work that went into creating this crucial document,” said Crystal Surdyk, City of Jamestown Development Director. The APA New York Upstate Chapter’s “Best Practice” award is given annually to a specific planning tool, practice, program, project, or process in New York State. The award emphasizes results and demonstrates how innovative and state-of-the-art planning methods and practices help to create communities of lasting value. CCPEG has worked with the city and other project partners to leverage the plan to secure several grants and funding commitments to advance several projects recommended within it, including a Department of State Local Waterfront Revitalization Program award of $1,280,661, an Empire State Development capital grant in the amount of $361,000, $50,000 from CCPEG, and an allocation of ARPA funding from the City of Jamestown. Funds will advance a first phase of improvements to the Chadakoin River Basin area to increase public access to the water and spur economic activity in and around downtown Jamestown. Enhancements to the north shore of the Basin include a signature garden, mural, tiered seating space, and placemaking items. The south shore will benefit from the addition of a kayak launch, dock, and welcome center for visitors.  The City is currently out to bid on this phase of work and anticipates improvements getting underway in 2025. The full Chadakoin River Business Plan can be found under the “Business Development” section of Chadakoin.org. About CCPEG - The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) serves as the main convener of economic development partners and resources to advance key projects that achieve economic prosperity in Chautauqua County. It also serves as the catalyst and broker of resources for advancing economic prosperity efforts and is the central coordinating entity for the formation, retention, development, and attraction of quality jobs and advancements to the quality of life. It is an initiative of the Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC). For more information visit CHQPartnership.org.

New Funding Total Brings Total ARC Support for Ripley Project to $3 MillionThe following release has been posted on behalf of the Appalachian Regional Commission. It is in addition to a previous press release posted on September 30, 2024. WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Appalachian Regional Commission has announced approval of a grant in the amount of $1,999,999 to the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) for the Ripley Interstate Shovel Ready Site (RISRS) project. ARC's investment will be used to construct 15,345 linear feet of access road and water, sewer, gas and communications infrastructure in the 147-acre industrial site. As a result of the project, it is estimated that 320 jobs will be created in Chautauqua County. The availability of development-ready acreage is low in the project area while demand from the manufacturing, transportation and warehousing industries is growing higher. In response, CCIDA is in the midst of a multi-phase project turning the available parcel in Ripley, NY, into a shovel-ready site. The RISRS project is expected to spur economic growth and raise the standard of living in Chautauqua County and the surrounding area (including Erie, PA) by developing strategically located land in a region characterized by high unemployment and population loss. As part of the POWER project, a 3,075 linear feet (LF) asphalt access road will be constructed, including a new left turn lane that leads into the access road. 3,090 LF of 12" water main, 3,025 LF of 12" gravity sanitary sewer, 3,115 LF of natural gas main and 3,040 LF of telephone and communication lines will be built along the access road and throughout the site. Sixty million ($60 million) in private investment from future employers is committed to the resulting industrial site. In addition to ARC funds, local sources will provide $4,447,807, bringing the total project funding to $6,447,806. Funding for this project is provided through ARC's Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Initiative, which directs federal resources to economic diversification projects in Appalachian communities affected by job losses in coal mining, coal power plant operations, and coal-related supply chain industries. About the Appalachian Regional Commission: The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 423 counties across the Appalachian region. ARC's mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia and help the region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation. More information is available at www.arc.gov.

Phase IV Revitalization Efforts Focused on Trails in Panama and Brokenstraw State ForestsPeople who use Chautauqua County’s Fred J. Cusimano Westside Overland Trail in Panama and Brokenstraw State Forests will notice several improvements and upgrades, thanks to work that was recently completed through the Phase IV Overland Trail Revitalization Project. PANAMA, NY – In cooperation with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Chautauqua County Parks Department, the Chautauqua County Partnership of Economic Growth (CCPEG) is pleased to report that Phase IV of the Chautauqua County Overland Trails Revitalization Project is complete. The Phase IV redevelopment focused on updating the Fred J. Cusimano Westside Overland Trail in Panama and Brokenstraw State Forests, along with sections of private property south of Titus Road in the Town of Sherman. Blessed with dry and temperate weather in August and September, Trail Construction Associates (TCA) was able to complete its work without any issues. This marks the fourth year that TCA has been working on the Overland Trails and the company’s familiarity with the scope of work is evident in the finished product. Thom Wright, TCA co-owner, noted his appreciation to “collaborate with the land owners, the NYSDEC, and the county to bring these sections of the Overland Trails to a more sustainable level for trail users.” “Panama and Brokenstraw State Forests are absolutely beautiful public lands, and I am incredibly happy with TCA’s updates to the Overland Trail through these two state forests,” said Jacob Bodway, CCPEG Trail Coordinator. “There is one important reroute in Panama State Forest that adds accessibility for all trail user groups, and TCA also did a wonderful job of addressing some of the chronic wet areas of trail along sections of private property. I can’t thank the private property owners enough for recognizing the importance of the Overland Trails for Chautauqua County residents and visitors.” “As we seek to improve our recreational assets for existing county residents and market the county to prospective residents, it is essential that we have quality attributes for them to enjoy,” said Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development, County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency CEO, and CCPEG advisory board co-chair. “The trails were tired and needed some much needed TLC, which this initiative addresses.” Phase IV was funded through the generous support of local foundations, including: Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, The Lenna Foundation, The Sheldon Foundation, Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, The Jessie Smith Darrah Fund, and CCPEG. Pending future funding, Phase V of the Overland Trails project will focus on Boutwell Hill State Forest in the summer 2025. To learn more about all public trails in Chautauqua County, visit CHQTrails.org.  About CCPEG - The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) serves as the main convener of economic development partners and resources to advance key projects that achieve economic prosperity in Chautauqua County. It also serves as the catalyst and broker of resources for advancing economic prosperity efforts and is the central coordinating entity for the formation, retention, development, and attraction of quality jobs and advancements to the quality of life. It is an initiative of the Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC). For more information visit CHQPartnership.org.

Event will take place Saturday, Oct. 19 in Dunkirk, NY  DUNKIRK, NY – The CHQ Professionals Group is set to host its inaugural Halloween Party on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Clarion Hotel in Dunkirk. The event is designed to bring together professionals from across Chautauqua County for a night of networking and entertainment in a festive atmosphere. The event is open to all professionals aged 21 and older. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Attendees can enjoy face painting by local artist Patti, tarot card readings, and a chance to meet Medium Ivy River. Steelbound Brewery will cater the event, featuring authentic Indian cuisine, and a cash bar will be available. The evening will also include a costume contest, with prizes awarded for the best individual, best couple, and best group (three or more people). A photographer will be on hand to capture the night’s highlights. “This is a great opportunity for local professionals to connect and celebrate together,” said Monica Simpson, co-chair of the CHQ Professionals Group. “We’re excited to partner with the Clarion Hotel and Steelbound Brewery for our first Halloween Party and look forward to welcoming both new and returning members.” The CHQ Professionals Group is supported by its sponsors: Silver Sponsors: DFT Communications, Larson-Timko Funeral Home, Botox Barn, and Clarion Hotel Bronze Sponsor: Cattaraugus County Bank In addition to hosting events, the CHQ Professionals Group distributes a monthly newsletter, shares local job postings, and is actively seeking more volunteer opportunities related to workforce and career development. For more information or to purchase tickets, email CHQprofessionals@gmail.com or call 716-363-3770. More details can be found at ChooseCHQ.com/CHQProfessionals. About the CHQ Professionals Group - The CHQ Professionals Group, housed under CCPEG, aims to provide social, civic, educational, and networking opportunities for professionals at every stage of their careers. For more information, visit ChooseCHQ.com/CHQProfessionals. About CCPEG - The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) serves as the main convener of economic development partners and resources in Chautauqua County. As an initiative of the Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC), CCPEG acts as the catalyst for advancing economic prosperity, focusing on job creation, retention, and quality of life enhancements. For more information, visit CHQPartnership.org.

Funding Will Help Create New Shovel-Ready Site Along I-90 - Creating Economic Development Opportunities in Chautauqua CountyThis release is posted on behalf of the Appalachian Regional Commission WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Appalachian Regional Commission announced today approval of a grant in the amount of $1 million to the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) for the Ripley Interstate Shovel Ready Site (RISRS) project. ARC's investment will to be used to extend electrical service to prepare a 147-acre site for future employers. The availability of development-ready acreage is low in the project area while demand from the manufacturing, transportation and warehousing industries is growing higher. In response, CCIDA is in the midst of a multi-phase project turning the large parcel in Ripley, NY, into a shovel-ready site. The RISRS project is expected to spur economic growth and raise the standard of living in Chautauqua County by developing strategically located land in a region characterized by high unemployment and population loss. As part of the ARC-supported project, 34.5 kv electric service will be extended from the existing utility mainline and provide five megavolt-amperes (MVA) to the Ripley site. Approximately two miles (11,457 linear feet) of new tap line and sixty new structures will be constructed. Installing infrastructure like electricity will ensure the site is more attractive to developers and employers looking to expand or move to western New York, thus bringing employment opportunities and tax revenue to the region. In addition to ARC funds, local sources will provide $2 million, bringing the total project funding to $3 million. About the Appalachian Regional Commission: The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 423 counties across the Appalachian region. ARC's mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia and help the region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation. More information is available at www.arc.gov.

Funding comes from CCIDA’s new Brownfield Revolving Loan FundJAMESTOWN, NY -- The County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) Board of Directors approved its first loan from a newly established Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund (BRLF) for brownfield cleanup and redevelopment. Southern Tier Environments for Living (STEL) was approved for a $325,000 low-interest loan that will help jumpstart the Gateway Lofts project at 31 Water Street in Jamestown. Loan funding will help with STEL’s urgent need to install a sub slab depressurization system, which is required by the New York State Department of Environmental Conversation before development can take place. The Gateway Lofts project will transform the Gateway Center, the former Chautauqua Hardware factory, into a 110-unit, multi-family affordable housing complex, which will be anchored by supportive wrap-around services. The $67 million project is a collaboration among Community Helping Hands, the YWCA of Jamestown, and STEL. STEL is hopeful that the overall project financing will be finalized in the coming months, with construction anticipated to begin in mid-to-late 2025. Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and CCIDA CEO, Mark Geise stated, “This type of project aligns perfectly with the intended purpose of the new BRLF, which is to provide critical gap financing to ensure complicated brownfield remediation and redevelopment projects can come to fruition. While this is a complex project, we’re excited to see it moving forward, and we hope our assistance will help get it over the finish line.” According to Tom Whitney, Executive Director of STEL, the Project was ready to close on all sources of financing in April 2020. Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the tax credit investor for the project pulled out. Inflationary factors contributed to a much higher overall project cost; however, STEL has the project back on track with all required local approvals obtained and a new investor on board.  “We are incredibly thankful to the CCIDA for providing critical financing for the environmental-cleanup and monitoring components of this project while we wait for New York State Brownfield Tax Credits to become available,” said Whitney.  “We’re hopeful that with this challenge addressed, we can button up the remaining project components and move to construction next year.”  This project marks the second time the CCIDA and STEL have collaborated in the last year. In 2023, STEL and their partner, Park Grove Development, took over as the developer of the Silver Creek High School property in the village of Silver Creek. That project, which involves the demolition of the derelict former school building and the development of 54 affordable senior housing units, is slated to close and move forward by the end of 2024. “STEL has been a great partner of the CCIDA in redeveloping key properties of community importance, delivering more affordable housing opportunities, and eliminating blight in Chautauqua County, all of which align with our economic development goals,” said Geise. “I can’t thank Tom Whitney and his team enough for their determination in making these complicated projects realities.” In 2019, Chautauqua County and the CCIDA re-engaged in brownfields redevelopment activities to improve blighted and underutilized areas in the County, improve the health and safety of its citizens by cleaning up contaminated sites, increase the County’s tax base, spur job creation, and where applicable, kick-start revitalization activities within neighborhoods throughout the municipalities in the County. The CCIDA was able to establish its BRLF in 2023 after it applied for and received a $600,000 United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant in late 2022 to initiate this program. Coupled with funding the CCIDA received from Chautauqua County, the Agency’s BRLF was established to provide loans to for-profit and non-profit developers, and subgrants to municipalities to facilitate brownfield remediation and redevelopment of key properties. Being accepted into this program also places the CCIDA in a favorable position to secure supplemental EPA resources to replenish the fund as more loans are made. “It was imperative Chautauqua County Government support the establishment of the CCIDA’s Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund,” said Paul “PJ” Wendel, Chautauqua County Executive. “Like so many other municipalities in the Northeast, there is a long list of legacy industrial sites in Chautauqua County that need attention and remediation. This fund will help in that effort and, as a result, help to grow and strengthen our local economy as we continue to move forward.” Since its inception in 1995, EPA’s investments in brownfield sites have leveraged more than $35 billion in cleanup and redevelopment activities, which has led to significant benefits for communities across the country. The CCIDA was one of only 17 awardees across the Unites States to receive a Revolving Loan Fund grant to establish the program. About CCIDA - The CCIDA is an economic development organization authorized and empowered by the State of New York to make Chautauqua County a better place to work, live, and visit. It facilitates development by attracting new businesses, while promoting the retention and expansion of existing businesses. Assistance in the form of incentives – tax abatements, low interest loans, and bond financing – enhances the opportunities for job creation and retention by our businesses. For more information visit ChooseCHQ.com.

Bilskie will serve as CFO upon Retirement of current CFO Rich DixonJAMESTOWN, NY -- The County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) is pleased to announce the addition of Shelby Bilskie to the position of Successor Chief Financial Officer (CFO). As Successor CFO, Bilskie will work under current CFO Richard Dixon until his retirement in mid 2025. At that time, she will then become the CCIDA’s new CFO. The CCIDA CFO position is responsible for the financial and operations management of the CCIDA, along with the Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC) and Chautauqua County Capitol Resource Corporation (CRC). Bilskie has more than a decade of experience in financial accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and reporting, most recently as the Senior Director of Financial Planning & Analysis – Corporate Officer (Treasurer) for Erie Management Group, LLC / Hero Biodiesel, LLC, a position she’s held since 2018. She’s also held the position of Senior Financial Analyst for Bluestem Brands (formerly Orchard Brands) from 2011 to 2018. Other past positions include manager of Warren County Speedway and teller at PNC Bank. “We’re excited to have Shelby join or team as she prepares to become the agency’s next CFO in 2025,” said Mark Geise, CCIDA CEO. “She has an extensive educational background and work history in financial oversight, and we’re confident she’ll be a valuable member of our team moving forward. We’re also very appreciative of our current CFO, Rich Dixon, for staying on board over the next eight months to assist Shelby as she transitions into the CFO position.” “We had several quality candidates apply for the CFO position, but at the end of the process Shelby stood out as the top choice, due to her skillset in financial oversight and her past work experience,” said Gary Henry, CCIDA, CCPEG, and CRC board chairman who was involved in the selection process. “We look forward to working with her and are also thankful for the immeasurable amount of work and effort that Rich Dixon has provided for our agencies the past two decades.” Bilskie is a 2010 graduate of Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania, where she majored in mathematics with a special interest area and minor in statistics. She currently resides in Sugar Grove, Pennsylvania with her family.  About CCIDA - The CCIDA is an economic development organization authorized and empowered by the State of New York to make Chautauqua County a better place to work, live, and visit. They facilitate development by attracting new businesses, while promoting the retention and expansion of existing businesses. Assistance in the form of incentives – tax abatements, low interest loans, and bond financing – enhances the opportunities for job creation and retention by our businesses.  For more information visit ChooseCHQ.com.

Group will work to build networking opportunities for all professionals working in Chautauqua CountyDunkirk, NY -- The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) is excited to announce it will be serving as the parent organization of the recently rebranded CHQ Professionals Group. The CHQ Professionals Group was originally founded in 2016 as the Northern Chautauqua Young Professionals group to provide professionals living and working in the north county an opportunity to network with one another, while also helping to grow and strengthen the community. Last month, the group announced it was rebranding itself as the CHQ Professionals Group and celebrated with a kick-off event at When Pigs Fly, in collaboration with CHQ Chamber. “The recent rebranding effort reflects a commitment to create a more inclusive group that serves professionals of all ages from across Chautauqua County,” said Monica Simpson, Partner Engagement Coordinator at CCPEG and co-chair of the CHQ Professionals Group. "Our goal is to facilitate connections that foster both personal and professional growth.” To help expand its reach, the CHQ Professionals Group will be housed under CCPEG. This will help provide the group with the resources needed to carry out its mission, while also assisting CCPEG with one of its key initiatives over the next couple years. “By making the group an initiative of CCPEG, it will receive support for its various networking events and community projects. CCPEG will also benefit by having a group that can promote and leverage our recently launched Live CHQ talent attraction and retention initiative. It’s a win-win for both,” said Nate Aldrich, Chautauqua County Economic Development Coordinator and CCPEG Manager. According to Simpson, the CHQ Professionals Group is already working to expand its membership to include any professional living and/or working in Chautauqua County. Members can be from any occupation and there is no cost to participate. All that is needed is a willingness to meet with other professionals in the area and help strengthen ties between communities and across the county. The group will continue to work with other networking organizations from throughout the county. The Chautauqua Professionals Group will also continue to host signature events, including: Networking Opportunities, including a joint mixer with JYP on Friday, September 20, at Johnson Estate Winery, and a new Halloween Party on Saturday, October 19, at the Clarion Hotel in Dunkirk. The group will also be present at all CHQ Chamber events. Educational Opportunities focused on leadership and professional skill development, scheduled for spring 2025. Volunteer Initiatives, including the ongoing partnership with the United Ways of Chautauqua County for Literacy Day, also in spring 2025. Fundraising for Kids with events like Jingle at the Rocks, in partnership with Dunkirk-Fredonia Rotary, to support the Toys for Tots project. This year’s event will be held on Thursday, December 5, at 64 on the Rocks in Fredonia. In addition to these events, CHQ Professionals Group distributes a monthly newsletter and shares local job postings. The group is also actively seeking more volunteer opportunities related to workforce and career development. “We live in a wonderful county, and inclusivity is key. We will continue to collaborate with other similar organizations such as the Jamestown Young Professionals (JYP), CHQ Chamber, and Chautauqua Leadership Network (CLN) while also expanding our reach,” Simpson said. Anyone interested in connecting with the CHQ Professionals Group, please reach out to Monica Simpson at CHQprofessionals@gmail.com or call 716-363-3770. More information about the group can also be found at ChooseCHQ.com/CHQProfessionals. About the CHQ Professionals Group - The CHQ Professionals Group, housed under CCPEG, aims to provide social, civic, educational, and networking opportunities for professionals at every stage of their careers. For more information, visit ChooseCHQ.com/CHQProfessionals. About CCPEG - The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) serves as the main convener of economic development partners and resources in Chautauqua County. As an initiative of the Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC), CCPEG acts as the catalyst for advancing economic prosperity, focusing on job creation, retention, and quality of life enhancements. For more information, visit CHQPartnership.org.

Action will assist with renovating former bank building at 401-403 Central AvenueJAMESTOWN, NY -- At its August 27, 2024 meeting, the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) Board of Directors approved incentives for 401 Central, LLC. The board action will support the purchase and renovation of property located at 401-403 Central Avenue in Dunkirk, known as the former Lake Shore National Bank building, as well as an adjacent parking lot on Lark Street. The incentives include real property, sales tax, and mortgage recording tax abatements. 401 Central, LLC was formed by Gary Crewson of Peak Development Partners, the Managing Member. Acting together with Lee Crewson (Agent) and Craig Marlatt (Preconstruction Manager), the plan is to purchase the building from its current owner, the Dunkirk Local Development Corporation (DLDC), and convert the 10,855 square-foot structure into five market rate apartments and approximately 1800-2800 square feet of commercial space. The building is prominently located at the intersection of Central Avenue and 4th Street, diagonal from City Hall and three blocks from the waterfront. The total cost of the project is estimated at $2.4 million. The financial assistance provided by the CCIDA will include sales tax, mortgage recording tax, and property tax abatements over 15 years, with $243,864 in new total PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) payments paid to the affected tax jurisdictions during that same time period as a result of the new capital investment. The project will also receive state funding from the recent Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant awarded to the city in 2023, plus an additional grant from the state’s Regional Economic Development Council. Built in 1938, the building was the longtime home of Lake Shore National Bank. It was later used by Marine Midland, HSBC, and then First Niagara Bank, which closed operations at the location in 2016 after First Niagara was bought by KeyBank. It has sat vacant ever since. The project will provide an estimated 24 construction jobs during the renovation period and, once complete, up to seven permanent full time jobs. Work is expected to begin immediately, with a tentative completion date of September 2025. “Our plan is to provide market rate apartments for working professionals who want to live in the downtown area, close to where they work. We also look forward to providing commercial space in a key corridor of Dunkirk to help enhance the business district,” said Gary Crewson. “We’re grateful to New York State, the City of Dunkirk, and the CCIDA for helping us move this project forward and can’t wait to see it completed and ready for use.” “The CCIDA is happy to offer financial incentives for this project at the request of the City of Dunkirk, and we’re excited to see it move forward,” said Mark Geise, Chautauqua County Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and CEO of the CCIDA. “Communities across the country are challenged with legacy bank buildings that served a key purpose in the 20th century, but have become outdated with the advent of digital and online banking in the 21st century. It’s exactly the type of project our adaptive reuse PILOT program is intended to be used for, and it’s precisely the type of project that the City of Dunkirk’s downtown needs and will support.” “Adaptive Re-Use Projects” are qualified projects that involve adapting old sites or structures for new purposes, including potentially a mix of business and commercial uses, or market-rate housing. Adaptive Re-Use Projects are those that will benefit Chautauqua County by redeveloping a blighted site or structure, promoting development using existing infrastructure, and creating new economic activity at troubled sites or structures to assist in eliminating neighborhood blight. “It's great to see this project come to fruition in Dunkirk. If we want to grow our communities here in Chautauqua County and reverse the decades-long trend of population decline, we need to have modern, market-rate apartments available for working residents, especially those who want to live close to where they work," said County Executive Paul “PJ” Wendel. “We’re thrilled to see Gary Crewson and his team breathe new life into this vacant and deteriorating building in our central business district,” said Dunkirk Mayor Kate Wdowiasz. "This project will be the first Downtown Revitalization Initiative project to have been started during this award process and the mixed-use project is going to be transformational for Central Avenue and I believe it’s just the beginning. So providing this type of assistance is in line with the IDA and the city’s vision and goals for revitalizing downtown Dunkirk. Our city is definitely on the move and we can’t wait to see it continue in the months and years that lie ahead.” About CCIDA - The CCIDA is an economic development organization authorized and empowered by the State of New York to make Chautauqua County a better place to work, live, and visit. It facilitates development by attracting new businesses, while promoting the retention and expansion of existing businesses. Assistance in the form of incentives – tax abatements, low interest loans, and bond financing – enhances the opportunities for job creation and retention by our businesses. For more information visit ChooseCHQ.com.

Booklets are intended to help promote and provide key information about relocating to the countyThe recently updated Chautauqua County Relocation Guide has been rebranded to align with the new “Live CHQ” talent attraction and retention initiative and provides information on various aspects of county living, including the county’s key job sectors. A digital version of the guide can be found at LiveCHQ.org. JAMESTOWN, NY -- The County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) and the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) are pleased to announce the completion and publication of an updated version of the Chautauqua County Relocation Guide. First published in 2019, the 27-page Relocation Guide was created to help provide key information about Chautauqua County, including the character and location of community amenities, events, places to recreate and spend leisure time, and the industries located here, as well as information about schools, the cost of living, and housing. The 2024 edition of the guide provides updated information, and also leverages branding of the recently launched Live CHQ talent attraction and retention initiative. Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive or Economic Development and CCIDA CEO, said the CCIDA and CCPEG are encouraging local employers to use the guide, along with the Live CHQ website, to help inform and educate prospective employees about the benefits of living in the county. “We know many of our businesses and nonprofits need skilled, talented, and experienced employees to fill vacant positions; however, the effort to find prospective job candidates is becoming more and more competitive, not only regionally but across the entire country,” Geise said. “Our Relocation Guide is intended to provide employers a valuable tool for their hiring efforts, especially when recruiting prospective employees from outside of Chautauqua County who may not be familiar with all that the county has to offer.” According to Geise, the Chautauqua County Relocation Guide can be used on its own or as a companion piece to the recently launched Live CHQ talent attraction and retention marketing initiative, which was created to help individuals, professionals, businesses, families, and others learn all about the county and why it’s a wonderful place to live, work, conduct business, and recreate. To help get the guide in the hands of key stakeholders, the CCIDA and CCPEG have printed several thousand copies and are in the process of meeting with business HR professionals to discuss this tool and provide hard copies. In addition, a digital version of the guides is available at LiveCHQ.org. Employers, recruitment agencies, community leaders, realtor groups, and others are encouraged to link the digital version of the Relocation Guide and the Live CHQ website to their websites and job postings. Any local employer, realtor, or community group in the south county interested in getting a copy or copies of the guide can contact Jason Sample, CCIDA and CCPEG Marketing and Communications Coordinator, at 716-661-8302 or by emailing SampleJ@chqgov.com. Those in the north county can contact Monica Simpson, CCPEG Partner Engagement Coordinator, at 716-363-3770 or email SimpsonM@chqgov.com. Copies can also be picked up during regular business hours at the CCIDA and CCPEG Jamestown or Dunkirk offices. About CCIDA - The CCIDA is an economic development organization authorized and empowered by the State of New York to make Chautauqua County a better place to work, live, and visit. It facilitates development by attracting new businesses, while promoting the retention and expansion of existing businesses. Assistance in the form of incentives – tax abatements, low interest loans, and bond financing – enhances the opportunities for job creation and retention by our businesses. For more information visit ChooseCHQ.com. About CCPEG - The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) serves as the main convener of economic development partners and resources to advance key projects that achieve economic prosperity in Chautauqua County. It also serves as the catalyst and broker of resources for advancing economic prosperity efforts and is the central coordinating entity for the formation, retention, development, and attraction of quality jobs and advancements to the quality of life. It is an initiative of the Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC). For more information visit CHQPartnership.org.

Recent demolition removes eyesore from community, assists operations at local businessThis release is posted on behalf of the Chautauqua County Land Bank Corporation SILVER CREEK, NY: -- A long abandoned and unsafe structure in downtown Silver Creek was finally demolished last week with the assistance of the Chautauqua County Land Bank Corporation (CCLBC), the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA), and Chautauqua County. The demolition is the final stage of a two-part strategy. The first stage occurred in June 2022, when the CCIDA approved sales tax abatement incentives for Xmas Dave, LLC to make renovations to the former 130,000 square-foot Petri Baking Products building, located at 18 Main Street in the village. Xmas Dave is owned by Dave Gordon of Erie County, New York. Gordon made improvements at the location to operate a warehouse and distribution center for his internet fulfillment operations business, Christmas.com. The facility also works with other major retailers, selling seasonal holiday decorations, patio furniture, pool accessories, and more. A ribbon cutting was held in January 2023 at the facility following the extensive renovations. PILOT incentives were applicable for this project. The former Silver Creek Moose Lodge building was located at 259 Central Avenue, adjacent to the Xmas Dave warehouse. A fixture in the community since the early 1900s, the lodge sat vacant and abandoned for over a decade and was deemed unsafe and beyond repair by professional inspectors. In recent years, it had also been gutted and vandalized. The building was conveyed to the CCIDA in 2022 via the County’s tax foreclosure process, with approval from the Chautauqua County Legislature. The CCIDA then conveyed the property to Xmas Dave soon thereafter with plans to demolish the building and expand his operations. Following extensive asbestos abatement in the large building, work stalled due to complications that significantly increased the cost of the demolition project. The CCLBC and the CCIDA then stepped in to assist. The CCLBC was able to secure funding from Chautauqua County grant funds designated for this purpose, and used the funding to cover a majority of the cost to demolish the building and remove the debris pile, with the remaining cost covered by Xmas Dave. The additional property will significantly help with shipping operations for the Xmas Dave facility, with tractor trailers now having direct access into and out of the warehouse facility. Additionally, Gordon intends to use the parcel to expand his parking assets.  “The structure was a public hazard that simply could not be left in the condition that it was in. The community was suffering by the impasse; so we needed to step in,” said Gina Paradis, CCLBC Executive Director. Mark Geise, Chairman of the Land Bank and CEO of the CCIDA, echoed the sentiment. “The CCIDA was happy to facilitate the expansion of Mr. Gordon’s business into Silver Creek in 2022. We were equally pleased to help facilitate the transfer and demolition of the neighboring unsafe and unsightly Moose Lodge building since that time. Additionally, no property taxes were being paid on the building, and the additional real property tax revenue will benefit all of the taxing jurisdictions for many years,” said Geise. “I am proud of the work we did to overcome the complications of the demolition situation, thereby alleviating a safety hazard and assisting a key downtown business in Silver Creek. We are grateful to the Land Bank and the County for their assistance in bringing this project to fruition.” About CCLBC - The Chautauqua County Land Bank Corporation (CCLBC) is a nonprofit corporation, operating under New York State authority, to assist communities within Chautauqua County address the issues of blight caused by vacant, abandoned, condemned, and foreclosed properties. Its ultimate goal is to reverse the trend of declining property values and further deterioration of Chautauqua County’s housing and commercial stock by stabilizing neighborhoods, encouraging private investment, and improving the quality of life for citizens throughout the County. For more information, visit CHQLandBank.org. About CCIDA - The CCIDA is an economic development organization authorized and empowered by the State of New York to make Chautauqua County a better place to work, live, and visit. It facilitates development by attracting new businesses, while promoting the retention and expansion of existing businesses. Assistance in the form of incentives – tax abatements, low interest loans, and bond financing – enhances the opportunities for job creation and retention by our businesses. For more information visit ChooseCHQ.com.

New Marketing Effort to Focus on County's Beverage and Ecotourism DestinationsCHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, NY -- There’s a new Chautauqua County marketing effort launching this week, focusing on the county’s craft beverage and wine producers, with an additional focus on ecotourism opportunities. The “Chautauqua County Grape & Grain Trail” is a collaboration between the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) and the Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau (CCVB). It is designed to showcase the various wineries, craft breweries, and craft distilleries located within the county, along with its numerous outdoor activities and nature attractions that welcome visitors to the area. “We want to brand Chautauqua County as a destination for not only wine enthusiasts, but also for those who enjoy beer and distilled spirits, while also distinguishing the county from other wine and craft beverage-producing destinations by highlighting the county’s abundant trail networks, waterways, other natural public spaces for recreation, and the amenities that support ecotourism,” said Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and Co-chair of the CCPEG Advisory Board.  The campaign landing page is available at TourChautauqua.com/field-to-glass and lists the various businesses that produce and serve wine, craft beer, and spirits. It will also provide links to pages on the CCVB website so visitors can explore ecotourism friendly adventures in Chautauqua County. Those who visit the website will then be able to use the information to help plan their trip to the county and any of the listed destinations. The Grape & Grain Trail will be promoted on various social media channels, including Instagram, Meta, and Snapchat. “This marketing initiative is an important collaborative effort,” said Andrew Nixon, CCVB director. “The campaign is designed to drive additional visitation to our county’s wineries, breweries, and distilleries, while also working to extend visitor stays and increase visitor spending throughout the region. Through CCPEG, several organizations and businesses have been able to secure the funding necessary to bring this initiative to fruition.” “This campaign creatively aims to showcase the natural beauty of Chautauqua County while highlighting the region's vibrant craft beverage producers, including local wine and spirits,” said Kristy Kathman, CCPEG economic development specialist. “Our goal is to celebrate the picturesque landscapes, various ecotourism destinations, and rich flavors of local brews, wines, and spirits, making Chautauqua County a destination for nature and craft beverage enthusiasts alike.” The Grape & Grain Trail campaign was developed by Paperkite, a marketing firm from Cooperstown, selected by CCPEG following an RFP process that generated interest from more than a dozen different agencies. During the first half of 2024, Paperkite developed a campaign that is unique to Chautauqua County, based on research, interviews, and visits with the businesses and locations connected to the effort. This project is being supported by a Market New York grant from Empire State Development and I LOVE NY/New York State’s Division of Tourism through the Regional Economic Development Council initiative. Matching funds for the project are being provided by the Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation. About CCPEG - The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) serves as the main convener of economic development partners and resources to advance key projects that achieve economic prosperity in Chautauqua County. It also serves as the catalyst and broker of resources for advancing economic prosperity efforts and is the central coordinating entity for the formation, retention, development, and attraction of quality jobs and advancements to the quality of life. It is an initiative of the Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC). For more information visit CHQPartnership.org.

Project value in 2023 totaling $842 million makes Chautauqua County no. 1 in regionMark Geise, County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency CEO, led the agency to unprecedented activity in 2023, resulting in $842 million in total project value, first among all economic development agencies in Western New York. JAMESTOWN, NY -- The County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) was the top ranking economic development agency in Western New York State for 2023. That’s according to Buffalo Business First, which provided a list of the region’s top economic development agencies in its July 12, 2024 issue. According to Business First, it’s the first time the CCIDA has landed in the No. 1 spot (out of seven) on the publication’s ranking of the economic development agencies in Buffalo and Western New York. At the end of 2023, the CCIDA reported a total of $842 million worth of deals brokered. Not only was it the largest total of any agency in Western New York, but also the largest single-year total ever reported by CCIDA in its 51 years of operation. In addition, the CCIDA was involved with 34 different projects in 2023, more than any other economic development agency operating out of the Western New York region.    “2023 was unprecedented in terms of the breadth and size of projects assisted by the CCIDA, as well as job retention and creation,” said Mark Geise, Deputy Chautauqua County Executive for Economic Development and Chief Executive Officer of the CCIDA. “It is my opinion that our economic development team, which includes the County Department of Planning & Development, the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth, and community partners, is unparalleled not just in Western New York, but across New York State. I am grateful that Buffalo Business First has recognized the CCIDA in this fashion, and I’m grateful to our staff, board, consultants, and other partners for everything they do.” As first reported in January in its 2023 Annual Report, some of the key projects the CCIDA assisted included: $452 million Cummins Engine Internal Expansion; $250 million Wells Ice Cream Plant Expansion; Weber Knapp Purchase by Local Ownership ($21.4 million); Purchase and Development of lithium-ion Battery Manufacturer Electrovaya ($42.5 million); and the acquisition of the Conagra/CCIDA Facility in Dunkirk by Refresco to create a Northeastern US Distribution Center ($13 million). In all, a total of 34 different projects benefited from support by the CCIDA. “I am thrilled with the work being undertaken by the CCIDA and the extended economic development team, which includes the Partnership for Economic Growth and the County Department of Planning & Development,” said Chautauqua County Executive Paul “PJ” Wendel. “I commend Mark Geise and the County/CCIDA team for their laser focus on Chautauqua County’s upward trajectory.  As I’ve said many times since the pandemic hit us, our comeback will be greater than our setback, and the CCIDA’s 2023 tally of accomplishments has proven this sentiment to be true. This is truly an amazing achievement, considering the population of Chautauqua County compared to our larger neighbors.” The CCIDA’s top-ranking dollar amount is a 59% increase from the $500 million reported in 2022, when it ranked second on the Business First list. The other top five Western New York economic development agencies in 2023 were Invest Buffalo Niagara, Erie County IDA, Genesee County Economic Development Center, and County of Cattaraugus IDA. “Once again, our collective development team was able to knock it out of the park, which is due to the unwavering dedication of an extremely capable staff, volunteer board members, community stakeholders, and volunteers. I vow that we will continue to be aggressive and intentional as we advance the ball as it relates to economic development, thereby creating and retaining good jobs for families throughout the County,” Geise said. About CCIDA - The CCIDA is an economic development organization authorized and empowered by the State of New York to make Chautauqua County a better place to work, live, and visit. It facilitates development by attracting new businesses, while promoting the retention and expansion of existing businesses. Assistance in the form of incentives – tax abatements, low interest loans, and bond financing – enhances the opportunities for job creation and retention by our businesses. For more information visit ChooseCHQ.com.

$65,000 Awarded to CCPEG to Fund Improvements along Fred J. Cusimano Westside Overland TrailLocal Foundations are Committed to Overland Trail Improvements CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, NY - The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) has been awarded $65,000 from local foundations to make improvements to the Fred J. Cusimano Westside Overland Trail in Brokenstraw and Panama State Forests. The funding will also help with trail improvements on sections of private properties south of Titus Road in Sherman. The latest improvements are part of Phase IV of the Chautauqua County Overland Trails Revitalization Project.  The Fred J. Cusimano Westside Overland Trail is a 24 mile-long nature trail spanning four towns and six state forests – all within Chautauqua County. Located near Mayville, Sherman, and Panama, this scenic trail is well used and is one of the most challenging hikes and/or mountain biking trails in western New York.  The foundations that helped CCPEG reach its Phase IV fundraising goal include the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, the Jesse Smith Darrah Fund, the Lenna Foundation, and the Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation. To secure these grants, CCPEG collaborated with the Chautauqua County Parks Department, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and private landowners to plan and organize the best approach for Phase IV of the project. In addition, CCPEG allocated $15,000 to help leverage funding for the project. “Phase IV represents the first instance where we will be working with private landowners to improve sections of the Overland Trail that run through their properties,” explained Jacob Bodway, CCPEG Trail Coordinator. “I can’t express how lucky we are to have our local foundations believe in this project and how indebted we are to have private landowners who understand that the Overland Trails are an important recreational asset to everyone who loves exploring the county’s beautiful forests and countryside.” Like the previous phases, the trail upgrades for Phase IV will be completed by Trail Construction Associates, a trail building company located in Forestville, NY. Work will begin by the end of July and should finish by late September. “I am thrilled to see all of the work that is being undertaken on our county’s extensive trail system,” said Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and Co-Chair of the CCPEG Advisory Board. “Maintaining our existing trails was one of the top ten recommendations put forth in the Chautauqua County Greenways Plan we developed back in April of 2012. Trails are one of the key assets we are promoting in our recently-unveiled branding campaign, and is the basis of the trails mapping initiative we rolled out last month. That being said, it is essential that we have a good product for our residents and visitors to experience. Thank you to everyone that is involved in keeping this initiative moving forward.” The Chautauqua County Overland Trails would not be possible without the support and cooperation of the Chautauqua County Parks Department, Chautauqua County Department of Planning & Development, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and local landowners. About CCPEG - The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) serves as the main convener of economic development partners and resources to advance key projects that achieve economic prosperity in Chautauqua County. It also serves as the catalyst and broker of resources for advancing economic prosperity efforts and is the central coordinating entity for the formation, retention, development, and attraction of quality jobs and advancements to the quality of life. It is an initiative of the Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC). For more information visit CHQPartnership.org.

Evening will also serve as a Salute to Chautauqua County’s First RespondersJAMESTOWN, NY: -- Live CHQ, Chautauqua County’s talent attraction and retention initiative, will be presenting a “Community Buyout Night” for the Jamestown Tarp Skunks’ July 11, 2024 home game against the Geneva Red Wings, beginning at 6:30 p.m. All tickets for that night’s game will be free to the public courtesy of Live CHQ and its two affiliate agencies, the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) and the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG). The theme for this special night is “A Salute to Chautauqua County’s First Responders,” honoring past and present members of the county’s EMS, Fire, and Police agencies. “Rewarding the community, and especially first responders and their families, with complementary tickets is our way of saying ‘thank you’ to the men and women who work tirelessly to keep us safe,” said Mark Geise, Chautauqua County Deputy County Executive of Economic Development, and CCIDA CEO. “It also serves to remind residents and businesses about Live CHQ, our talent attraction and retention initiative, which highlights all the benefits of living and working in Chautauqua County.” “CCIDA and CCPEG, along with the Live CHQ initiative, has been working with us to find a way to salute and thank our county’s first responders and what better way to do that than to give them the opportunity to enjoy community baseball, free of charge!” said Christian Dolce, Tarp Skunks General Manager and Director of Business and Sales operations. “Not only will we be waiving admission fees for all attendees that evening, but we’ll also have a number of special events and activities planned to help honor and support first responders, especially our county’s numerous volunteer fire departments.” Pregame festivities will begin at 5 p.m. and include a “touch a truck” event with various first responder vehicles on hand; a meet and greet with Whiffy, the Tarp Skunks mascot and characters from Paw Patrol, provided by Chautauqua Safety Village; and volunteer fire department information and sign-up stations. There will also be a 50/50 drawing to support volunteer fire fighters, prizes and giveaways from LiveCHQ, and a special first pitch ceremony honoring all first responders in attendance. Representatives from CCIDA and CCPEG will also be on hand to share details and answer questions about the Live CHQ campaign and the Choose CHQ branding initiative, which works highlight all the economic development efforts, projects, and initiatives overseen by CCIDA and its affiliate agencies. Free tickets are available at Russell E. Diethrick Park the night of the game. Volunteer firefighters, local law enforcement, and EMS workers can also pick up tickets at their designated stations, with limited tickets also available at both CCIDA offices in Jamestown and Dunkirk. Any first responder group that would like tickets can also call the Tarp Skunks direction at 716-705-5600. Additional information about the Jamestown Tarp Skunks and the team’s 2024 season, along with a printable schedule, can be found at TarpSkunks.com. About Live CHQ – Live CHQ is a joint marketing campaign launched by the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency and the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth in 2024 to assist with talent attraction and retention efforts across Chautauqua County, NY. The overall goal of the campaign is to help raise awareness of Chautauqua County as a viable place for individuals and families to live by speaking to the sensibilities, desires, and expectations of people who are considering the county as their primary residence. For more information visit www.LiveCHQ.com.

Mobile Application Also Provides Several Maps for ‘Real Time’ UseCHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, NY: -- There’s a new resource available for people who want to hike, ride, or even paddle hundreds of miles of trails in Chautauqua County. The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG), in collaboration with Chautauqua County Government and the Friends of Chautauqua County Greenways (FCCG) group, is pleased to announce the release of the new Chautauqua County Interactive Trails Map and accompanying mobile application. The new interactive map, along with links to individual maps and also a mobile application, can all be found at CHQTrails.org. According to Jacob Bodway, CCPEG Trail Coordinator, the need for an interactive trail map covering all of Chautauqua County is the result of an increased interest in the various trails found across the area, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. “As we witnessed more trail users exploring our trails, many for the first time, we also heard a renewed interest in a trail map that would provide information for trail users of varied experience and ability,” Bodway said. “I think that the new countywide trail map does that and more.” This interactive online map allows trail users to explore the hundreds of miles of trails throughout the county. They can select and view trails that fall into specific activities, like hiking, biking, horseback riding, cross country skiing, and kayaking. Users will also be able to select trails based on land-owner, like those found in state forested land, or those associated with a specific organization or community. It also features images of trail heads and provides information on trail surfaces, trail length, and parking. “It’s the perfect ‘one-stop-shop’ for trail users who want to spend a weekend or longer exploring the trails in the county,” Bodway explained. “The map really is a game changer and will give users all of the information that they need to make an itinerary for their next outdoor adventure in Chautauqua County.” The mobile application can be downloaded from Avenza, the top-rated app used for hiking and biking, even in the most remote areas of the world. Using GPS technology, Avenza is useful for when trail users are on the trail and want to see their location in real time, regardless of cell reception. Several trail maps have been added to Avenza – including Boutwell Hill, Harris Hill, and North Harmony State Forests; Long Point State Park; Audubon Community Nature Center; and Cassadaga Lakes – along with others. These county maps will also be available on other third-party apps, such as Trailforks, All Trails, and MTB Project. PDF versions of individual trail maps can also be viewed, downloaded and also printed from the website for trail users who may not have the ability to use the mobile app. Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development, County of Chautauqua Industrial Development CEO, and CCPEG Advisory Board Co-Chair, emphasized that the maps and mobile application all align to the County’s efforts to make Chautauqua County known as a mecca for outdoor recreation and active living.  “We have such incredible outdoor recreation assets, including more than 600 miles of recreational trails which we are actively working to improve,” said Geise. “These maps not only help our county market itself as a tourism destination for outdoor enthusiasts, but help our own residents discover all we have to offer.”  Funding for the trail project comes from generous support provided by The Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation, the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, and the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation. CCPEG selected Barton & Loguidice and Adirondack Research to oversee the project, following an RFP process that saw 15 proposals come forward. After a year of collaboration, the interactive trail map and mobile application were unveiled at the most recent FCCG public meeting, held at the SUNY Fredonia College Lodge on June 12, 2024. “The countywide trails map is the culmination of what happens when trail user groups work together to achieve a common goal,” noted Bodway. “I couldn’t be more proud of the teamwork and cooperation that went into creating the countywide trail map, and I’m excited to see where we go from here.”  Plans are underway to provide a limited number of print copies of individual trail maps, and to also to remind trail users about the existence of the interactive map and mobile app with signage along the trails, in addition to other marketing efforts across the region. Meanwhile, the interactive map and additional details on where to find and install the mobile map application from Avenza can be found online at CHQTrails.org. About CCPEG - The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) serves as the main convener of economic development partners and resources to advance key projects that achieve economic prosperity in Chautauqua County. It also serves as the catalyst and broker of resources for advancing economic prosperity efforts and is the central coordinating entity for the formation, retention, development, and attraction of quality jobs and advancements to the quality of life. It is an initiative of the Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC). For more information visit CHQPartnership.org. About FCCG - Friends of the Chautauqua County Greenways (FCCG) is an organization housed under the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth and whose aim is to collaborate and build on existing private/public partnerships to realize the primary objectives outlined in Chautauqua County’s 2012 Greenway Plan and updated in the 2022 Chautauqua County Greenways Group Action Plan. FCCG's mission is to create a new enthusiasm for active living and healthy lifestyles for all people and of all backgrounds; promote accessible, safe, and sustainable recreation opportunities; sustainably conserve the ecological health, water quality, and scenic beauty of our region; improve our quality of life within Chautauqua County; act as a catalyst for economic development related to outdoor living, trail development, and trail maintenance in NYSDEC state forests, Chautauqua County parks, and waterways; and establish Chautauqua County as a destination center for outdoor adventure.

Loans will Assist with Business Purchase in Frewsburg, Loan Consolidation for Ellicott BusinessJAMESTOWN, N.Y.: --- At its June 25, 2024 meeting, the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) Board of Directors approved low-interest loans for two businesses totaling $714,316: Ivory Acres Weddings, LLC (Town of Carroll) and Gren Ventures, LLC (Town of Ellicott). Gren Ventures, LLC The CCIDA Board approved a $574,316 loan to Gren Ventures, doing business as Arthur R. Gren, Inc., located at 1886 Mason Drive. Arthur R. Gren Company was incorporated in 1954, serving Chautauqua County as a private company wholesale distributer of beer and non-alcohol products. The loan will be used to consolidate two existing loans dating back to 2013, when the company constructed a 22,875 square foot building for its recycling and warehousing center. At the time, Gren Ventures received an Al Tech Loan from the CCIDA for the project, along with a bank loan. Since the bank notified the Grens that they would not be renewing their loan, the Grens were forced to find other financing to fill this void. By consolidating the remaining balances from the CCIDA and bank loans, the CCIDA will move into a first lien position on the real-estate. The term of the loan is five years at 4% interest. “The Gren Ventures loan is a win-win-win for the community, the CCIDA, and the Grens,” said Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and Chief Executive Officer of the CCIDA. “Through this consolidation, the jobs will be retained, the CCIDA will move into first position on the property assets, and the Gren’s will have lower monthly payments.” Ivory Acres Loan The loan approved for Ivory Acres was for $140,000 and will be used to assist Cole and Rachel Smith with purchasing the business from the current owners, John and Kelsey Volpe, along with undertaking renovations. Ivory Acres was opened in 2018 by the Volpes after purchasing an 18-acre dairy farm at 191 Ivory Street, Frewsburg a year earlier. Since 2018, it has operated as a successful wedding and event center, selling out each season. The Smiths plan to purchase the business and continue to offer the venue to customers from inside and outside of Chautauqua County. Future plans involve renovations to update the facility, with a future outlook of building small cabins on the site. Contingent on local bank financing, the CCIDA will assume a second lien position. The term of the CCIDA loan is 20 years at 4% interest for this $400,000 project. “We are pleased to support the transfer of ownership of Ivory Acres to the Smiths, ensuring it will continue to operate and serve the public as a beautiful and viable local wedding destination with potential for future development at the site,” Geise said. About CCIDA - The CCIDA is an economic development organization authorized and empowered by the State of New York to make Chautauqua County a better place to work, live, and visit. It facilitates development by attracting new businesses, while promoting the retention and expansion of existing businesses. Assistance in the form of incentives – tax abatements, low interest loans, and bond financing – enhances the opportunities for job creation and retention by our businesses. For more information visit ChooseCHQ.com.

Chautauqua County Economic Development Coordinator/CCPEG Manager Recognized for County and Regional Economic Development EffortsNate Aldrich (left), Chautauqua County Economic Development Coordinator and Manager of the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth, is the 2024 recipient of the James W. Griffin Rising Star Award, presented by the New York State Economic Development Council. The award was presented to Aldrich by James Johnson (right), Executive Director of the Steuben County Industrial Development Agency and Past Board Chair of NYSEDC, during the 2024 NYSEDC Awards Banquet in Cooperstown, NY. COOPERSTOWN, NY: -- Nate Aldrich, Economic Development Coordinator for Chautauqua County and Manager of the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG), was the recipient of the 2024 James W. Griffin Rising Star Award, presented by the New York State Economic Development Council (NYSEDC). Aldrich was presented the award at the NYSEDC Annual Meeting Awards Banquet in Cooperstown on May 22, 2024. The Rising Star Award honors an individual, age 40 and under, who has made a significant contribution to the economic development profession in New York State, with consideration given to quality of service and impact on New York’s economy.  Innovation in their field and community service/volunteerism are also taken into consideration. Aldrich is a native of Chautauqua County and has held his position within county government while also serving as manager of CCPEG manager. In prior years, he also held a position as a planner for Chautauqua County. Since starting in his current role in 2019, Aldrich has been involved in a broad range of projects; however, his impact has been especially profound over the last several years as manager of CCPEG. This public/private partnership has worked to develop and assist a wide variety of economic development projects for the entire county and for individual communities, with a focus on placemaking, workforce development, housing development, talent attraction and retention, and infrastructure. According to Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and CCIDA CEO, Aldrich is a key member of the team currently developing a $17 million, 150 acre shovel-ready site in Ripley, much of which is being funded through external sources he’s been able to secure. “The CCPEG team has expanded in the past several years, due to the large number of initiatives it is working on and the funding it has been able to secure to undertake these projects. The impact of these initiatives has increased year-over-year, and this has been in large part due to Nate’s leadership,” Geise said, adding, “This was reflected in October 2023, when CCPEG received the Economic Developer of the Year award by the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce. My endorsement of Nate for this award was a no-brainer.” In 2023 alone, CCPEG leveraged more than $28 million in grant funding to assist with various development efforts, secured $1.2 million in grants, assisted 47 individual projects, allocated approximately $460,000 to partners, and engaged with 65 partner agencies. Aldrich’s other recent highlights include providing technical assistance to the City of Dunkirk, which applied for and received the $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative Award, and he was a leading contributor to the Live CHQ/Choose CHQ talent attraction and retention campaign for Chautauqua County. Aldrich received his Master’s Degree in Urban Planning from the University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning, and was chosen by the faculty at UB to receive the American Institute of Certified Planners 2016 Planning Excellence Award from the American Planning Association, in recognition of outstanding achievement in the study of urban planning. He’s received numerous other awards and honors while at UB, including the Michael J. Krasner Memorial Scholarship, the Western New York Prosperity Fellowship, the R. Buckminster Fuller Award, and the Public Service Award. Also, in 2020, Aldrich was named to Buffalo Business First’s “30 Under 30” list, which recognizes early career achievements, leadership and initiative, and community engagement of 30 individuals under the age of 30 in Western New York. Aldrich serves on the Brooks-TLC Hospital Board of Trustees, manages the Chadwick Bay Regional Commission, and serves on the Board of the Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau. He is also a member of the City of Dunkirk Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) Local Planning Committee and the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation Local Economic Development Committee. “Nate’s been an invaluable asset to economic development efforts in not only Chautauqua County, but also Western New York and New York State, since joining our team,” Geise said. “His energy and enthusiasm is contagious and has helped to make our region a better place to work and live. I think it’s safe to say that when it comes to Nate and his impact on Chautauqua County and Western New York, the best is yet to come! He truly is a ‘Rising Star’ and more than worthy of this recent award.” In accepting the award, Aldrich acknowledged the mentors who’ve helped him along the way, including both Geise and Richard Dixon, CCIDA CFO. He also credited the entire Chautauqua County Economic Development team, adding that any success attributed to him is really a group effort. “It’s really just a case of being in the right place at the right time,” Aldrich said. “Not only do we have a capable team, but they all put a lot of heart and effort into doing what they all do and I’m really just proud of that.” About CCPEG - The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) serves as the main convener of economic development partners and resources to advance key projects that achieve economic prosperity in Chautauqua County. It also serves as the catalyst and broker of resources for advancing economic prosperity efforts and is the central coordinating entity for the formation, retention, development, and attraction of quality jobs and advancements to the quality of life. It is an initiative of the Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC). For more information visit CHQPartnership.org.

Boutique Resort in Silver Creek Serves as a Lakefront Beach Resort, Restaurant, and Event VenueImage Caption: Several local and state officials gathered on the shores of Lake Erie in Silver Creek Tuesday afternoon to join with the owners of Hideaway Bay Resort - Kevin Cullen (holding scissors), Christian Cullen, and Gene Tundo (both to the immediate left of Kevin Cullen) - to cut the ribbon and officially open the business to the public. SILVER CREEK, N.Y.: --- There’s a new destination on Lake Erie, offering visitors and residents alike the opportunity to experience a one-of-a-kind stay featuring sandy shores and breathtaking sunsets. View Ribbon Cutting Photo Stream Local and state officials gathered in Silver Creek on Tuesday, June 11, to help cut the ribbon for Hideaway Bay Resort, a four-season, eco-friendly resort located on 3.6 acres of secluded lakefront property just to the east of the Walnut Creek outlet on Lake Erie. The event was co-hosted by the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) and the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce. WATCH THE RIBBON CUTTING EVENT Hideaway Bay Resort is the culmination of a $2 million redevelopment project made possible by an ownership team represented by Kevin and Christian Cullen of Adventure Sports Development and Mathew and Gene Tundo of Tundo Construction. In 2021, the group formed 42 Lake Erie, LLC to develop the project. The resort provides high-end boutique resort and recreation opportunities, featuring ten new waterfront cottages (each 360 sq. ft.) and a 4,080 square-foot, two-story restaurant and banquet space designed to host events, including weddings, banquets, and retreats – with upper and lower patios and indoor/outdoor full service bars. The restaurant, called “Drift”, will be open to the public seven days a week and can also be rented for private events and parties. Watersports operations will also be provided on site, including paddle boarding, kite boarding, and a natural kayak launch. The resort will also feature a hot tub, sauna, and spa service as well as walking trails, a fire pit, in-house fishing guides, and educational birding events. Hideaway Bay also presents itself as being eco-friendly, inside and out. This includes a dune restoration project, complete with native plants and a rain garden. Each cottage will have eco-friendly sheets and bath products and the owners are working to make Hideaway Bay the first destination anywhere on the Great Lakes to be certified as “eco-friendly” by the Surfrider Foundation. “We are excited to showcase the area’s natural beauty and leverage its recreational attributes to draw visitors and sports enthusiasts to the area,” said Kevin Cullen. “There really is something for everyone to do in this region and we are going to celebrate the variety of activities that are available here in Chautauqua County.” “It’s also personally important for us to live in harmony with nature, as opposed to just extracting from it,” added Christian Cullen. “That’s why having an eco-friendly focus is so important to us, in addition to providing a space that people of all ages will enjoy when they come here to stay or to simply attend an event.” “This latest attraction on the shores of Lake Erie will help to make Silver Creek a year-round destination for visitors from throughout the region,” said Paul “PJ” Wendel, Chautauqua County Executive. “Congratulations to the Hideaway Bay team for all the hard work and dedication they put forward to help make this development effort come to life.” The opening of the resort is the culmination of years of planning and development. Formerly the site of the regionally well-known Hideaway Bay Restaurant, the property went into foreclosure and later was destroyed by arson. The vacant land had been actively marketed for development by the Chautauqua County Land Bank for many years, leading up to an RFP process with 42 Lake Erie, LLC selected as developer. After securing the necessary funding for the project, a groundbreaking ceremony took place in June 2023. A year later, the resort is now open and ready for business. “The resort is a terrific new development that connects the community and the Local Waterfront Redevelopment Plan very well,” said Gina Paradis, Chautauqua County Land Bank Executive Director. “We were happy to facilitate the process of identifying the best new development for the site and are extremely excited to see it is now open and ready to serve the public.” “Seeing this project completed has been a long-term goal of mine, going back to the days when I served on the Chautauqua County Legislature and later as County Executive,” said Sen. George Borrello, who attended the 2023 groundbreaking but was unable to attend the ribbon cutting in person and instead made a prepared statement. “As a Hanover resident and a local business owner, it’s exciting to welcome a world-class resort like Hideaway Bay to our community. It will be a wonderful addition to our Lake Erie businesses and contribute to our reputation as a desirable vacation destination. We wish them great success!” “We’re extremely grateful to the Cullen family and the Tundo family for making this long-term investment in our community,” added Jeffrey Hornburg, Mayor of Silver Creek. “The Hideaway Bay Resort will fit nicely within the lakefront area and is going to help put Silver Creek on the map as a must-visit Western New York destination. We look forward to the positive impact it will have on our village in the many years to come.” Funding for the project came from a variety of public and private sources, including CCIDA, which authorized tax abatements and exemptions for the project in 2021 and a 15-year PILOT agreement totaling $191,285 for the involved taxing jurisdictions, along with a $491,210 low-interest loan. CCIDA also provided extensive project coordination and technical expertise. The project also received a $434,000 low interest loan from New York State’s Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) program, funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. A total of 30 temporary construction jobs benefited from the project and 16-plus new jobs created, once fully open. “This is yet another project that illustrates how we can make positive change to our region and the local economy when we all pitch in and work together,” said Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and CCIDA CEO. “Chautauqua County, the Village of Silver Creek, Land Bank, CCIDA, and the JCC Small Business Development Center all provided expertise, working collaboratively and diligently for several years to attract this exciting new tourism and event venue to Silver Creek and to help it cross the finish line. Thank you to everyone involved with this project for helping to make it a reality.” For more information on the Hideaway Bay Resort, visit HideawayBayResortNY.com, call (716) 401-5762, or find it on Facebook. About CCIDA - The CCIDA is an economic development organization authorized and empowered by the State of New York to make Chautauqua County a better place to work, live, and visit. It facilitates development by attracting new businesses, while promoting the retention and expansion of existing businesses. Assistance in the form of incentives – tax abatements, low interest loans, and bond financing – enhances the opportunities for job creation and retention by our businesses. For more information visit ChooseCHQ.com. Hideaway Bay resort features ten waterfront cottages (each 360 sq. ft.) and a 4,080 square-foot, two-story restaurant and banquet space designed to host events, including weddings, banquets, and retreats.  

Local businesses invited to participate by giving baskets to new employees moving to Chautauqua CountyLive CHQ Welcome Baskets with (L-R) Daniel Hietzenrater, President & CEO Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce; Monica Simpson, Partner Engagement Coordinator at Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth; Nate Aldrich, Economic Development Coordinator for the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency; Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development. (Media Release Provided by Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce) JAMESTOWN, NY: -- As part of a talent attraction plan to bring new, skilled workers to local businesses and organizations, the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce and the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) have teamed up on a new Welcome Basket promotion. Welcome baskets have been specifically designed in two sizes to meet a variety of needs, and each contains a myriad of local products curated by Chamber of Commerce staff from local businesses and producers. Products are tucked into branded Live CHQ buckets that coordinate with the county’s new Live CHQ campaign that highlights the excellent quality of life and affordable living options here in Chautauqua County. Thanks to a subsidy provided by CCPEG, the first two baskets purchased by any company or organization will be half-price. The subsidized purchases are for talent attraction or new hires ONLY and are not designed for general gift-giving. After the first two, you must purchase the baskets at full price. The Chamber has selected the local items and is selling the Welcome Baskets through its website. Proceeds from the sales will go towards perpetuating the program. Chamber President and CEO Daniel Heitzenrater noted, “We are proud to be part of this new program and look forward to making it work into the future. Our team has been involved from the outset, assisting with choosing locally made items to include.” “I especially want to thank our Coordinator Denise Szalkowski for serving on the committee that helped to get this project off the ground, and for collecting items for the first baskets,” he added. "We are delighted to introduce this program, which underscores our commitment to fostering a welcoming and supportive environment for recruits and new residents," said Monica Simpson, Partner Engagement Coordinator at CCPEG. "Each participant will receive a Live CHQ collapsible basket, thoughtfully packed with the flavors of Chautauqua County and our soon-to-be-released updated relocation guide. This initiative is designed to provide the resources and community connections that will help individuals thrive both personally and professionally in our county. We believe that by investing in our new members, we are not only enhancing their future but also enriching the fabric of our entire community." Items included in the initial Welcome Baskets are from a variety of local producers including 21 Brix Winery, Portland; Big Tree Maple, Lakewood; Borsari Foods, Jamestown; Chai's Chocolates, Fredonia; Chautauqua Soap Co., Jamestown; CK Natural Fruit Juice, Westfield; Crown Street Roasting Company, Jamestown; Franklins Honey & Apples, Dewittville; Jamestown Community College, Jamestown; Jo Jo's Cake Cottage, Dunkirk; Peterson Farms, Jamestown; Southern Tier Brewing Company, Lakewood; SUNY FSA Bookstore, Fredonia; Sweeterson Farms, Clymer; and Whizz-n-Smash, Dewittville. Additional items will be rotated into the baskets over time. Live CHQ Welcome Baskets can be purchased through the ecommerce page at ChautauquaChamber.org. Small baskets are $54 including sales tax, while large baskets are $108 including sales tax. To purchase Welcome Baskets with a purchase order or invoice please contact the Chamber at (716) 484-1101.

We work to highlight a partner or community organization that is doing great things in our county. This month, we are highlighting Findley Lake's Community ConnectionsDr. L.J. Baylis, is the executive director of Community Connections at Findley Lake, Inc. - a private not-for-profit, 501(c)3 corporation founded to give residents of Findley Lake and the surrounding communities both the practical means and confidence to live their lives to the fullest in their own homes as they grow older. 1. Tell us about Community Connections at Findley Lake. Community Connections at Findley Lake was inc. in 2013 as a 501C3 non-profit and designed to help community residents remain in their own homes safely and independently for as long as they choose. We serve the rural communities in western Chautauqua County. We provide services that support aging adults such as transportation, mail pick up and delivery, prescription pickup, shopping assistance and healthcare navigation. We also provide various educational programs such as health management and workshops to decrease social isolation. Our home care nurses and companions support our frail elderly in their homes. They also serve as advocates at doctor and medical appointments. 2. What are some recent accomplishments achieved by this group? Our first major accomplishment in 2013 was applying for and receiving an expedited 501c3 designation due to the recognized needs for an organization such as ours in rural NYS. Another accomplishment was the award from NYS Office for Aging. This was a 5-year grant given to us in recognition of our services we provide as a Naturally Occurring Retirement Community. We are 1 of only 2 NYS designated rural Neighborhood NORCs. 3. What are some exciting things you have planned? We are currently working with our partners to decrease the waiting list in the county for homecare senior services that are being requested. Our current exciting project is that of developing a Pocket Neighborhood. This is to address the shortage of senior housing in the communities we serve. The concept of a pocket neighborhood is to provide housing and a living area around shared common grounds. The pocket neighborhoods bring back the concept of front porch interaction and social connection while maintaining independent living. 4. Community Connections relies on community volunteers. Can you talk about the importance of community-driven efforts to improve Findley Lake? Or you can talk about Aging in Place? Your choice! According to AARP 90% of aging adults over the age of 65 choose to remain in their own home and community for as long as possible. Aging, retired community residents are a valuable asset to their community and by moving into a more livable environment such as a pocket neighborhood, housing becomes available for new families. Retirees contributed $13.5 billion to the economy of NYS in 2021 and can provide significant volunteer hours to town organizations. Community Connections’ volunteers alone provided 1,811 hours at a value of $56, 503 in 2023 and provided 4066 miles of transportation services. 5. What is something most people don’t know about your organization? Community Connections is a very efficient organization. We provide over 6,000 services/year with 4 fulltime employees, 4 parttime employees and our 13 volunteers. 6. What advice would you give to other community groups in Chautauqua County who are looking into launching a project similar to your Pocket Neighborhood effort? The three founding members of Community Connections determined that the success of our organization was to not assume we knew what the community needed. We depend heavily upon the feedback from our residents and advisory councils to guide us down a path that will be most beneficial to the areas we serve. A major project such as the pocket neighborhood concept requires solid partnerships with the county, town and local government. Do not assume you can do this without all their support and guidance if the neighborhood is to be developed successfully.

Greenways Group to also provide updates on various trail projects in Chautauqua CountyThe Friends of Chautauqua County Greenways Group will host a public meeting on June 12. In addition to unveiling the brand new county trails map project, members will also provide updates on various trail projects within the county – including the two overland trails maintained by Chautauqua County. BROCTON, NY: -- In cooperation with the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG), the Friends of Chautauqua County Greenways (FCCG) will hold its third public informational meeting at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 12 at the SUNY Fredonia College Lodge, located at 8067 Route 380 in Brocton. This meeting will provide the public with a preview of the new Chautauqua County Recreation Trails Map. This map will be the new “one-stop-shop” for anyone who wants to learn about the location, tread surface, difficulty, and permitted use pertaining to the miles of trails within the county. “This map is the culmination of a yearlong process of collecting data, images, and information that will educate all trail users about the incredible trails that we have throughout Chautauqua County,” said Jacob Bodway, Trail Coordinator for CCPEG. “In addition to unveiling the new countywide map, each trail group will provide updates on recent grant awards, new projects, and upcoming events. By working as a single unit, we have made tremendous strides in giving pride of place to the amazing recreation opportunities in the county. There has never been a better time to be a recreation enthusiast in Chautauqua County than right now!” The College Lodge also offers beautiful hiking trails. There will be a short guided hike held at 4 p.m. for anyone who would like to arrive early and explore the forest. Refreshments will be provided at the meeting, which is open to the public. No reservations are required. About FCCG – The Friends of Chautauqua County Greenways is housed under CCPEG and is an organization whose aim is to collaborate and build on private/public partnerships to position themselves to raise the necessary capital and programmatic resources to realize the primary objectives outlined in the 2012 Greenway Plan. More information about FCCG can be found under the “Agencies” section of ChooseCHQ.com. About CCPEG - The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) serves as the main convener of economic development partners and resources to advance key projects that achieve economic prosperity in Chautauqua County. It also serves as the catalyst and broker of resources for advancing economic prosperity efforts and is the central coordinating entity for the formation, retention, development, and attraction of quality jobs and advancements to the quality of life. It is an initiative of the Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC). For more information visit CHQPartnership.org.

Funds will support upgrades to Fred J. Cusimano Overland Trails in Panama and Brokenstraw State ForestsJAMESTOWN, NY: -- The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) is pleased to report that it has secured a $25,000 grant from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds, administered by the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, to help fund Phase IV of the Chautauqua County Overland Trails Revitalization Project. This phase includes trail construction, trail improvements, and trail reroutes along sections of the Fred J. Cusimano Westside Overland Trail in both Brokenstraw and Panama State Forests. “This section of the trail is popular with a variety of trail-user groups and runs through two absolutely beautiful New York State Forests,” said Jacob Bodway, CCPEG Trail Coordinator. To secure this grant, CCPEG collaborated with the Chautauqua County Parks Department and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to plan and organize the best approach for Phase IV of the project. According to Bodway, Phase IV of this project will update the Westside Overland Trail to meet modern standards of trail sustainability and accessibility. “Ultimately, these Phase IV improvements will offer substantial drainage improvements and will incorporate sustainability designs to mitigate erosion and to make the trail far more accessible for a variety of trail user-groups,” Bodway said. The trail improvements and construction will be completed by Trail Construction Associates (TCA), based in Chautauqua County, who Bodway said are familiar with the Overland Trails and are excited apply their green design trail-building techniques to improve trail sustainability. “We will be rerouting chronic wet areas and improving sections of trail that have poor drainage and erosion issues,” Bodway said. “We plan to ‘build-up’ the trail in low areas, add bench-cut trail for better drainage, and reroute a section of trail to move it from an old gas-lease road and into the woods. These improvements will make the trail far more accessible for trail-users of varied abilities. We can’t wait to get started!” The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds were established at the Community Foundation to provide support to four areas that were important to Mr. Wilson: caregivers, community assets, design and access, and youth sports. Endowment funds, like these created to honor Mr. Wilson, are designed to grow over time and provide funding for charitable causes according to a client’s wishes. The Chautauqua County Overland Trails also would not be possible without the support and cooperation of private landowners. About CCPEG - The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) serves as the main convener of economic development partners and resources to advance key projects that achieve economic prosperity in Chautauqua County. It also serves as the catalyst and broker of resources for advancing economic prosperity efforts and is the central coordinating entity for the formation, retention, development, and attraction of quality jobs and advancements to the quality of life. It is an initiative of the Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC). For more information visit CHQPartnership.org.

Board also Approves Loan for Equipment Purchase at Dunkirk Metal ProductsPictured: Brad Renwick (left) and Jeremy Blum are the new owners of Dahlstrom Roll Form in Falconer, NY, thanks in part to a recently approved loan by the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency’s board of directors during its April 21, 2024 meeting. JAMESTOWN, N.Y.: — At its May 21, 2024 meeting, the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) Board of Directors approved two loans involving local manufacturers in Falconer and Sheridan. One loan will assist with the purchase of Lakeside Capital Corporation, doing business as Dahlstrom Roll Form. The other loan will assist with the purchase of equipment at Dunkirk Metal Products of WNY, LLC (DMP). The loans will not only help to retain 79 jobs between the two manufacturers, but also create four new positions. The loan for Dahlstrom Roll Form was $900,000 and will go to Jeremy Blum, current Chief Executive Officer of the company, and Brad Renwick, the current Chief Operations Officer. The two will use the loan to assist with the purchase of the company from Robert White, its current president. Dahlstrom Roll Form has a long and storied history in the greater Jamestown area. It was founded in 1904 by Charles Dahlstrom, a Swedish immigrant, as the Dahlstrom Metallic Door Company and initially made doors for large-scale buildings across the United States, including the construction of the Empire State Building. It eventually expanded its metallic roll form operation to meet other needs. Changes in ownership have occurred over the years, with White purchasing the operation in 2007. In 2019, Dahlstrom Roll Form purchased DC Roll Form at 221 Lister Ave., in Falconer, with financial assistance from the CCIDA through a mortgage recording tax exemption. In 2022, the company fully moved into the new location. By keeping the company locally owned, the move will help to retain 43 jobs and create two additional positions. Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and Chief Executive Officer of the CCIDA, said keeping ownership local will help to ensure the company continues to operate in Chautauqua County for years and decades to come. “It is essential that the CCIDA supports local manufacturers, such as Dahlstrom Roll Form, especially when that assistance results in local ownership,” Geise said. “Robert White has been terrific in ensuring the company remains locally-owned and competitive on the global stage, and I have every confidence that Jeremy and Brad, as well as their tremendous workforce, will do the same.” “We are thankful for the support and assistance from the CCIDA in helping us make this purchase,” Blum and Renwick said in a joint statement. “We look forward to our continued involvement at Dahlstrom Roll Form as the new owners and will work to continue the strong manufacturing legacy the company has secured in the greater Jamestown area and Chautauqua County.” “Dahlstrom Roll Form has a storied manufacturing legacy in Chautauqua County and it’s great to see that continue with the new ownership, who will help provide stable, good-paying jobs to our residents,” said PJ Wendel, Chautauqua County Executive. “Congratulations to Mr. Blum and Mr. Renwick in their roles as new owners, and thank you to Mr. White for helping to build on and preserve the Dahlstrom legacy with his decision to move to a newer, more modern facility a short time ago. This support by the CCIDA illustrates the important role the agency plays in our local economy.” The loan for DMP (3575 Chadwick Drive) was for $280,000 and will be used to help with the purchase of a Tube Laser Cutting System. DMP is a metal fabricator and has been in existence in Chautauqua County since 2012, along with its predecessor entities going back to the 1940s. It provides quality parts primarily in Western New York and Northeastern Pennsylvania. The new laser machine is a newer technology with specialized applications for different tube cutting applications (round, square, oval, etc.). The new equipment will help to retain 36 jobs and create two new positions at DMP. “We’ve assessed the local marketplace and feel the new equipment will provide an excellent opportunity for cost savings and business growth,” said Jean Gaulin, DMP partner and CFO. “Establishing and growing this segment of the business will be a primary focus over the next three years and beyond.”  “We’re happy to assist DMP with the purchase of this new equipment,” Giese said. “Dunkirk Metal Products has proven to be a valuable employer for dozens of workers in the North County and this loan from the IDA will help ensure it remains that way in the coming years.” # # # About CCIDA - The CCIDA is an economic development organization authorized and empowered by the State of New York to make Chautauqua County a better place to work, live, and visit. It facilitates development by attracting new businesses, while promoting the retention and expansion of existing businesses. Assistance in the form of incentives – tax abatements, low interest loans, and bond financing – enhances the opportunities for job creation and retention by our businesses. For more information visit ChooseCHQ.com. About Dahlstrom Roll Form: Dahlstrom manufactures custom roll formed metal components. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) make up about 90% of the company’s revenue. Current OEM segments include power distribution, elevator/escalators, refrigerated food storage, HVAC, industrial reels, solar mounting systems, commercial door/frame/windows, and parts for trucks, buses and rail. Architectural moldings have a 115 year history with Dahlstrom and are the fastest growing portion of their business. More info at Dahlstromrollform.com. About Dunkirk Metal Products: DMP is a precision sheet metal fabrication and stamping company founded in 1947 and centrally located among various northeast industrial centers including: Buffalo, NY, Rochester, NY, Pittsburgh, PA, Cleveland, OH, Columbus, OH and Toronto, Canada. Services include CNC laser cutting, CNC turret press punching, CNC brake press bending and forming, precision sheet metal stamping, MIG welding, TIG welding and other metal related services all monitored and controlled by a seasoned engineering and quality control staff. More info at DunkirkMetalProducts.com.

CCPEG will offer Letters of Support for Local ApplicantsRound XIV of the New York State Regional Economic Development Council Initiative and the 2024 New York State Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) process have been announced. State funding is now available from several agencies. Round XIV includes $445 million in core capital grant and tax-credit funding combined with more than 20 programs from eight state agencies, including $100 million in grant funds from Empire State Development (ESD), available to projects on a continuous basis.  General information and resources can be found in the 2024 Available CFA Resources Guidebook. Most program applications are due by Wednesday, July 31st. While the Chautauqua County Department of Planning & Development, County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA), Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC), and Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) are busy preparing applications for projects with county-wide impacts that align with the Chautauqua County Economic Development Strategic Plan, local businesses, municipalities, and organizations are encouraged to explore the available resources for their projects. If there is an effort to apply for one or more of the grant programs, applicants in Chautauqua are encouraged to contact CCPEG with a letter of support request or technical assistance as soon as possible. Those interested in applying can also contact Nate Aldrich, County Economic Development Coordinator and CCPEG Manager, at aldrichn@chqgov.com with questions by June 15, 2024.

Latest Action helps Bring new Downtown Business One Step Closer to Finish LineJAMESTOWN, NY: — At its April 23, 2024 meeting, the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) Board of Directors approved incentives for Wicked Jimmy’s LLC, to support the purchase and renovation of property at 115-121 West 3rd Street in Jamestown, the site of the former Jamestown Brewing Company. The incentives include exemptions from mortgage recording taxes, sales and use taxes, and property taxes.  Earlier this year in January, the board also approved $950,000 low-interest loan for the project. Once open, Wicked Jimmy’s will be the LLC operating the business as Wicked Warren’s. It will be operated by Robert Roth, who is also majority owner of the initial Wicked Warren’s, already in operation in Warren, Pa. Roth will serve as president of the Jamestown operation and has 27 years of experience running his own business. A total of 26 positions will be created once fully open. The project would also result in 15 temporary construction jobs. “We’ve done considerable planning and are looking forward to getting this business up and running as soon as possible,” Roth said in January, when the CCIDA board approved the initial loan for the project. “Once open and operational, Wicked Jimmy’s will brew craft beer, serve food, and host corporate meetings and ball room events. It will also provide live music, feature a ‘Speak Easy Room,’ and in the future open a roof top bar. Our goal is to make 119 West 3rd St, Jamestown’s premier entertainment destination.” “The property is at a prime location for this type of operation, in close proximity to the National Comedy Center, Northwest Arena, and other downtown Jamestown attractions. The former Jamestown Brewing Company, which was located in the facility, steadily grew its customer base until the onset of the COVID pandemic. We are confident that Wicked Warren’s will do the same, based on what they’re doing in Warren, and bring new life to Downtown Jamestown,” said Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and Chief Executive Officer of the CCIDA. “We’re excited to see new life come into this property after being vacant for nearly four years,” said Jamestown Mayor Kimberly Ecklund in January. “Having a craft brewery, restaurant, and banquet facility located in the core of downtown Jamestown will help to boost both visitor and local foot traffic, while also providing additional job opportunities for our local residents.” The total estimated cost of the project would be $2.35 million. The financial assistance provided by the CCIDA will be up to $63,124 in sales tax exemptions, up to $23,250 in mortgage tax exemptions, and $156,670 in property tax exemptions over ten years, with $446,820 in total PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) being paid to the affected tax jurisdictions during that same time period. About CCIDA - The CCIDA is an economic development organization authorized and empowered by the State of New York to make Chautauqua County a better place to work, live, and visit. It facilitates development by attracting new businesses, while promoting the retention and expansion of existing businesses. Assistance in the form of incentives – tax abatements, low interest loans, and bond financing – enhances the opportunities for job creation and retention by our businesses. For more information visit ChooseCHQ.com.

New Website and Advertising Effort to Focus on Talent Attraction and Retention in Chautauqua CountyJAMESTOWN, NY: -- The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG), along with the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA), is announcing the launch of a new, multi-year marketing campaign. The effort, called Live CHQ, will focus on talent attraction and retention by highlighting quality of life aspects and career opportunities available in Chautauqua County.  “Live CHQ is primarily intended to market our county to people living outside of our county in order to attract new and professionally talented residents by focusing on the best our county has to offer – including affordability, job opportunities, our cultural and entertainment attractions, and a wide variety of outdoor recreation options,” said Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and CCIDA CEO. “As part of the talent retention effort, we will also remind current residents of the benefits of living in Chautauqua County.” WATCH THE APRIL 16 PRESENTATION The campaign is modeled after a similar talent attraction and retention marketing effort in Buffalo, known as the Be in Buffalo campaign. That effort was spearheaded by Invest Buffalo Niagara, which also provided assistance with initial planning of the Live CHQ campaign. A major component of Live CHQ is a new website – LiveCHQ.org - that will inform the public about the various quality of life aspects the county has to offer, along with employment resources and business development opportunities found across the county. The campaign is also intended to assist local companies, businesses, and nonprofits across all sectors by helping to inform their prospective employees about what the county has to offer. “Many of our local businesses and nonprofits need more skilled, talented, and experienced employees to fill vacant jobs. But it can also be challenging to recruit individuals to fill those positions, due to a high demand for skilled workers, compared to the number of candidates currently living in our county. We are encouraging the business community to use the website to assist with their recruitment efforts, especially for talent located outside of the area who may be unfamiliar with what Chautauqua County has to offer,” explained Nate Aldrich, Chautauqua County Economic Development Coordinator and CCPEG Manager. CCIDA and CCPEG contracted with Buffalo-based Block Club to develop the Live CHQ campaign following an RFP process in late 2022. Throughout 2023, Block Club then worked to develop Live CHQ by visiting the county and meeting with key stakeholders during the “discover phase” of the campaign, to determine its focus – young families, active adults, and professionals with a passion for outdoor recreation and cultural/community experiences who currently reside outside of Chautauqua County. Current county residents are a secondary target audience. Block Club also designed a “choose your adventure” theme, incorporating “CHQ” into the messaging of each ad. The company also designed specific digital ad assets for the campaign, along with a promotional video advertisement. The website was designed by Clevermethod, also based in Buffalo. In addition to designing LiveCHQ.org, Clevermethod also developed ChooseCHQ.com, the new website for CCIDA and CCPEG, along with the other affiliation agencies – the Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC) and the Chautauqua County Capital Resource Corporation (CRC). Funding for the Live CHQ campaign was derived from American Rescue Plan Act funding provided to CCPEG by Chautauqua County, a multi-year grant from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, and from the CCIDA’s general marketing budget. Assistance in developing the campaign was also provided by Chautauqua County Government and the Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau, along with a variety of organizations and attractions found across Chautauqua County. “We want to emphasize that this is not a panacea that will suddenly reverse decades of population decline experienced in our county and across the Western New York region. Our hope is that it will be a valuable tool that, when combined with other efforts, will help to move the population needle in a positive direction,” explained Geise. “The launch of Live CHQ is the culmination of a year’s worth of planning and development, and we’re excited to see it rolled out and implemented.” Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel said he is encouraged on what this new rollout program can and will do. “‘Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.' That’s my new motto as we move forward,” Wendel said, quoting Colin Powell. More information about the Live CHQ marketing campaign will be announced in the coming weeks. # # # About Live CHQ – Live CHQ is a joint marketing campaign launched by the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency and the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth in 2024 to assist with talent attraction and retention efforts across Chautauqua County, NY. The overall goal of the campaign is to help raise awareness of Chautauqua County as a viable place for individuals and families to live by speaking to the sensibilities, desires, and expectations of people who are considering the county as their primary residence. For more information visit www.LiveCHQ.com.

We work to highlight a partner or community organization that is doing great things in our county. This month, we are highlighting SBDC with Courtney CuratoloCourtney Curatolo, Ph.D. joined the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Jamestown Community College (JCC) in 2018 as the Center’s Director. She is committed to maximizing the small business climate in the three-county region including Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Allegany Counties. Courtney's background includes experience in both the corporate and nonprofit sectors building skills in economic development, strategic planning, marketing, leadership training, government affairs, and development and implementation of public -private partnerships. She holds a B.A. in Political Science, an M.A. in Public Administration, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Research Methodology with a focus in Adult and Community Educational Leadership. 1. How are things going at the SBDC? (How many individuals were assisted in 2023, remind the general public of your mission and services) Administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the SBDC at JCC works with regional businesses in Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Allegany Counties to help them succeed. The SBDC delivers high quality business counseling and training to clients looking to start a business or improve the performance of an existing business. Services are confidential and free of charge. Services include business plan development, accounting guidance, financial projections and budgeting, marketing assistance, procurement guidance, cost analysis, complying with permit, licensing, and other regulations, loan information and packaging assistance, grant details, minority and women business certification help, and start up guidance. Since our start in 1986, advisors have worked with close to 13,000 businesses, helping them to invest more than $176,000,000 into the area’s economy and create or save more than 9,000 jobs.  The SBDC has grown by leaps and bounds over the past five years.  In fact our team of 6 have tripled our client numbers, increased the financial impact on the area, helped create and save thousands of jobs, and implemented various training opportunities for small business owners.  In addition to our traditional services, the SBDC at JCC hosts a Women in Networking program each month to promote female business owners, works with JCC students to place them in social media internships, and has an online business academy. The SBDC Online Business Academy offers various webinars and certifications that can be viewed from anywhere at any time that is convenient. Online classes focus on entrepreneurship, intellectual property, website development, ecommerce, social media marketing on different platforms, succession planning, and more. We also have certification programs in Social Media Marketing and Entrepreneurship Essentials. You can access the Online Business Academy at www.sbdcbusinessacademy.com. Recently, I've created a new event called the Resource Partner Pop Up Program. We have set up Resource Partner Pop Up Events in small towns throughout our region. I bring partners from the SBDC, SBA, Laine Accelerator, JCC Workforce Development, the Workforce Investment Board, and the IDA to a location like a library to meet with business owners and answer their questions. Any agency that provides services to the business community is invited to share information and ensure that more and more people in our region know about the help that they can receive at no cost to them. 2. What are your goals for this year? My goal every day is to make sure at least one more person knows about the services of the Small Business Development Center.  We have amazing, certified business advisors that know so much about getting started in business, growing your business, and succeeding along the journey. We have these amazing resources in Chautauqua County and I am glad more and more people are using our services.  Last year our state office gave us a goal of helping to open at least 30 new businesses…the SBDC team helped 61 new businesses open.  I have also started a new program, The Resource Partner Pop Up. I have been partnering with area municipalities to host a pop up event in various communities throughout the three county region. At these events, I invite all organizations that provide services to small businesses. The municipalities, invite their local small business owners. For two hours we share information about how we can help and business owners are able to ask one on one questions and schedule future follow up meetings. It has been a great resource for more business owners to learn about our services. 3. As the co-chair of the CCPEG Business Development Work Group and Advisory Board member, how do these roles align with your role of supporting small businesses in Chautauqua County, and what opportunities do you see for continued collaboration? These positions are very much aligned with what I do every day. I’m honored I was asked to provide my experience and expertise to these roles. Since I moved to the area I have been so impressed with the community members that work together to help create a better quality of life for everyone living here. There is no competition between organizations, and I love being able to contribute to the conversations that lead to solutions. I believe that partnership is success and hope to increase the partnerships that lead to more help for the small business community. Ninety eight percent of the businesses in Chautauqua County are considered small according to the US Government. We need to ensure we are providing a bridge to support them all.  4. What Partnership projects do you consider the most exciting or impactful and why? As a resident of Chautauqua County, I’m personally excited about all of them. I am always excited to tell my family and friends that travel to the area during the summer about how much is going on here year-round.  Professionally, I’m most proud of the entrepreneurship essentials certification program we created with the help of the Partnership. Anyone can take this 4.5 hour course online, whenever it is convenient for them. To learn more about the certification check out the SBDC Online Business Academy at SBDCBusinessAcademy.com. 5. What is something most people don’t know about you? I have 16 nieces and nephews…and am proudly helping to ensure they are all raised as die-hard Buffalo Bills fans, even though they are spread across the country.

Businesses in Jamestown, Gerry, and Silver Creek will help retain and grow job numbersJAMESTOWN, N.Y.: --- At its March 26, 2024 meeting, the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) Board of Directors approved low-interest loans for three separate businesses totaling $725,000: Tim & Edmond, LLC; LINC Products & Services (LINC); and Excelco/Newbrook, Inc (ENI). The loans will not only help to retain existing positions but also lead to additional jobs being created in Chautauqua County. Tim & Edmond, LLC Loan The loan approved for Tim & Edmond, LLC was for $400,000 and will be used to assist in the upgrade of its facility at 245 and 255 Fluvanna Ave. in Jamestown. Tim and Edmond Shults - owners of Shults Real Estate and Tim & Edmond, LLC - have operated the real estate management company since 2007. In 2016, they purchased the 60,000-Square-foot former Quality Markets location and received a use variance from the City of Jamestown Zoning Board of Appeals for light manufacturing in this location. The new upgrade project will help ensure the Fluvanna Avenue facility can accommodate additional manufacturing usage. Total cost of the upgrade is $1,020,000. The terms of the $400,000 CCIDA loan are 15 years and 4% interest. LINC Loans The CCIDA Board also approved two loans totaling $225,000 for LINC to assist with the acquisition of Universal Tool Company (UTC), located at 4529 Route 60 in Gerry. LINC is a small, Native American-owned business and is certified as a New York State Minority and/or Women-owned Business Enterprise (NYS MWBE). It specializes in business development/technical sales; supply services for machine tools, tooling, and manufacturing equipment; supply services for raw materials; and subcontract services for manufacturing and construction. LINC is in the process of purchasing the assets of UTC, a full-service production computer numerical control (CNC) machining business. It is focused on injection mold tooling, tool and die, and contract manufacturing services. UTC currently has three employees. Following the acquisition, LINC plans to retain the existing employees, hire two more within 30 days, and add approximately 20 more over the next five years. The terms of both loans are for seven years at 4% interest. ENI Loan ENI, located at 16 Mechanic St. in Silver Creek, specializes in building complex mechanical equipment, prototype components, and low volume production runs of specialized equipment for undersea, naval, and nuclear applications. The CCIDA board approved a $100,000 working capital loan for ENI to fund the cost associated with increased work-in-process inventory, materials and supplies for increased production, and to provide contract financing for two major orders. ENI currently has 44 employees and is planning to increase that number to 50. The loan’s terms are for five years at 4% interest. “The IDA’s low-interest loan program is intended to offer assistance to companies that want to invest in our communities and local workforce, and each of the loans approved today by our Board of Directors do just that. We’re excited to see these three businesses invest in Chautauqua County and offer new employment opportunities in Jamestown, Gerry, and Silver Creek,” said Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and CCIDA CEO. Wicked Jimmy's Due Diligence PILOT Resolution In addition to approving loans for three separate businesses, the CCIDA Board of Directors also approved a due diligence resolution for Wicked Jimmy’s LLC, involving a potential Tax Lease Payment in Lieu of Tax (PILOT) agreement. As announced by the CCIDA in January, Wicked Jimmy’s LLC will purchase property at 115-121 West 3rd St. in Jamestown, the site of the former Jamestown Brewing Company. Once open, it will operate as Wicked Warren’s. The due diligence resolution is not binding, but acknowledges the CCIDA will consider property tax, sales tax, and mortgage tax incentives for the $2.35 million project. Specific details of the proposed incentives will be provided as part of a future public hearing (date to be determined), followed by an approving resolution to be acted on by the board at a future meeting. About CCIDA - The CCIDA is an economic development organization authorized and empowered by the State of New York to make Chautauqua County a better place to work, live, and visit. It facilitates development by attracting new businesses, while promoting the retention and expansion of existing businesses. Assistance in the form of incentives – tax abatements, low interest loans, and bond financing – enhances the opportunities for job creation and retention by our businesses. For more information visit ChooseCHQ.com.

Effort Part of Upcoming Live CHQ Talent Attraction and Retention Marketing CampaignJAMESTOWN, NY: -- The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG), along with the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA), is reaching out to local businesses and nonprofits as part of an upcoming marketing campaign aimed at talent attraction and retention. The upcoming campaign, entitled “Live CHQ”, will launch in April and is intended to market Chautauqua County to attract new and professionally talented residents, along with a focus on workforce development and community enrichment. A major component of Live CHQ is a new website that will help to inform prospective residents about the quality of life aspects that the county has to offer, along with the various employment and business development opportunities found across the region. According to Monica Simpson, CCPEG Partner Engagement Coordinator, the campaign is also intended to assist local companies, businesses, and nonprofits across all sectors by helping to inform their prospective employees about what the county has to offer. “Many of our local businesses and nonprofits need more skilled, talented, and experienced employees to fill vacant jobs. But it can also be challenging to fill those positions, due to a high demand for skilled workers, compared to the number of candidates currently living in our county,” Simpson explained. “In response to this ongoing demand, CCPEG and CCIDA will launch the three-year Live CHQ campaign in April to attract new and professionally talented residents, along with a focus on workforce development and community enrichment.” As a first step of the Live CHQ effort, CCPEG is reaching out to representatives in various workforce sectors to learn more about their specific hiring and staffing challenges. “In turn, this will help us better understand where to focus our marketing efforts during the Live CHQ campaign,” Simpson said. In the coming days and weeks, CCPEG will reach out to local employers and ask them to input their contact information in an HR Contact Form. The information collected will then be used to share updates on the Live CHQ campaign, invite representatives to participate in upcoming events and activities, and perhaps conduct surveys to identify specific needs, all of which will help in the goal of attracting and retaining talented professionals in Chautauqua County. All information collected will only be used internally for the campaign outreach effort, and will not be shared. “Together, along with our many private and public partners, we hope to mutually assist one another in our talent attraction and retention efforts,” Simpson said. Businesses interested in receiving the form should email ccpartnership1@gmail.com or call (716) 363-3770. More information about the Live CHQ marketing campaign will be announced in the coming weeks. # # # About CCPEG - The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) serves as the main convener of economic development partners and resources to advance key projects that achieve economic prosperity in Chautauqua County. It also serves as the catalyst and broker of resources for advancing economic prosperity efforts and is the central coordinating entity for the formation, retention, development, and attraction of quality jobs and advancements to the quality of life. It is an initiative of the Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC). For more information visit CHQPartnership.org.

New Document Will Assist with Addressing Housing Needs across Chautauqua CountyJAMESTOWN, NY: -- The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG), in conjunction with the Chautauqua County Department of Planning and Development and housing-related stakeholders from across the County, has announced the completion of a countywide Housing Market Assessment and Development Strategy. READ FULL HOUSING MARKET ASSESSMENT & DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY The assessment, which was conducted by MRB Group in conjunction with CCPEG’s Housing Development Work Group partners, provides insights to the existing housing stock and market conditions, as well as current and future anticipated gaps. These insights, combined with stakeholder input, provided the foundation for the development of actionable strategies to address housing gaps and needs in Chautauqua County. This Strategy was developed to help housing providers, municipalities, Chautauqua County agencies, and not-for-profit organizations identify solutions and prepare for future development that will ultimately meet the needs of the community’s residents. It summarizes existing housing initiatives in the County, provides demographic and economic data, provides data-rich information on the current housing stock and real estate market, and offers strategies and recommendations for Chautauqua County and its partners to encourage and facilitate housing solutions that align with local priorities. Recommendations from this study will be used to guide housing policy decisions, encourage public-private collaborations, and be an instrumental tool for leveraging future funding opportunities. “The Housing Market Assessment and Development Strategy is not the final product. It is how we implement the Strategy’s action items that will start to move the needle on improving existing housing conditions and creating new housing choices across the County. The top 19 action items have been prioritized in the Housing Strategy, and CCPEG’s Housing Workgroup, municipalities, and partners will work together in order to carry out these action items,” said Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Growth and Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency /Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation CEO. "Everyone involved in this project, from the Planning staff to the consultants and our stakeholders, took extra care to ensure this study was comprehensive in scope and inclusive of all the various housing needs in our county. I'm confident that this will be a valuable tool to facilitate both public and private investment,” said Gina Paradis, CCPEG Housing Workgroup Co-Chair. "We want to thank our partners and stakeholders who participated in creating this assessment. By better understanding our housing market, we can take the steps needed to bring in new resources to the County and address the challenges that we are facing," said Josiah Lamp, CCPEG Housing Workgroup Co-Chair.  “Meeting our current and future housing needs is a critical component in achieving our overall County economic development goals. While there are so many factors outside of our control, this Housing Strategy is a roadmap for us and the numerous partners involved in this effort to move the needle where we can,” said Nate Aldrich, Chautauqua County Economic Development Coordinator and CCPEG Manager. Among the many recommended actions, Aldrich gave some examples of actions CCPEG itself will take, such as: identifying, preparing, and marketing top sites for development; expanding collaboration with the Chautauqua County Land Bank to address quality, safety, and blight issues; and identify vacant and underutilized sites and buildings in areas within and near downtowns, villages, hamlets, and main streets, and initiating pre-development work, among several others.  “This Housing Strategy is a comprehensive, countywide look at our current housing stock, as well as a guiding document for improving our existing neighborhoods and attracting new housing developments to our County,” said Rebecca Wurster, CCPEG Planning Coordinator. “One common request that municipalities receive when a housing developer comes to their community is the request for a housing market study. Up until now, our municipalities could not provide this document. This Strategy includes housing data and future housing needs that developers are looking for.” Partners for the Housing Strategy include CCPEG, Chautauqua County Department of Planning & Development, Chautauqua County Health Department, Chautauqua County Land Bank, Chautauqua Opportunities Inc., Chautauqua Home Rehabilitation and Rehab Corp., City of Jamestown, City of Dunkirk, Village of Sherman, and all other municipalities who participated. The full Strategy can be found on the CCPEG website. # # # About CCPEG - The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) serves as the main convener of economic development partners and resources to advance key projects that achieve economic prosperity in Chautauqua County. It also serves as the catalyst and broker of resources for advancing economic prosperity efforts and is the central coordinating entity for the formation, retention, development, and attraction of quality jobs and advancements to the quality of life. It is an initiative of the Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC). For more information visit CHQPartnership.org.

Silver Creek Apartments Project will Remove Derelict School Building, Construct New Housing UnitsSILVER CREEK, NY: — At its February 27, 2024 meeting, the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) Board of Directors approved incentives to Silver Creek Apartments, LLC. The incentives, which include a Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement along with exemptions for both sales and mortgage tax payments, will assist the company with a multi-million dollar project to remove and redevelop the abandoned, former Silver Creek High School building at 60 Main St. in the village of Silver Creek and Town of Hanover. The building has sat vacant for more than 40 years and while several attempts to renovate it have been made during that time, those efforts were unsuccessful. In October 2023, representatives from Southern Tier Environments for Living, Inc. (STEL) and Park Grove Development, LLC appeared before the CCIDA board to provide initial details of the new Silver Creek Apartments project. Under those plans, the developers would demolish the long-abandoned, three-story school building (57,070 square feet) and replace it with a three-story, 50,574 square-foot apartment building. “The abandoned school really does send the wrong impression of what Silver Creek is,” said Allen Handelman, Vice President of Park Grove Development. “So this project goes a long way towards both providing affordable housing for members of the community, but also sending a message for the people that live in Silver Creek and people that visit there that this is a growing community that is poised to reach its full potential.” The demolition would include long-needed environmental remediation, including the removal and disposal of hazards including asbestos, PCBs, and lead paint. Once constructed, the new apartment building would provide 54 safe and affordable apartments for seniors age 62 and up, with 15 units set aside for supportive housing. Of those units, 51 would be one-bedroom apartments, and three would be two-bedroom apartments. Within the building there would also be a community room, fitness room, laundry facilities and an onsite property management office.  The facility would also include a large parking lot for up to 70 vehicles, along with a patio and shed. The project would provide 180 construction jobs and, once complete, 4.75 full-time equivalent jobs. The total cost would be $20,155,262, with the project also receiving $1 million in assistance from the village’s Restore NY award. Developers have also applied for additional financial support from New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) in the form of housing credits and are awaiting notification on whether or not they will receive those credits. “We are applying for funding from HCR and it’s a very competitive process. When it comes to scoring projects, the benefits that the IDA has the ability to provide will keep our development budget competitive and viable, when compared to other projects coming in from across the state. So a competitive PILOT from CCIDA is critical in terms of scoring and increasing our chances of receiving additional state funding,” said Ashley Switzer, STEL Project Manager. In December 2023, the CCIDA held a public hearing on the project and its related financial assistance, with Silver Creek Mayor Jeff Hornburg speaking in favor of the project. A letter of support was also provided by Louis Pelletter, Silver Creek Village Historian and newly elected Hanover Supervisor. No opposition to the project was expressed. “As we all know, the old Silver Creek High School has been abandoned and vacant for many decades. There have been several attempts over the years to renovate and preserve the building – including as recently as 2022, but it never worked out,” said Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and Chief Executive Officer of the CCIDA. “Now we’re looking at a project that involves the demolition of the old school building, and developing a brand new facility. I couldn’t be more thrilled about it. If we can make this work it will fulfill a need in the community, while removing an unsightly and dangerous influence in the community.” “The village is excited to see another effort involving the former school building moving forward,” said Mayor Hornburg. “Due to the limited availability of housing units in our community, many of our local seniors have had to leave the area in order to find adequate housing and services. This project will not only help to remove an eye-sore in the heart of our village but also finally offer additional modern housing for our older population.” “We are very happy to see STEL and Park Grove Development come back to the table with this new plan. That building has sat vacant for many years, in spite of efforts to do something with it. We never gave up hope on that site and now new development is looking more and more like a reality,” said Paul “PJ” Wendel, Chautauqua County Executive. “This is an effort I’ve championed for more than a decade. Even as previous efforts fell through, I never gave up on the potential of this project and have remained engaged in the efforts to bring it to fruition,” said State Senator George Borrello, who previously served as Chautauqua County Executive and also as a representative of Silver Creek and Hanover in the Chautauqua County Legislature. “The affordable senior housing that is planned represents the culmination of a long-held vision and is a huge ‘win’ for our seniors, the Silver Creek community and Chautauqua County. My thanks go out to all the public and private sector partners who played a role in this great outcome.” The CCIDA-approved PILOT agreement is for 30 years and will result in payments to the Village of Silver Creek, Town of Hanover, Silver Creek Central School District, and Chautauqua County totaling $347,486. Silver Creek Apartments will also save up to $497,261 in sales tax and an additional $191,574 in mortgage recording tax. Construction on the project is expected to begin later in 2024. About CCIDA – The CCIDA is an economic development organization authorized and empowered by the State of New York to make Chautauqua County a better place to work, live, and visit. They facilitate development by attracting new businesses, while promoting the retention and expansion of existing businesses. Assistance in the form of incentives – tax abatements, low interest loans, and bond financing – enhances the opportunities for job creation and retention by our businesses.  For more information visit ChooseCHQ.com.

We work to highlight a partner or community organization that is doing great things in our county. This month, we are highlighting Imagine Forestville with member and board president Aimee Rogers! 1. Tell us about Imagine Forestville.  In an effort to stop a big box store from tearing down a home in the Hamlet and build a store that would change the look of our community, we listened to the advice of Christiana Laminatus from Preservation Buffalo Niagara, to hold a meeting, and that began our adventure of trying to protect the Forestville that we loved. From that first meeting, we continue to meet monthly, and in the fall of 2018 we officially became Imagine Forestville, a not-for-profit dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of Forestville, with another goal added in 2023: to have fun! 2. What are some recent accomplishments achieved by this group?  The most recent accomplishment was hosting our first ever, First Day Hikes, January 1, 2024 at the Forestville Hiking Trail. We offered hot cocoa, s'mores, and had a fire to warm up at after they hiked the almost one mile trail. Over 80 people attended and everyone had a great time. Another recent accomplishment is being a recipient of a $20,000 grant from CCPEG to use for the betterment of our community. With those funds we are having design guidelines established for our Main Street, purchasing two chess/checkers tables and chairs to put up on Main Street, two bike racks, and hanging flower baskets. We are also having a new “Welcome to Forestville” sign made. In July 2022, we officially opened the first hiking trail in Forestville and it was the first hiking trail in all of the Town of Hanover. We are bringing back our “Welcome Baskets” to give to the new residents in the Hamlet. The baskets include gifts from our local businesses and a brochure with local information that will be helpful to our newest community members. We now have a Garden Team! In 2023, the team installed new planters in front of Evans Bank on Main Street. More planters are being planned at other business location in 2024. They are also making plans for gardens along Main Street. We just recently became a part of the “Adopt-A-Highway” program with the NYSDOT, and if you drive down Route 39 in either direction you will see two new signs that say “Adopt-A- Highway: Imagine Forestville Inc.” We hold monthly meetings, many with guest speakers. We also hold an annual appreciation dinner in October for the many organizations and individuals that helped us that year. In 2023 we began a “Community Recognition Award” where we publically honor, at our appreciation dinner, an individual who goes above and beyond for the community, either with present day efforts or their efforts in the past. Our first recipient was Richard Yeager, a long-time resident, mayor, serviceman, historian for our local Pioneer Cemetery, bike repairer for the youth, and who recently spearheaded the donation of a new POW flag to the Forestville High School to display next to the American Flag in the auditorium, just to name a few things he does for our community. We have been included in the placement of two historic markers located in Forestville by the Town of Hanover historian, Vince Martonis. One marker designates Tupper Brook and the other marks the home of Attorney Daniel Sherman, who represented the Seneca Nation in the 1800s. Every year we team up with the Fredonia Farmers Market and hold a farmers market on Main Street. We look forward to another farmers market this year. In 2024, it will be our 6th year participating in the BLOOM event organized through Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation (NCCF). We love this event because it has brought beauty to our Forestville residential community! Every year we see more and more homes participating! At our recent January 2024 meeting, Tom Halicki, Commander from our local American Legion, presented our group with a beautiful American Flag and stand to display it for our meetings. This idea of his to donate one came up when he noticed - while at our annual appreciation dinner in October - we had a very small and not well displayed flag. So he asked the American Legion membership if they would donate one to us. And they did! We are so grateful! 3. What are some exciting things you have planned for 2024? We are looking forward to the completion and acceptance of our historic district nomination to SHPO (State Historic Preservation Office) which we have been diligently working on. We have been approved by the NYS DOT to "Adopt a highway" on Route 39 that runs through the hamlet. With this acceptance we can work to not only clean up the roadway but it allows us to work on beautifying the Main Street which we plan on adding flowers, trees, etc. We received funding through NCCF for trail signage. The plant identification plaques are being made by Forestville Central High School principal Dan Grande, and Tom Woodward is preparing the posts. We are hoping to work with the youth to locate and identify the trees, shrubs and plants using the ecological study we had done. Installation of a 100 year old historic water trough, originally located on Park St. in Forestville, to be installed once again, not directly on Park St. but will hopefully be on the corner of Park and Main St. It will have a new purpose as a fountain! We will once again be participating in project “BLOOM”, a residential garden recognition event sponsored by NCCF. For the past five years, we have teamed up with the Fredonia Garden Club and we are excited to team up with them again in 2024. Looking forward to the return of the Farmers Market on Main Street for our 4th year! We are just in the beginning phase of planning a community-wide, outdoor event, to be held in July at the American Legion in Forestville that will include either the Cassadaga Community Band or the New Horizons Band! Working with the school to begin labeling the trees and shrubs on the hiking trail and of course our annual clean-up the trail days! The youth have been a big help with maintaining the trail. We are so blessed to be able to partner with them. We will be working along with the NYS Historic Business Preservation Registry to recognize businesses that have been in our community for over 50 years. The nominations will be presented by our Senator, George Borrello, as per SHPO instructions. With the Fall Festival Committee, we plan on celebrating the long awaited “Grand Unveiling” ceremony of the town clock restoration project that we contributed to, sometime in 2024. 4. Imagine Forestville relies on community volunteers. Can you talk about the importance of this grass-roots community-driven effort to improve Forestville? Nothing would be accomplished without the volunteers! We have been blessed with dedicated community members that love their hometown and would like it to remain as they remember it for future generations to enjoy. We are also blessed to have very knowledgeable, talented and creative individuals who love to help. Many of our members are lifelong residents, some are newer and some come from the surrounding areas such as Smith Mills, but we share the same passion. We love Forestville! Imagine Forestville would not be in existence without these dedicated members of all ages and walks of life and we could not have accomplish all that we have without them. 5. What is something most people don’t know about your organization? Many of our projects we are blessed to work on in conjunction with other groups, such as: The Fredonia Garden Club; the Forestville High School; the Fall Festival; the Town of Hanover Historical Dept.; The American Legion; 4-H, and the H.S. football team. Such blessings to work together in the community! We determined at our recent meeting that the one thing that most people don’t know about our organization, is where we meet! Sure we advertise, etc., but for most people when we mention the building, they have no idea where it is! Our organization began and continues to meet in a building that has stood in Forestville since 1850, and possibly earlier. It is located four feet from the roadway, yet, it remains a place that isn’t recognized or noticed. It is a hidden treasure in plain sight and one that has been our biggest asset in accomplishing our dreams and visions for Forestville since we began in 2018. Our “secret” meeting place is presently known as “The Forestville Meeting House”, aka “the lower hotel” or the “Wilcox Hotel”, named after a previous owner back in 1950-80s. This “mystery” hotel is not written up very much, or not at all, in the history books - not even the centennial books - yet it greeted guests arriving on the train located just across the street and based on the discovery of a diary from 1860s it was a place to come to for dances. It has survived, a mystery to many, but an inspirational place for us in Imagine Forestville! Just for the record, the address is 37 Center St., Forestville, NY. Now it is not a “secret” anymore!

$842 Million in New Investment, 574 New Jobs, 2,314 Retained Jobs Resulted from CCIDA AssistanceJAMESTOWN, N.Y.: — At the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency’s (CCIDA) meeting on January 23, 2024, Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and Chief Executive Officer of the CCIDA, discussed the economic development team’s top 10 accomplishments in 2023, as well as their top 10 goals for 2024. Geise proclaimed that 2023’s numbers were unprecedented in the history of the CCIDA’s 50+ year existence, even topping 2022’s $500+ million in activities. Geise’s comments were made during the presentation of the CCIDA’s just-published 2023 Annual Report. Geise explained that during 2023, the CCIDA Board approved and/or assisted 34 projects, which will result in a total investment in Chautauqua County of $842 million, create 574 permanent jobs, retain 2,314 jobs, and has and/or will create hundreds of construction jobs. These activities included, but are not limited to, the approval of loans for businesses, incentives for development projects, and the procurement of grants. Some of the key accomplishments of 2023 include: $452 million Cummins Engine Internal Expansion; $250 million Wells Ice Cream Plant Expansion; Weber Knapp Purchase by Local Ownership ($21.4 million); Purchase and Development of lithium-ion Battery Manufacturer Electrovaya ($42.5 million); acquisition of the Conagra/CCIDA Facility in Dunkirk by Refresco to create a Northeastern US Distribution Center ($13 million); creation of a Brownfield Remediation Revolving Loan Fund ($720,000); Broadband Expansion to unserved and underserved communities (approximately a $60 million project); adoption of recommendations brought forward by the New York State Authorities Budget Office (ABO); creating a $16 million Shovel-Ready Industrial Site in Ripley; continuing the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Small Business Marketing Assistance Program ($650,000+); and development of a Talent Attraction/Retention Marketing Campaign. Geise explained that the CCIDA Annual Report focuses on what he considers to be the top 10 accomplishments resulting from activities undertaken by the CCIDA/County Economic Development Team in 2023, as well as the top 10 aspirations for 2024. In addition to the previously-mentioned projects approved by the CCIDA, Geise also discussed ongoing activities of the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth, which helped catalyze almost $30 million in resources being secured for high-priority economic development initiatives throughout the County; provided assistance in the form of marketing grants to 80 businesses throughout Chautauqua County from the County’s ARPA allocation and Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation funding (more than $600,000); and continued collaboration with the Cities of Jamestown and Dunkirk, including assistance with the City of Dunkirk’s $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) application (to name a few). In terms of aspirations for 2024, Geise discussed his desire to continue to concentrate on reactivating key properties located throughout the County, i.e., Furniture Mart, Silver Creek School, Lakeshore Hospital, Truck-Lite; continue to acquire large parcels of land for the expansion of shovel-ready site offerings; continue to work with the City of Dunkirk, New York State, and NRG in getting the mothballed NRG facility back into productive use; continue to work with ImmunityBio in getting the Dunkirk facility fully operational; roll out the nearly-completed County Marketing and Branding Strategy (including new websites) to help address population decline and supply businesses with much-needed labor; and continue to be proactive in terms of business attraction and expansion (to name a few). “2023 was unprecedented in terms of the breadth and size of projects assisted by the CCIDA, as well as job retention and creation,” explained Geise. “It is my opinion that our economic development team, which includes the County Department of Planning & Development, the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth, and community partners, is unparalleled across the state. Once again, the collective team was able to knock it out of the park, which is due to the unwavering dedication of an extremely capable staff, volunteer board members, community stakeholders, and volunteers. I vow that we will continue to be aggressive and intentional as we advance the ball as it relates to economic development, thereby creating and retaining good jobs for families throughout the County.” Gary Henry, Chairman of the CCIDA Board of Directors, echoed Geise’s sentiments when he said, “Congratulations to the entire economic development team for all of your dedication and hard work. We have a great relationship with the business community, the municipalities, and the County, and this has proven to be true in the substantial impact that we continue to make throughout the County year after year. A special thanks to the volunteer CCIDA Board and Loan Committee, as well as the staff and every entity involved with economic development in Chautauqua County for making 2023 a great year.” Chautauqua County Executive Paul “PJ” Wendel said, “I am thrilled with the work being undertaken by the CCIDA and the extended economic development team, which includes the Partnership for Economic Growth and the County Department of Planning & Development. I commend Mark Geise and the County/CCIDA team for their laser focus on Chautauqua County’s upward trajectory.  As I’ve said many times since the pandemic hit us, our comeback will be greater than our setback, and the CCIDA’s 2023 tally of accomplishments has proven this sentiment to be true.” The CCIDA/CREDC 2023 Year-end Report & 2024 Work Plan can be found on the CCIDA website: CCIDA.com. About CCIDA – The CCIDA is an economic development organization authorized and empowered by the State of New York to make Chautauqua County a better place to work, live, and visit. It facilitates development by attracting new businesses, while promoting the retention and expansion of existing businesses. Assistance in the form of incentives – tax abatements, low interest loans, and bond financing – enhances the opportunities for job creation and retention by our businesses.  For more information visit www.ccida.com.

Wicked Warren’s to feature Craft Brewing, Restaurant, Banquet Facility and MoreJAMESTOWN, NY: — At its January 23, 2024 meeting, the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) Board of Directors approved a $950,000 low-interest loan to Wicked Jimmy’s LLC, to support the purchase of property at 115-121 West 3rd Street in Jamestown, the site of the former Jamestown Brewing Company. If the project comes to fruition, Wicked Jimmy’s will be the LLC operating the business as Wicked Warren’s. It will be operated by Robert Roth, who is also majority owner of the initial Wicked Warren’s, already in operation in Warren, Pa. Roth will serve as president of the Jamestown operation and has 27 years of experience running his own business. In addition, the proposed Jamestown business will include a vice president and head brewer with over 15 years of brewing experience, along with a front of house and banquet manager with 12 years of experience, both of whom currently work at the Wicked Warren’s location in Pennsylvania. “We’ve done considerable planning and are looking forward to getting this business up and running as soon as possible,” Roth said. “Once open and operational, Wicked Jimmy’s will brew craft beer, serve food, and host corporate meetings and ball room events. It will also provide live music, feature a ‘Speak Easy Room,’ and in the future open a roof top bar. Our goal is to make 119 West 3rd St, Jamestown’s premier entertainment destination.” “The property is at a prime location for this type of operation, in close proximity to the Comedy Center, Northwest Arena, and other downtown Jamestown attractions. The former Jamestown Brewing Company, which was located in the facility, steadily grew its customer base until the onset of the COVID pandemic. We are confident that Wicked Warren’s will do the same, based on what they’re doing in Warren, and bring new life to Downtown Jamestown,” said Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and Chief Executive Officer of the CCIDA. “We’re excited to see new life come into this property after being vacant for nearly four years,” said Jamestown Mayor Kimberly Ecklund. “Having a craft brewery, restaurant, and banquet facility located in the core of downtown Jamestown will help to boost both visitor and local foot traffic, while also providing additional job opportunities for our local residents.” “It’s great to see the further expansion our beverage and service industry in Chautauqua County, especially by a team with a proven track record. Once open, the Wicked Warren’s Jamestown location will help to encourage both area residents and out of town visitors to come to the downtown,” said Chautauqua County Executive Paul “PJ” Wendel. The total estimated cost of the project would be $2.35 million and would result in the creation of 40 jobs. Terms of the CCIDA loan are $950,000 at 4.00% for 20 years, and is contingent on the company’s ability to secure additional funding for the project. The opening date is planned for March 2024. About CCIDA – The CCIDA is an economic development organization authorized and empowered by the State of New York to make Chautauqua County a better place to work, live, and visit. They facilitate development by attracting new businesses, while promoting the retention and expansion of existing businesses. Assistance in the form of incentives – tax abatements, low interest loans, and bond financing – enhances the opportunities for job creation and retention by our businesses.  For more information visit www.CCIDA.com.

Initiative funds 26 projects totaling $459,000, helps to leverage over $28.2 million in additional supportJAMESTOWN – The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) had another successful year of assisting with and enhancing collaborative economic development initiatives across Chautauqua County. On Tuesday, Jan. 23, Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and Chief Executive Officer of the Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC), and Nate Aldrich, Economic Development Coordinator, provided an overview of CCPEG’s work and accomplishments in 2023 during the monthly CREDC Board of Directors meeting. CREDC, an affiliate of the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA), oversees the CCPEG initiative. Last year, CCPEG focused on advancing 26 priority projects in alignment with the county’s Economic Development Strategy, providing $459,000 in financial assistance and technical assistance to support partner-led projects and initiatives that support economic revitalization and long-term strategic investment throughout the county. In addition, CCPEG was awarded 11 grants totaling over $1.18 million to assist with funding the targeted projects, and also helped to leverage an additional $28,251,000 on behalf of its partners, including assisting the City of Dunkirk with being awarded $10 million from the New York State Downtown Revitalization Initiative. In addition, CCPEG worked in collaboration with CCIDA to roll out the nearly-completed talent attraction and retention marketing campaign (including new websites), which will help address population decline and supply businesses with much-needed labor. That campaign is expected to launch within the next few months. CCPEG also continued to be proactive in terms of business attraction and expansion. When it comes to working with stakeholders, CCPEG held 40 meetings during the year, including more than 20 meetings with its various work groups focusing on Business Development, Placemaking, Workforce Development, Housing Development, and Infrastructure. In all, a total of 65 different partners were engaged during the year, coming from every corner of Chautauqua County. “Once again CREDC, as the umbrella organization for CCPEG, was successful in obtaining and granting millions of dollars in economic development resources to advance a wide variety of priority economic development projects across its five priority Work Groups. I am really proud of the work we are doing in assisting our partners, including municipalities, in undertaking transformative and meaningful projects,” said Geise, who is also a founder of CCPEG and a Co-Chair of the Advisory Board. “It’s been exciting to see CCPEG grow and continue to gain momentum during 2023 – especially in our ability to leverage state, federal, and philanthropic resources. The wide variety of projects and initiatives we’ve assisted with during the year illustrates the positive impact the partnership has had across Chautauqua County and we look forward to continuing that success in 2024,” said Nathan Aldrich, Chautauqua County Economic Development Coordinator and CCPEG Manager.   Staff from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, who awarded CCPEG a 3-year grant totaling more than $1,000,000 to advance the County’s inclusive economic development strategy, were in attendance during Tuesday’s presentation.   “We thank all of our supporters, especially the Wilson Foundation, for believing in our team and our model,” said Aldrich. “Our continued success in leveraging funding to implement this strategy and realize our full economic development potential depends on continuing these partnerships, and developing the resources and capacity to effectively advance the wide-variety of projects we’ve been able to spearhead since launching the Partnership.” The CCIDA/CREDC 2023 Year-end Report & 2024 Work Plan can be found on the CCIDA website: CCIDA.com. About CCPEG - The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) serves as the main convener of economic development partners and resources to advance key projects that achieve economic prosperity in Chautauqua County. It also serves as the catalyst and broker of resources for advancing economic prosperity efforts and is the central coordinating entity for the formation, retention, development, and attraction of quality jobs and advancements to the quality of life. It is an initiative of the Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC). For more information, please visit CHQPartnership.org.

CCPEG founder, advisory board co-chair recognized for economic development successes in chautauqua countyMAYVILLE, NY - Mark Geise, Chautauqua County’s Deputy County Executive for Economic Development, County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) CEO, and founder and advisory board co-chair of the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth, has been named to the 2024 edition of Buffalo Business First’s prestigious “Power 250” listing, published January 10, 2024. The “Power 250” is an annual list of the 250 people whom, after three months of research, reporting, and debate, the full news staff at Business First regards as the most influential and powerful people in the eight counties (Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming) that make up Western New York. Geise was first appointed in his role of Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and CCIDA CEO in March 2018. Since then, he’s spearheaded the effort to grow and expand business opportunities in Chautauqua County, including overseeing the agency’s efforts to help employers during COVID 19. In 2023 under Geise’s leadership, the CCIDA saw unprecedented economic development activity, assisting with over $840 million in capital investment in the county. Geise has also played a pivotal role in the creation and subsequent oversight of CCPEG, an initiative of CCIDA’s component organization, Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC). In 2023, CCEPG was successful in obtaining and granting millions of dollars in economic development resources to advance 47 different public-private economic development projects across Chautauqua County. Also in 2023, the Partnership provided nearly $460,000 in direct grant funding to 26 different projects. Geise also founded the Chautauqua County Land Bank Corporation, which has been serving the community for over 10 years. “It’s wonderful to see Mark being recognized for his hard work in growing and building our economy here in Chautauqua County. We’ve known for years just how dedicated and committed Mark is to helping make the county a better place to live, work, and conduct business, but it’s truly gratifying to have his work being recognized on a regional level and seeing his name among some of the most notable business leaders from across the Western New York Region,” said Chautauqua County Executive Paul “PJ” Wendel. “Mark has been a great asset for Chautauqua County and its economic development agencies,” said CCIDA and CREDC Board President Gary Henry. “Joining the CCIDA board at the same time Mark was appointed CEO has given me a first-hand look at the progress he’s made on the economic development front here in Chautauqua County. I am deeply impressed with his vision and tireless commitment to helping businesses succeed in our county, in spite of the numerous challenges they face, which are totally out of the control of our local leaders.” “I am honored and humbled to receive this recognition; however, this certainly wouldn’t be possible without the dedicated commitment of our entire CCIDA and county development team, including, but certainly not limited to, County Executive Wendel; Rich Dixon, CCIDA CFO; and Nate Aldrich, County Economic Development Coordinator and CCPEG Manager,” Geise said. “While Chautauqua County has made notable progress on the economic development front for several years, 2023 was unprecedented. That being said, I believe the best is yet to come.” Geise currently lives in Fredonia with his wife Katie Geise, Executive Director of the Chautauqua County Workforce Investment Board. They have three grown children; Mark, Aidan, and Keely. According to Buffalo Business First, the 2024 Power 250 List was released in January as a preview of the people on the list alphabetically and unranked. Look for the complete ranking in early March, along with more information describing the power that each person holds. About CCPEG - The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) serves as the main convener of economic development partners and resources to advance key projects that achieve economic prosperity in Chautauqua County. It also serves as the catalyst and broker of resources for advancing economic prosperity efforts and is the central coordinating entity for the formation, retention, development, and attraction of quality jobs and advancements to the quality of life. It is an initiative of the Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC). For more information, please visit CHQPartnership.org.

Mark Geise Recognized for Economic Development Successes in Chautauqua CountyMAYVILLE, NY:– Mark Geise, Chautauqua County’s Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) CEO, has been named to the 2024 edition of Buffalo Business First’s prestigious “Power 250” listing, published January 10, 2024. The “Power 250” is an annual list of the 250 people whom, after three months of research, reporting, and debate, the full news staff at Business First regards as the most influential and powerful people in the eight counties (Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming) that make up Western New York. Geise was first appointed in his role of Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and CCIDA CEO in March 2018. Since then, he’s spearheaded the effort to grow and expand business opportunities in Chautauqua County, including overseeing the agency’s efforts to help employers during COVID 19. In 2023 under Geise’s leadership, the CCIDA saw unprecedented economic development activity, assisting with over $840 million in capital investment in the county. Geise has also played a pivotal role in the creation and subsequent oversight of the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG), an initiative of CCIDA’s component organization, Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC). In 2023, CCEPG was successful in obtaining and granting millions of dollars in economic development resources to advance 47 different public-private economic development projects across Chautauqua County. Also in 2023, the Partnership provided nearly $460,000 in direct grant funding to 26 different projects. Geise also founded the Chautauqua County Land Bank Corporation, which has been serving the community for over 10 years. “It’s wonderful to see Mark being recognized for his hard work in growing and building our economy here in Chautauqua County. We’ve known for years just how dedicated and committed Mark is to helping make the county a better place to live, work, and conduct business, but it’s truly gratifying to have his work being recognized on a regional level and seeing his name among some of the most notable business leaders from across the Western New York Region,” said Chautauqua County Executive Paul “PJ” Wendel. “Mark has been a great asset for Chautauqua County and its economic development agencies,” said CCIDA and CREDC Board President Gary Henry. “Joining the CCIDA board at the same time Mark was appointed CEO has given me a first-hand look at the progress he’s made on the economic development front here in Chautauqua County. I am deeply impressed with his vision and tireless commitment to helping businesses succeed in our county, in spite of the numerous challenges they face, which are totally out of the control of our local leaders.” “I am honored and humbled to receive this recognition; however, this certainly wouldn’t be possible without the dedicated commitment of our entire CCIDA and county development team, including, but certainly not limited to, County Executive Wendel; Rich Dixon, CCIDA CFO; and Nate Aldrich, County Economic Development Coordinator and CCPEG Manager,” Geise said. “While Chautauqua County has made notable progress on the economic development front for several years, 2023 was unprecedented. That being said, I believe the best is yet to come.” Geise currently lives in Fredonia with his wife Katie Geise, Executive Director of the Chautauqua County Workforce Investment Board. They have three grown children; Mark, Aidan, and Keely. According to Buffalo Business First, the 2024 Power 250 List was released in January as a preview of the people on the list alphabetically and unranked. Look for the complete ranking in early March, along with more information describing the power that each person holds. About CCIDA – The CCIDA is an economic development organization authorized and empowered by the State of New York to make Chautauqua County a better place to work, live, and visit. It facilitates development by attracting new businesses, while promoting the retention and expansion of existing businesses. Assistance in the form of incentives – tax abatements, low interest loans, and bond financing – enhances the opportunities for job creation and retention by our businesses.  For more information visit www.ccida.com.

Grants totaling $242,000 will support 14 development projects across chautauqua countyJAMESOTWN, NY - The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) has announced the recipients of its 2024 round of grant funding, used to support economic development projects that focus on revitalization and long-term strategic investment throughout Chautauqua County, consistent with the county’s economic development strategic plan. This year, 14 different projects across the county will receive a total $242,000 in grant support from CCPEG. The total value of all 14 projects is estimated to be $1.88 million. Projects receiving funding come from across Chautauqua County, including Bemus Point, Dunkirk, Findley Lake, Jamestown, and Lakewood. The applicant receiving the largest amount of CCPEG grant funding was the Village of Lakewood, which was awarded $30,000 for the Hartley Park Waterfront Revitalization & Improvement Project. Four other projects each received $25,000, including: Arrowhead Redevelopment Project (Chautauqua Opportunities), Chautauqua County Fair Conceptual Planning and Enhancement Project (Chautauqua County Ag & Fair Association), Dream It Do It Advance Manufacturing Program (Dream It Do It WNY), and Reg Lenna Center for the Arts’ Theater Seats & Auditorium Improvement project.  “We were very happy to see a large number of applicants apply for funding,” said Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development. “Over the past two years, we’ve supported numerous high priority projects designed to spur economic development, and that trend will continue this year.” Funding from the projects comes from a variety of sources, including Chautauqua County ARPA funding and funding from a multi-year grant from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. The next round of CCPEG Support for Economic Development Projects will open in the fall of 2024.  A total of 19 applications seeking $506,000 in total grant support from CCPEG were submitted by the deadline at the end of October. Grant awards typically range between $10,000 and $20,000, but requests of up to $50,000 were be considered. Projects were selected based on a number of criteria including, readiness, economic impact, leverage potential, geographic distribution, alignment with the economic development strategic plan, and based on input from CCPEG’s public-private Advisory Board. A complete list of all projects is provided below. About CCPEG - The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) serves as the main convener of economic development partners and resources to advance key projects that achieve economic prosperity in Chautauqua County. It also serves as the catalyst and broker of resources for advancing economic prosperity efforts and is the central coordinating entity for the formation, retention, development, and attraction of quality jobs and advancements to the quality of life. It is an initiative of the Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC). For more information, please visit CHQPartnership.org.

Redevelopment Effort Will Retain over 400 Jobs and Create over 200 New Jobs for the Production of Ice Cream and Frozen Novelty ProductsDUNKIRK, NY: — At its December 19, 2023 meeting, the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) Board of Directors approved incentives to Wells Enterprises, Inc.The incentives, which include a Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement and Sales Tax Exemption, will assist the company with a multi-million renovation project of its existing facility in Dunkirk. In August 2023, Wells Enterprises announced plans for the expansion of its Dunkirk manufacturing facility, located at 1 Ice Cream Dr. The facility plays an important role in the company’s expansion plans for the company’s national manufacturing network of its Blue Bunny, Halo Top, Bomb Pop, and Blue Ribbon Classics brands. The expansion is anticipated to more than double the facility’s current production output and help support their continued plans for growth in novelty and packaged ice cream, while enabling future innovation. It will result in the retention of over 400 jobs and, once completed, add over 200 jobs. The Ferrero Group recently acquired Wells Enterprises, its operations, and its ice cream brands. The two family-owned businesses have a strong history of success. Ferrero, which was founded in 1946, has grown to become a global leader in sweet-packaged foods, including confectionary, ice cream, biscuits, and snacks. Wells has become the world’s largest family owned and managed ice cream company since it was founded in 1913 as a dairy delivery business. “We are extremely excited to build on the strength of our team in Dunkirk and continue to work with the community to grow and expand our operations here. The investment in Dunkirk illustrates our passion to provide high-quality premium ice cream products that bring joy to consumers around the world. The planned expansion also reinforces our dedication to our team, consumers, and the community as a critical part of the long-term future of our company,” said Liam Killeen, CEO of Wells Enterprises. The CCIDA-approved PILOT is for 10 years and will result in payments to the affected taxing jurisdictions (City of Dunkirk, Dunkirk School District, and Chautauqua County) totaling $2,219,067, with Wells Enterprises saving $450,900 in property tax payments during that time period. The sales tax exemption will total $11.5 million. Based on a CCIDA Cost Benefit Analysis, the total local economic benefit of the project is $490.8 million. “This is a game changer for the County and Region, and I am proud that the CCIDA was able to assist Wells Enterprises in bringing this exciting project to fruition. They have been a great partner, and I am grateful that they recognize the quality of the workforce in Dunkirk and chose to make their investment here in our community versus elsewhere,” said Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and Chief Executive Officer of the CCIDA. “Our team has worked diligently with the Wells team and the City of Dunkirk over the past several years, which has culminated in this substantial project; the benefits are going to be widespread.” “We are thrilled to witness Wells’ enduring dedication to Chautauqua County and the City of Dunkirk. The substantial investment made by this global company in our community speaks volumes about the exceptional caliber of our local workforce,” said Paul “PJ” Wendel, Chautauqua County Executive. “Additionally, I would like to express my gratitude to the CCIDA, led by Mark Geise, for their tireless efforts in bringing this project to fruition.” “The City of Dunkirk is excited for Wells Enterprises 21st Century rebuild and expansion. We are pleased for the hundreds of hard-working employees now at Wells – and the hundreds to be added with the planned expansion – who can plan and build on a generation’s worth of good-paying jobs. These jobs will help populate our schools, create additional value in our city, and allow the employees and their families to live, work, and thrive in our community,” said Willie Rosas, Mayor of Dunkirk. In addition to the assistance provided by CCIDA, New York State is also supporting the project with up to $10 million in Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits and a $6 million grant from Empire State Development in exchange for job creation and capital investment commitments. “Together we have changed the story in Dunkirk from a major loss to a huge win. The construction of Wells’ new state-of-the art ice cream plant will add hundreds of jobs — it’s a sweet victory for the community, and ESD is proud to have played a role in negotiating. Whether it is ice cream, yogurt, or cereal, the food manufacturing industry is an important ingredient for our economy. The new high tech production facility in Dunkirk is a taste of the job growth and business opportunity that New York has experienced under Governor Kathy Hochul’s leadership,” said Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight in August. “We are extremely grateful for the partnerships with Empire State Development, Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency, and the City of Dunkirk as their support remains critical to take us over the finish line on this incredibly exciting project,” said Mark Meyer, COO of Wells Enterprises. The project is estimated to begin in the first quarter of 2024. For additional information about the Ferrero Group, please visit: Ferrero.com. For additional information about Wells, please visit: WellsEnterprisesInc.com. About Wells Enterprises – Wells Enterprises, Inc. is the largest privately held ice cream manufacturer in the United States. Founded in 1913 by Fred H. Wells and run by the Wells family for generations, the company is an independent operating company of the Ferrero Group, one of the global leaders in sweet, packaged foods. Wells produces more than 200 million gallons of ice cream per year and distributes products in all 50 states. Wells manufactures its signature brand Blue Bunny®, lower-calorie Halo Top®, the iconic Bomb Pop®, and Blue Ribbon Classics®. Wells employs nearly 4,000 ice cream aficionados across the country. The company is headquartered in Le Mars, Iowa, where Wells has made Le Mars the “Ice Cream Capital of the World” as the largest manufacturer of ice cream in one location. Wells operates two manufacturing plants in Le Mars, a manufacturing plant in Dunkirk, New York, and a manufacturing facility in Henderson, Nevada. Learn more at wellsenterprisesinc.com.  About CCIDA – The CCIDA is an economic development organization authorized and empowered by the State of New York to make Chautauqua County a better place to work, live, and visit. They facilitate development by attracting new businesses, while promoting the retention and expansion of existing businesses. Assistance in the form of incentives – tax abatements, low interest loans, and bond financing – enhances the opportunities for job creation and retention by our businesses. For more information visit www.ccida.com.

Bailey Manufacturing Receives $130,000 Loan to Assist with Construction of New WarehouseFORESTVILLE, NY: — At its December 19, 2023 meeting, the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) Board of Directors approved a $130,000 loan to Bailey Manufacturing Co., LLC to support the construction of a new warehouse building near its existing facility, located at 10987 Bennett State Rd., Forestville. Bailey Manufacturing is a minority-owned manufacturer, providing metal stamping, machining, welding, and assembly services. A majority of its revenues are derived from supplying auto parts that eventually become components of the major auto manufacturers, serving primarily the United States, Mexico, China, and South Africa. The approved loan will be utilized to erect a new, 7,000 square-foot pre-fabricated warehouse building adjacent to the existing manufacturing operation. The warehouse is needed due to business growth, with the existing plant no longer able to house all of the raw materials, finished goods, and manufacturing operations. Bailey Manufacturing also currently leases two out-of-town warehouses, creating logistical challenges for the manufacturer. Once complete, the project will help to retain 65 existing, permanent jobs and also create two additional jobs. Currently, the company also has 19 temporary positions. “The new warehouse facility is a much-needed addition to our operation,” said Bailey Manufacturing President and CEO John Hines. “Not only will it help to significantly improve efficiencies, but will also make our operation more cost-effective over time.”  The CCIDA has worked extensively with Bailey Manufacturing over many years. In 2017, the CCIDA Board of Director’s approved a $500,000 AL Tech Loan for the acquisition of the remaining 49% ownership of Bailey Manufacturing from John Hines’ partner, Megatech Corporation. In 2021, the CCIDA provided Bailey Manufacturing with CARES Act Funding from the Economic Development Administration when the company was significantly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic as a non-essential employer, along with lingering auto industry supply shortages. “It is our pleasure to assist John with financing to complete the construction of the new warehouse, ensuring the company will remain in operation in Forestville for years to come, while also providing dozens of jobs in the north county,” said Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and Chief Executive Officer of the CCIDA. “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and supporting Bailey Manufacturing not only benefits the County and region, but also aligns with the CCIDA’s mission.” The terms of the CCIDA real estate loan is $130,000 at 4.00% for 10 years. About Bailey Manufacturing Company, LLC – Bailey Manufacturing Co., LLC is located at 10987 Bennett State Road in Forestville, NY. Their extensive experience lies in the fabrication and engineering development of steel, aluminum, welded and assembled components. Bailey Manufacturing Company has been supplying product to the automotive industry for over 70 years and has established itself as a competitive, reliable, and quality-conscious organization. John Hines is President and CEO of the company, and has managed day-to-day operations for over 20 years. About CCIDA – The CCIDA is an economic development organization authorized and empowered by the State of New York to make Chautauqua County a better place to work, live, and visit. They facilitate development by attracting new businesses, while promoting the retention and expansion of existing businesses. Assistance in the form of incentives – tax abatements, low interest loans, and bond financing – enhances the opportunities for job creation and retention by our businesses.  For more information visit www.ccida.com.

CCIDA Announces Appointment of Amy Harding to Board of DirectorsJAMESTOWN, NY: — The County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) is pleased to announce the addition of Amy Harding to the CCIDA Board of Directors, following her approved appointment by the Chautauqua County Legislature at its October 2023 voting session. In addition to being appointed to the CCIDA Board of Directors, Harding was also appointed to the boards for the Chautauqua Regional Economic Development Corporation (CREDC) and the Chautauqua County Capital Resource Corporation (CRC). Harding’s professional background is in banking and finance. She brings more than 30 years of banking experience to the CCIDA, with expertise in lending and development. Harding has been employed at Lake Shore Savings Bank since 1997, and has held several positions including teller, personal banker, mortgage specialist, assistant manager, and manager. She is currently serving as Vice President and Regional Sales Manager for the bank. Harding has served on the Allocations Committee for the United Way since 2014, and has also served on the board of the Chautauqua Safety Village for the past seven years where she serves as Treasurer.  She is also an active member with the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce and continues her involvement in community and non-profit events. Harding studied Business Administration at Jamestown Community College, and has attended numerous courses and seminars in banking and management from the Center of Financial Training. She is a life-long Chautauqua County resident and currently lives in Sherman.

Production at Original Crunch Roll Factory to see significant increase with purchase of new equipment, helping it expand into new marketsWESTFIELD, NY: — At its Nov. 28, 2023 meeting, the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) Board of Directors approved a $400,000 loan to support the purchase and installation of new equipment for Original Crunch Roll Factory, LLC (Crunch Factory®), located at 75 Bourne St., Westfield. The total cost of the new investment is $1.4 million. Once installed and in use, the new equipment will significantly increase production for the Crunch Factory operation, allowing it to sell its products in new markets. The new equipment will result in the retention of 38 jobs at the plant, and creation of eight additional jobs, bringing the new employment total to 46. Crunch Factory has been operating in Westfield since 2016 as a food processor, specializing in making its signature “Crunch Roll™” snack food and appetizers that are sold frozen and then heated when ready to eat. It opened under the Start-up NY program with assistance from the CCIDA through its AL Tech Revolving Loan and Chautauqua Revolving Loan funds, along with a 10-year tax lease/PILOT agreement. At the time, the total cost to acquire the property, make renovations, and purchase the needed equipment was $1.8 million. Since opening, Crunch Factory has sold its product line to grocery stores, restaurants, hotels, arenas, gaming operations, colleges, amusement parks, military commissaries, and convenient stores. Product offerings include Buffalo Style Chicken, Mac ‘N Cheese, Banana Pepper, Steak & Cheese, Pepperoni Pizza, Breakfast Scrambled Egg with Sausage, and Corned Beef Reuben. Crunch Factory is now ready to make a major capital equipment purchase of a new crunch roll production machine, which will provide the capacity to increase output and reduce waste. It will also enable the company to begin producing a new product line of “Mini-Crunch Rolls.” “This new piece of machinery is a game changer for our operation in Westfield,” explained Crunch Factory owner Zachary Bohn. “We’ve been selling our product as fast as we make them. With this new investment, we’ll significantly increase our production output, helping us to meet demand from our buyers and also expand into other markets including grocery and retail chains that require a larger inventory before carrying our products. We will also be able to make Mini-Crunch Rolls and our research has shown us there is a market demand for these smaller-sized snacks.” “Attracting Crunch Factory’s food production facility to Westfield, and continuing to support them, has become a great food production success story for Chautauqua County. Their desire to expand operations, while also working with local suppliers, illustrates why it was important for the county to assist Crunch Factory when it first opened seven years ago and why we are offering additional assistance today,” said Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and Chief Executive Officer of the CCIDA. “We are excited about this further expansion of our food processing industry in Chautauqua County, especially by a team with a proven track record. It’s great to see food made right here being sold in markets across the rest of the country and this latest investment by Crunch Factory is a testament that our county continues to be a great place to start and grow your business,” said Paul “PJ” Wendel, Chautauqua County Executive. “This is fantastic news for Westfield and the greater Westfield area,” said Dennis Lutes, Village of Westfield Mayor. “Crunch Factory’s latest investment will help to not only retain 38 jobs in our community but also build on that number in the coming months.” “This is yet another great story for Westfield and our residents,” added Martha Bills, Town of Westfield Supervisor. “Having a business stay committed to our community is a huge lift for the local and regional economy and we look forward to seeing the commitment pay dividends for years to come.” Terms of the CCIDA loans are $175,000 for Total Working Capital at 4.00% for five years, and $225,000 for Machinery and Equipment at 4.00% for seven years. For more information about Crunch Factory and its products, visit CrunchFactory.com. About Original Crunch Roll Factory, LLC – Original Crunch Roll Factory, LLC (Crunch Factory®) offers restaurants and food distributors nationwide a unique appetizer and snack. Consumers may also find the products at supermarkets and convenience stores. Using only the highest quality ingredients in all of their products, Crunch Factory currently offers seven varieties of Crunch Rolls. Each roll is wrapped in a crispy crunchy shell, providing its unique crunch. Crunch Factory invites you to “Be bold about your flavors, be bold about what you eat. Choose Crunch Factory. Be Bold.”  For more information visit CrunchFactory.com. About CCIDA – The CCIDA is an economic development organization authorized and empowered by the State of New York to make Chautauqua County a better place to work, live, and visit. They facilitate development by attracting new businesses, while promoting the retention and expansion of existing businesses. Assistance in the form of incentives – tax abatements, low interest loans, and bond financing – enhances the opportunities for job creation and retention by our businesses.  For more information visit www.CCIDA.com.

New partnership for economic growth video showcases development possibilities of chadakoin river The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) has released a new video providing a virtual tour of the upper Chadakoin River, showcasing its beauty and development possibilities. “The Chadakoin River: Chautauqua County’s Hidden Gem” is a flyover-style video that takes viewers on a winding, scenic tour of the Chadakoin, from its start at the outlet of Chautauqua Lake down to the Warner Dam, just east of the Chadakoin River Basin. It also offers several ideas for future investment opportunities located along the river, which could help to enhance the overall Chadakoin experience for both residents and visitors alike.  “We created this video to help raise awareness about the endless potential the Chadakoin has to offer by highlighting its natural beauty, while also presenting a wide variety of development possibilities in the upper portion of the river,” said Kristy Kathman, CCPEG Economic Development Specialist.  According to Kathman, CCPEG is working with its Jamestown-area partners to help “activate the Chadakoin” and bring new life to the river and surrounding area. The goal is to enhance access, create business opportunities, and establish the Chadakoin as a recreational destination. The video will be used by key stakeholders to help promote the Chadakoin River as a viable investment option within the city of Jamestown.  “We put together this video to showcase some of the potential projects the upper river has to offer and introduce these ideas with an audience of prospective local, regional, and even national investors and developers,” Kathman explained.  Partners for the Chadakoin activation effort include CCPEG, County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency, City of Jamestown, Gebbie Foundation, Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy, Chautauqua County, Jamestown Board of Public Utilities, Jamestown Renaissance Corporation, and Roger Tory Peterson Institute.  A link to the video can be found here! About CCPEG – The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth serves as the main convener of economic development partners and resources to advance key projects that achieve economic prosperity in Chautauqua County. It also serves as the catalyst and broker of resources for advancing economic prosperity efforts and is the central coordinating entity for the formation, retention, development, and attraction of quality jobs and advancements to the quality of life. For more information, please visit CHQPartnership.org.

In October, the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce awarded the Partnership the 2023 Economic Development Award during the Annual Chamber Awards Dinner at the Williams Center in Fredonia. This is a huge accomplishment for any organization, and considering CCPEG has only been in existence for approximately five years, it is especially rewarding for our team. "There is no doubt that we have accomplished a great deal in a short amount of time. To our dozens of partners and stakeholders, we accepted this award on behalf of all of you, as you have been so very generous with your knowledge, time, and resources. That being the case, we wanted to officially thank you all for everything you have done and hope you will continue supporting us as we continue to mature and make an even greater impact on the communities we serve." - Mark Geise, CCIDA/CREDC CEO and CCPEG Advisory Board Co-Chair

Empire State Development Grant Moves Shovel-Ready Site Project ForwardRIPLEY, NY: — A key development project along the I-90 corridor in Chautauqua County is one step closer to becoming a reality after being awarded a $5.25 million grant from Empire State Development (ESD). On Thursday, Nov. 2, Governor Kathy Hochul announced a grant award for the Interstate 90 site in the Town of Ripley as part of phase two of the state’s Focused Attraction of Shovel-Ready Tracts New York grant program. The Ripley site was one of six sites selected to receive a share of the nearly $90 million in funding. The grant is being awarded to County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA), which applied for the funding to keep progress on the Ripley Interstate 90 shovel-ready site moving forward. The state funding will allow for infrastructure improvements, including electric, gas, water, and sewer extensions, as well as creation of an access road. The project, which aims to attract light manufacturing and interstate distribution & logistics companies, consists of two phases to purchase multiple parcels and make requisite site improvements to transform 136 acres of underused land into a shovel-ready, infrastructure enabled site directly off of the I-90 interchange at Shortman Road. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $16 million. “We are overjoyed that the State recognizes not only the need for shovel-ready sites in the region, but also that this is a great location just off Interstate 90,” said Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and CCIDA Chief Executive Officer. “We have been working on this initiative for several years, and it is great to see it all coming together. The County and CCIDA have pledged their financial support for the project, and other sources of funding are being sought to meet the $16 Million price tag. Without large, shovel-ready sites, the county is missing out on opportunities for larger development projects, which this project addresses.” “Approval of this shovel-ready site is great news for not just the Town of Ripley, but also Chautauqua County and all of Western New York,” added Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel. “Developing a foundation for future projects, this is a continuation of our mission to maintain a strong gateway into our state and county. I’d like to recognize and thank the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency and Empire State Development for working to make this project possible.” “This is great news for the town of Ripley,” said Doug Bowen, Ripley Town Supervisor. “By having the state award this funding, it means the necessary infrastructure improvements can move forward to provide a shovel-ready site along the I-90 corridor. It will not only be a huge asset for our local economy here in Ripley, but also for the entire Chautauqua County region.” “This is great news for Ripley and all of Chautauqua County. Securing this $5.25 million FAST NY grant is a testament to the hard work and planning by the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency and the Town of Ripley. Creating this shovel-ready gateway along 1-90 in Ripley will pave the way for private investment and lead to future projects as we continue to revitalize our community. I want to thank Gov. Hochul and Empire State Development for recognizing the need to support communities in Western New York as they reinvent themselves and build a brighter future for everyone,” said State Senator George Borrello. In May of this year, the CCIDA Board approved the purchase of land in the first phase of the project, which entails acquiring four parcels of property totaling 64 acres for $2,892,000, based on an appraisal. The second phase will involve purchasing additional properties to bring the overall total land acquired to 136 acres.  About CCIDA – The CCIDA is an economic development organization authorized and empowered by the State of New York to make Chautauqua County a better place to work, live, and visit. They facilitate development by attracting new businesses, while promoting the retention and expansion of existing businesses. Assistance in the form of incentives – tax abatements, low interest loans, and bond financing – enhances the opportunities for job creation and retention by our businesses.  For more information visit www.CCIDA.com.

New Brooks-TLC is a sound strategy for long-term healthcare, economic stability and growth in northern chautauqua countyMark Geise and Daniel Heitzenrater, co-chairs of the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth advisory board, recently wrote about the need for a new Brooks-TLC healthcare facility in northern Chautauqua County. Their commentary appeared in the Saturday, Oct. 21 edition of the Dunkirk Observer. It is also provided below, in its entirety. The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) brings together leaders from the public and private sectors to advance economic development efforts and achieve economic prosperity in our county. We do this by focusing on creating and preserving quality jobs, while also focusing on advancements to quality of life throughout Chautauqua County. Since our founding in 2019, perhaps no single development project more aligns with our mission and goals than the effort to build a new state-of-the-art Brooks-TLC Hospital. Many of the reasons for building a new healthcare facility in Northern Chautauqua County are well known by now. To put it bluntly - the current Brooks-TLC Hospital is outdated and in drastic need of renovations and upgrades. Much of the roof needs to be replaced and there has been persistent flooding problems in several areas of the facility. Many of the hospital’s rooms are cramped and patient privacy is an ongoing challenge. Even basic patient services, such as access to bathrooms, are not ADA compliant. And the hospital’s infrastructure and equipment are old and in need of regular repair or replacement. This all adds up to a hospital that can no longer provide the necessary healthcare services needed in the 21st century.   Besides the challenges associated with the facility itself, the current location of Brooks-TLC creates another set of challenges. A shortage of space at the hospital results in no centralized location for physicians to work. Currently, there is no location in the North County to bring together physicians for the purpose of creating synergies needed among various medical providers. The current hospital is also located in a residentially-zoned area of Dunkirk, providing hardly any space for expansion and making direct access a challenge, especially for EMS service providers coming in from outside of the city. The current location also faces potential environmental issues posed by the relatively close proximity to two railroads. By having a new Brooks-TLC Hospital situated at the proposed 30-acre location near the intersection of Routes 60 and 20 and in close proximity to I-90, it would not only ensure more space, but would also allow for easier and more convenient regional access. This is especially important considering an estimated 70% of the patients who depend on Brooks-TLC come from outside of the City of Dunkirk. Healthcare services notwithstanding, a new Brooks-TLC Hospital would also have an enormous positive impact on the economic future of not only the immediate Dunkirk-Fredonia area, but also the entire Northern Chautauqua County region, including areas of southern Erie County and the northwestern portion of Cattaraugus County. A top priority for CCPEG is the attraction and retention of professionals into Chautauqua County. A new, modern Brooks-TLC Hospital would include the latest technology and affiliation with tertiary care, as well as a new Medical Office Building which would become a regional hub for outpatient care. This will result in Brooks-TLC – and as a result Northern Chautauqua County – having the ability to attract and retain a wide variety of professionals, including physicians and nurses, along with specialists and other personnel. CCPEG is also focused on supporting initiatives that help reverse the population decline we have experienced over the past several decades. The availability of and access to quality healthcare and modern medical facilities is a top priority for current and prospective residents.  By providing both rural and aging residents with a new North County medical facility, Brooks-TLC will help to bolster the effort to stem the tide of population decline and help grow the population by making it more attractive to prospective residents. This is especially true for seniors looking for convenient and nearby access to outpatient care – something that can only be provided by a new facility. The new facility will also have a positive economic benefit on our educational institutions, particularly those at SUNY at Fredonia and its nursing program. Students who wish to enter a career in nursing covet the opportunity to learn and gain experience at modern medical facilities. By opening a new hospital, SUNY at Fredonia will have the ability to recruit and retain more students into its nursing program. A new hospital will also benefit general student recruitment as it ensures medical services will remain in place in close proximity to the college campus, one of the key considerations for parents and students when weighing their options for higher education. All of this will play a key role in helping to make SUNY at Fredonia a viable option for future students, which will in turn benefit the local economy. CCPEG, in conjunction with the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency, commissioned MRB Group to undertake an economic analysis related to a new Brooks-TLC Hospital. The study found that the project would have a significant temporary impact on the economy by generating approximately 115 construction jobs and an estimated $7.7 million in construction wages. The construction work would also have an indirect benefit of 42 jobs, totaling $2.2 million in wages. Once built, the new hospital would result in the creation and/or retention of at least 200 jobs with an annual economic impact estimated at $13.5 million. The bottom line is clear: a new hospital in northern Chautauqua County is not only necessary for the healthcare and well-being of residents – both within and outside of the county – but also necessary to ensure a stronger and more vibrant economic future. We need it! If we are to build our community, we need quality healthcare and access to it. We urge the New York State Department of Health and other state officials to not only stand behind a new Brooks-TLC hospital, but also work to ensure it becomes a reality.  Mark Geise is Chief Executive Officer of the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency, and Daniel Heitzenrater is President of the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce President. The two serve as Advisory Board Co-chairs of the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth. About CCPEG – The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth serves as the main convener of economic development partners and resources to advance key projects that achieve economic prosperity in Chautauqua County. It also serves as the catalyst and broker of resources for advancing economic prosperity efforts and is the central coordinating entity for the formation, retention, development, and attraction of quality jobs and advancements to the quality of life. For more information, please visit CHQPartnership.org.

PANAMA, NY - The Friends of Chautauqua County Greenways (FCCG) group recently met at Panama Rocks to share details about the various trail and waterway projects and conservation efforts they've been working on in 2023. In addition, FCCG unveiled its new logo to help raise awareness about the group within the greater Chautauqua County community. FCCG consists of a variety of local organizations and municipalities with a goal of enhancing and conserving Chautauqua County's 700+ miles of trails that are used for snowmobiling, hiking, horseback riding, cross country skiing, mountain biking, kayaking, and more. Members include various snowmobiling clubs, Chautauqua Rails to Trails, Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy (CWC), Western New York Mountain Bicycling Association (WNYMBA), Friends of Panama Horse and Nature Trails, Boutwell Hill Ski Club, the Chautauqua County Department of Planning & Development (CCDPD) and City of Jamestown. The group is supported, in part, by the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG). Among the highlights of the Oct. 11 public meeting was an update on the County-wide Interactive Trail Map, scheduled for release in early 2024. Currently, each group maintains their own trail maps, which come in a variety of formats, creating inconsistency and confusion for trail users, while also leading to trail underutilization in some instances. These gaps make it difficult for trail users, residents, and visitors to explore and use the county's vast trail systems. But CCPEG, along with the FCCG, CCDPD, and Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau are currently in the process of working with the consulting firm of Barton and Loguidice to build an interactive, countywide outdoor recreation map and mobile app. Once completed, the map will include any and all trails in the system, regardless of intended purpose. "We're working to develop a single user-friendly map and a mobile app to have all trail data - greenways and waterways - compiled and housed in an easy to locate and easy to edit online location across multiple webpages," explained Rebecca Wurster, Special CCDPD Projects Coordinator and CCPEG Planning Manager. "We've already reviewed and evaluated the existing mapped trails in the County, and have just about wrapped up collect inventory/GIS data of mapped and unmapped trail systems. We are also developing a streamlined process for submitting future data, which can then be uploaded to the interactive map to ensure it is being updated on a regular basis.” Other projects being highlighted included the effort by CWC to clear log jams and other debris from the Marion Cobb Waterway trail, consisting of the Cassadaga and Conewango Creeks, along with a portion of the Chadakoin River; the ongoing process by the county and Rails to Trails to address and remediate various issues of concern within their respective trail systems; the upgrades made to the mountain bike and fat bike trails located in both the Harmony and Harris Hill State Land areas, as well as at Long Point State Park; the addition of culverts to the Boutwell Hill Cross Country Skiing trail to make it easier for the trail groomer to pass over creek beds; and the work down in the various equestrian trails around the county that helps to make Chautauqua County a destination for horseback riders and clubs from across the region.  The meeting also included a preview of some work that will be taking place in 2024, including the effort by the City of Jamestown to develop a pump bike track in Jackson-Taylor Park, adjacent to its Riverwalk. The equestrian trails are also hoping to widen at least a portion of their trail system to allow for coach travel. And ongoing work is also planned for all other trail systems as well. Finally, FCCG unveiled its new logo, designed by Kellogg Design in Lakewood, NY and intended to help brand and raise awareness about the group and its mission of working together to promote all trail systems within the county. "This will be the official logo for the Friends' Group. We also hope to make it into a patch that you can purchase," explained Jacob Bodway, CCPEG Trail Coordinator.  Both Wurster and Bodway said that the next public meeting of FCCG will take place next spring. At that time, the interactive trail map should be completed and ready to be presented to the public. For more information on the FCCG and to keep up with the latest news involving the county's vast trail system, follow their group page on Facebook. About CCPEG – The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth serves as the main convener of economic development partners and resources to advance key projects that achieve economic prosperity in Chautauqua County. It also serves as the catalyst and broker of resources for advancing economic prosperity efforts and is the central coordinating entity for the formation, retention, development, and attraction of quality jobs and advancements to the quality of life. For more information, please visit chqpartnership.org. About FCCG – The Friends of Chautauqua County Greenways is housed under CCPEG and is an organization whose aim is to collaborate and build on private/public partnerships to position themselves to raise the necessary capital and programmatic resources to realize the primary objectives outlined in the 2012 Greenway Plan.

Friends of chautauqua county greenways to hold second public meetingPANAMA, NY - In cooperation with the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG), the Friends of Chautauqua County Greenways (FCCG) will hold its second public informational meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 11 at 6 p.m. at Panama Rocks Scenic Park in Panama, NY. This meeting will provide the public with updates on trail and waterway development and maintenance projects, along with conservation efforts throughout Chautauqua County.  “The Friends Group has accomplished a great deal since our last meeting on May 30th in Mayville,” says Jacob Bodway, Trail Coordinator for CCPEG. “The October meeting will allow time for the various trail-user groups to present on current and upcoming trail projects, grant requests, and long-range goals.  The numerous presenters will provide audience members with a great deal of information, and we want to share some of the positive work that we have accomplished for trail-users of all ages and abilities. It is a great time to be an outdoor enthusiast in Chautauqua County!” For those who are interested in exploring the hiking trail at Panama Rocks, there will be a group hike at 5:00 pm, about an hour prior to the FCCG meeting.  It will be an excellent opportunity to take in the fall colors and to experience the majesty of Panama Rocks Scenic Park. About CCPEG – The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth serves as the main convener of economic development partners and resources to advance key projects that achieve economic prosperity in Chautauqua County. It also serves as the catalyst and broker of resources for advancing economic prosperity efforts and is the central coordinating entity for the formation, retention, development, and attraction of quality jobs and advancements to the quality of life. For more information, please visit chqpartnership.org. About FCCG – The Friends of Chautauqua County Greenways is housed under CCPEG and is an organization whose aim is to collaborate and build on private/public partnerships to position themselves to raise the necessary capital and programmatic resources to realize the primary objectives outlined in the 2012 Greenway Plan.

Grape Discover Center Welcomes New Brewery as TenantWESTFIELD, NY: — There’s a new brewery in town and its producing some of the hottest brews on the market. Popular beverages from Seattle-based Ghostfish Brewing Company (GBC) are now in full production at the new East Coast processing and distribution center in Westfield, New York. To celebrate, company representatives and area officials gathered on Thursday, Sept. 28 for a special ribbon cutting ceremony, hosted by the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce. Surrounded by rolling hills lined with grape vineyards as far as the eye can see, GBC is located within the region’s Grape Discovery Center, the official Visitor’s Center of the Lake Erie Concord Grape Belt, in the heart of the New York-Pennsylvania Wine, Spirits and Craft Beverage Trail, overseen by Lake Erie Wine Country’s (LEWC). Inside its new location, Ghostfish Brewing Company “East” is now brewing its No. 1 top seller, Grapefruit IPA, along with Kick Step IPA and Lunar Harvest.  GBC is also on the way to brewing all seven of its flagship brands. What’s different about this brewery? Led by brewmaster James Maxson, who is guided by Seattle’s brewmaster extraordinaire Reid Ackerman, GBC East is a dedicated, 100% gluten-free focused brewery. And at Ghostfish, “gluten-free” means everything is gluten-free, from the ingredients and processes all the way down to the equipment and utensils. Currently the largest producer of dedicated gluten-free beer in the US by volume, the company currently distributes to 19 US States and four Canadian Provinces. “Our customer base is well established and extremely loyal,” said company Vice President Matt Swank, who resides in Westfield. “We will use the Westfield location to satisfy existing customers and the steadily increasing demand for Ghostfish products, specifically states east of the Mississippi River and eastern Canadian provinces.” Ghostfish offers a diverse array of full-flavored beers with seven year-round beers, several rotating seasonal varieties, and multiple special releases. The brand has won almost 30 medals in highly competitive beer competitions, including seven Great American Beer Fest medals and three awards in non-gluten-free categories. GBC was also voted “Best Beer Brand” in the 2017 Gluten Free Buyers Guide, and Grapefruit IPA is the No. 1 selling gluten-free IPA in the U.S. According to Swank, GBC hand selects naturally gluten-free grains, yeast strains, and hops with the upmost care. This leads to boundary-pushing craft beers that delight beer lovers near and far. With friends and relatives personally affected by gluten or wheat intolerance, the owners want everyone to have the ability to enjoy trendy and traditional beers, regardless of gluten or wheat intolerance. Mark Geise, Deputy Chautauqua County Executive for Economic Development and County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) CEO reported CCIDA has been involved with and supporting GBC’s expansion from the start. CCIDA provided direct assistance in the form of $165,902 in AL Tech Revolving Loan Fund loans for working capital and equipment purchases, as well as technical assistance and coordination of economic development programs. The Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC) also successfully secured an $89,000 forgivable loan through New York Housing and Community Renewal. “Chautauqua County has seen a tremendous increase in the number of breweries and distilleries in the past several years. This new gluten-free brewery is unique and will be yet another new attraction to the county and region,” Geise said. Geise went on to report that there are additional efforts underway to promote GBC and other local craft beverages, and support their producers in Chautauqua County. CREDC is in the initial planning stages, working with the Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau and LEWC, to develop a marketing strategy to promote craft beer breweries and distilleries within Chautauqua County. The strategic collective marketing campaign and brand will align with, complement, and also promote the existing LEWC organization. “We’re excited to help welcome Ghostfish Brewing to Chautauqua County’s growing craft beverage industry. Their selection of Westfield for Ghostfish’s East Coast presence is a testament to our County’s collaborative approach including CCIDA, the Grape Discovery Center, and many others working together to make this happen,” said Dan Heitzenrater, President and CEO of the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce. PJ Wendel, Chautauqua County executive, welcomed the new business venture. “We are excited about this further expansion of our beverage processing industry in Chautauqua County, especially by the team with a proven track record. Cohabitating space in the Grape Discovery Center will also draw additional visitors to the Center and region, boosting retail sales and showcasing our agriculture sector,” Wendel said. On the local level, the Town of Westfield and Westfield Development Corporation have been actively engaged to support the development and local approvals.  “This is a great fit for our community and a wonderful complement to our local Grape Discovery Center and craft beverage trail,” said Martha Bills, Westfield Town Supervisor. “The Ghostfish Brewery is a wonderful addition to our growing craft beverage industry in Westfield. We are grateful that the assets our community has to offer are a perfect fit for the company and its expansion into our region,” added Don McCord, Executive Director of the Westfield Development Corporation. While the Westfield brewery will not be open to the public, GBC is working to partner with the Grape Discovery Center, where their beers can be sampled and purchased in the Center’s tasting room. The company looks forward to welcoming the public to learn more about their beers really soon. Ghostfish Brewing Company got its name from a unique bioluminescent fish found in the Tacoma Sound. On a summer night in 2013, while the Seattle brewery was in the planning phase, Richard Smith (President) and Brian Thiel (Managing Director) saw the unusual fish while sitting on a Tacoma Sound seawall – as a result, the name of Ghostfish was almost instantaneously spawned to compliment the motto of “Unique Grains, Legendary Taste.” For more information about GBC’s products, visit GhostfishBrewing.com.  About CCIDA – The CCIDA is an economic development organization authorized and empowered by the State of New York to make Chautauqua County a better place to work, live, and visit. They facilitate development by attracting new businesses, while promoting the retention and expansion of existing businesses. Assistance in the form of incentives – tax abatements, low interest loans, and bond financing – enhances the opportunities for job creation and retention by our businesses.  For more information visit www.CCIDA.com. About Ghostfish Brewing Company East – Ghostfish Brewing Company East is an extension of Ghostfish Brewing Company based in Seattle Washington. GBC is celebrating eight years in business in 2023 and is reinventing gluten-free beer from the ground up. They love to craft gluten-free beers that pay tribute to classic styles but also expand the public’s expectations of what gluten-free beer can be. For more information visit www.GhosfishBrewing.com. 

Chautauqua county plans big boost in outdoor fun with new trail map appThe Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG), along with the Friends of Chautauqua County Greenways (FCCG), Chautauqua County Department of Planning and Development (CCDPD), and Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau (CCVB), are currently in the process of working with Barton and Loguidice to build an interactive countywide outdoor recreation map and mobile application (app). This partnership will result in increased tourism, use of trail systems, and will spur economic development. Currently, each trail user group maintains their own trail maps in a variety of formats, ranging from posted maps at trailhead kiosks to online maps. These various formats create inconsistency, confusion, and underutilized trails. Some trail user groups struggle to collect GIS trail data and format the GIS data in a user-friendly format. These gaps in data make it difficult for trail users, residents, and visitors to explore and use the trail systems. The Chautauqua County mapping project will address these inconsistencies and will remedy the confusion among user groups and trail users in the county. This project will develop a single user-friendly map and a mobile app to have all trail data (greenways and waterways) compiled and housed in an easy to locate and easy to edit online location across multiple webpages. This project will consist of a review and evaluation of existing mapped trails in the County, collect inventory/GIS data of mapped and unmapped trail systems, develop an interactive user-friendly online map, and develop a streamlined process for submitting future data for uploading to the map. As an added bonus, Barton and Loguidice will update many existing third-party trail map applications, such as AllTrails, Trail Forks, and MTB Project, with new data from the mapping project. This will benefit trail users who already have these third-party applications downloaded to their mobile devices. The mapping project represents a key piece to the puzzle in not only jumpstarting our countywide recreation projects and greenway/waterway initiatives but also in putting Chautauqua, County on the map for more comprehensive funding for trail improvements and for outdoor promotion. We expect this project to be completed in the spring of 2024.

CCIDA Approves Loan for Purchase by Local Ownership GroupJAMESTOWN, N.Y.: — At its Sept. 26, 2023 meeting, the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) Board of Directors approved a $1 million loan to support the purchase of Weber-Knapp Co. Inc. by Rhonda Johnson, President of Weber-Knapp, and Wayne Rishell, CFO of Weber-Knapp. The facilities are located on Chandler St. in Jamestown, NY and Allen St. in Falconer, NY and are comprised of 243,000 square feet of space. Weber-Knapp has been operating in Jamestown for 114 years, when the company started as a manufacturer of hardware for the furniture industry. Throughout the years the company continuously adapted in response to changing market dynamics and opportunities. Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and Chief Executive Officer of the CCIDA, spoke about the agency’s efforts to not only attract new development and jobs to the community and region, but just as importantly, retain current businesses. “It is essential that the CCIDA supports local manufacturers, such as Weber-Knapp, especially when that assistance results in local ownership,” Geise said. “Rex McCray and Donald Pangborn have been terrific leaders in ensuring Weber-Knapp remains locally-owned and competitive on the global stage, and I have every confidence that Rhonda and Wayne, as well as their tremendous workforce, will do the same. I’m pleased that the CCIDA could support this very worthwhile effort.” In 2011, the company was acquired locally by the current ownership of Mr. McCray and Mr. Pangborn, who were part of the management team. Prior to this purchase, Weber-Knapp was under foreign ownership and there was significant risk that the company was going to relocate out of Chautauqua County or cease operations. The purchase resulted in Weber-Knapp remaining in Chautauqua County and being locally controlled. Presently, the current owners are ready to sell the company, retire, and continue the local ownership practice through Ms. Johnson and Mr. Rishell. “The advantage of remaining locally owned is that we will be able to maintain the company’s identity, culture, and presence in the community. As the new owners, we have a combined 65-plus years in manufacturing and management, know the business and the employees, and have a strategy for continued success,” Ms. Johnson said. Weber-Knapp is the premier designer and manufacturer of motion control and hardware products/accessories for the luxury appliance, outdoor appliance, industrial, medical equipment, and office furniture industries. It provides all the function and capability desired by its customer base at a very high-quality level. “This is another great outcome for a manufacturing pillar of the community,” said PJ Wendel, Chautauqua County Executive. “Weber-Knapp employs more than 100 people locally, with stable and good paying jobs, and I solute not only Ms. Johnson, Mr. Rishell, and their workforce, but also the CCIDA for assisting them in purchasing this staple of the community and keeping it under local ownership and management.” The current owners – Mr. McCray and Mr. Pangborn – will finance a portion of the acquisition price. Also assisting with funding to complete the purchase, besides the CCIDA, are Evans Bank and Cattaraugus County Bank. The new owners – Ms. Johnson and Mr. Rishell – will inject personal equity to complete the financing. The Real Property is located at 441 and 415 Chandler St. and 2019 Allen St. in Jamestown and has 104 full-time employees and 14 temporary employees. EZ Office, Kaohsiung Taiwan, which has 11 employees, is a fully-owned subsidiary of Weber-Knapp Co. Inc. About CCIDA: The CCIDA is an economic development organization authorized and empowered by the State of New York to make Chautauqua County a better place to work, live, and visit. They facilitate development by attracting new businesses, while promoting the retention and expansion of existing businesses. Assistance in the form of incentives – tax abatements, low interest loans, and bond financing – enhances the opportunities for job creation and retention by our businesses. For more information visit www.ccida.com.

JAMESTOWN, N.Y.: — The County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) is pleased to announce the addition of Jason Sample to the position of Communications & Marketing Coordinator. As Communications & Marketing Coordinator, Sample will be responsible for the implementation of strategic marketing initiatives and general communications of the CCIDA and the Chautauqua County Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC). He will lead both agencies’ marketing and communication efforts related to highlighting various projects, showcasing the county’s economic development opportunities, and promoting the services offered by both economic development agencies. “I’m excited to be joining the CCIDA and CREDC team, working to promote our county’s economic development success stories, along with championing the business development opportunities and quality of life enhancements within our county,” Sample said. While the Marketing & Communications Coordinator is housed under the CCIDA, Sample will actually serve a split role, working with both the CCIDA and the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG), managing specific communication tasks related to the promotion of each entity and its services. In addition to coordinating organizational communications of these agencies, Sample will also lead countywide marketing efforts and special projects to promote Chautauqua County as a great place to live, work, play, and conduct business, in close coordination with outside partner agencies. “We’re very pleased to have Jason joining our team,” said Mark Geise, CCIDA Chief Executive Officer and Deputy County Executive for Economic Development. “He has a strong understanding of what the CCIDA does, as well as great familiarity with the people and communities across Chautauqua County.” Sample has worked in regional media for the past two decades, most recently as General Manager of WRFA-LP in Jamestown, where he was responsible for the management and programming of Jamestown’s Low Power, FM radio station, licensed to Reg Lenna Center for the Arts. He also served as the station’s Public Affairs Director from 2011 to 2021, covering issues and news stories involving the Jamestown community and Chautauqua County. Prior to his work at WRFA, Sample served as editor of the weekly Chautauqua Star newspaper, a county-wide publication showcasing the people and businesses of Chautauqua County. Sample also worked as a news reporter and sports anchor for over seven years on WJTN radio in Jamestown. In the past, Sample has served as a trustee with the Chautauqua County Historical Society, based in Westfield, NY, from 2011 to 2021, and was chair of the organization’s program committee. He was also a board member of Infinity Visual & Performing Arts in Jamestown from 2010 to 2018, serving as board president and marketing committee chair. Sample is a Jamestown-area native, and graduated from Falconer High School and Jamestown Community College. He holds a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism from West Virginia University. “I’ve spent a great deal of time over the years living and working in various communities across Chautauqua County, not only covering local news but also getting to know its people, places, and businesses,” Sample said. “I’m looking forward to using my knowledge and experience to help promote our county’s economic achievements and also promoting why it’s such a special and unique place to live, work, and play.” About CCIDA – The CCIDA is an economic development organization authorized and empowered by the State of New York to make Chautauqua County a better place to work, live, and visit. They facilitate development by attracting new businesses, while promoting the retention and expansion of existing businesses. Assistance in the form of incentives – tax abatements, low interest loans, and bond financing – enhances the opportunities for job creation and retention by our businesses. For more information visit www.ccida.com.

Partner Spotlight: Andrew Nixon, President & CEO of the Chautauqua Chamber Visitors BureauEach newsletter, we are going to highlight a partner or community organization that is doing great things in our county! This month, we are highlighting Andrew Nixon, the President & CEO of the Chautauqua Chamber Visitors Bureau (CCVB). As the President & CEO of the Chautauqua Chamber Visitors Bureau (CCVB), why do you do what you do every day? What drives you? CCVB’s purpose is to help local businesses derive economic benefit from visitors coming to and enjoying the area. Our organization simultaneously works to help these businesses while guiding tourists in their journey of learning about and experiencing the joys of the Chautauqua County area. This process is continual and involves developing and implementing advertising campaigns, producing and updating trip-planning information resources, assisting group function planners, and often personally helping visitors with the recommendations and information that they need to enjoy our destination.  And, the processes vary somewhat as the area moves through different seasons. Part of what we do focuses on assisting visitors with things to do in the current season, while another part is focused on the season(s) ahead. Throughout this process, our staff is continually learning about the unique and compelling things to do and the reasons for visitors to come and enjoy Chautauqua County. As the Co-Chair of the CCPEG Placemaking Work Group what opportunities do you see for continued collaboration in further development of tourism assets? Because the Partnership for Economic Growth offers a platform for communication and collaboration, it is a great resource for municipal planning initiatives to work together, especially as sub-regions of the county. It is important for areas, municipalities, and project planners to be very aware of what their neighbors are visioning and planning so that they can work symbiotically when possible. This helps to avoid duplication in projects. It also enables areas to develop their own strengths and experiences while also leveraging interest in nearby attractions and experiences. This results in a greater overall appeal of our total area as a multi-faceted destination. What Partnership projects do you consider to be the most exciting and/or impactful and why?  Among the many exciting projects being spearheaded by the Partnership and/or Partnership members, those with a lot of apparent potential are the projects designed to improve the experience and the public’s access to Chautauqua County’s outdoor recreation amenities. This includes trail improvements and digital trail mapping, improved access points for boats, and the use of parks and open spaces on or near waterfronts. Waterfront development high-points range from spots along the Lake Erie shoreline in Dunkirk to stretches of the Chadakoin River in Jamestown. This growth and enhancement also includes several of Chautauqua County’s trail assets located in forested areas, which offer easy-to-moderate trail challenge experiences. What is something most people don’t know about you or CCVB? CCVB was formed in 1958 by the Chautauqua County Board of Supervisors (predecessor of the County Legislature) to promote the area as a tourism destination. CCVB’s original name was Chautauqua County Vacationland Association. It is one of the longest standing tourism promotion agencies in New York state. CCVB has a lean but very capable staff of 4 full-time employees and 4 part-time employees. List of affiliations/organizations: NYS Tourism Industry Association  Member of American Bus Association, Ontario Motor Coach Association, Pennsylvania Bus Association. Member of Empire State Society of Association Executives (ESSAE) and Meeting Planners International (MPI). What are some exciting things people can look forward to this fall Visitors love fall time in the Chautauqua-Lake Erie Region of western New York. Not adhering exactly to official calendar dates, fall in the region begins just after Labor Day with the plethora of harvest season events and festivals, and continues through until the end of October. The weather is generally mild, the mornings are cool, and the changing leaves are spectacular. Every weekend brings a special event that focuses on the area’s agricultural stock, including grapes, wine, craft beers, and apples. Recreational opportunities abound and include golf, hiking and cycling trails, camping, as well as Peek’n Peak’s Mountain Adventure course and zip lines and Panama Rocks rugged rock formations. And, the area’s five lakes are amazingly available and enjoyable in the fall season be it for canoeing and kayaking, zipping around in a power boat, or for a fishing expedition. Lake levels do begin to lower beginning October 20th. Though fall in the Chautauqua-Lake Erie Region is a great time to enjoy an extension on outdoor activities, it is also a great time to visit the area’s many history-based attractions and museums. Options include the National Comedy Center, Lucy-Desi Museum, Dunkirk Lighthouse, Fenton History Center, Robert H. Jackson Center, and the Roger Tory Peterson Institute. And many fall visitors enjoy the scenery, shops, and restaurants of villages like Westfield, Fredonia, Bemus Point, Lakewood, Chautauqua Institution, and the small cities of Jamestown and Dunkirk. There is so much more and the best place to find out about things to do as well as events is https://www.tourchautauqua.com/

Partnership for economic growth seeks proposals for funding consideration We are excited to announce that the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth is currently seeking applicants for funding consideration. If you or your organization have innovative projects or initiatives that can drive economic growth in our community, we encourage you to apply for this valuable opportunity. For information on eligibility criteria and the application process, please view the attached press release. Your ideas and contributions play a pivotal role in shaping the economic future of Chautauqua County, and we look forward to your participation in this exciting venture. Learn More Press Release

Daniel Heitzenrater, president & CEO of the Chautauqua County Chamber of CommerceEach newsletter, we are going to highlight a partner or community organization that is doing great things in our county!  Starting with Dan Heitzenrater, President of the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce. In addition to his work at the Chamber and on the CCIDA & CCPEG boards, he is involved on a number of other local boards including the Jamestown Community College Board of Trustees, Cornell Cooperative Extension Board of Directors, and the Chautauqua County Workforce Investment Board. He is also involved with the Rotary Club of Jamestown, Chautauqua Leadership Network, and Jamestown Skeet Club. You are now about two years into your position as President of the Chautauqua Chamber of Commerce, how is it going? It’s going great! Starting in a new role while still emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic was challenging to navigate, but allowed me to experience and learn to better understand the Chamber operations. It has also been an exciting time, because this transition back to normalcy has demonstrated people’s desire in connecting again. Connection is central to the Chamber’s services, so being able to gather in person and urge consumer foot traffic has allowed us to gain forward momentum again. What are your goals for this year? For the Chamber, we underwent a strategic planning process in 2022 so our 2023 goals revolve around implementation of those strategic directions. We haven’t publicly launched any information around that yet, but one specific goal I’m looking forward to working on is clarifying our brand and structure to ourselves, members, and the public. Personal goals for this year include reading more books than last year, and many various home projects. We moved last summer so it’s exciting to make it our own, but hard not to bite off more than we can chew. You recently joined the CCIDA board and have become Co-Chair of the Partnership for Economic Growth Advisory Board. How do these roles align to your role of supporting small business in Chautauqua County, and what opportunities do you see for continued collaboration in this area? I mentioned earlier about “connection” being central to our work at the Chamber. I view these roles, and other areas where we can engage with partners as one way that we can bring the perspective and voice of the business community, small business in particular to the table. I’m proud and thankful to have the opportunity to represent our constituency in these roles, and believe it is important to add their voice to the conversation. Overall, whether it’s the work of the IDA on economic development and funding/incentives, or the holistic approach of the Partnership looking at 5 key work groups, our work together is about growing and improving our communities across all sectors which is important for businesses, residents, visitors, and our quality of life. What Partnership projects do you consider to be the most exciting and/or impactful and why? It is hard to choose because every project is critical within its focus area. One I am excited about is the technical assistance for municipalities grant, aimed at increasing our competitiveness in future NY DRI and NY Forward funding rounds. Based on my background in municipal government, while strategic planning is recognized as being important, it often falls off the docket due to lack of resources or expertise, and this Partnership program will begin to help address that. Two others include the work around promotion of our trail systems, and our local craft beverage industry. While most locals know what wonderful assets these are, I think they may sometimes be a bit secondary in our overall promotion of our area, so I’m excited to shine more of a spotlight together. What is something most people don’t know about you? Maybe that outside of the office, I really enjoy working with my hands and having a project to complete. I’m generally interested in a lot of things and tend to dive deep into a topic or hobby when I start looking into it. These include some basic woodworking, yard care and gardening, working on small engines, and many other things around the house. In addition to my work at the Chamber and on the CCIDA & CCPEG boards, I am involved on a number of other local boards including the Jamestown Community College Board of Trustees, Cornell Cooperative Extension Board of Directors, and the Chautauqua County Workforce Investment Board. I am also involved with the Rotary Club of Jamestown, Chautauqua Leadership Network, and Jamestown Skeet Club.

Partnership for economic growth awards downtown revitalization master planning fundingDUNKIRK, N.Y. - The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) recently invited local municipalities to apply for downtown master planning funding. After reviewing several applications, CCPEG awarded technical assistant grants to the Village of Falconer and the Village of Westfield. Local leaders will work with CCPEG and the consultants Barton and Loguidice, to cultivate a vision for their respective downtowns, identify priority projects to enliven the downtown, and develop a master plan that sets the stage for a NY Forward, NYS Consolidated Funding Application (CFA), or other related economic development program application. Like many small cities and villages in Chautauqua County, Falconer and Westfield have faced challenges with vacancies and disinvestment. However, today both municipalities have passionate leaders, a strong community fabric, a spirit of entrepreneurship, and thriving small businesses. These communities have private investment and potential investment from developers that could bring more mixed use, infill housing and reuse of historic buildings to their main street corridors. They are poised to re-energize and a clear and cohesive strategy for revitalization will ensure that new public and private projects complement the historic small town character that makes Chautauqua County unique. Planning Coordinator Rebecca Wurster stated, “The Downtown Revitalization Master Planning Grants are tools that will advance economic prosperity for thriving and resilient municipalities, with benefits that spread throughout the entire County. The Villages of Falconer and Westfield are very unique communities, with charming downtown corridors. By providing technical assistance, we envision a master planning process that identifies projects which align with each community’s unique downtowns and strategically positions these municipalities for grant funding opportunities.”   Mayor Jaroszynski stated, “I can’t express how excited we are to be receiving this grant for the Village of Falconer.  This grant will allow the Village to pursue ideas for the development of our Main Street and business corridors.  We have already put in place a steering committee comprised of Village residents, business owners and government leaders to provide ideas and a vision to the consultant team.  Thank you to the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth for recognizing the potential for our small Village and for giving us this opportunity for revitalization.” “The Village of Westfield wishes to thank CCPEG for the opportunity to work alongside of CCPEG and Barton and Loguidice, in cultivating vision driven projects and developing a master plan for our downtown areas,” stated Mayor Lutes. CCPEG, through its economic development funding opportunity, has also awarded funding and assistance to the Village of Sherman, Findley Lake (Town of Mina), and Imagine Forestville, to complete planning efforts and support the implementation of downtown projects meant to enhance and revitalize downtowns and hamlets. CCPEG is also supporting several other communities with downtown revitalization and waterfront activation programs including: City of Dunkirk in their recent award of $10 million in Downtown Revitalization Initiative funding; the City of Jamestown with the Chadakoin River Activation Initiative; and the Village of Mayville with the Waterfront Activation Planning and Lakeside Park improvements. “These efforts are all about building on the success we’ve seen in recent years in seeking resources to improve our downtowns, waterfronts, and community quality of life,” said Mark Geise, Partnership Co-Chair and CEO of the CCIDA. “We’ve seen how being proactive and engaging our partners and community early in the process has resulted in significant funding from New York State and other sources and we plan on continuing down that path and building on that momentum.” About CCPEG – The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth serves as the main convener of economic development partners and resources to advance key projects that achieve economic prosperity in Chautauqua County. It also serves as the catalyst and broker of resources for advancing economic prosperity efforts and is the central coordinating entity for the formation, retention, development, and attraction of quality jobs and advancements to the quality of life. For more information, please visit chqpartnership.org.

Partnership for economic growth awards complete streets fundingDUNKIRK, N.Y.: The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) recently invited local municipalities to apply for small-scale Complete Streets project funding. In order to expand funding opportunities, the Chautauqua Health Network (CHN) has collaborated with CCPEG to increase total funding availability to $60,000 and in concert, will be making in-kind technical contractor support available to the awardees in Complete Streets planning, demonstration, and stakeholder engagement financed by the NYS Department of Health ‘Creating Healthy Schools and Communities’ (CHSC) program. After reviewing several applications, CCPEG in partnership with CHN, awarded the Jamestown Urban Renewal Agency (JURA), Town of Clymer, Village of Westfield, Village of Sherman, Village of Fredonia, and Village of Silver Creek with planning and implementation funding. The awarded projects include: Jamestown Creative Crosswalk ($4,310) – A visually impactful creative crosswalk will be installed that the intersections of Sixth Street and Cherry Street, at the Prendergast Library. Village of Westfield Connectivity Projects ($12,500) – Installation of three segments of sidewalk at North Portage Street, Spring Street, and Cass Street will enhance the safety of pedestrians and cyclists. Village of Sherman Walkability Planning ($12,000) – A complete streets plan will be developed to help the Village identify multimodal improvements, wayfinding and signage, trailhead connections, and Village branding. Town of Clymer Walkable Downtown ($10,000) – Phase II of Clymer’s Route 474 sidewalk project will provide ADA compliance and improve walkability. Village of Silver Creek Safe Routes to School ($5,500) – A feasibility study will be developed to provide conceptual designs and cost estimates for new sidewalks surrounding Silver Creek Central School. Village of Fredonia Building Connectivity & Increasing Safety ($10,000) - A community-vetted design will be developed for the Central Ave. corridor that incorporates new and improved pedestrian and bicycle facilities. There is an expressed need for more pedestrian-friendly, safe and accessible streets in many small cities and villages in Chautauqua County. Several municipalities have adopted Complete Streets policies and have implemented elements of Complete Streets to address this need. Complete Streets are nationally recognized as an approach to planning, designing, and constructing streets to include access and mobility considerations for all public road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders, as well as users of all ages and abilities. Projects can include sidewalk improvements and connectivity, bicycle lanes, crosswalks, pedestrian signals, curb cuts, curb bumpouts, lighting, landscaping, wayfinding and signage, and traffic calming measures. The awarded municipalities have either adopted Complete Streets policies or are following through with visions and designs from past planning efforts to develop accessible streets for everyone in their communities. These municipalities were chosen based on their project’s readiness, feasibility, and economic impact. They address significant needs such as sidewalk connectivity for schoolchildren and crosswalks on busy streets. Furthermore, the projects have the potential to spur additional future investment in their streetscapes. The positive effects of a walkable street may include reducing vehicle/pedestrian accidents, making travel more accessible for the disabled and elderly, increasing foot traffic to local businesses, creating more “eyes on the street” which enhances safety, encouraging active transportation and physical and mental fitness, and reducing traffic congestion and local pollution. Within the context of CCPEG’s dedication to local economic development, the Complete Streets Grants are a tool that will advance economic prosperity for thriving and resilient municipalities, with benefits that spread throughout the entire County. In addition to these efforts, Chautauqua County’s Complete Streets Working Group, which includes the County Executive’s Office, Department of Planning and Development, Department of Public Facilities, and Department of Health, has identified four complete streets projects on County roads in the City of Jamestown, Village of Fredonia, Village of Cassadaga, City of Dunkirk, and Town of Dunkirk. These projects include the addition of complete streets features on Water Street, Maple Avenue, and Baker Street. A feasibility study to develop conceptual designs and cost estimates, will take place on Vineyard Drive in the City and Town of Dunkirk.    About CCPEG – The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth serves as the main convener of economic development partners and resources to advance key projects that achieve economic prosperity in Chautauqua County. It also serves as the catalyst and broker of resources for advancing economic prosperity efforts and is the central coordinating entity for the formation, retention, development, and attraction of quality jobs and advancements to the quality of life. For more information, please visit chqpartnership.org.

The Chadakoin River Activation project will bring new life to the river and surrounding area in Jamestown by enhancing access, creating business opportunities, and establishing the Chadakoin as a recreational destination. The project plans include conservation and improvements to the natural environment. Visit www.Chadakoin.org to learn more! Since the Chadakoin River Strategic Business Plan was created in 2021, partners from around Chautauqua County have been collaborating on its implementation, and funding for the first phase of projects has been secured.

In 2012, the Chautauqua County Department of Planning and Economic Development, along with dozens of stakeholders, developed a comprehensive Greenway Plan to expand trail and greenway development within the county. While some of the planned projects have been completed, others are still in the works. The Sheldon Foundation awarded the Partnership for Economic Growth with a $25,000 grant to support the development of an organizational plan for the Friends of the Chautauqua County Greenways. In early 2022, Camoin Associates was hired and conducted several workshops and stakeholder interviews over the spring and summer months. The goal was to create an organizational structure for multiple recreational user groups to collaborate for the purpose of cooperation and leveraging financial resources, as well as create a sustainable organization that could continue developing the county’s trail system for years to come. In late 2022, stakeholders, with support from the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth and Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation, launched the “Friends of Chautauqua County Greenways," (FCCG) as a collaborative group of dozens of individual groups working to advance trail development, recreation, and conservation efforts in Chautauqua County.  The “Friends” group will be working to achieve a unified approach for the purpose of cooperation, outreach, and fundraising to build upon Chautauqua County’s incredible trail and outdoor recreation assets.  The Partnership for Economic Growth recently hired Jacob Bodway as Trails Coordinator to advance this effort, which will lead to further implementation of the County’s Greenway Plan and to further develop Chautauqua County as a mecca for outdoor recreation and active living.  You can reach Jacob via email at BodwayJ.CTR@chqgov.com

Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and Chief Executive Officer of the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA), provided an overview of the CCIDA’s activities in 2022 at the CCIDA Board of Directors meeting on January 24, 2023. After discussing the nature and breadth of projects approved by the Board in 2022, Geise discussed the economic development team’s top 10 accomplishments in 2022, as well as their top 10 priorities for 2023.  Geise explained that during 2022, the CCIDA Board approved more than 50 projects, which included the approval of loans for businesses, incentives for development projects, and the procurement of grants. Some of these projects included incentives for the $348 Million ConnectGen Project in South Ripley; the $42.3 Million Electrovaya Project in the Town of Ellicott; approval of incentives for the $4.5 Million White Inn Restoration Project in Fredonia; and a myriad of less than 5 MW solar projects located throughout the county (to name just a few). In 2022, the CCIDA approved Cares Act Loan funding for 8 businesses throughout Chautauqua County in the amount of approximately $896,000, which were part of the $10.5 Million U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant received by the CCIDA in 2020. The CCIDA also approved nine AL Tech Loans totaling $2.2 Million, and secured 15 grants totaling $7.9 Million. All said, the CCIDA was involved in projects, loans, and grants that will result in more than $500 Million being invested in Chautauqua County, which are projected to create 363 new permanent jobs, retain more than 770 jobs, and create hundreds of construction jobs. Additionally, $2.1 Million in PILOT payments were made to the school, municipal, and County taxing jurisdictions in 2022. Geise also discussed the evolution and successes of the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG), which was formed in 2019 as an initiative of the CCIDA’s non-profit subsidiary, the Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC). CCPEG, which is a public/private partnership, represents the active participation of over 100 economic development partners from throughout the county. CCPEG is supported by the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation, Gebbie Foundation, the CCIDA, and the County, and is managed by Nate Aldrich. After completing an economic development strategy for the County, CCPEG was awarded a $1.05 million grant from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation in 2021. CCPEG convenes and supports Business, Placemaking, Workforce, Housing, and Infrastructure partners in identifying, developing, funding, and implementing projects that impact the local economy and improve quality of life. Through meaningful collaboration, CCPEG leads efforts to procure resources to advance a wide array of projects and initiatives consistent with the County’s recently completed Economic Development Strategic Plan. In 2022, CCPEG focused on advancing 15 priority projects in alignment with the Economic Development Strategy.  The Partnership also provided over $420,000 in financial assistance and technical assistance to support several dozen partner-led projects and initiatives that support economic revitalization and long-term strategic investment throughout Chautauqua County. In addition, the Partnership was awarded nine grants in 2022, totaling over $1.4 Million, and leveraged an additional $7.5 Million on behalf of its partners. Some of the key projects receiving grant funding that CCPEG played a key role in advancing include: an Empire State Development (ESD) Grant for the Chadakoin River Activation Initiative - $361,000; a NYS Water Infrastructure Improvements Act (WIIA) grant for the Westside Sewer Extension Phase 2 Project - $6 Million; an ESD Restore NY grant for the White Inn Redevelopment Project- $1.25 Million; an ESD Restore NY grant for the Silver Creek School Housing Project - $1 Million;  a Department of State (DOS) Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP) grant for the Mayville Waterfront Activation Project - $675,000; and several others.     In terms of aspirations for 2023, Geise discussed his desire for the CCIDA to acquire land for expansion of their shovel-ready site offerings; re-activating several key vacant buildings, including the Furniture Mart Building in Jamestown, Lake Shore Hospital in Hanover, Silver Creek School in Silver Creek, Truck-Lite Building in the Town of Ellicott, Lenhart Hotel in Bemus Point, and the large formerly ConAgra-owned building (now owned by the CCIDA) in Dunkirk; continue to work with the City of Dunkirk, State, and NRG in getting the NRG facility back into productive use; developing a marketing and branding strategy for the county to help address population decline and supply businesses with much-needed talent; and continuing to work with economic development stakeholders and municipalities through CCPEG programming to undertake key projects and initiatives. “This has been an epic year,” explained Geise. “Through all of the adversity posed by the pandemic and its aftermath, the CCIDA team was once again able to deliver. This was due to the unwavering dedication of an extremely capable staff, board, community volunteers making up our Loan Transaction Committee, consultants, and so many others. We will continue to be aggressive and intentional as we concentrate our efforts on key priorities such as creating shovel-ready sites, re-purposing key vacant buildings throughout the county, and attracting talent.” Mike Metzger, Chairman of the CCIDA Board of Directors (retired in December 2022), echoed Mr. Geise’s sentiments when he said, “Congratulations to the entire economic development team for all of your dedication and hard work. We have a great relationship with the business community, the municipalities, and the County, and this has proven to be true in the substantial impact that we are making throughout the county. A special thanks to the volunteer CCIDA Board and Loan Committee, as well as the staff and every entity involved with economic development in Chautauqua County for making 2022 a banner year.”    Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel said, “I am very pleased with the level of effort and accomplishments of the CCIDA and the extended economic development team, which includes the Partnership for Economic Growth and the County Department of Planning & Development. I commend Mark Geise and the CCIDA team for their focus on key strategic matters such as creating shovel-ready sites, repurposing vacant buildings, and reversing population decline through county branding and talent attraction initiatives. While we face ebbs and flows in our local, regional, state, and federal economies, Chautauqua County continues to raise the bar year-after-year when it comes to our local economy through their hard work and intelligent decision-making.” About CCIDA - The CCIDA is an economic development organization authorized and empowered by the State of New York to make Chautauqua County a better place to work, live, and visit. It facilitates development by attracting new businesses, while promoting the retention and expansion of existing businesses. Assistance in the form of incentives – tax abatements, low interest loans, and bond financing – enhances the opportunities for job creation and retention by our businesses.  For more information visit www.ccida.com.

Through a grant from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, to support small business entrepreneurship, the Small Business Development Center at Jamestown Community College is offering a new online, self-paced course revolving around small business and entrepreneurship skills. The $195 certification is provided by Jamestown Community College and the 6 module course provides essential information regarding entrepreneurship basics, product design, accounting and financials, legal issues, market research, and human resources. Individuals interested in taking the certification course or any of our other courses in e-commerce, website development, social media marketing, zoning, or succession planning can go to the Online Business Academy’s website. “The Small Business Development Center at JCC worked in collaboration with the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth to ensure entrepreneurship and the support of small businesses throughout the county is a priority that will encourage economic growth.  Members of the CCPEG Advisory Board made this initiative a priority and thus will enable more individuals in our region to learn more about starting and growing business ideas.”- Courtney Curatolo Click here for more information on the Entrepreneurship Essentials certification course.

Congratulations to the City of Dunkirk for their $10 million New York State Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant award. The DRI funding will advance a number of public and private investments to improve Dunkirk’s downtown and enable it to take full advantage of its waterfront potential. Downtown Revitalization Initiative projects will create a robust environment for rehabilitation of historic downtown buildings designed to develop significant new infill mixed-income residential opportunities that are inclusive while embracing our strong heritage and ethnic diversity. Reactivation of Central Avenue storefronts with new businesses and services and upper floor downtown residential activity will power the transformation inspired through adaptive reuse projects. Improvements to the Dunkirk Harbor to bolster Lake Erie spawned sport fishing and boating, new recreation experiences for tourism growth, and extended Dunkirk stays will power the potent conduit from the waterfront to Central Avenue extending to Fredonia. With DRI funding, Downtown Dunkirk will be more attractive, livable, walkable, vibrant, and memorable while catalyzing additional private investment and development interest. Great work by Mayor Wilifred Rosas and the City of Dunkirk Department of Planning and Development  and all those who helped make this happen! Our economic development team at the CCIDA, CCPEG and CCPD which offered other technical and monetary assistance leading up to and during the DRI application process. CCPEG was proud to partner with the City to produce this video, which was used during the City's presentation to the Regional Economic Development Council. Each individual project mentioned still needs to be selected and approved to be part of the City’s DRI Strategic Investment Plan, which will be developed by a local planning committee this year.  Click here to view the video.

Three Economic Development Organizations CollaborateChautauqua County, NY: — Three local economic development organizations collaborated on a program to assist 35 Chautauqua County small businesses in their efforts to rebound in the wake of the pandemic. Each organization contributed their areas of expertise for one common objective.   The pandemic presented unprecedented challenges, and local business owners have had to adapt to succeed. This includes methods to communicate with customers in new and innovate ways. In their effort to continue supporting small businesses and not-for-profits, Chautauqua County committed a portion of their ARPA funding ($400,000) to directly assist businesses with the challenges associated with retaining current customers and attracting new ones. The “Marketing Assistance to Businesses and Not-for-Profits” project, which was identified as one of the priority projects recommended in County Resolution 202-21, was approved by the legislature at its October 27, 2021 meeting. The County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA), Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce (CCCC), and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Jamestown Community College (JCC), partnered to offer grant funding to small businesses of 50 employees or less to help them with their marketing efforts. Assistance was made available to help businesses develop and employ new marketing ideas and methods for attracting customers and retaining employees. “The rationale for funding this new program was based on the premise that if businesses do better, the county benefits as a whole,” said Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and CCIDA CEO. “The pandemic posed many challenges to small businesses, and local business owners have had evolve. It was evident that those businesses that were able to pivot during the pandemic, in terms of offering services in a different way, were able to not only survive, but in some instances thrive. Helping businesses to evolve and expand their marketing reach will certainly increase foot traffic and boost their sales.” When faced with hardships, small businesses often focus resources on what they need to do to remain in operation for the short term. Even though marketing is an essential operating expense,in many cases it is one of the first things to be reduced before such essential expenses as insurance, payroll, rent, and taxes. Julie Rockcastle, a spokesperson for one of the grant recipients, The Heron Farm and Event Center, stated, “With the marketing grant we were awarded, we were able to hire a great new local marketing director. The response to our new branding has been very encouraging! We believe it will translate to more reservations and ticket sales for us and increased tourism within the county. We appreciate the support very much!” Small businesses with 50 employees or less had the opportunity to receive up to $10,000 in marketing funds to implement marketing upgrades. Eligible expenses included branding; copy right/trade marketing; printed or digital signage; social media; print, TV, and social media advertising; website development; e-commerce; printed brochures and flyers; marketing software expenses; and other marketing-related activities. Funds were allocated to those who met the program requirements on a first come first served basis.   Courtney L. Curatolo, Ph.D., Director, SBDC at JCC stated, “While marketing is a critical aspect for any business, it tends to be pushed off to the side due to limited time and resources. The ARPA funds have enabled these businesses the freedom to be creative in an effort to promote their businesses in unique and diverse ways. The businesses that were awarded the funds have already seen an impact, and my hope is to secure more funding for this program.” The response to this program was overwhelming, and unfortunately the program could not assist all of the businesses that expressed a need. That being said, the County, CCIDA, SBDC, and CCCC are exploring other sources of funding to assist those businesses that could not take advantage of this program.      “One positive from the last few years is a renewed focus on shopping and supporting local,” said Daniel Heitzenrater, CCCC President & CEO. “These grants will help small local businesses market their products while connecting them with support organizations like the Chamber, SBDC and CCIDA. We also encouraged recipients to use local vendors and companies as much as possible so the funds may have a double impact by supporting local marketing related businesses,” stated Heitzenrater. About the CCIDA The CCIDA is an economic development organization authorized and empowered by the State of New York to make Chautauqua County a better place to work, live, visit, and conduct business. The organization facilitates development by attracting new businesses, while promoting the retention and expansion of existing businesses. Assistance in the form of incentives – tax abatements, low interest loans, and bond financing – enhances the opportunities for job creation and retention for our businesses.  For more information, visit www.ccida.com.

JAMESTOWN, NY — The Jamestown Tarp Skunks announced today that the home game on Thursday, June 30th, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. will be a Community Buyout Night presented by the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA). All tickets for that night’s game will be free to the public courtesy of CCIDA. As of this year, the CCIDA has been serving Chautauqua County for 50 years. “Rewarding the community with tickets will be part a celebration recognizing all the valuable work this organization has accomplished to date,” said Mark Geise, Chautauqua County Deputy County Executive of Economic Development, and CCIDA CEO. “We are coming off a stellar year that we helped to create 314 jobs, retained 1,752 jobs, and made a total committed investment of $164,383,946 here in the County. We stand on the shoulders of those who tirelessly worked here in the past as we push forward into the future with great momentum,” stated Geise. Jacob Kindberg, director of business and sales operations for the Tarp Skunks stated, “The CCIDA has been working with us to create a celebration of Chautauqua County, its residents, and its businesses, that the community can enjoy free of charge.” He added, “It was important to us, and the CCIDA, that we found a way to reward our local community for the great support it showed the Tarp Skunks in 2021. By making tickets free to everyone for this game, the CCIDA is showing that same level of commitment to our community.” Visit the Jamestown Public Market on June 25th to get free tickets for the game and see the Tarp Skunks mascot. Community members may also get their tickets the night of game outside the stadium prior to the first pitch at 6:30 p.m. or at the CCIDA office in the BWB building at 201 West Third Street, Jamestown, NY, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. starting June 13th.  The Tarp Skunks 2022 season started at home on Thursday, June 2nd with a win Vs. Olean 2-0. The team will play 24 home games in June and July, followed by playoffs beginning in August. Additional ticket information and a printable schedule can be found at www.tarpskunks.com. About the CCIDA The CCIDA is an economic development organization authorized and empowered by the State of New York to make Chautauqua County a better place to work, live, visit, and conduct business. The organization facilitates development by attracting new businesses, while promoting the retention and expansion of existing businesses. Assistance in the form of incentives – tax abatements, low interest loans, and bond financing – enhances the opportunities for job creation and retention for our businesses.  For more information, visit www.ccida.com.

Loans to Be Made Available to Businesses and Non-profits to Aid in Economic Recovery as a Result of Covid-19JAMESTOWN, N.Y.:— The County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) will once again continue to accept applications to provide low-interest loans to both businesses and non-profit organizations as a means to respond to economic injury resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. This new round of funding starts immediately.    In  early 2020, as part of EDA’s CARES Act Recovery Assistance, the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) invited select current recipients of existing EDA-funded Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) awards, including the CCIDA, to apply for a supplemental RLF award to help respond to the unusual and compelling urgency of the coronavirus pandemic. EDA had determined that the CCIDA, by virtue of its longstanding and substantial investment in making credit available to small businesses, possessed unique abilities to support the CARES Act Recovery Assistance initiative and that it was therefore in the public’s best  interest to make this award available on a non-competitive basis. In mid-2020, the CCIDA team immediately responded to this invitation with the required documentation to apply for the funding. As part of the application process, CCIDA staff created a detailed plan for prudently deploying the funds in a way that would provide maximum flexibility for recipients as well as timeliness in deploying the funding in order to accelerate economic recovery within the County.  The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) originally announced on September 9, 2020, that the CCIDA had been selected as the recipient of a $10.5 million grant through the CARES Act, which enabled the agency to establish a new Revolving Loan Fund (RLF). The RLF has been providing capital, in the form of low-interest loans, since its initial launch. The RLF Program was made available to a wide-range of industry sectors, including professional services, non-profits, and other sectors that had previously been excluded from receiving CCIDA loan funds. As currently established, the RLF will provide loans of no less than $25,000 and not to exceed $100,000, with an interest rate of 2.44% (the lowest allowed). Since the establishment of the RLF, the CCIDA has been able to assist more than 50 businesses and non-profit organizations in Chautauqua County, allowing them to remain in operation, thereby saving thousands of jobs and helping the local economy rebound. Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and CEO of the CCIDA stated that “we still have funding remaining from the initial award, and the application and program details are currently available.” He urges anyone interested in applying to contact the CCIDA office at 716-661-8900.   About the CCIDA The CCIDA is an economic development organization authorized and empowered by the State of New York to make Chautauqua County a better place to work, live, visit, and conduct business. The organization facilitates development by attracting new businesses, while promoting the retention and expansion of existing businesses. Assistance in the form of incentives – tax abatements, low interest loans, and bond financing – enhances the opportunities for job creation and retention for our businesses.  For more information, visit www.ccida.com.

(February 11, 2022) The County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA), Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce (CCCC), the Small Business Development Center at Jamestown Community College (SBDC), and Insyte Consulting have partnered to offer grant funding to small businesses of 50 employees or less to help them with their marketing efforts. Assistance is being made available to help businesses evolve, primarily as a result of the pandemic, to develop new ideas and methods for attracting customers and retaining employees. The pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges and local business owners must adapt to survive and prosper. This includes methods for them to communicate with customers and prospective employees in new and innovative ways. In an effort to continue supporting our small business community, Chautauqua County has committed a portion of the funding they received through the American Rescue Plan Act to assist businesses with their marketing and talent attraction initiatives. Businesses will have the opportunity to receive up to $10,000 in reimbursable marketing funds to implement upgrades to their website, social media, branding, and other marketing-related initiatives. In addition, qualified manufacturers of less than 500 employees can opt to work with Insyte Consulting to improve their company culture by implementing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) programs and initiatives, thereby positioning them to attract and retain more employees. Insyte Consulting will do an assessment of select manufacturers, resulting in recommendations that address some of the easier to achieve ESG aspects.  Evolving and expanding a business’s marketing reach will increase foot traffic and boost sales, and implementing ESG initiatives will benefit company culture, thereby improving the ability to attract and retain talent. Businesses can elect to apply for either program or just one according to their needs. Funds will be allocated based on a first come, first served basis. In order to apply for either program, contact the Small Business Development Center at 716-338-1024 to schedule an appointment with an advisor, or by going to the SBDC website at http://www.sbdcjcc.org.

$164 Million in New Investment, 314 New Jobs, 1,752 Retained Jobs Resulted from CCIDA AssistanceJAMESTOWN, N.Y.: — Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and Chief Executive Officer of the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA), provided an overview of the CCIDA’s activities in 2021 at the CCIDA’s Board Meeting on January 25, 2022. After discussing the nature and breadth of projects approved by the Board in 2021, Geise discussed the economic development team’s top 10 accomplishments in 2021, as well as their top 10 goals for 2022. Geise explained that during 2021, the CCIDA Board approved nearly 50 projects, which included the approval of loans for businesses, incentives for development projects, and the procurement of grants on behalf of businesses. Some of these projects included incentives for the $13 Million Love’s Travel Stop and Country Store in Ripley; the $18 Million Webb’s Chautauqua Resort in Mayville; the $41 Million Americold Freezer in Dunkirk; the $1.4 Million Hideaway Bay Resort in the Village of Silver Creek; the $11.6 Million redevelopment of the former Welch’s Headquarter Building in the Village of Westfield; the securitization of loan/grant funding for Jamestown Container Corporation and Jamestown Advanced Products in the amount of $4.6 Million; the sale of CCIDA-owned land for the purpose of developing a new YMCA facility in Jamestown; and several small (less than 5 MW) solar projects (to name just a few). In 2021, the CCIDA also approved Cares Act Loan funding for 25 businesses throughout Chautauqua County in the amount of approximately $5 Million, which was part of the $10.5 Million U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant received by the CCIDA in 2020. All said, the CCIDA was involved in projects, loans, and grants that will result in $164 Million being invested in Chautauqua County, which are projected to create 314 new permanent jobs over three years, and will retain more than 1,750 jobs.      In addition, Geise discussed what he considers to be the top 10 accomplishments resulting from activities undertaken by the CCIDA/County Economic Development Team in 2021. In addition to several of the larger development projects approved by the CCIDA and previously-mentioned, Geise also discussed the $1.2 Million Ralph Wilson Jr. Foundation grant received by the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth; the over $4 Million funding received for economic development-related projects via the American Rescue Plan Act allocation made to the County; continued collaboration with the Cities of Jamestown and Dunkirk; the litany of activities the CCIDA undertook in relation to COVID-related business assistance, including the EDA Cares Act Loan Program, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Business Assistance Program, and CCIDA Working Capital Loan Program; and the analysis and continued negotiations with several property owners to expand the CCIDA’s shovel-ready site offerings. In terms of aspirations for 2022, Geise discussed his desire to acquire a large parcel or parcels for expansion of the shovel-ready sites; re-activating several key vacant buildings, including the Furniture Mart Building, the White Inn, Silver Creek School, and the large formerly ConAgra-owned Building in Dunkirk; continue to work with the City of Dunkirk, State, and NRG in getting the NRG facility back into productive use; and develop a marketing and branding strategy for the county to help address population decline and supply businesses with much-needed labor (to name a few). “This has been an epic year,” explained Geise. “Through all of the diversity posed by the pandemic, the CCIDA team was able to knock it out of the park. This was due to the unwavering dedication of an extremely capable staff, board, and community volunteer team making up our Loan Transaction Committee, and so many others. We will continue to be aggressive and intentional as we continue to advance the ball in terms of economic development, as well as the creation and retention of jobs.” Mike Metzger, Chairman of the CCIDA Board of Directors, echoed Mr. Geise’s sentiments when he said, “Congratulations to the entire economic development team for all of your dedication and hard work. We have a great relationship with the business community, the municipalities, and the County, and this has proven to be true in the substantial impact that we are making throughout the County. A special thanks to the volunteer CCIDA Board and Loan Committee, as well as the staff and every entity involved with economic development in Chautauqua County for making 2021 a great year.”    Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel said, “I am thrilled with the work being undertaken by the CCIDA and the extended economic development team, which includes the Partnership for Economic Growth and the County Planning Department. I commend Mark Geise and the CCIDA team for their laser focus on Chautauqua County’s upward trajectory despite the pandemic.  As I’ve stated many times, our comeback will be greater than our setback, and the CCIDA’s 2021 tally of accomplishments speaks to the significant steps forward we continue to make for our local economy year after year.” Click here for the CCIDA/CREDC 2021 Year-end Report & 2022 Work Plan. About CCIDA – The CCIDA is an economic development organization authorized and empowered by the State of New York to make Chautauqua County a better place to work, live, and visit. It facilitates development by attracting new businesses, while promoting the retention and expansion of existing businesses. Assistance in the form of incentives – tax abatements, low interest loans, and bond financing – enhances the opportunities for job creation and retention by our businesses.  For more information visit www.ccida.com.

RIPLEY, N.Y.: — On January 25, 2022, the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) approved incentives for ConnectGen Chautauqua County LLC’s South Ripley Solar Project, a 270 megawatt (MW) large-scale solar project located in South Ripley, wholly located within the town boundaries of Ripley. The Project will include a 20 MW battery energy storage component. “This is a project that ConnectGen and the community have been working on for a couple of years,” said Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development/Chief Executive Officer of the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency. “The built-in certainty of guaranteed revenue made possible by the PILOT and Host Community Agreements will allow Ripley and Chautauqua County to make long-term financial plans, and I’m glad that the CCIDA could assist the Town and ConnectGen in making it a reality.”  Doug Bowen, Town of Ripley Supervisor said, “This has been a long and sometimes challenging project; however, at the end of the day the revenue from this project will benefit the citizens of the Town for many years to come.” ConnectGen has worked since late 2018 to introduce the Project to the Ripley community, meet with state agencies and local municipalities, and perform environmental studies. In August 2021, ConnectGen filed a 94-c Application for the Project, which provides extensive details regarding project design, environmental review, economic and community benefits, and potential impacts and mitigations. Subject to the receipt of necessary permits, it is anticipated that Project construction will commence in late 2022. The project is not expected to impact local farmlands currently producing dairy or cultivating vineyards. Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel said, “This project is a win for the Town of Ripley, Chautauqua County, and the State of New York. We are thrilled that we have the land and infrastructure to attract this clean energy project to our area.” Through the PILOT and Host Community Agreements, the Project is expected to contribute over $60 million in increased revenue to local taxing jurisdictions including the Town of Ripley, Chautauqua County, the Sherman Central School District, the Ripley Central School District, and the Ripley Volunteer Fire Department over its 30-plus-year lifespan. In addition to the local tax benefits, local landowners are expected to receive more than $30 million in long-term revenue in the form of solar leases, easement agreements, and good neighbor agreements. The CCIDA Board of Directors unanimously approved a 30-year payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreement, sales tax abatements, and a mortgage recording tax abatement for the project.  According to Linda Burns, CCIDA Project Manager, the estimated financial incentive package over the 30-year term is valued at approximately $88 million, while the projected state and regional benefits that are expected to result from the project are estimated at $238 million – a benefit to cost ratio of 3:1. The company estimates that construction of the Project will create up to 200 family-wage construction jobs.  Once completed, the project will require two to four full time jobs for ongoing monitoring and maintenance. Through its contracts with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities, the project will contribute a significant amount of renewable energy to assist the State of New York in achieving its Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goal to obtain 70% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, supplying enough electricity to power more than 55,000 average New York homes annually. ConnectGen Chief Executive Officer, Caton Fenz, said “We want to thank the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency staff and board members, who put a tremendous amount of effort into our PILOT negotiations.  This agreement is a significant milestone for the project and the county, and we are excited for the opportunity to contribute hundreds of millions of dollars in private investment, tens of millions of dollars in new tax revenues for Chautauqua County, the Town of Ripley, and the Ripley and Sherman School Districts, and more than 200 family-wage jobs during the construction process.” For more information about the South Ripley Solar Project, please visit www.southripleysolar.com or email info@southripleysolar.com. About the CCIDA – The CCIDA is an economic development organization authorized and empowered by the State of New York to make Chautauqua County a better place to work, live, and visit. It facilitates development by attracting new businesses, while promoting the retention and expansion of existing businesses. Assistance in the form of incentives – tax abatements, low interest loans, and bond financing – enhances the opportunities for job creation and retention by our businesses.  For addition information about the CCIDA, please visit our website at www.ccida.com.

CCIDA Approves Incentives for Welch Building RedevelopmentWESTFIELD, N.Y.: — At its December 21, 2021 meeting, the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) Board of Directors approved incentives to support redevelopment of the former Welch Administration Building in the Village and Town of Westfield. PILOT/Tax Lease incentives were approved by the CCIDA for adaptive re-use of the $11.5 million project being undertaken by 2 Portage, LLC, which will include real property, sales tax, and mortgage recording tax abatements.  The entire 48,000 square foot building will be renovated, thereby creating a mix of residential apartments and commercial tenant space. Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and Chief Executive Officer of the CCIDA spoke about the IDA’s efforts to attract new development to the community and region, noting that most of the building has been vacant for many years.  Geise said, “This project has been on the CCIDA’s radar for a long time, and we worked collaboratively with the Town and Village leadership, as well as the real estate brokerage firm, Hanna Realty, to procure a responsible developer to do the right thing with this iconic structure.” In 2018/2019, Empire State Development’s Western New York Regional Economic Development Council identified this building’s redevelopment as a “priority” project, awarding more than $1 Million to incentivize a developer to transform it into a multi-use facility.  The project did not come to fruition with the original developer due to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic; however, funding from the State along with CCIDA incentives and historic tax credits compelled Savarino Companies, partnering with Raant, to take on this exciting project. Town of Westfield Supervisor, Martha Bills, along with Paula Blanchard from Hanna Realty, have been actively promoting the building’s redevelopment, which included issuing a Request for Proposals to developers and the community.  Bills said, “It has been extremely important to the Town Board and myself that we preserve this cornerstone of our Main Street and downtown business community.”  Bills continued, “We are extremely happy to be working with investors who are familiar with and have a successful track record in redeveloping historic buildings.” Village of Westfield Mayor Mike VandeVelde echoed Bills’ sentiments by saying, “This redevelopment will significantly help with the overall development and revitalization of the Village of Westfield and surrounding areas.” Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel said, “This outstanding conclusion is the result of a terrific collaborative effort between the County, CCIDA, Town and Village of Westfield, Empire State Development, and Hanna Realty.  The key stakeholders working on this project have many years of experience working with economic development programs, and the knowledge of how to put these programs together successfully to attract new development to our county.” Sam Savarino, CEO of Savarino Companies, said, “We are grateful for the support and assistance of the CCIDA. This is an important first step in creating an adaptive reuse project that county, town, and village can be proud of.”  Subject to additional approvals needed, acquisition is anticipated in 2022 with an 18-month construction period and an estimated occupancy in mid-2024. About CCIDA – The CCIDA is an economic development organization authorized and empowered by the State of New York to make Chautauqua County a better place to work, live, and visit. They facilitate development by attracting new businesses, while promoting the retention and expansion of existing businesses. Assistance in the form of incentives – tax abatements, low interest loans, and bond financing – enhances the opportunities for job creation and retention by our businesses.  For more information visit www.ccida.com.

In preparation for the development of its 2022 Work Plan, the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) invites businesses, municipalities, non-profit economic development organizations, and community groups to submit Letters of Interest (LOI) for funding consideration and/or technical assistance for 2022 projects that seek to support economic revitalization and long-term strategic investment throughout Chautauqua County. Projects that directly align with the Partnership’s Economic Development Strategic Plan will be looked at favorably through the review process. Purpose CCPEG supports projects that are in alignment with a recently completed county-wide Economic Development Strategic Plan. The Strategy identifies five work groups that are designed to capitalize on the economic opportunities in Chautauqua County: 1) Business Development; 2) Workforce Readiness & Development; 3) Community Development; 4) Housing Development; and 5) Tourism/Destination Development. CCPEG offers a collaborative infrastructure and resources to advance catalytic economic development projects that align with the Strategic Plan and the work group priorities, and can provide staff and consultant support, as well as financial support for select projects each year. Request for Letters of Interest Interested applicants should submit a 1-2 page Letter of Interest via email to aldrichn@chqgov.com. LOIs must be submitted by October 15, 2021 at 4pm. LOIs should include the following: Project description; Rationale and expected economic impact; Total project cost and anticipated timeline; Type of support being sought (technical assistance, grant-writing support, and/or financial assistance); and Contact information. Before submitting, it is recommended that interested applicants review the goals and strategies of the Chautauqua County Economic Development Strategic Plan which can be found at: https://bit.ly/chqstrategicplan. CCPEG Support Once a proposal is received, it will be reviewed and scored based on the following criteria: Readiness and feasibility; Alignment with local and regional strategies; Transformational potential; Economic and fiscal impact; Potential for leveraging non-local funding; Capacity within the project sponsor’s organization; and Level of collaboration among local stakeholder organizations, including public agencies and community-based organizations. After the LOI review, the CCPEG will have the opportunity to offer varying degrees of support for select projects identified to have transformational county-wide impacts. Support could include project development technical assistance, grant-writing support, and/or financial assistance.  In 2022, a minimum of $250,000 will be made available on a competitive basis for projects leveraging state, federal, philanthropic, and local sources. For questions or assistance, please contact Nate Aldrich at (716) 363-3672 or aldrichn@chqgov.com. About CCPEG – The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth serves as the main convener of economic development partners and resources to advance key projects that achieve economic prosperity in Chautauqua County. It also serves as the catalyst and broker of resources for advancing economic prosperity efforts and is the central coordinating entity for the formation, retention, development, and attraction of quality jobs and advancements to the quality of life. For more information, please visit chqpartnership.org.

Applications are still open!What Is It? The NYS COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program was created to provide flexible grant assistance to currently viable small businesses, micro-businesses and for-profit independent arts and cultural organizations who have experienced economic hardship due the COVID-19 pandemic. Who is Eligible? Small businesses, Micro-businesses and For-profit independent arts and cultural organizations must be currently viable and have begun operation on or before March 1, 2019, and continue to be in operation as of the date of application (may be shuttered due to COVID restrictions). For eligibility requirements and more information regarding the New York State COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Program, please visit: www.nysmallbusinessrecovery.com

IDA Approves Incentives for Hideaway Bay ResortSILVER CREEK, N.Y.: — The new Hideaway Bay Resort high-end glamping and recreation resort is one step closer to development.  Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and Chief Executive Officer of the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA), announced the recent approval of incentives by the CCIDA Board of Directors at its July 27, 2021 meeting. The new resort will be situated on the 3.6-acre former Hideaway Bay Restaurant site on Lake Erie and Walnut Creek in the Village of Silver Creek.  The developers are using an active and healthy living design that showcases the natural beauty along with world-class recreation, fishing, and birdwatching opportunities. It will feature 10 waterfront cottages, a restaurant-bar and event space, and four seasons of diverse world-class active and passive recreation opportunities. The cottages, or “glamping units,” will have high-end décor, private patio space, and stunning waterfront views.  A new 2-story event space will be designed to host events such as weddings and retreats, with upper and lower patios, and an indoor/outdoor full-service bar.  Active and passive recreation opportunities will also be available on site.  The owners have been operating Stand-Up Paddleboard (SUP) for over 5 years, and will provide watersports such as paddleboarding and kite boarding along with an active recreation center with a natural kayak launch, in-house fishing guides, and educational birding events.  Hideaway Bay Resort will also book other off-site activities such as horseback riding, snowmobiling, skiing, kiteboarding, and more. A Western New York native and adventure sport enthusiast, Kevin Cullen and his wife Christian are two of the project owners and developers, residing in the Silver Creek area with their family.   Cullen said, “We are excited to showcase the area’s natural beauty and leverage its recreational attributes to draw visitors and sports enthusiasts to the area. There really is something for everyone to do in this region and we are going to celebrate the variety of activities that are available here.” CCIDA approved providing up front tax abatements for the $1.4 million development, including Sales Tax, Mortgage Recording Tax, and Payment in Lieu of Tax (PILOT) real property tax exemptions to incentivize the project.  The CCIDA also provided extensive project coordination and technical expertise.  Chautauqua County, the Village of Silver Creek, Town of Hanover, and Silver Creek Central School District will now each receive new additional real property tax revenue payments via the CCIDA PILOT.  Thirty construction jobs are projected plus thirty new jobs at the resort. Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel said, “I commend Mark Geise and the CCIDA team for their laser focus on Chautauqua County’s upward trajectory despite the recent pandemic.  Our comeback thus far has proven to be greater than our setback, and this new development is a notable step forward for our local economy.” “Chautauqua County, the Village of Silver Creek, Land Bank, CCIDA, and the JCC Small Business Development Center all provided expertise, working collaboratively and diligently for several years to attract this exciting new tourism and event venue to Silver Creek,” said Geise. Jeffrey Hornburg, Village of Silver Creek Mayor, is also looking forward to the site redevelopment and has been actively working with the project team for many months toward that end.  Hornburg said, “The Village of Silver Creek is excited to support the redevelopment of the Hideaway Bay property. It has been a pleasure meeting with Kevin Cullen, discussing his plans for the renovation of the property, and we feel this development will fit nicely within the lakefront area.  As Mayor, I stand ready and willing to assist Mr. Cullen and his organization in any way I can.” The Chautauqua County Lank Bank facilitated the property redevelopment plans and sale after it went into foreclosure, and additionally worked through the unexpected arson and demolition.  Gina Paradis, Chautauqua County Land Bank Executive Director, said, “This is a terrific new development that connects the community and the Local Waterfront Redevelopment Plan very well. We were happy to facilitate the process of identifying the best new development for the site.” Subject to remaining project approvals, construction is expected to begin this fall with the resort becoming operational in the spring of 2022.  The development team is proceeding as 42 Lake Erie LLC and Hideaway Bay Resort comprised primarily of partners Adventure Sports Development LLC, led by Cullen and Christian Edie, and Tundo Construction of Blasdell, owned by brothers Gene and Matt Tundo.  About CCIDA – The CCIDA is an economic development organization authorized and empowered by the State of New York to make Chautauqua County a better place to work, live, and visit. They facilitate development by attracting new businesses, while promoting the retention and expansion of existing businesses. Assistance in the form of incentives – tax abatements, low interest loans, and bond financing – enhances the opportunities for job creation and retention by our businesses.  For more information visit www.ccida.com.

JAMESTOWN, N.Y.: — The Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC), the umbrella organization of the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG), today authorized the acceptance of a three-year, $1.05 million grant award from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. The grant award, CCPEG’s largest financial commitment to date, will extend and enhance CCPEG’s administrative and project development capacity while dedicating the majority of the funding to implement priority projects in alignment with the county’s recently completed economic development strategic plan. This flexible funding pool is designed to provide critical local-matching dollars for catalytic economic and community development projects seeking funding from a multitude of local, state, federal, and philanthropic sources. CCPEG Co-Chair Mark Geise, who is also the Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and CEO of the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) said, “I am extremely grateful to the Wilson Foundation for this funding commitment and I am very pleased to see our collaborative economic development strategy come to fruition.” The Partnership for Economic Growth finalized and adopted a five-year economic development strategy last summer. The comprehensive approach resulted in the creation of five overarching initiatives and dozens of other key recommendations to be initiated by individual partners as well as collectively. It was designed to serve as a “call to action” and offers a clear vision for achieving economic prosperity in Chautauqua County. Most importantly, it promotes a collaborative and countywide outlook that supports substantial initiatives and strategic investment, to incrementally transform Chautauqua County’s economic standing in Western New York and across the State. While the strategic plan serves as a roadmap, partners convene regularly within five individual work groups to identify priorities in the areas of Community Development, Business Development, Tourism, Workforce Readiness and Development, and Housing. The CCPEG Board is charged with developing an annual work plan, which contains a menu of priority projects to be pursued in that calendar year. This mechanism has proved to be successful and will continue to be utilized to identify, vet, develop, fund, and implement specific actions, projects, programs, and initiatives that align to the strategy. “This funding award is exciting news for our county,” said PJ Wendel, Chautauqua County Executive. “The County and CCPEG have worked tirelessly to bring additional economic development opportunities to our communities and this generous grant will help us continue our work in making Chautauqua County a better place to live, work and raise a family.” While specific projects to be funded by the Wilson Foundation award are yet to be determined, criteria such as project readiness, feasibility, and economic impact will be used to guide decision-making. Nathan Aldrich, Economic Development Manager for CREDC and CCPEG, said “This award is a game-changer and will help us take our work to the next level. I look forward to realizing the tremendous impact that this funding will have on our ability to execute our mission along with several transformative projects within in the next few years. Mr. Wilson’s legacy certainly lives on in our community, and we are so proud be the recipient of his generosity.” Geise and Aldrich also noted their appreciation to the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation (NCCF), who helped advance the creation of the countywide economic development strategy and launch of CCPEG, and the Gebbie Foundation, who has also been an early supporter of the initiative.   “In addition to the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, NCCF, and the Gebbie Foundation, we thank all of our committed partners, funders, Board and Advisory Council members, and staff for their dedication to this unique public-private economic development collaborative,” said Geise. “The Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation appreciates and recognizes the years of hard work and collaboration in Chautauqua County that has led to a common vision and an innovative platform from which to drive a new model of economic growth. The new project leveraging funding at CCPEG will support the implementation of priority projects in the coming years, with a laser-focus on raising quality of life across the entire county,” said James Boyle, Vice President of Programs and Communications, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. For more information about the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth, please visit CHQpartnership.org.

DUNKIRK, N.Y.:— After a year-long planning process, the City of Dunkirk and Chautauqua County, along with their consultant, Bergmann, presented key findings of the NRG Power Plant Feasibility Study and Alternatives Analysis on Tuesday, June 8th. The NRG Power Plant, originally known as the Niagara Mohawk Power Plant, operated from the 1950s until 2015. The plant was officially mothballed in 2016, with the decommissioning process beginning in 2020. The NRG Power Plant was an economic engine in the City of Dunkirk, contributing to approximately 40 percent of the City’s tax base and providing close to 150 well-paying jobs at its peak. Bergmann, along with their sub-consultants, MRB Group, Brownfield Group, and Empire Building Diagnostics, was charged with exploring a series of re-use options that would ultimately bring this site back to a viable and sustainable use while catalyzing community revitalization efforts. A redevelopment strategy for the NRG Power Plant site that mitigates direct and indirect impacts on the Dunkirk community is critical to the City’s long-term economic recovery. The study concluded that, overall, the redevelopment strategy for the NRG Power Plant would have the greatest benefits if it allowed the community to access workforce development opportunities, generated tax revenue, included a clean energy component, supported public access to the waterfront, and aided in comprehensive economic development for the region. A market analysis was conducted to understand market conditions within the local and regional area that will aid in the facilitation of the site’s redevelopment. The study also included an inventory and analysis of existing conditions to understand the site’s opportunities and constraints related to redevelopment. A total of seven site re-use alternatives were explored in the analysis. The alternatives presented did not represent an exhaustive list of options, but are intended to illustrate alternatives that are most likely to advance a viable redevelopment and improve the socio-economic characteristics of the City of Dunkirk and the Chautauqua County region. All alternatives have the ability to incorporate renewable energy components that can offset carbon emissions, which would be a preferred outcome. Each alternative was identified based on an understanding of the following project goals: Create an active waterfront re-use that supports community revitalization; support expanded job opportunities for the local and regional economy; generate tax revenue for the local community; and incorporate environmental sustainability and renewable energy goals. All potential re-use concepts explored present a unique opportunity to leverage the site’s locational advantage and accessible infrastructure and utilities, in order to create an economic driver in the City of Dunkirk. Two preferred re-use concepts include redeveloping the site as a data center, as well as an industrial use that also includes a data center. The study also includes recommendations of immediate next steps that the City of Dunkirk and Chautauqua County should advance in order to better understand site/building constraints and future opportunities, to position the site for funding to facilitate redevelopment. These include: continuing to collaborate with NRG Energy; pursuing a Build-Ready Program Application through NYSERDA; conducting additional environmental investigations; investigating interconnection costs; completing energy modeling; collaborating with the NYS Climate Justice Working Group; and performing site marketing and promotion. City of Dunkirk Mayor Wilfred Rosas said, “I would like to thank our development team, our consultants, Bergmann Associates, and the County for their hard work on this project and look forward to working together towards a new use for this facility.  I am hopeful that, with NRG contributing as a willing participant, we will work with federal, state, and county resources to find a new purpose for that site.” Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and CCIDA CEO, said, “This effort represents a proactive approach that the City and County are taking, in close collaboration, to influence the return of an economically productive use of this site. While we have more work to do, this study identified site assets, opportunities, and constraints, and ultimately identified what we believe to be the highest and best uses for the site. Even though we are a long way from completing our mission, I look forward to continuing our collaborative process with Mayor Rosas and his team, as well as NRG, to realize a successful site reuse in the future.” PJ Wendel, Chautauqua County Executive, said, “I thank the Department of Planning and Development and CCIDA for spearheading this effort in close collaboration with the City of Dunkirk to pursue a reuse study for this once vibrant power plant in the City of Dunkirk.” The study was supported by a $60,000 Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) POWER grant with local matching funds committed by the City of Dunkirk, the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA), and the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation.

The Chautauqua County Department of Planning & Development encourages interested businesses, organizations, and municipalities to apply for grant funding for their economic and community development projects through this year’s New York State Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) process. In early May, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo launched Round XI of the Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) initiative. Round XI includes core capital and tax-credit funding that will be combined with a wide range of existing agency programs totaling approximately $750 million. The core funding includes $225 million in grants and tax credits to fund high-value regional priority projects. The State budget also provides more than $525 million in resources from state agencies to support community revitalization and business growth consistent with the existing REDC plans through the CFA process. In order to be responsive to the immediate needs of the development community and as the state is making crucial investments to generate economic activity, the $150 million in grant funds from Empire State Development will be made available to projects on a continuous and competitive basis this round. An emphasis will be placed on project readiness and alignment with each region’s strategic plan. Additionally, projects within each region will also be eligible for a share of $75 million in Excelsior Tax Credits to help attract and grow business in the region. Projects from all 10 regions submitted through the CFA will be eligible for over $525 million in other state agency funds, which are available on a set timeline. Regional Economic Development Councils will review these projects and provide scores that reflect how well a project aligns with a region’s goals and strategies. The CFA is now open to applicants. All applications must be submitted online, with most programs having an application deadline of July 30, 2021 at 4 p.m. To learn more, review the CFA Process Guide, the CFA Resource Guide, the REDC Guidebook, or read through the FAQs. The CFA allows applicants to submit applications to access grant funding from over 30 programs available from 10 state agencies. Eligible applicants include for-profit businesses, not-for-profit corporations, business improvement districts, local development corporations, economic development organizations, research and academic institutions, municipalities, counties, regional planning councils, tourist attractions and community facilities. Submitted projects should align with the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council’s regional strategic plan, “A Strategy for Prosperity in Western New York.” This plan strives to improve economic and community development in Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, and Niagara Counties by improving job readiness, smart growth, and entrepreneurship. It also targets continued growth and opportunities in the advanced manufacturing, agriculture, bi-national logistics, energy, health and life sciences, higher education, professional services and tourism industry sectors.  While the Chautauqua County Department of Planning & Development, County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA), Chautauqua Region Economic Development Agency (CREDC), and Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) are busy preparing applications for projects with county-wide impacts that align with the recently completed Economic Development Strategic Plan, businesses, municipalities, and local organizations are encouraged to explore the available resources for their individual projects. Those interested in applying can contact Nate Aldrich, Economic Development Coordinator, at aldrichn@chqgov.com with questions.

Governor Cuomo has once again made $750 million available through Round XI of the Regional Economic Development Councils. Join NYSEDC and Empire State Development staff for an overview of the process including how to access the Consolidated Funding Application, new changes to the award timeline, and information for how to connect with appropriate Regional Councils and other participating state agencies.  Presenters:  Alison Walsh, Vice President for Regional Economic Development, Empire State Development   Ashley McCloskey, Assistant Vice President for Regional Economic Development, Empire State Development Matt Isgro, Director, Programs, and Incentives – Statewide, Empire State Development

May 9 to 15 marks National Economic Development Week, in which communities across the country celebrate positive contributions to economic development and provide and explain the role of the profession in our local community. While my last few columns have chiefly looked back at what our economic development partners accomplished in 2020, we want to take this opportunity to look forward. As we reflect on the past year and the difficulties brought on by the pandemic, what are the key issues that we need to collectively focus on? What are the opportunities we need to seize? Chautauqua County’s leaders and our economic development partners are not ignoring critical issues such population decline, the availability of a skilled workforce, or the negative impacts brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic. Just the opposite! Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all approach or a magic bullet solution for addressing these issues. Take population loss for example – while we are fully aware that this is a major issue that needs to be addressed at the County level (and all levels for that matter), there is no simple fix to this complex issue. I wish there was a switch we could flip that would solve all of our problems; however, this simply is not the case. Population loss here, which has been occurring since the 1970s, is not unique to Chautauqua County. This is a systematic issue throughout Western New York and New York State, and is believed to be attributed primarily to high taxes, weather, over-burdensome business regulations, and the perception that there is a lack of good paying jobs here (to name a few). In recognition that this is a multifaceted issue and that no one partner can address these issues on their own, we developed a public-private economic development collaborative, the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth, which is taking a comprehensive approach to economic development, and in so doing, has broadened the traditional definition of this multifarious discipline. If we are to compete with other areas in attracting people to our county, we need to create an environment in Chautauqua County that is attractive to everyone, but especially young professionals. While we have a low-cost of living, extraordinary natural assets, and planned events/activities throughout the County, I believe we lack in what I would characterize as the “cool” factor. That is, more concentrated and walkable communities; breweries; new, more modern and efficient housing; a critical mass of organized groups for young people; “sexy” businesses that appeal to young people; and more opportunities for young people to stay and work in the multitude of businesses that have open positions (to name a few). Again, this is a complex issue which deserves and requires a long-term and multifaceted strategy, which is one of the primary issues that the economic development strategy is addressing. It’s a big lift! Through the Partnership, Chautauqua County’s economic development stakeholders are taking bold action to implement a comprehensive, data-driven, and results-oriented economic development strategy for the County. The plan offers ambitious, but achievable actions, and calls for game-changing projects and programs aimed at reversing the stifling economic trends of population loss, net job loss, and stagnant household incomes. Through careful tracking of performance, and by adapting tasks as the plan advances, implementation of the strategy has been designed to move the needle on increasing median household incomes, reducing poverty, and ultimately reversing population loss in our county. This unique public-private strategy focuses on five key areas: Business Development; Workforce Readiness and Development; Housing; Community Development; and Tourism and Destination Development. This approach is in recognition that these five areas are not only equally important, but intertwined, and several initiatives need to occur simultaneously if we are to be successful in reversing decline. Not only that, advancement in one area will surely breed success in another. The Business Development Work Group encompasses a multitude of partners from business support entities to municipal officials who are working collaboratively to ensure Chautauqua County fosters a positive environment for the creation and expansion of small and large businesses, the preparation of development-ready sites, and extension of needed infrastructure throughout the county. The partners are working to help businesses grow, expand, locate, and thrive in Chautauqua County, and has identified core sectors that should be targeted in order to optimize key assets and amenities. Ensuring that Chautauqua County’s businesses and not-for-profits have access to a qualified workforce is vital to their productivity and the future of our economy. As such, workforce training and the availability of skilled labor is a critical component of the county’s economic development strategy. Partners involved in the Workforce Readiness and Development Work Group are acting collaboratively to make every effort to do what is necessary to prepare the future workforce, as well as further develop the current workforce. This is much harder than it might seem on its face! Childcare is a big issue, as is transportation, work ethic, and many other factors. Creating a diverse mix of safe and well maintained housing options throughout the County is critical to the future of Chautauqua County. The county has a glut of old housing that isn’t necessarily conducive to the lifestyles of young or retired people. The Housing Work Group is engaging and supporting municipal leaders, housing agencies, investors, homeowners, and tenants through projects that will ultimately improve the County’s housing stock and continue to remove blight. Specific projects have been identified, and when fully implemented, will ultimately result in the provision of a diverse range of housing stock to meet the demands of today’s workers and active adults. Again, this is a challenging prospect, and is not something that is going to happen overnight. Chautauqua County encompasses many small, agricultural-based towns that possess unique rural character and charm. These historic downtowns and lakeside communities have “good bones,” which is one of the assets that can be beneficially exploited to becoming attractive centers of activity and commerce. By convening partners and providing support and technical assistance, the Community Development Work Group is seeking to create healthy, vibrant, walkable communities, characterized by thriving downtowns and enhanced waterfronts. This, too, is a lofty goal; however, we are up to the challenge one community at a time. Fully capitalizing on the County’s renowned tourism offerings and abundant outdoor recreation attractions is, no doubt, a central component of Chautauqua County’s economic future. The Tourism and Destination Development Work Group is working collaboratively to break down silos and more broadly promote unique experiences and destinations throughout Chautauqua County to increase visitor stays and spending, while also encouraging private businesses and entrepreneurs to invest in the themes of these assets. In addition to these collaborative efforts, our economic development team is working closely with County Executive Wendel on several other economic development priorities in 2021. These include: Assist businesses, Not-for-Profits, agencies, and other institutions to fully resume operations and offerings following the negative consequences wrought by the pandemic; Revise and implement the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Chautauqua Lake, which lays the groundwork for cooperation of key stakeholders in management of the Lake, and has a 2-year term; Establish “CHQ Scientifica”, a national research Hub on Chautauqua Lake, which will integrate research professionals and programs into a collaborative center for researching and addressing major water quality issues affecting Chautauqua Lake and its reservoirs, especially the mitigation of harmful algae blooms; Develop a “County Airport’s Strategic Plan” in-house, which will re-think what the function of the airports should be and what customers they should be serving, based on existing assets, locational advantages, current and future customers, and other relevant factors; Develop a tourism transportation shuttle connecting major tourism venues throughout the county, including hotels, wineries, breweries, and other key attractions; Work closely with the CCIDA, CCPEG, CCVB, WDB, and other stakeholders to develop and implement a proactive Talent Retention and Attraction initiative, along with other parallel efforts, to assist businesses in retaining existing employees, filling open positions, and attracting new businesses; Purchase and/or control key parcels, both greenfield and brownfield sites, for future development, along with advancing the needed infrastructure, so we have more development-ready sites to drive and meet future demand; and Seek additional resources and establish partnerships to extend broadband internet coverage throughout the County, especially to rural areas that are unserved or underserved. Like most rural counties, we face some very difficult economic challenges; however, I believe our partners are up to the challenge. We are continually reminded of Chautauqua County’s incredible assets and the dedicated partners and individuals working every day to make Chautauqua County a better place to live, work, visit, and conduct business. Dozens of organizations, agencies, municipalities, educational instructions, and non-profits are working diligently through a unity of effort. To them, we say “Thank You!” To learn more about the Partnership for Economic Growth, the Chautauqua County Economic Development Strategic Plan, and priority initiatives, please visit chqpartnership.org. Please also follow us on Facebook @CCPEG, especially during economic development week, as we recognize our partners, outline our priorities, and showcase success stories. Mark Geise is Chautauqua’s Deputy County Executive for Economic Development, and CEO of the CCIDA.

Loans Made to Businesses and Non-Profits to Aid in Economic Recover as a Result of COVID-19, Will Create 130+ JobsJAMESTOWN, N.Y.:— The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) officially announced on September 9, 2020 that the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) had been selected as the recipient of a $10.5 million grant through the CARES Act, which enabled the agency to establish a new Revolving Loan Fund (RLF). The intent of the RLF is to provide capital, in the form of low-interest loans, to both businesses and non-profit organizations as a means to respond to economic injury resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. With the intent of distributing the funding across many sectors and do it an equitable manner, the CCIDA established target budgets by sector and deployed the funding in three rounds. The first round of funding was awarded at the October 27, 2020 CCIDA Board meeting, the second round was awarded at the January 26, 2021 meeting, and the latest and final round was awarded at the April 27, 2021 meeting. While the original allocation of over $10 Million has been fully committed, the loan fund will continue to be replenished as loan payments are made, thereby allowing the CCIDA to continue to loan this funding out into perpetuity.  In total, the CCIDA Board approved funding for 50 businesses and non-profit entities in the following sectors: manufacturing/warehousing; not-for-profits; retail/commercial/agriculture; small business; and tourism/hospitality. All said, $10.4 Million in funding was approved by the CCIDA Board of Directors after a thorough review by the Loan Committee, which will, in addition to retaining more than 2000 jobs, create upwards of 130 new jobs.    Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and the CCIDA’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “We are elated that we could deploy all of the funding allocated to us in September of 2020 in less than 9 months, and in the process help more than four dozen businesses and not-for-profits to not only endure, but create jobs. Our extraordinary team at the CCIDA has worked very diligently to get this money out working in the community as quickly as possible, while ensuring that we are responsible, impartial, and address the EDA’s guidelines.”  The entities approved for funding include, but are not limited to, the following: Merritt Estate Winery; The Original Crunch Roll; Pucci Carpet; Excelco/Newbrook; Artone; International Ordnance; Kimbert Manufacturing; Heritage Ministries; Uhl Ventures (Servpro); Ark Wholesale; SKB Auto Sales; Brigiottas; Billicki Law Firm; Advanced Production Group; Skate Shop; Corvus Bus & Charter; Webb’s Candies/Motel; Falconer Hotel; La Quinta/Holiday Inn/Hampton Inn; Big Inlet Brewing; Ivory Acres Weddings; Shawbucks; Cockaigne; Pace’s Pizzeria; Webb’s Harbor Restaurant and Bowling Lanes; Blackstone Advanced Technologies; the Resource Center; Meeder’s Restaurant; Lisciandro’s Restaurant; Bailey Manufacturing, and many others. “It is a testament to the CCIDA that they were able to deploy over $10 Million awarded by the EDA in less than 9 months, while the EDA has given them two years to do so,”  said PJ Wendel, County Executive. “It is also very encouraging to see that they have distributed the funding among many sectors, and more than 130 jobs will be created in the process. As I’ve said all along, our comeback will be greater than our setback, and this funding is proof positive that we will not only recover, we have another economic development tool to spur investment and job creation in this County for years to come as a result of the pandemic.” As part of EDA’s CARES Act Recovery Assistance, the EDA invited select current recipients of existing EDA-funded Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) awards, including the CCIDA, to apply for a supplemental RLF award to help respond to the unusual and compelling urgency of the coronavirus pandemic. EDA had determined that the CCIDA, by virtue of its longstanding and substantial investment in making credit available to small businesses, possessed unique abilities to support the CARES Act Recovery Assistance initiative and that it was therefore in the public’s best  interest to make this award available on a non-competitive basis. “This award is a game-changer for Chautauqua County and speaks to the EDA’s confidence in the CCIDA to immediately deploy necessary capital within our County to retain and create jobs, and to expedite economic recovery in the wake of COVID-19,” said Geise. “I express my sincere gratitude to our entire economic development team for working so hard to secure and deploy this funding on behalf of the county. We have been committed to employing an allocation strategy for this funding that is systematic, inclusive, and equitable so we could have maximum impact on the business and non-profit community.”    At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the CCIDA, with the approval of EDA, established a $250,000 Emergency Working Capital Loan Program with most of the remaining available balance of its Al Tech Trust RLF capital. This program provided twenty-four $10,000 working capital loans to businesses faced with hardships at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This program was extremely successful, with 24 loan closings within four weeks of the program being created; however, this nearly depleted the Al-Tech Loan Fund and excluded several other businesses from participating. This, coupled with the fact that the CCIDA granted temporary deferments on principal payments to a significant number of existing loan clients, significantly limited the agency’s ability to make new loans.  The CCIDA team, at the invitation of the EDA, responded immediately with required documentation to apply for the funding. As part of the application process, CCIDA staff created a detailed plan for responsibly and prudently deploying the funds in a way that provided flexibility for recipients as well as timeliness in deploying the funding in order to accelerate economic recovery within the County.  The newly-established CCIDA RLF Program was made available to a wide-range of industry sectors, including professional services, non-profits, and other sectors that have previously been excluded from receiving CCIDA loan funds through the Al-Tech Loan Fund. The new RLF provided loans of no less than $25,000 and not to exceed $1 Million, and working capital loans of up to $250,000, with an interest rate of 2.44% (the lowest allowed). Geise stated that the application and program details are still available, albeit the funding is limited to what is being paid back to replenish the fund, and urges anyone interested in applying to contact the CCIDA office at 716-661-8900.   About the CCIDA – The CCIDA is an economic development organization authorized and empowered by the State of New York to make Chautauqua County a better place to work, live, visit, and conduct business. It facilitates development by attracting new businesses, while promoting the retention and expansion of existing businesses. Assistance in the form of incentives – tax abatements, low interest loans, and bond financing – enhances the opportunities for job creation and retention by our businesses.  For addition information about the CCIDA, please visit its website at www.ccida.com.

CCIDA/CREDC 2020 Totals The following is a summation of the results of ALL programs administered through the CCIDA and CREDC in 2020: CCIDA & CREDC 2020 Recap   As has been the case with most everyone, the pandemic created many challenges in 2020 and beyond, especially as it pertains to economic development. That being said, the pandemic also created opportunities that would not have otherwise existed. In 2020, we turned lemons into lemonade! In fact, the CCIDA and CREDC had a banner year! Perhaps not in terms of the total number of new jobs created (although the numbers were good), but in terms of jobs retained and the total number of businesses, agencies, and not-for-profits served directly with financial incentives. In total, the CCIDA and CREDC, working with its many partners, were successful in committing and/or leveraging just under $47 million in investment in the county in 2020. Below is a detail of the work we did, in concert with our many partners, in 2020. The Al-Tech Revolving Loan Fund and PILOT Incentive The CCIDA approved just over a dozen typical incentive transactions in 2020, which resulted in a total investment approved/committed of $41.3 million (excluding Round 1 of the EDA Cares Act Loan program, the Emergency Working Capital Loan Program, and grants made via CREDC for the PPE program). These transactions resulted in a total job creation over 3 years of just under 200 full-time equivalents, and the retention of just over 300 jobs. Some of the projects approved by the CCIDA Board in 2020 included the following: ROM Ventures, LLC – Renovations and the purchase of equipment ($4.2 Million); Arktura, LLC – Purchase and equipping the former Acurite facility in Ellicott to manufacture architectural ceiling products ($7.3 Million); ECR Properties – Capital Investment in facility for equipment, repair, and upgrades to Dunkirk facility ($2.2 Million); Petri Baking – Purchase and equipping Silver Creek facility for the manufacture of soft cookies ($13 Million); Hy-Wit Corporation – Purchase of Cassadaga Kwik Fill and Denison Enterprises ($1.3 Million); Hanover PV, LLC – Construction of 5 MW AC Solar Farm in Silver Creek ($6.9 Million); and KGPHJ, LLC (Premier Precision Machining, LLC) – Acquisition, 7,000 SF expansion, and security system upgrades ($953,000). Emergency Working Capital Loan Program In response to the COVID-19 crisis and the impact it was having on businesses throughout Chautauqua County, the CCIDA provided low-interest loans not exceeding $10,000 to businesses throughout Chautauqua County. This program was approved by the Economic Development Administration (EDA) before it was launched. This emergency funding, which originated from the Al-Tech Loan Fund, was used for working capital needs, and the normal application and securitization requirements were relaxed. A simple two-page application was developed, and the process was expedited so that businesses could access needed working capital quickly in order to keep paychecks flowing to working individuals and their families. While the funding was limited, we helped as many businesses as we could with as much funding as we could afford to carve out for this purpose. While these emergency loans are to be paid back, they were interest-only for a minimum of three months, and leniency was exercised in terms of normal collateral requirements. In total, 24 Companies were lent $10,000 each for working capital purposes. Some of these included: Merritt Estate Winery; Cleaners of Chautauqua; 3 C’s Catering; Falconer Hotel; Lost Recording Studio; and many others. Personal Protective Equipment Matching Grant Program The CCIDA Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Grant Program had two components. Component 1 involved a 50/50 matching grant program for the purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other materials needed by businesses (e.g., thermometers, face masks, face shields, tape, barriers, and other implements) to comply with the Governor’s workplace safety mandates. The second component involved the provision of technical assistance services provided by JCC’s health experts in order to assist companies in developing safety plans that would identify what they needed to do in terms of the provision of PPE, in re-designing of their workplace layouts, in revising work schedules, etc., in order to protective their employees and customers. Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC), the 501C3 arm of the CCIDA, was the recipient of donations toward the program from the Gebbie Foundation, the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation, and the Rotary Club of Jamestown, that matched CREDC’s contribution. CREDC managed the program, which included public outreach/PR, application development and intake (a simple 1-pager), application review, dispersal of funds, tracking and managing compliance, etc. All said, 34 companies and not-for-profits benefitted from this program, with a total of more than $24,000 in funding being disbursed.  Some of the benefactors of the program included Bailey Manufacturing; Wells/Fieldbrook Foods; Rand Machine; DFT Communications; Chautauqua Woods Corporation; Chautauqua Lake Marina; Domus Fare; and many others. CCIDA/EDA Cares Act Revolving Loan Fund The CCIDA was awarded $10.5 Million in funding in the 3rd quarter of 2020 as part of the Federal Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Cares Act Stimulus funding, which was to be used for working capital, the purchase of equipment, and other defined purposes to keep their businesses viable. Just as with the Emergency Working Capital Loan Program, collateral requirements were relaxed and the interest rate was set at a low 2.44%. The CCIDA was successful in approving 26 loans totaling $5.4 Million in the first round of approvals in October. Some of the benefactors of this program included Artone; Heritage Ministries; Pucci Carpet One Furniture & Bedding, Inc.; Bilicki Law Firm, PC; Big Inlet Brewing, Inc.; Shawbucks, Inc.; Cockaigne Resort, LLC; and many others. Other Initiatives Undertaken by CCIDA/CREDC in 2020 Started earnest search for suitable land for industrial park expansion – negotiated with landowner in northern Chautauqua County. Additional funding in the amount of $130,000 secured from County through capital projects fund; Inventoried all county brownfields, suspected brownfields, and/or properties within a BOA (over 400), working collaboratively with the municipalities and other stakeholders along with consultant (Prospect Hill); Worked with Invest Buffalo Niagara (IBN) to identify suitable development sites/buildings in Chautauqua County for their WNY Site Identification Initiative. Six are to be highlighted in Newmark Frank’s detailed report; Worked with Gebbie Foundation, City of Jamestown, BPU, RTPI, and other stakeholders, along with consultants (C&S/H. Sicherman) on Chadakoin River Strategic Business/Activation Plan; Worked with City of Dunkirk and other key stakeholders, along with consultant (Bergmann), on NRG Reuse Alternatives and Feasibility Study; Initiated eminent domain proceedings for Roberts Road access to Roberts Road Freezer, LLC and county-owned brownfield site; Initiated proactive Business Retention initiative with Business Development Managers; Revamped website to support and highlight COVID-19 news bulletins for businesses, and answered calls from hundreds of businesses to interpret state mandates related to the pandemic; and Worked with Empire State Brands to secure funding to undertake a feasibility study, and assisted them in securing a $2.2 Million state grant. CCIDA & CREDC 2021 WORK PLAN The following projects and initiatives are being pursued in 2021 by the CCIDA and CREDC: Revamp/Rethink CCIDA Website; Team with STW for Statebook (save $) Team with IBN for Atlas software Collaborate with CCPEG and Planning on website Fully Commit CCIDA/EDA RLF CARES Loan Fund; Purchase at Least 80 acres of Land to Expand Industrial Park(s); Investigate Pros and Cons of Instituting a Local Labor Policy; Complete NRG Reuse Study; Move forward with priority recommendation(s) Fully Consolidate Planning & Development/CCIDA locations; Complete Phase II of Brownfield Strategy & Implement Recommendations (including infrastructure needs); Update Computer Equipment; Implement MOU for Chautauqua Lake; Develop Airport Master Plan in-house; Implement New CRM System (Sales Force); Re-think Marketing Strategy – Collaborate with CCPEG, CCDPD, CCVB, and perhaps others; Package and Seek Funding for 16 CCPEG Projects; Find a Buyer for 26 E. Talcott Street; Finish/Implement Chadakoin River Strategic Business Plan and initiate the implementation process; Finish Eminent Domain Proceedings for Roberts Road Property and Secure Easement; Finish “Agriculture as Economic Development” Plan; Assist Empire State Brands in Launching Integrated Hops and Barley Processing Facility; Fully implement Proactive Business Retention Initiative; Work with County Stakeholders on Talent Attraction Initiative; and Continue providing articles for “Building Chautauqua” Article. Our Team The CCIDA is an economic development organization authorized and empowered by the State of New York to make Chautauqua County a better place to work, live, visit, and conduct business. The organization facilitates development by attracting new businesses, while promoting the retention and expansion of existing businesses. Assistance in the form of incentives – tax abatements, low interest loans, and bond financing – enhances the opportunities for job creation and retention for our businesses.  For more information, visit www.ccida.com.

First Love’s Travel Stop in Chautauqua County TOWN OF RIPLEY, N.Y.:–   At its monthly board meeting today, the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) Board of Directors voted unanimously in favor of providing tax incentives for Love’s Travel Stop and Country Stores, Inc. The project involves construction of a state-of-the art, 22,000 square foot travel center on a 16-acre parcel located at 6201 and 6151 Shortman Road in the Town of Ripley. The travel center will include a convenience store, fueling islands, restaurant, repair center, and related services.  “This is a great project for the Town of Ripley, the region, and the state,” said Mark Geise, Chief Executive Officer for the CCIDA. “This area has been crying out for a project like this, as it replaces the dilapidated Colonial Hotel at the Gateway to our beautiful county and state. In addition to the dozens of jobs this facility will create, Love’s will be paying taxes, and the Community Host Agreement will provide the Town of Ripley with the resources it needs to make upgrades to its water and sewer infrastructure. I welcome the Love’s family to our region.” “The Love’s project is a strong step for the Town of Ripley’s economic development commercial corridor,” stated Doug Bowen, Ripley Town Supervisor. “The Host Community Agreement benefiting Ripley’s municipal water and sewer development is greatly appreciated.” Love’s will provide services not otherwise available in the area and will attract customers from within and outside of the region.  Its estimated $12 million investment for this project is anticipated to net over $30 Million in combined regional and New York State economic benefits over the life of the PILOT. Rick Shuffield, Vice President of Real Estate & Development for Love’s, commented, “Love’s is very excited about the opportunity to put a new travel center at the gateway to New York State.  The CCIDA played a key role in why we were able to proceed with the development, and we look forward to being part of the local community.” The new facility, which is expected to break ground in April of 2021 and be completed by the end of 2021, will create approximately 100 temporary construction jobs and more than 40 new permanent jobs.  County Executive PJ Wendel said, “My hope is that this project will open up this area to future development that fits into the fabric of our County and region. I know the CCIDA has been working closely with Love’s and the Town of Ripley to develop a project that benefits all parties, and for that I am grateful.” Love’s was founded in 1964 and is headquartered in Oklahoma City. With over 530 locations in 41 states, they employ more than 28,000 employees nationwide. About the CCIDA – The CCIDA is an economic development organization authorized and empowered by the State of New York to make Chautauqua County a better place to work, live, visit, and conduct business. It facilitates development by attracting new businesses, while promoting the retention and expansion of existing businesses. Assistance in the form of incentives – tax abatements, low interest loans, and bond financing – enhances the opportunities for job creation and retention by our businesses.  For addition information about the CCIDA, please visit its website at www.ccida.com. Any comments or questions regarding this announcement should be addressed to Deputy County Executive for Economic Development/CCIDA Chief Executive Officer, Mark Geise, at geisem@co.chautauqua.ny.us.

In 2018, Chautauqua County embarked upon a two-phased economic development planning process with the assistance of a nationally recognized consulting firm, Camoin Associates. The primary goal of this process was to work with public and private stakeholders from across the county to identify a cohesive and comprehensive strategy, and as importantly, a collaborative mechanism for its implementation. Our work with stakeholders throughout Chautauqua County revealed that there was strong interest in collaborating to better position the county for continued economic success. Phase I of the process was geared toward creating a Chautauqua County Economic Development Organizational Plan, which ultimately led to the formation of a project-based, private/public economic development “collaborative” that encourages county-wide economic development stakeholders to work together to develop and implement a county-wide Economic Development Strategy (Phase II). This collaborative, known as the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth, was launched in 2019 under the umbrella of the Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC). Chautauqua County’s numerous assets, including a supreme quality of life, decent infrastructure, a strong tourism industry, numerous opportunities for skilled workers, a low cost of living, and many others, provide the necessary foundation for growth in the coming years. The energy and interest in overcoming challenges and seizing upon opportunities demonstrates that Chautauqua County has the will to work together to be more effective as compared to working in individual silos. It is our belief that coalescing and forming a robust county-wide partnership will result in a stronger economic development strategy, increased efficiencies and effectiveness of program development and implementation, and optimization of financial and human resources. The partnership consists of a Board, a private sector Advisory Council, and five individual working groups consisting of key stakeholders from throughout the county in the areas of Business Development; Community Development; Workforce Development, Housing Development, and Tourism/Destination Development. Each of these groups is working together to define what their key challenges and opportunities are, and what initiatives/projects need to be undertaken to either take advantage of assets or address problems. Phase II resulted in the creation of a County-wide Economic Development Strategic Plan that contains high-level concepts for change and a clear vision for transformative projects and equitable opportunities to be pursued, with specific tactics, projects, programs, services, and policies to be updated or initiated. Moreover, it promotes a county-wide outlook that supports substantial initiatives to incrementally transform Chautauqua County’s economic standing in Western New York and across the State. The strategy was created to: Align with and contribute toward the goals of increasing levels of per-capita income, private capital investment, population, and job growth; Promote an equitable quality of life for county residents, with vibrant downtowns and healthy neighborhoods having affordable, diverse options for housing and accessible amenities; Help create an environment where entrepreneurs of diverse backgrounds and incomes can start and grow businesses across all industry sectors; Improve the business climate, characterized on the frontline by streamlined processes and business-friendly efforts of municipal officials in all jurisdictions; Contribute to the fiscal sustainability of the County – either in terms of tax revenue generated as a result of economic growth, program income, and dedicated funding streams, and/or in a decreasing the need for public spending, particularly on social services; Support efforts of public education and workforce development professionals to help retain graduates and attract talent to become permanent residents and fill local jobs; Fill gaps in local economic development programming and target resources in order to support the growth and development of each jurisdiction within the County; Leverage regional collaboration and State resources to support County services and initiatives; Complement the County’s comprehensive plan and target resources to improve infrastructure and community development priorities, especially shovel-ready sites; and Produce right-sized performance metrics to stay on track and implement management control and accountability measures for maximum impact. Across individual and group meetings, there is an enthusiasm to refine economic development delivery services in Chautauqua County in a method that emphasizes the best of what is currently underway, while eliminating duplication of services and adapting other programs to meet the needs of today. The Economic Development Strategic Plan is a call to action for the wide range of economic development partners in the county. The challenges loom large; however, this is an opportunity for the Partnership and its stakeholders to exhibit the best of what the county has to offer and make the case for why investment is crucial from state, federal, and foundation partners. The Partnership Board has approved 16 priority projects as part of the 2021 Work Plan. Staff and partners will now work to further develop these projects, and secure support and funding to implement them. Among these projects are: Site and Infrastructure Development Program – Identify, control, prepare, and market development-ready sites; Chadakoin River Activation and Development Initiative – Create amenities and commercial development opportunities along the Chadakoin River to increase visitation and spending in downtown Jamestown; NRG Reuse Alternatives and Feasibility Study – Develop reuse concepts, gauge their feasibility and benefits to the community, and understand development constraints and opportunities; Agricultural Development and Enhancement Strategy – Devise strategies to increase the economic viability of the agricultural industry, encourage farmland protection, and increase public interest and awareness of local agriculture; Talent Attraction and Retention Initiative – Develop a cohesive recruitment and retention branding and marketing initiative to attract and retain talent to live, work, and start up new businesses in the county; Workplace Culture Improvement as a Recruitment/Retention Strategy – This initiative is intended to assist businesses in competing for talent by concentrating on their economic, social, and environmental practices; Consolidated Code Administration and Enforcement Feasibility Study – This initiative will explore whether there is better and more efficient way to deliver code enforcement services, and what that might look like; Dunkirk Downtown Revitalization Initiative – This effort focuses on idenfiting, developing, gauging feasibility, packaging, and presenting a series of cohesive projects for funding through the New York State Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) process, aimed at improving and activating Dunkirk’s downtown and waterfront; Trail Development – Complete trail segments and develop more trails that are consistent with the Chautauqua County Greenway Plan, which will ultimately create more opportunities for outdoor recreation and active living; Village of Mayville Strategic Waterfront Activation Framework – Develop a conceptual plan and strategy for activating the Mayville waterfront in proximity to the historic Train Depot; and Tourism Transportation Shuttle – Working with CARTS, Chautauqua Institution, and other stakeholders to create dedicated shuttle service to connect tourism destinations, tourism-related businesses, and traveler accommodations throughout the County; Lastly, I would like to thank our numerous partners, including municipalities, development organizations and agencies, business leaders, educational institutions, and foundations. Our work would not be possible without our dedicated Board and Advisory Council members, and our staff, led by Nathan Aldrich. I also wish to recognize our premier sponsoring partners – the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation (NCCF) and the Gebbie Foundation. For more information about the Partnership for Economic Growth, visit chqpartnership.org. Mark Geise is deputy county executive for economic development/CCIDA CEO.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Treasury Department, announced today that the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) will re-open the week of January 11 for new borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers. To promote access to capital, initially only community financial institutions will be able to make First Draw PPP Loans on Monday, January 11, and Second Draw PPP Loans on Wednesday, January 13.  The PPP will open to all participating lenders shortly thereafter. Updated PPP guidance outlining Program changes to enhance its effectiveness and accessibility was released on January 6 in accordance with the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Non-Profits, and Venues Act. This round of the PPP continues to prioritize millions of Americans employed by small businesses by authorizing up to $284 billion toward job retention and certain other expenses through March 31, 2021, and by allowing certain existing PPP borrowers to apply for a Second Draw PPP Loan. “The historically successful Paycheck Protection Program served as an economic lifeline to millions of small businesses and their employees when they needed it most,” said SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza.“Today’s guidance builds on the success of the program and adapts to the changing needs of small business owners by providing targeted relief and a simpler forgiveness process to ensure their path to recovery.” “The Paycheck Protection Program has successfully provided 5.2 million loans worth $525 billion to America’s small businesses, supporting more than 51 million jobs,” said Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin.  “This updated guidance enhances the PPP’s targeted relief to small businesses most impacted by COVID-19.  We are committed to implementing this round of PPP quickly to continue supporting American small businesses and their workers.” Key PPP updates include: PPP borrowers can set their PPP loan’s covered period to be any length between 8 and 24 weeks to best meet their business needs; PPP loans will cover additional expenses, including operations expenditures, property damage costs, supplier costs, and worker protection expenditures; The Program’s eligibility is expanded to include 501(c)(6)s, housing cooperatives, direct marketing organizations, among other types of organizations; The PPP provides greater flexibility for seasonal employees; Certain existing PPP borrowers can request to modify their First Draw PPP Loan amount; and Certain existing PPP borrowers are now eligible to apply for a Second Draw PPP Loan.  A borrower is generally eligible for a Second Draw PPP Loan if the borrower: Previously received a First Draw PPP Loan and will or has used the full amount only for authorized uses; Has no more than 300 employees; and Can demonstrate at least a 25% reduction in gross receipts between comparable quarters in 2019 and 2020. The new guidance released includes: PPP Guidance from SBA Administrator Carranza on Accessing Capital for Minority, Underserved, Veteran, and Women-owned Business Concerns; Interim Final Rule on Paycheck Protection Program as Amended by Economic Aid Act; and Interim Final Rule on Second Draw PPP Loans. For more information on SBA’s assistance to small businesses, visit sba.gov/ppp or treasury.gov/cares. About the U.S. Small Business Administration The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

More Than $3 Million in Grant Funding Available through Financial Support Led by Diageo North America and Supported by Coastal Pacific Wine & Spirits, and implemented by the National Development Council Eligible Restaurants Can Receive up to $5,000 to Assist with COVID-19 Safety Measures Empire State Development (ESD) today announced the more than $3 million “Raising the Bar” Restaurant Recovery Fund to assist restaurants in New York State during the COVID-19 pandemic. This grant funding has been made possible through financial donations led by Diageo North America and supported by Coastal Pacific Wine & Spirits (a division of Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits) and will be implemented by the non-profit National Development Council (NDC). The “Raising the Bar Restaurant Recovery Fund” will help eligible restaurants adjust their operations to the impacts of COVID-19 and adherence to New York State’s public health and safety measures during the winter months when outdoor dining is limited. Empire State Development Acting Commissioner, and President & CEO-designate Eric Gertler said, “The restaurant industry is a critical component of our state’s economy – encompassing hundreds of small businesses who employ thousands of New Yorkers. This industry has been among the hardest hit by the devastating effects of COVID-19, working hard to stay open, serve customers and keep employees safe. This fund is designed to help establishments adapt during this unprecedented time with assistance to sustain their businesses during the winter months to come.”  “Raising the Bar” grant funding can be used for COVID-19-related improvements and equipment that will allow the business to comply with social distancing guidelines, expand take-out/delivery operations, or accommodate outdoor dining such as plexiglass barriers/partitions, signage promoting social distancing and hygiene protocols, heaters, heat lamps, weatherization upgrades and insulated delivery bags; improvements that will allow the business to continue operating through the winter months such as filtration system upgrades and food heaters to maintain temperature for to-go orders and purchasing PPE and sanitation supplies necessitated by the pandemic; and COVID-19 related business improvements like patio heaters or contactless technology. Qualifying purchases and expenditures must be from September 1, 2020 onwards to be eligible. Initial round of grants are up to $5,000.  Initial grant funding will be awarded based on the received applications and dispersed independently by NDC, an experienced national economic non-profit that has been in operation since 1969. “Diageo is committed to supporting restaurant owners, particularly those in underrepresented communities, who have been disproportionately harmed by COVID-19,” said Debra Crew, President, Diageo North America. “We are honored to serve as a founding contributor of the ‘Raising the Bar’ Restaurant Recovery Fund, providing much needed relief to an important industry that serves as a vital part of the economic engine of local communities. We encourage other organizations and businesses that also call New York ‘home’ to join us in this endeavor to make the impact of the program even stronger.” “The hospitality industry in New York needs help now more than ever and we are here for them like they’ve always been here for us,” commented Wayne E. Chaplin, Chief Executive Officer, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits. “The Raising the Bar Restaurant Recovery Fund provides an essential lifeline to restaurant owners so they can continue to operate safely, and stay afloat during this critical time. We are proud that our Coastal Pacific Wine & Spirits division is working with the State of New York, our valued supplier, Diageo, and the NDC to provide this much needed and urgent financial support.” “At NDC, we are eager to get moving on this restaurant grant program,” said Dan Marsh, President of National Development Council. “Having worked on numerous loan and grant programs in New York and across the country, what we have seen is that smaller restaurants — especially minority and woman-owned establishments and those in hard-hit neighborhoods — are not getting the help they really need. A tailored grant program specific to this industry is critical.” Eligible businesses consist of New York State restaurants that have no more than $3 million in 2019 revenue and are engaged in providing food services and meals prepared on-premises to patrons who traditionally order and are served while seated, including certain on-premises food and drinking establishments licensed through the State Liquor Authority (SLA) and which need funding to adjust to COVID-related impacts and protocols. Establishments providing take out or grab and go food services due to COVID-19 restrictions are also eligible to receive the grant from NDC. Additionally, these establishments must have been in operation on or before March 1, 2019 and certify and demonstrate that they have experienced financial hardship due to COVID-19.  All businesses must continue to comply with the New York Forward reopening guidance and Cluster Action Initiative guidance, as applicable. Restaurants can apply to the “R aising the Bar Restaurant Recovery Fund” starting Monday, January 11, 2021. For more information visit the ESD website at https://esd.ny.gov/raising-bar-restaurant-recovery-fund. Applications will begin to be accepted on Jan. 11, 2021. About Empire State Development   Empire State Development (ESD) is New York’s chief economic development agency. The mission of ESD is to promote a vigorous and growing economy, encourage the creation of new job and economic opportunities, increase revenues to the State and its municipalities, and achieve stable and diversified local economies. Through the use of loans, grants, tax credits and other forms of financial assistance, ESD strives to enhance private business investment and growth to spur job creation and support prosperous communities across New York State. ESD is also the primary administrative agency overseeing Governor Cuomo’s Regional Economic Development Councils and the marketing of “I LOVE NY,” the State’s iconic tourism brand. For more information on Regional Councils and Empire State Development, please visit www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov and www.esd.ny.gov.   About Diageo North America Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan’s whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Casamigos, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.  Diageo is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE: DGE) and their products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information about Diageo, their people, brands, and performance, visit www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice. Follow at Twitter and Instagram for news and information about Diageo North America: @Diageo_NA.  About Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits is the world’s pre-eminent distributor of beverage alcohol, and proud to be a multi-generational, family-owned company. The Company has operations in 44 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Canada. Southern Glazer’s urges all retail customers and adult consumers to market, sell, serve, and enjoy its products responsibly. For more information visit www.southernglazers.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @sgwinespirits and on Facebook at Facebook.com/SouthernGlazers.  About NDC NDC is a national economic development nonprofit that directs capital and financial expertise to local communities, governments, and agencies. NDC supports the development and preservation of affordable housing; creates jobs through small business lending; advances livable communities with social infrastructure investment; and builds capacity through hands-on training and technical assistance in all areas of economic development. Founded in 1969, NDC continues to evolve and innovate to meet the needs of today’s challenges. Find us at ndconline.org @NatlDevCouncil