CHOOSE CHQ LIVE CHQ

Why Locate
Your Business in
Chautauqua County?

A business operating in Chautauqua County is in an enviable position. Far enough removed from major eastern cities to avoid overcrowding and its attendant problems, the county is centrally located in the Western end of New York State that Buffalo, Rochester, Pittsburgh, Toronto, Cleveland, and Akron can all be reached within three hours. Twenty-one of the top 50 U.S. metro regions are within ten hours shipping time – including New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington, Boston, and Detroit.

Strategically Located

In addition to being crossed by two major interstates (I-90 and I-86), the county also includes a network of other state and federal highways and well-maintained county roads, providing fast and easy access to every community. Railroads cross through the southern and northeastern portion of the county. General aviation airports are also located in both Jamestown and Dunkirk, which are frequently used by a variety of businesses and private charter services.

Climate change and extreme weather are factors more and more businesses are considering when deciding where to locate and/or expand. It’s worth noting that Chautauqua County lies within the Great Lakes and Northeast regions, with nearby Buffalo, NY being designated a Climate Refuge. These climate refuges are areas touted by researchers, public officials, and city planners as natural refuges from extreme climate conditions that result in severe weather and water shortage.

The Ideal Location

Chautauqua County also possesses affordable housing, abundant development sites, and legacy infrastructure from a larger population that existed prior to the mid-20th century when populations began to migrate out of the Northeast and into other areas of the country.

For businesses including manufacturers, warehousing operations & distribution companies, we offer a safe and ideal location for access to East Coast and Midwest supplies and markets. For employees and their families, we provide an array of recreational, cultural, and quality-of-life opportunities that will be tough to match, especially as we continue forward into the 21st century. To learn more about living in Chautauqua County, visit LiveCHQ.org.

The choice is simple. Choose CHQ. Live CHQ.

Key Demographic Information

Dashboard works best when viewing on a PC or Tablet

Questions?

If you want to learn more or need assistance in making your next move, please contact us today by calling (716) 661-8900 or filling out our Contact Form.

Key Industries and Employers

For new as well as established businesses, Chautauqua County offers a strategic geographic location, groundbreaking economic development incentives such as START-UP NY, inexpensive hydro-power, a low cost of living, and an incredible quality of life. For people seeking employment opportunities, the county boasts a low unemployment rate with living wage jobs available for every skill level. While manufacturing, tourism, and agriculture are the county’s primary industries, there are also opportunities in healthcare, assisted living, and education, and a growing number of people are moving to the area and working remotely or starting their own enterprises.

Manufacturing

  • Artone
  • Bailey Manufacturing
  • Blackstone Advanced Technologies
  • Bush Industries
  • Classic Brass
  • Cummins Engine, Jamestown Engine Plant
  • Cutco Cutlery Corp.
  • Dahlstrom Roll Form
  • Dawson Metal Company
  • DC Roll Form
  • Dunkirk Metal Products
  • Fancher Chair
  • Hope’s Windows
  • ImmunityBio
  • Jamestown Advanced Products
  • Jamestown Container
  • Jamestown ElectroPlating
  • Lakeside Precision
  • Monofrax 
  • Nestle Purina 
  • New Flyer
  • Rand Machine Products 
  • Refresco 
  • SKF 
  • Universal Tooling Corp. 
  • Weber-Knapp 
  • Wells Foods/Ferraro

Incentives & Financing

The County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency along with the Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation and Chautauqua County Capital Resource Corporation can assist businesses looking to relocate or expand in Chautauqua County. Not only do our agencies provide PILOT programs and low interest loan assistance, they can also provide consultation on other business development resources available at the local, state, and federal levels.

Workforce/Education

A business can only be successful if it has access to a skilled labor force. In Chautauqua County, there are several workforce development and training programs underway to ensure companies have access to qualified and experienced workers. As outlined in the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth’s Workforce Page, there are several agencies that work to prepare our local workforce for the changing and evolving needs of our businesses. They include:

Business/Industrial Parks

  • Chadwick Bay Industrial Park 
  • Mason Industrial Park 
  • Stoneman Industrial Park 
  • Airport Hill Industrial Park