New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

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.

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.

$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.

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.