Chautauqua County Legislature

Bemus Point resident also serves as executive director of BESTJAMESTOWN, NY: -- The County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) is pleased to announce the addition of John Healy to the CCIDA Board of Directors, following his approved appointment by the Chautauqua County Legislature at its January 2025 voting session. By virtue of being appointed to the CCIDA Board of Directors, Healy will also assume a seat on the boards of the Chautauqua Regional Economic Development Corporation (CREDC) and the Chautauqua County Capital Resource Corporation (CRC). Healy has more than 20 years of experience in the construction industry, including architecture/engineering; construction administration; estimating; and project management with educational, health care, commercial, utility, and infrastructure projects. He has worked for the Builders Exchange of the Southern Tier (BEST) since 2021 and was recently named the Executive Director, replacing Brad Walters, who retired from that position at the end of 2024. Walters resigned from the CCIDA board on December 23, 2024 due to his recent retirement from BEST, after serving for ten years, creating the open board seat that Healy is now filling. Healy is a member of numerous local organizations including the Workforce Investment Board; Jamestown YMCA; and the Jamestown Noon Rotary Club, where he served as past president. His educational background includes an MBA from the Franciscan University of Steubenville; a BA from the University of Mount Union; and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). While playing football at Mount Union, Healy helped the Raiders to a 55-1 record and three NCAA Division III national championships. He is a native of Steubenville, Ohio, and currently lives in Bemus Point with his wife Betsy (Myott) and their four sons. “We are pleased to have John join the board of the CCIDA,” said Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and CCIDA CEO. “John brings a wealth of experience to the board and has a firm understanding of its role related to growing and strengthening the local economy, thanks to involvement with BEST and his relationship with Brad Walters.” “Brad provided a lot of great insights pertaining to what was going on in the business community, so it was very beneficial having him on the board these past ten years,” said Gary Henry, CCIDA Chair. “We are confident that John will continue to provide valuable insights in the years to come and look forward to having him on our team.” “I’m excited to join the CCIDA Board of Directors and look forward to contributing to the great work the organization does in Chautauqua County,” Healy said. Prior to his resignation from the board, Walters served as vice chair. That position will now be held by board member Dan Heitzenrater, who had previously served as board secretary. The office of board secretary will now be held by board member Amy Harding.   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.

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.