Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau

CCIDA CEO 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 once again been named to Buffalo Business First’s prestigious “Power 250” listing. The publication’s “Power 250” is an annual list of the 250 people whom 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. For 2025, Geise was ranked 187th, up six spots from his 2024 ranking of 193. 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 expanded and enhanced efforts to help employers during COVID 19. In the past two years alone, and under Geise’s leadership, the CCIDA saw unprecedented economic development activity, assisting with over $1.15 Billion in capital investment in the County. Those investments included: The Cummins Engine internal expansion project ($452 million) Wells Enterprises Phase I, II, and III expansion efforts ($512 million combined) Developing a shovel-ready site along I-90 in Ripley ($16 million) The purchase of long-time Jamestown manufacturer Dahlstrom Rollform by local ownership ($9 million), and Development of several hospitality-based projects, including the White Inn in Fredonia ($3.9 million), Wicked Warren’s in Jamestown ($2.3 million), and Hideaway Bay in Silver Creek ($2 million). 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, the Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC). In 2024, CCEPG was successful in obtaining and granting millions of dollars in economic development resources to advance 57 different public-private economic development projects across Chautauqua County. Also in 2024, the Partnership provided nearly $488,000 in direct grant funding to 35 different projects. In the spring of 2024 and through Geise’s oversight, the CCIDA and CCPEG jointly launched the Live CHQ initiative, a multiyear talent attraction and retention marketing campaign that focuses on helping to correct decades of population loss in the County. Geise also founded the Chautauqua County Land Bank Corporation, which has been serving the community for over a decade. He serves on the board of directors for the land bank, as well as the board for the Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau, the Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board, and on the board of Invest Buffalo Niagara (IBN), where he is also a member of IBN’s Executive Committee. “The CCIDA board of directors would like to congratulate Mark on being named to the Buffalo Business First Power 250. His dedication to the people of Chautauqua County is evident through the tremendous economic development Mark and his team continue to produce every year. Chautauqua County is a better place to live and work due to his efforts,” said Gary Henry, CCIDA and CREDC Board Chair. "Mark Geise’s continued recognition on Buffalo Business First’s ‘Power 250’ list is a testament to his unwavering dedication and leadership in driving economic growth in Chautauqua County. His vision and tireless efforts have resulted in transformative projects that strengthen our local economy, attract investment, and create new opportunities for businesses and residents alike. On behalf of Chautauqua County, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Mark on this well-deserved honor,” said Chautauqua County Executive Paul “PJ” Wendel, Jr.  “I am very grateful to have received this recognition; however, I owe it all to the board, staff, and other stakeholders that are involved in moving the County forward, especially County Executive Wendel,” Geise said. “I hope we can continue to keep our foot on the accelerator for years to come. I love this County and the people here!” 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 2025 Power 250 List has been an annual feature for the publication since 2013 and focuses on people who are making changes and improvements throughout Buffalo and Western New York. The list varies every year based on events, news and promotions. 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.

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.