Nate Aldrich

New program will help showcase Chautauqua County to new county residents/workforce membersDUNKIRK, NY – The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) and County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) are announcing a new program as part of the Live CHQ initiative to help introduce new and prospective residents to all that the county has to offer.  The Live CHQ Workforce Ambassador Program involves people who live and work in Chautauqua County serving as local ambassadors, each with varying backgrounds and interests, and each committed to sharing the benefits that come with living and working in the county. The program matches up new or prospective residents with an ambassador that matches their interests. Together, they will spend time out in the county with a goal of showcasing why it’s an appealing place to live, work, and play. “This is a great resource and recruitment tool for local employers who want to help a new or prospective employee learn more about living in Chautauqua County, including our attractions, local groups and organizations, amenities, and recreational opportunities,” said Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development, CCIDA CEO, and CCPEG Advisory Board Co-Chair. “It’s also great for any individual who has recently relocated to the county and is looking for new networking opportunities, or is just trying to find things to do outside of the workplace that fit with their own background and interests.” “We recognize that not everyone who has moved here or plans to relocate to our county for work has all the information necessary to enjoy the all the quality amenities that come with living here. Our hope is that through this program, they can make the necessary connections needed to not only enjoy being a resident of the county, but also ensure they can make the most out of living here and being part of our community,” said Nate Aldrich, Economic Development Manager for the CCIDA and CCPEG. The Live CHQ Workforce Ambassador Program is intended to compliment the recently launched Live CHQ initiative, which focuses on talent attraction and retention for Chautauqua County. Details for the ambassador program were unveiled in November during a special Live CHQ Workforce Development luncheon with local employers to help inform them of all the recruitment resources available through the initiative. Currently, the program has 17 ambassadors who live and work throughout the county, each with their own unique and diverse set of interests and backgrounds. Some of the ambassadors are native to the county, while others relocated here; however, all take pride in calling Chautauqua County home and want to help share their positive perspectives on being a resident. Biographical details of each of the ambassadors can be found online at LiveCHQ.org – along with instructions on how to set up a meeting with the ambassador. Businesses or individuals who want to take advantage of the program will be asked to fill out a simple inquiry form to help connect them with an ambassador. Once a connection is made, the individual and the ambassador will then work out details for planning a meetup in the county. “Meetings can take place anywhere in Chautauqua County - at a local club meeting or networking event, an outdoor concert, on one of our many outdoor trails or parks, or at a local restaurant or coffee shop. The possibilities are endless,” said Monica Simpson, CCPEG Partnership Engagement Coordinator and also one of the 16 ambassadors. “Best of all – the program is free to participate and open to all new and prospective residents of Chautauqua County, with CCPEG helping to cover any related expenses.” For more information, including the ambassador profiles and the inquiry form, visit the Live CHQ Workforce Ambassador page. “We want to ensure our new residents have a welcoming experience. This program is all about providing a personal connection to the community and helping newcomers navigate both their professional opportunities and the various lifestyles Chautauqua County provides. A big thank you to Monica Simpson for organizing and launching this program, along with all the ambassadors who are volunteering their time to bring this valuable program to fruition,” Geise added. In addition to the Workforce Ambassador Program, any employer that would like to learn more about all of the resources available through the Live CHQ initiative can visit the Recruitment page at LiveCHQ.org, or contact the CCIDA office at 716-661-8900.  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 LiveCHQ.org. CAPTIONS - Image 1: Live CHQ Workforce Ambassadors Sarah Gilbert, Solimar Vazquez, Kenny Macdonald, Martha Schmitt, Kenny Schmitt, and Abram Rak during a recent orientation meeting in Dunkirk. Image 2: Live CHQ Workforce Ambassadors Alicia Ekstrom, Staunzie Grady, Monica Simpson, and Erica Rose, Rose during the Live CHQ Workforce Development Luncheon at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel in November.  A complete list of all current ambassadors can be found online at LiveCHQ.org. 

Informational Luncheon Explains How Live CHQ Initiative Can Assist Local Hiring EffortsAn estimated 70 representatives from local employers were at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel in Celoron on Monday November 18 to learn how to apply the Live CHQ marketing initiative to their own hiring and retention efforts. CELORON, NY – An estimated 70 people representing employers from across Chautauqua County were at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel in mid November to attend a luncheon focusing on the Live CHQ initiative. Hosted by representatives from the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) and the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG), the event provided local employers with additional information on Chautauqua County’s new branding initiative, including how it could help them with their efforts to recruit workers from outside of Chautauqua County to fill open positions. Launched in April 2024, the Live CHQ talent attraction and retention initiative is intended to market Chautauqua County as an exceptional place to live, work, and do business by highlighting the benefits and positive aspects of being a resident. Those benefits include affordability, job opportunities, our cultural and entertainment attractions, and a wide variety of outdoor recreational options. Much of the campaign’s messaging can be found on the website LiveCHQ.org, with marketing on traditional and digital media platforms used to steer people to the website. “While Live CHQ is primarily intended to market our county to people living outside of the Chautauqua Region, another focus is to encourage local employers to utilize and leverage the initiative for their own hiring efforts,” said Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and CCIDA CEO. “We want all employers, regardless of size, to be aware of the initiative and use it in their own hiring efforts – especially when it comes to recruiting from outside of the area.” To help local businesses and organizations better understand the campaign and all the resources available, the CCIDA and CCPEG staff held the Live CHQ Workforce Development Luncheon on Nov. 18 – inviting many of the county’s largest employers as well as smaller professional businesses that often recruit from outside of the county. During the Luncheon, attendees learned about various features of the Live CHQ website, the recently rebranded Chautauqua County Relocation Guide, and the newly launched CCPEG Workforce Ambassador program. There were also provided with copies of the Relocation Guide and other marketing materials to assist them with recruitment efforts, including job fairs. “Many of our local businesses and nonprofits need more skilled, talented, and experienced employees to fill vacant jobs. We are encouraging the business community to use Live CHQ 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. “Following the luncheon, we were pleased to hear several attendees say they found it very beneficial and they plan to implement Live CHQ with their current recruitment efforts,” Geise said. “We also want those who didn’t attend to know that we’d be happy to provide more details about Live CHQ and assist them with their recruitment efforts.” Any employer that would like to learn more about the various resources available through the Live CHQ initiative can visit the Recruitment page at LiveCHQ.org, or contact the CCIDA office at 716-661-8900. 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.

Funding will Extend and Enhance CCPEG’s Administrative and Project Development CapacityJAMESTOWN, N.Y. -- The Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC), the umbrella organization of the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG), on Tuesday, November 19 authorized the acceptance of a three-year funding award from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, totaling $1.625 Million. 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 for the implementation of priority projects in alignment with the county’s economic development strategy. 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 Advisory Board Co-Chair Mark Geise, who is also the County’s 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 their continued support and I am very pleased to see the Partnership for Economic Growth driving collaborations and investments in priority economic and community development projects across the county.” The Partnership for Economic Growth finalized and adopted a five-year economic development strategy in 2020. This 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 investments, 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 Business Development, Placemaking, Workforce Readiness and Development, Infrastructure, and Housing. Through this process, CCPEG identifies, vets, develops, helps to fund, and implements specific actions, projects, programs, and initiatives that align to the strategy. 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, noted that the Partnership has helped attract more than $45 million in funding to Chautauqua County to support dozens of different priority projects since the partnership was launched in 2019. “This second major grant award is a game-changer and will not only enable us to continue our work, but to take it to the next level,” said Aldrich.  “We look forward to realizing the tremendous impact that this funding will have on our ability to execute our mission and implement several transformative economic development projects within the next few years.” 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 a supporter of the initiative. “In addition to the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, NCCF, and the Gebbie Foundation, we’d like to thank all of our committed partners, funders, Advisory Board members, and staff for their dedication to this unique public-private economic development collaborative,” said Geise. # # # 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.

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.

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.

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.