CCPEG News and Press Releases

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.

We work to highlight a partner or community organization that is doing great things in our county. This month, we are highlighting SBDC with Courtney CuratoloCourtney Curatolo, Ph.D. joined the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Jamestown Community College (JCC) in 2018 as the Center’s Director. She is committed to maximizing the small business climate in the three-county region including Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Allegany Counties. Courtney's background includes experience in both the corporate and nonprofit sectors building skills in economic development, strategic planning, marketing, leadership training, government affairs, and development and implementation of public -private partnerships. She holds a B.A. in Political Science, an M.A. in Public Administration, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Research Methodology with a focus in Adult and Community Educational Leadership. 1. How are things going at the SBDC? (How many individuals were assisted in 2023, remind the general public of your mission and services) Administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the SBDC at JCC works with regional businesses in Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Allegany Counties to help them succeed. The SBDC delivers high quality business counseling and training to clients looking to start a business or improve the performance of an existing business. Services are confidential and free of charge. Services include business plan development, accounting guidance, financial projections and budgeting, marketing assistance, procurement guidance, cost analysis, complying with permit, licensing, and other regulations, loan information and packaging assistance, grant details, minority and women business certification help, and start up guidance. Since our start in 1986, advisors have worked with close to 13,000 businesses, helping them to invest more than $176,000,000 into the area’s economy and create or save more than 9,000 jobs.  The SBDC has grown by leaps and bounds over the past five years.  In fact our team of 6 have tripled our client numbers, increased the financial impact on the area, helped create and save thousands of jobs, and implemented various training opportunities for small business owners.  In addition to our traditional services, the SBDC at JCC hosts a Women in Networking program each month to promote female business owners, works with JCC students to place them in social media internships, and has an online business academy. The SBDC Online Business Academy offers various webinars and certifications that can be viewed from anywhere at any time that is convenient. Online classes focus on entrepreneurship, intellectual property, website development, ecommerce, social media marketing on different platforms, succession planning, and more. We also have certification programs in Social Media Marketing and Entrepreneurship Essentials. You can access the Online Business Academy at www.sbdcbusinessacademy.com. Recently, I've created a new event called the Resource Partner Pop Up Program. We have set up Resource Partner Pop Up Events in small towns throughout our region. I bring partners from the SBDC, SBA, Laine Accelerator, JCC Workforce Development, the Workforce Investment Board, and the IDA to a location like a library to meet with business owners and answer their questions. Any agency that provides services to the business community is invited to share information and ensure that more and more people in our region know about the help that they can receive at no cost to them. 2. What are your goals for this year? My goal every day is to make sure at least one more person knows about the services of the Small Business Development Center.  We have amazing, certified business advisors that know so much about getting started in business, growing your business, and succeeding along the journey. We have these amazing resources in Chautauqua County and I am glad more and more people are using our services.  Last year our state office gave us a goal of helping to open at least 30 new businesses…the SBDC team helped 61 new businesses open.  I have also started a new program, The Resource Partner Pop Up. I have been partnering with area municipalities to host a pop up event in various communities throughout the three county region. At these events, I invite all organizations that provide services to small businesses. The municipalities, invite their local small business owners. For two hours we share information about how we can help and business owners are able to ask one on one questions and schedule future follow up meetings. It has been a great resource for more business owners to learn about our services. 3. As the co-chair of the CCPEG Business Development Work Group and Advisory Board member, how do these roles align with your role of supporting small businesses in Chautauqua County, and what opportunities do you see for continued collaboration? These positions are very much aligned with what I do every day. I’m honored I was asked to provide my experience and expertise to these roles. Since I moved to the area I have been so impressed with the community members that work together to help create a better quality of life for everyone living here. There is no competition between organizations, and I love being able to contribute to the conversations that lead to solutions. I believe that partnership is success and hope to increase the partnerships that lead to more help for the small business community. Ninety eight percent of the businesses in Chautauqua County are considered small according to the US Government. We need to ensure we are providing a bridge to support them all.  4. What Partnership projects do you consider the most exciting or impactful and why? As a resident of Chautauqua County, I’m personally excited about all of them. I am always excited to tell my family and friends that travel to the area during the summer about how much is going on here year-round.  Professionally, I’m most proud of the entrepreneurship essentials certification program we created with the help of the Partnership. Anyone can take this 4.5 hour course online, whenever it is convenient for them. To learn more about the certification check out the SBDC Online Business Academy at SBDCBusinessAcademy.com. 5. What is something most people don’t know about you? I have 16 nieces and nephews…and am proudly helping to ensure they are all raised as die-hard Buffalo Bills fans, even though they are spread across the country.

Effort Part of Upcoming Live CHQ Talent Attraction and Retention Marketing CampaignJAMESTOWN, NY: -- The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG), along with the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA), is reaching out to local businesses and nonprofits as part of an upcoming marketing campaign aimed at talent attraction and retention. The upcoming campaign, entitled “Live CHQ”, will launch in April and is intended to market Chautauqua County to attract new and professionally talented residents, along with a focus on workforce development and community enrichment. A major component of Live CHQ is a new website that will help to inform prospective residents about the quality of life aspects that the county has to offer, along with the various employment and business development opportunities found across the region. According to Monica Simpson, CCPEG Partner Engagement Coordinator, 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 fill those positions, due to a high demand for skilled workers, compared to the number of candidates currently living in our county,” Simpson explained. “In response to this ongoing demand, CCPEG and CCIDA will launch the three-year Live CHQ campaign in April to attract new and professionally talented residents, along with a focus on workforce development and community enrichment.” As a first step of the Live CHQ effort, CCPEG is reaching out to representatives in various workforce sectors to learn more about their specific hiring and staffing challenges. “In turn, this will help us better understand where to focus our marketing efforts during the Live CHQ campaign,” Simpson said. In the coming days and weeks, CCPEG will reach out to local employers and ask them to input their contact information in an HR Contact Form. The information collected will then be used to share updates on the Live CHQ campaign, invite representatives to participate in upcoming events and activities, and perhaps conduct surveys to identify specific needs, all of which will help in the goal of attracting and retaining talented professionals in Chautauqua County. All information collected will only be used internally for the campaign outreach effort, and will not be shared. “Together, along with our many private and public partners, we hope to mutually assist one another in our talent attraction and retention efforts,” Simpson said. Businesses interested in receiving the form should email ccpartnership1@gmail.com or call (716) 363-3770. More information about the Live CHQ marketing campaign will be announced in the coming weeks. # # # 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 Document Will Assist with Addressing Housing Needs across Chautauqua CountyJAMESTOWN, NY: -- The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG), in conjunction with the Chautauqua County Department of Planning and Development and housing-related stakeholders from across the County, has announced the completion of a countywide Housing Market Assessment and Development Strategy. READ FULL HOUSING MARKET ASSESSMENT & DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY The assessment, which was conducted by MRB Group in conjunction with CCPEG’s Housing Development Work Group partners, provides insights to the existing housing stock and market conditions, as well as current and future anticipated gaps. These insights, combined with stakeholder input, provided the foundation for the development of actionable strategies to address housing gaps and needs in Chautauqua County. This Strategy was developed to help housing providers, municipalities, Chautauqua County agencies, and not-for-profit organizations identify solutions and prepare for future development that will ultimately meet the needs of the community’s residents. It summarizes existing housing initiatives in the County, provides demographic and economic data, provides data-rich information on the current housing stock and real estate market, and offers strategies and recommendations for Chautauqua County and its partners to encourage and facilitate housing solutions that align with local priorities. Recommendations from this study will be used to guide housing policy decisions, encourage public-private collaborations, and be an instrumental tool for leveraging future funding opportunities. “The Housing Market Assessment and Development Strategy is not the final product. It is how we implement the Strategy’s action items that will start to move the needle on improving existing housing conditions and creating new housing choices across the County. The top 19 action items have been prioritized in the Housing Strategy, and CCPEG’s Housing Workgroup, municipalities, and partners will work together in order to carry out these action items,” said Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Growth and Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency /Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation CEO. "Everyone involved in this project, from the Planning staff to the consultants and our stakeholders, took extra care to ensure this study was comprehensive in scope and inclusive of all the various housing needs in our county. I'm confident that this will be a valuable tool to facilitate both public and private investment,” said Gina Paradis, CCPEG Housing Workgroup Co-Chair. "We want to thank our partners and stakeholders who participated in creating this assessment. By better understanding our housing market, we can take the steps needed to bring in new resources to the County and address the challenges that we are facing," said Josiah Lamp, CCPEG Housing Workgroup Co-Chair.  “Meeting our current and future housing needs is a critical component in achieving our overall County economic development goals. While there are so many factors outside of our control, this Housing Strategy is a roadmap for us and the numerous partners involved in this effort to move the needle where we can,” said Nate Aldrich, Chautauqua County Economic Development Coordinator and CCPEG Manager. Among the many recommended actions, Aldrich gave some examples of actions CCPEG itself will take, such as: identifying, preparing, and marketing top sites for development; expanding collaboration with the Chautauqua County Land Bank to address quality, safety, and blight issues; and identify vacant and underutilized sites and buildings in areas within and near downtowns, villages, hamlets, and main streets, and initiating pre-development work, among several others.  “This Housing Strategy is a comprehensive, countywide look at our current housing stock, as well as a guiding document for improving our existing neighborhoods and attracting new housing developments to our County,” said Rebecca Wurster, CCPEG Planning Coordinator. “One common request that municipalities receive when a housing developer comes to their community is the request for a housing market study. Up until now, our municipalities could not provide this document. This Strategy includes housing data and future housing needs that developers are looking for.” Partners for the Housing Strategy include CCPEG, Chautauqua County Department of Planning & Development, Chautauqua County Health Department, Chautauqua County Land Bank, Chautauqua Opportunities Inc., Chautauqua Home Rehabilitation and Rehab Corp., City of Jamestown, City of Dunkirk, Village of Sherman, and all other municipalities who participated. The full Strategy can be found on the CCPEG website. # # # 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.

We work to highlight a partner or community organization that is doing great things in our county. This month, we are highlighting Imagine Forestville with member and board president Aimee Rogers! 1. Tell us about Imagine Forestville.  In an effort to stop a big box store from tearing down a home in the Hamlet and build a store that would change the look of our community, we listened to the advice of Christiana Laminatus from Preservation Buffalo Niagara, to hold a meeting, and that began our adventure of trying to protect the Forestville that we loved. From that first meeting, we continue to meet monthly, and in the fall of 2018 we officially became Imagine Forestville, a not-for-profit dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of Forestville, with another goal added in 2023: to have fun! 2. What are some recent accomplishments achieved by this group?  The most recent accomplishment was hosting our first ever, First Day Hikes, January 1, 2024 at the Forestville Hiking Trail. We offered hot cocoa, s'mores, and had a fire to warm up at after they hiked the almost one mile trail. Over 80 people attended and everyone had a great time. Another recent accomplishment is being a recipient of a $20,000 grant from CCPEG to use for the betterment of our community. With those funds we are having design guidelines established for our Main Street, purchasing two chess/checkers tables and chairs to put up on Main Street, two bike racks, and hanging flower baskets. We are also having a new “Welcome to Forestville” sign made. In July 2022, we officially opened the first hiking trail in Forestville and it was the first hiking trail in all of the Town of Hanover. We are bringing back our “Welcome Baskets” to give to the new residents in the Hamlet. The baskets include gifts from our local businesses and a brochure with local information that will be helpful to our newest community members. We now have a Garden Team! In 2023, the team installed new planters in front of Evans Bank on Main Street. More planters are being planned at other business location in 2024. They are also making plans for gardens along Main Street. We just recently became a part of the “Adopt-A-Highway” program with the NYSDOT, and if you drive down Route 39 in either direction you will see two new signs that say “Adopt-A- Highway: Imagine Forestville Inc.” We hold monthly meetings, many with guest speakers. We also hold an annual appreciation dinner in October for the many organizations and individuals that helped us that year. In 2023 we began a “Community Recognition Award” where we publically honor, at our appreciation dinner, an individual who goes above and beyond for the community, either with present day efforts or their efforts in the past. Our first recipient was Richard Yeager, a long-time resident, mayor, serviceman, historian for our local Pioneer Cemetery, bike repairer for the youth, and who recently spearheaded the donation of a new POW flag to the Forestville High School to display next to the American Flag in the auditorium, just to name a few things he does for our community. We have been included in the placement of two historic markers located in Forestville by the Town of Hanover historian, Vince Martonis. One marker designates Tupper Brook and the other marks the home of Attorney Daniel Sherman, who represented the Seneca Nation in the 1800s. Every year we team up with the Fredonia Farmers Market and hold a farmers market on Main Street. We look forward to another farmers market this year. In 2024, it will be our 6th year participating in the BLOOM event organized through Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation (NCCF). We love this event because it has brought beauty to our Forestville residential community! Every year we see more and more homes participating! At our recent January 2024 meeting, Tom Halicki, Commander from our local American Legion, presented our group with a beautiful American Flag and stand to display it for our meetings. This idea of his to donate one came up when he noticed - while at our annual appreciation dinner in October - we had a very small and not well displayed flag. So he asked the American Legion membership if they would donate one to us. And they did! We are so grateful! 3. What are some exciting things you have planned for 2024? We are looking forward to the completion and acceptance of our historic district nomination to SHPO (State Historic Preservation Office) which we have been diligently working on. We have been approved by the NYS DOT to "Adopt a highway" on Route 39 that runs through the hamlet. With this acceptance we can work to not only clean up the roadway but it allows us to work on beautifying the Main Street which we plan on adding flowers, trees, etc. We received funding through NCCF for trail signage. The plant identification plaques are being made by Forestville Central High School principal Dan Grande, and Tom Woodward is preparing the posts. We are hoping to work with the youth to locate and identify the trees, shrubs and plants using the ecological study we had done. Installation of a 100 year old historic water trough, originally located on Park St. in Forestville, to be installed once again, not directly on Park St. but will hopefully be on the corner of Park and Main St. It will have a new purpose as a fountain! We will once again be participating in project “BLOOM”, a residential garden recognition event sponsored by NCCF. For the past five years, we have teamed up with the Fredonia Garden Club and we are excited to team up with them again in 2024. Looking forward to the return of the Farmers Market on Main Street for our 4th year! We are just in the beginning phase of planning a community-wide, outdoor event, to be held in July at the American Legion in Forestville that will include either the Cassadaga Community Band or the New Horizons Band! Working with the school to begin labeling the trees and shrubs on the hiking trail and of course our annual clean-up the trail days! The youth have been a big help with maintaining the trail. We are so blessed to be able to partner with them. We will be working along with the NYS Historic Business Preservation Registry to recognize businesses that have been in our community for over 50 years. The nominations will be presented by our Senator, George Borrello, as per SHPO instructions. With the Fall Festival Committee, we plan on celebrating the long awaited “Grand Unveiling” ceremony of the town clock restoration project that we contributed to, sometime in 2024. 4. Imagine Forestville relies on community volunteers. Can you talk about the importance of this grass-roots community-driven effort to improve Forestville? Nothing would be accomplished without the volunteers! We have been blessed with dedicated community members that love their hometown and would like it to remain as they remember it for future generations to enjoy. We are also blessed to have very knowledgeable, talented and creative individuals who love to help. Many of our members are lifelong residents, some are newer and some come from the surrounding areas such as Smith Mills, but we share the same passion. We love Forestville! Imagine Forestville would not be in existence without these dedicated members of all ages and walks of life and we could not have accomplish all that we have without them. 5. What is something most people don’t know about your organization? Many of our projects we are blessed to work on in conjunction with other groups, such as: The Fredonia Garden Club; the Forestville High School; the Fall Festival; the Town of Hanover Historical Dept.; The American Legion; 4-H, and the H.S. football team. Such blessings to work together in the community! We determined at our recent meeting that the one thing that most people don’t know about our organization, is where we meet! Sure we advertise, etc., but for most people when we mention the building, they have no idea where it is! Our organization began and continues to meet in a building that has stood in Forestville since 1850, and possibly earlier. It is located four feet from the roadway, yet, it remains a place that isn’t recognized or noticed. It is a hidden treasure in plain sight and one that has been our biggest asset in accomplishing our dreams and visions for Forestville since we began in 2018. Our “secret” meeting place is presently known as “The Forestville Meeting House”, aka “the lower hotel” or the “Wilcox Hotel”, named after a previous owner back in 1950-80s. This “mystery” hotel is not written up very much, or not at all, in the history books - not even the centennial books - yet it greeted guests arriving on the train located just across the street and based on the discovery of a diary from 1860s it was a place to come to for dances. It has survived, a mystery to many, but an inspirational place for us in Imagine Forestville! Just for the record, the address is 37 Center St., Forestville, NY. Now it is not a “secret” anymore!

Initiative funds 26 projects totaling $459,000, helps to leverage over $28.2 million in additional supportJAMESTOWN – The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) had another successful year of assisting with and enhancing collaborative economic development initiatives across Chautauqua County. On Tuesday, Jan. 23, Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and Chief Executive Officer of the Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC), and Nate Aldrich, Economic Development Coordinator, provided an overview of CCPEG’s work and accomplishments in 2023 during the monthly CREDC Board of Directors meeting. CREDC, an affiliate of the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA), oversees the CCPEG initiative. Last year, CCPEG focused on advancing 26 priority projects in alignment with the county’s Economic Development Strategy, providing $459,000 in financial assistance and technical assistance to support partner-led projects and initiatives that support economic revitalization and long-term strategic investment throughout the county. In addition, CCPEG was awarded 11 grants totaling over $1.18 million to assist with funding the targeted projects, and also helped to leverage an additional $28,251,000 on behalf of its partners, including assisting the City of Dunkirk with being awarded $10 million from the New York State Downtown Revitalization Initiative. In addition, CCPEG worked in collaboration with CCIDA to roll out the nearly-completed talent attraction and retention marketing campaign (including new websites), which will help address population decline and supply businesses with much-needed labor. That campaign is expected to launch within the next few months. CCPEG also continued to be proactive in terms of business attraction and expansion. When it comes to working with stakeholders, CCPEG held 40 meetings during the year, including more than 20 meetings with its various work groups focusing on Business Development, Placemaking, Workforce Development, Housing Development, and Infrastructure. In all, a total of 65 different partners were engaged during the year, coming from every corner of Chautauqua County. “Once again CREDC, as the umbrella organization for CCPEG, was successful in obtaining and granting millions of dollars in economic development resources to advance a wide variety of priority economic development projects across its five priority Work Groups. I am really proud of the work we are doing in assisting our partners, including municipalities, in undertaking transformative and meaningful projects,” said Geise, who is also a founder of CCPEG and a Co-Chair of the Advisory Board. “It’s been exciting to see CCPEG grow and continue to gain momentum during 2023 – especially in our ability to leverage state, federal, and philanthropic resources. The wide variety of projects and initiatives we’ve assisted with during the year illustrates the positive impact the partnership has had across Chautauqua County and we look forward to continuing that success in 2024,” said Nathan Aldrich, Chautauqua County Economic Development Coordinator and CCPEG Manager.   Staff from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, who awarded CCPEG a 3-year grant totaling more than $1,000,000 to advance the County’s inclusive economic development strategy, were in attendance during Tuesday’s presentation.   “We thank all of our supporters, especially the Wilson Foundation, for believing in our team and our model,” said Aldrich. “Our continued success in leveraging funding to implement this strategy and realize our full economic development potential depends on continuing these partnerships, and developing the resources and capacity to effectively advance the wide-variety of projects we’ve been able to spearhead since launching the Partnership.” The CCIDA/CREDC 2023 Year-end Report & 2024 Work Plan can be found on the CCIDA website: CCIDA.com. 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, please visit CHQPartnership.org.

CCPEG founder, advisory board co-chair recognized for economic development successes in chautauqua countyMAYVILLE, NY - Mark Geise, Chautauqua County’s Deputy County Executive for Economic Development, County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) CEO, and founder and advisory board co-chair of the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth, has been named to the 2024 edition of Buffalo Business First’s prestigious “Power 250” listing, published January 10, 2024. The “Power 250” is an annual list of the 250 people whom, after three months of research, reporting, and debate, 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. 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 efforts to help employers during COVID 19. In 2023 under Geise’s leadership, the CCIDA saw unprecedented economic development activity, assisting with over $840 million in capital investment in the county. Geise has also played a pivotal role in the creation and subsequent oversight of CCPEG, an initiative of CCIDA’s component organization, Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC). In 2023, CCEPG was successful in obtaining and granting millions of dollars in economic development resources to advance 47 different public-private economic development projects across Chautauqua County. Also in 2023, the Partnership provided nearly $460,000 in direct grant funding to 26 different projects. Geise also founded the Chautauqua County Land Bank Corporation, which has been serving the community for over 10 years. “It’s wonderful to see Mark being recognized for his hard work in growing and building our economy here in Chautauqua County. We’ve known for years just how dedicated and committed Mark is to helping make the county a better place to live, work, and conduct business, but it’s truly gratifying to have his work being recognized on a regional level and seeing his name among some of the most notable business leaders from across the Western New York Region,” said Chautauqua County Executive Paul “PJ” Wendel. “Mark has been a great asset for Chautauqua County and its economic development agencies,” said CCIDA and CREDC Board President Gary Henry. “Joining the CCIDA board at the same time Mark was appointed CEO has given me a first-hand look at the progress he’s made on the economic development front here in Chautauqua County. I am deeply impressed with his vision and tireless commitment to helping businesses succeed in our county, in spite of the numerous challenges they face, which are totally out of the control of our local leaders.” “I am honored and humbled to receive this recognition; however, this certainly wouldn’t be possible without the dedicated commitment of our entire CCIDA and county development team, including, but certainly not limited to, County Executive Wendel; Rich Dixon, CCIDA CFO; and Nate Aldrich, County Economic Development Coordinator and CCPEG Manager,” Geise said. “While Chautauqua County has made notable progress on the economic development front for several years, 2023 was unprecedented. That being said, I believe the best is yet to come.” 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 2024 Power 250 List was released in January as a preview of the people on the list alphabetically and unranked. Look for the complete ranking in early March, along with more information describing the power that each person holds. 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, please visit CHQPartnership.org.

Grants totaling $242,000 will support 14 development projects across chautauqua countyJAMESOTWN, NY - The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) has announced the recipients of its 2024 round of grant funding, used to support economic development projects that focus on revitalization and long-term strategic investment throughout Chautauqua County, consistent with the county’s economic development strategic plan. This year, 14 different projects across the county will receive a total $242,000 in grant support from CCPEG. The total value of all 14 projects is estimated to be $1.88 million. Projects receiving funding come from across Chautauqua County, including Bemus Point, Dunkirk, Findley Lake, Jamestown, and Lakewood. The applicant receiving the largest amount of CCPEG grant funding was the Village of Lakewood, which was awarded $30,000 for the Hartley Park Waterfront Revitalization & Improvement Project. Four other projects each received $25,000, including: Arrowhead Redevelopment Project (Chautauqua Opportunities), Chautauqua County Fair Conceptual Planning and Enhancement Project (Chautauqua County Ag & Fair Association), Dream It Do It Advance Manufacturing Program (Dream It Do It WNY), and Reg Lenna Center for the Arts’ Theater Seats & Auditorium Improvement project.  “We were very happy to see a large number of applicants apply for funding,” said Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development. “Over the past two years, we’ve supported numerous high priority projects designed to spur economic development, and that trend will continue this year.” Funding from the projects comes from a variety of sources, including Chautauqua County ARPA funding and funding from a multi-year grant from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. The next round of CCPEG Support for Economic Development Projects will open in the fall of 2024.  A total of 19 applications seeking $506,000 in total grant support from CCPEG were submitted by the deadline at the end of October. Grant awards typically range between $10,000 and $20,000, but requests of up to $50,000 were be considered. Projects were selected based on a number of criteria including, readiness, economic impact, leverage potential, geographic distribution, alignment with the economic development strategic plan, and based on input from CCPEG’s public-private Advisory Board. A complete list of all projects is provided below. 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, please visit CHQPartnership.org.

New partnership for economic growth video showcases development possibilities of chadakoin river The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) has released a new video providing a virtual tour of the upper Chadakoin River, showcasing its beauty and development possibilities. “The Chadakoin River: Chautauqua County’s Hidden Gem” is a flyover-style video that takes viewers on a winding, scenic tour of the Chadakoin, from its start at the outlet of Chautauqua Lake down to the Warner Dam, just east of the Chadakoin River Basin. It also offers several ideas for future investment opportunities located along the river, which could help to enhance the overall Chadakoin experience for both residents and visitors alike.  “We created this video to help raise awareness about the endless potential the Chadakoin has to offer by highlighting its natural beauty, while also presenting a wide variety of development possibilities in the upper portion of the river,” said Kristy Kathman, CCPEG Economic Development Specialist.  According to Kathman, CCPEG is working with its Jamestown-area partners to help “activate the Chadakoin” and bring new life to the river and surrounding area. The goal is to enhance access, create business opportunities, and establish the Chadakoin as a recreational destination. The video will be used by key stakeholders to help promote the Chadakoin River as a viable investment option within the city of Jamestown.  “We put together this video to showcase some of the potential projects the upper river has to offer and introduce these ideas with an audience of prospective local, regional, and even national investors and developers,” Kathman explained.  Partners for the Chadakoin activation effort include CCPEG, County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency, City of Jamestown, Gebbie Foundation, Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy, Chautauqua County, Jamestown Board of Public Utilities, Jamestown Renaissance Corporation, and Roger Tory Peterson Institute.  A link to the video can be found here! About CCPEG – The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth 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. For more information, please visit CHQPartnership.org.

In October, the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce awarded the Partnership the 2023 Economic Development Award during the Annual Chamber Awards Dinner at the Williams Center in Fredonia. This is a huge accomplishment for any organization, and considering CCPEG has only been in existence for approximately five years, it is especially rewarding for our team. "There is no doubt that we have accomplished a great deal in a short amount of time. To our dozens of partners and stakeholders, we accepted this award on behalf of all of you, as you have been so very generous with your knowledge, time, and resources. That being the case, we wanted to officially thank you all for everything you have done and hope you will continue supporting us as we continue to mature and make an even greater impact on the communities we serve." - Mark Geise, CCIDA/CREDC CEO and CCPEG Advisory Board Co-Chair

New Brooks-TLC is a sound strategy for long-term healthcare, economic stability and growth in northern chautauqua countyMark Geise and Daniel Heitzenrater, co-chairs of the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth advisory board, recently wrote about the need for a new Brooks-TLC healthcare facility in northern Chautauqua County. Their commentary appeared in the Saturday, Oct. 21 edition of the Dunkirk Observer. It is also provided below, in its entirety. The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) brings together leaders from the public and private sectors to advance economic development efforts and achieve economic prosperity in our county. We do this by focusing on creating and preserving quality jobs, while also focusing on advancements to quality of life throughout Chautauqua County. Since our founding in 2019, perhaps no single development project more aligns with our mission and goals than the effort to build a new state-of-the-art Brooks-TLC Hospital. Many of the reasons for building a new healthcare facility in Northern Chautauqua County are well known by now. To put it bluntly - the current Brooks-TLC Hospital is outdated and in drastic need of renovations and upgrades. Much of the roof needs to be replaced and there has been persistent flooding problems in several areas of the facility. Many of the hospital’s rooms are cramped and patient privacy is an ongoing challenge. Even basic patient services, such as access to bathrooms, are not ADA compliant. And the hospital’s infrastructure and equipment are old and in need of regular repair or replacement. This all adds up to a hospital that can no longer provide the necessary healthcare services needed in the 21st century.   Besides the challenges associated with the facility itself, the current location of Brooks-TLC creates another set of challenges. A shortage of space at the hospital results in no centralized location for physicians to work. Currently, there is no location in the North County to bring together physicians for the purpose of creating synergies needed among various medical providers. The current hospital is also located in a residentially-zoned area of Dunkirk, providing hardly any space for expansion and making direct access a challenge, especially for EMS service providers coming in from outside of the city. The current location also faces potential environmental issues posed by the relatively close proximity to two railroads. By having a new Brooks-TLC Hospital situated at the proposed 30-acre location near the intersection of Routes 60 and 20 and in close proximity to I-90, it would not only ensure more space, but would also allow for easier and more convenient regional access. This is especially important considering an estimated 70% of the patients who depend on Brooks-TLC come from outside of the City of Dunkirk. Healthcare services notwithstanding, a new Brooks-TLC Hospital would also have an enormous positive impact on the economic future of not only the immediate Dunkirk-Fredonia area, but also the entire Northern Chautauqua County region, including areas of southern Erie County and the northwestern portion of Cattaraugus County. A top priority for CCPEG is the attraction and retention of professionals into Chautauqua County. A new, modern Brooks-TLC Hospital would include the latest technology and affiliation with tertiary care, as well as a new Medical Office Building which would become a regional hub for outpatient care. This will result in Brooks-TLC – and as a result Northern Chautauqua County – having the ability to attract and retain a wide variety of professionals, including physicians and nurses, along with specialists and other personnel. CCPEG is also focused on supporting initiatives that help reverse the population decline we have experienced over the past several decades. The availability of and access to quality healthcare and modern medical facilities is a top priority for current and prospective residents.  By providing both rural and aging residents with a new North County medical facility, Brooks-TLC will help to bolster the effort to stem the tide of population decline and help grow the population by making it more attractive to prospective residents. This is especially true for seniors looking for convenient and nearby access to outpatient care – something that can only be provided by a new facility. The new facility will also have a positive economic benefit on our educational institutions, particularly those at SUNY at Fredonia and its nursing program. Students who wish to enter a career in nursing covet the opportunity to learn and gain experience at modern medical facilities. By opening a new hospital, SUNY at Fredonia will have the ability to recruit and retain more students into its nursing program. A new hospital will also benefit general student recruitment as it ensures medical services will remain in place in close proximity to the college campus, one of the key considerations for parents and students when weighing their options for higher education. All of this will play a key role in helping to make SUNY at Fredonia a viable option for future students, which will in turn benefit the local economy. CCPEG, in conjunction with the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency, commissioned MRB Group to undertake an economic analysis related to a new Brooks-TLC Hospital. The study found that the project would have a significant temporary impact on the economy by generating approximately 115 construction jobs and an estimated $7.7 million in construction wages. The construction work would also have an indirect benefit of 42 jobs, totaling $2.2 million in wages. Once built, the new hospital would result in the creation and/or retention of at least 200 jobs with an annual economic impact estimated at $13.5 million. The bottom line is clear: a new hospital in northern Chautauqua County is not only necessary for the healthcare and well-being of residents – both within and outside of the county – but also necessary to ensure a stronger and more vibrant economic future. We need it! If we are to build our community, we need quality healthcare and access to it. We urge the New York State Department of Health and other state officials to not only stand behind a new Brooks-TLC hospital, but also work to ensure it becomes a reality.  Mark Geise is Chief Executive Officer of the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency, and Daniel Heitzenrater is President of the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce President. The two serve as Advisory Board Co-chairs of the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth. About CCPEG – The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth 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. For more information, please visit CHQPartnership.org.

PANAMA, NY - The Friends of Chautauqua County Greenways (FCCG) group recently met at Panama Rocks to share details about the various trail and waterway projects and conservation efforts they've been working on in 2023. In addition, FCCG unveiled its new logo to help raise awareness about the group within the greater Chautauqua County community. FCCG consists of a variety of local organizations and municipalities with a goal of enhancing and conserving Chautauqua County's 700+ miles of trails that are used for snowmobiling, hiking, horseback riding, cross country skiing, mountain biking, kayaking, and more. Members include various snowmobiling clubs, Chautauqua Rails to Trails, Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy (CWC), Western New York Mountain Bicycling Association (WNYMBA), Friends of Panama Horse and Nature Trails, Boutwell Hill Ski Club, the Chautauqua County Department of Planning & Development (CCDPD) and City of Jamestown. The group is supported, in part, by the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG). Among the highlights of the Oct. 11 public meeting was an update on the County-wide Interactive Trail Map, scheduled for release in early 2024. Currently, each group maintains their own trail maps, which come in a variety of formats, creating inconsistency and confusion for trail users, while also leading to trail underutilization in some instances. These gaps make it difficult for trail users, residents, and visitors to explore and use the county's vast trail systems. But CCPEG, along with the FCCG, CCDPD, and Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau are currently in the process of working with the consulting firm of Barton and Loguidice to build an interactive, countywide outdoor recreation map and mobile app. Once completed, the map will include any and all trails in the system, regardless of intended purpose. "We're working to develop a single user-friendly map and a mobile app to have all trail data - greenways and waterways - compiled and housed in an easy to locate and easy to edit online location across multiple webpages," explained Rebecca Wurster, Special CCDPD Projects Coordinator and CCPEG Planning Manager. "We've already reviewed and evaluated the existing mapped trails in the County, and have just about wrapped up collect inventory/GIS data of mapped and unmapped trail systems. We are also developing a streamlined process for submitting future data, which can then be uploaded to the interactive map to ensure it is being updated on a regular basis.” Other projects being highlighted included the effort by CWC to clear log jams and other debris from the Marion Cobb Waterway trail, consisting of the Cassadaga and Conewango Creeks, along with a portion of the Chadakoin River; the ongoing process by the county and Rails to Trails to address and remediate various issues of concern within their respective trail systems; the upgrades made to the mountain bike and fat bike trails located in both the Harmony and Harris Hill State Land areas, as well as at Long Point State Park; the addition of culverts to the Boutwell Hill Cross Country Skiing trail to make it easier for the trail groomer to pass over creek beds; and the work down in the various equestrian trails around the county that helps to make Chautauqua County a destination for horseback riders and clubs from across the region.  The meeting also included a preview of some work that will be taking place in 2024, including the effort by the City of Jamestown to develop a pump bike track in Jackson-Taylor Park, adjacent to its Riverwalk. The equestrian trails are also hoping to widen at least a portion of their trail system to allow for coach travel. And ongoing work is also planned for all other trail systems as well. Finally, FCCG unveiled its new logo, designed by Kellogg Design in Lakewood, NY and intended to help brand and raise awareness about the group and its mission of working together to promote all trail systems within the county. "This will be the official logo for the Friends' Group. We also hope to make it into a patch that you can purchase," explained Jacob Bodway, CCPEG Trail Coordinator.  Both Wurster and Bodway said that the next public meeting of FCCG will take place next spring. At that time, the interactive trail map should be completed and ready to be presented to the public. For more information on the FCCG and to keep up with the latest news involving the county's vast trail system, follow their group page on Facebook. About CCPEG – The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth 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. For more information, please visit chqpartnership.org. About FCCG – The Friends of Chautauqua County Greenways is housed under CCPEG and is an organization whose aim is to collaborate and build on private/public partnerships to position themselves to raise the necessary capital and programmatic resources to realize the primary objectives outlined in the 2012 Greenway Plan.

Friends of chautauqua county greenways to hold second public meetingPANAMA, NY - In cooperation with the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG), the Friends of Chautauqua County Greenways (FCCG) will hold its second public informational meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 11 at 6 p.m. at Panama Rocks Scenic Park in Panama, NY. This meeting will provide the public with updates on trail and waterway development and maintenance projects, along with conservation efforts throughout Chautauqua County.  “The Friends Group has accomplished a great deal since our last meeting on May 30th in Mayville,” says Jacob Bodway, Trail Coordinator for CCPEG. “The October meeting will allow time for the various trail-user groups to present on current and upcoming trail projects, grant requests, and long-range goals.  The numerous presenters will provide audience members with a great deal of information, and we want to share some of the positive work that we have accomplished for trail-users of all ages and abilities. It is a great time to be an outdoor enthusiast in Chautauqua County!” For those who are interested in exploring the hiking trail at Panama Rocks, there will be a group hike at 5:00 pm, about an hour prior to the FCCG meeting.  It will be an excellent opportunity to take in the fall colors and to experience the majesty of Panama Rocks Scenic Park. About CCPEG – The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth 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. For more information, please visit chqpartnership.org. About FCCG – The Friends of Chautauqua County Greenways is housed under CCPEG and is an organization whose aim is to collaborate and build on private/public partnerships to position themselves to raise the necessary capital and programmatic resources to realize the primary objectives outlined in the 2012 Greenway Plan.

Chautauqua county plans big boost in outdoor fun with new trail map appThe Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG), along with the Friends of Chautauqua County Greenways (FCCG), Chautauqua County Department of Planning and Development (CCDPD), and Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau (CCVB), are currently in the process of working with Barton and Loguidice to build an interactive countywide outdoor recreation map and mobile application (app). This partnership will result in increased tourism, use of trail systems, and will spur economic development. Currently, each trail user group maintains their own trail maps in a variety of formats, ranging from posted maps at trailhead kiosks to online maps. These various formats create inconsistency, confusion, and underutilized trails. Some trail user groups struggle to collect GIS trail data and format the GIS data in a user-friendly format. These gaps in data make it difficult for trail users, residents, and visitors to explore and use the trail systems. The Chautauqua County mapping project will address these inconsistencies and will remedy the confusion among user groups and trail users in the county. This project will develop a single user-friendly map and a mobile app to have all trail data (greenways and waterways) compiled and housed in an easy to locate and easy to edit online location across multiple webpages. This project will consist of a review and evaluation of existing mapped trails in the County, collect inventory/GIS data of mapped and unmapped trail systems, develop an interactive user-friendly online map, and develop a streamlined process for submitting future data for uploading to the map. As an added bonus, Barton and Loguidice will update many existing third-party trail map applications, such as AllTrails, Trail Forks, and MTB Project, with new data from the mapping project. This will benefit trail users who already have these third-party applications downloaded to their mobile devices. The mapping project represents a key piece to the puzzle in not only jumpstarting our countywide recreation projects and greenway/waterway initiatives but also in putting Chautauqua, County on the map for more comprehensive funding for trail improvements and for outdoor promotion. We expect this project to be completed in the spring of 2024.

JAMESTOWN, N.Y.: — The County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) is pleased to announce the addition of Jason Sample to the position of Communications & Marketing Coordinator. As Communications & Marketing Coordinator, Sample will be responsible for the implementation of strategic marketing initiatives and general communications of the CCIDA and the Chautauqua County Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC). He will lead both agencies’ marketing and communication efforts related to highlighting various projects, showcasing the county’s economic development opportunities, and promoting the services offered by both economic development agencies. “I’m excited to be joining the CCIDA and CREDC team, working to promote our county’s economic development success stories, along with championing the business development opportunities and quality of life enhancements within our county,” Sample said. While the Marketing & Communications Coordinator is housed under the CCIDA, Sample will actually serve a split role, working with both the CCIDA and the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG), managing specific communication tasks related to the promotion of each entity and its services. In addition to coordinating organizational communications of these agencies, Sample will also lead countywide marketing efforts and special projects to promote Chautauqua County as a great place to live, work, play, and conduct business, in close coordination with outside partner agencies. “We’re very pleased to have Jason joining our team,” said Mark Geise, CCIDA Chief Executive Officer and Deputy County Executive for Economic Development. “He has a strong understanding of what the CCIDA does, as well as great familiarity with the people and communities across Chautauqua County.” Sample has worked in regional media for the past two decades, most recently as General Manager of WRFA-LP in Jamestown, where he was responsible for the management and programming of Jamestown’s Low Power, FM radio station, licensed to Reg Lenna Center for the Arts. He also served as the station’s Public Affairs Director from 2011 to 2021, covering issues and news stories involving the Jamestown community and Chautauqua County. Prior to his work at WRFA, Sample served as editor of the weekly Chautauqua Star newspaper, a county-wide publication showcasing the people and businesses of Chautauqua County. Sample also worked as a news reporter and sports anchor for over seven years on WJTN radio in Jamestown. In the past, Sample has served as a trustee with the Chautauqua County Historical Society, based in Westfield, NY, from 2011 to 2021, and was chair of the organization’s program committee. He was also a board member of Infinity Visual & Performing Arts in Jamestown from 2010 to 2018, serving as board president and marketing committee chair. Sample is a Jamestown-area native, and graduated from Falconer High School and Jamestown Community College. He holds a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism from West Virginia University. “I’ve spent a great deal of time over the years living and working in various communities across Chautauqua County, not only covering local news but also getting to know its people, places, and businesses,” Sample said. “I’m looking forward to using my knowledge and experience to help promote our county’s economic achievements and also promoting why it’s such a special and unique place to live, work, and play.” 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. They facilitate 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 www.ccida.com.

Partner Spotlight: Andrew Nixon, President & CEO of the Chautauqua Chamber Visitors BureauEach newsletter, we are going to highlight a partner or community organization that is doing great things in our county! This month, we are highlighting Andrew Nixon, the President & CEO of the Chautauqua Chamber Visitors Bureau (CCVB). As the President & CEO of the Chautauqua Chamber Visitors Bureau (CCVB), why do you do what you do every day? What drives you? CCVB’s purpose is to help local businesses derive economic benefit from visitors coming to and enjoying the area. Our organization simultaneously works to help these businesses while guiding tourists in their journey of learning about and experiencing the joys of the Chautauqua County area. This process is continual and involves developing and implementing advertising campaigns, producing and updating trip-planning information resources, assisting group function planners, and often personally helping visitors with the recommendations and information that they need to enjoy our destination.  And, the processes vary somewhat as the area moves through different seasons. Part of what we do focuses on assisting visitors with things to do in the current season, while another part is focused on the season(s) ahead. Throughout this process, our staff is continually learning about the unique and compelling things to do and the reasons for visitors to come and enjoy Chautauqua County. As the Co-Chair of the CCPEG Placemaking Work Group what opportunities do you see for continued collaboration in further development of tourism assets? Because the Partnership for Economic Growth offers a platform for communication and collaboration, it is a great resource for municipal planning initiatives to work together, especially as sub-regions of the county. It is important for areas, municipalities, and project planners to be very aware of what their neighbors are visioning and planning so that they can work symbiotically when possible. This helps to avoid duplication in projects. It also enables areas to develop their own strengths and experiences while also leveraging interest in nearby attractions and experiences. This results in a greater overall appeal of our total area as a multi-faceted destination. What Partnership projects do you consider to be the most exciting and/or impactful and why?  Among the many exciting projects being spearheaded by the Partnership and/or Partnership members, those with a lot of apparent potential are the projects designed to improve the experience and the public’s access to Chautauqua County’s outdoor recreation amenities. This includes trail improvements and digital trail mapping, improved access points for boats, and the use of parks and open spaces on or near waterfronts. Waterfront development high-points range from spots along the Lake Erie shoreline in Dunkirk to stretches of the Chadakoin River in Jamestown. This growth and enhancement also includes several of Chautauqua County’s trail assets located in forested areas, which offer easy-to-moderate trail challenge experiences. What is something most people don’t know about you or CCVB? CCVB was formed in 1958 by the Chautauqua County Board of Supervisors (predecessor of the County Legislature) to promote the area as a tourism destination. CCVB’s original name was Chautauqua County Vacationland Association. It is one of the longest standing tourism promotion agencies in New York state. CCVB has a lean but very capable staff of 4 full-time employees and 4 part-time employees. List of affiliations/organizations: NYS Tourism Industry Association  Member of American Bus Association, Ontario Motor Coach Association, Pennsylvania Bus Association. Member of Empire State Society of Association Executives (ESSAE) and Meeting Planners International (MPI). What are some exciting things people can look forward to this fall Visitors love fall time in the Chautauqua-Lake Erie Region of western New York. Not adhering exactly to official calendar dates, fall in the region begins just after Labor Day with the plethora of harvest season events and festivals, and continues through until the end of October. The weather is generally mild, the mornings are cool, and the changing leaves are spectacular. Every weekend brings a special event that focuses on the area’s agricultural stock, including grapes, wine, craft beers, and apples. Recreational opportunities abound and include golf, hiking and cycling trails, camping, as well as Peek’n Peak’s Mountain Adventure course and zip lines and Panama Rocks rugged rock formations. And, the area’s five lakes are amazingly available and enjoyable in the fall season be it for canoeing and kayaking, zipping around in a power boat, or for a fishing expedition. Lake levels do begin to lower beginning October 20th. Though fall in the Chautauqua-Lake Erie Region is a great time to enjoy an extension on outdoor activities, it is also a great time to visit the area’s many history-based attractions and museums. Options include the National Comedy Center, Lucy-Desi Museum, Dunkirk Lighthouse, Fenton History Center, Robert H. Jackson Center, and the Roger Tory Peterson Institute. And many fall visitors enjoy the scenery, shops, and restaurants of villages like Westfield, Fredonia, Bemus Point, Lakewood, Chautauqua Institution, and the small cities of Jamestown and Dunkirk. There is so much more and the best place to find out about things to do as well as events is https://www.tourchautauqua.com/

Partnership for economic growth seeks proposals for funding consideration We are excited to announce that the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth is currently seeking applicants for funding consideration. If you or your organization have innovative projects or initiatives that can drive economic growth in our community, we encourage you to apply for this valuable opportunity. For information on eligibility criteria and the application process, please view the attached press release. Your ideas and contributions play a pivotal role in shaping the economic future of Chautauqua County, and we look forward to your participation in this exciting venture. Learn More Press Release

Daniel Heitzenrater, president & CEO of the Chautauqua County Chamber of CommerceEach newsletter, we are going to highlight a partner or community organization that is doing great things in our county!  Starting with Dan Heitzenrater, President of the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce. In addition to his work at the Chamber and on the CCIDA & CCPEG boards, he is involved on a number of other local boards including the Jamestown Community College Board of Trustees, Cornell Cooperative Extension Board of Directors, and the Chautauqua County Workforce Investment Board. He is also involved with the Rotary Club of Jamestown, Chautauqua Leadership Network, and Jamestown Skeet Club. You are now about two years into your position as President of the Chautauqua Chamber of Commerce, how is it going? It’s going great! Starting in a new role while still emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic was challenging to navigate, but allowed me to experience and learn to better understand the Chamber operations. It has also been an exciting time, because this transition back to normalcy has demonstrated people’s desire in connecting again. Connection is central to the Chamber’s services, so being able to gather in person and urge consumer foot traffic has allowed us to gain forward momentum again. What are your goals for this year? For the Chamber, we underwent a strategic planning process in 2022 so our 2023 goals revolve around implementation of those strategic directions. We haven’t publicly launched any information around that yet, but one specific goal I’m looking forward to working on is clarifying our brand and structure to ourselves, members, and the public. Personal goals for this year include reading more books than last year, and many various home projects. We moved last summer so it’s exciting to make it our own, but hard not to bite off more than we can chew. You recently joined the CCIDA board and have become Co-Chair of the Partnership for Economic Growth Advisory Board. How do these roles align to your role of supporting small business in Chautauqua County, and what opportunities do you see for continued collaboration in this area? I mentioned earlier about “connection” being central to our work at the Chamber. I view these roles, and other areas where we can engage with partners as one way that we can bring the perspective and voice of the business community, small business in particular to the table. I’m proud and thankful to have the opportunity to represent our constituency in these roles, and believe it is important to add their voice to the conversation. Overall, whether it’s the work of the IDA on economic development and funding/incentives, or the holistic approach of the Partnership looking at 5 key work groups, our work together is about growing and improving our communities across all sectors which is important for businesses, residents, visitors, and our quality of life. What Partnership projects do you consider to be the most exciting and/or impactful and why? It is hard to choose because every project is critical within its focus area. One I am excited about is the technical assistance for municipalities grant, aimed at increasing our competitiveness in future NY DRI and NY Forward funding rounds. Based on my background in municipal government, while strategic planning is recognized as being important, it often falls off the docket due to lack of resources or expertise, and this Partnership program will begin to help address that. Two others include the work around promotion of our trail systems, and our local craft beverage industry. While most locals know what wonderful assets these are, I think they may sometimes be a bit secondary in our overall promotion of our area, so I’m excited to shine more of a spotlight together. What is something most people don’t know about you? Maybe that outside of the office, I really enjoy working with my hands and having a project to complete. I’m generally interested in a lot of things and tend to dive deep into a topic or hobby when I start looking into it. These include some basic woodworking, yard care and gardening, working on small engines, and many other things around the house. In addition to my work at the Chamber and on the CCIDA & CCPEG boards, I am involved on a number of other local boards including the Jamestown Community College Board of Trustees, Cornell Cooperative Extension Board of Directors, and the Chautauqua County Workforce Investment Board. I am also involved with the Rotary Club of Jamestown, Chautauqua Leadership Network, and Jamestown Skeet Club.

Partnership for economic growth awards downtown revitalization master planning fundingDUNKIRK, N.Y. - The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) recently invited local municipalities to apply for downtown master planning funding. After reviewing several applications, CCPEG awarded technical assistant grants to the Village of Falconer and the Village of Westfield. Local leaders will work with CCPEG and the consultants Barton and Loguidice, to cultivate a vision for their respective downtowns, identify priority projects to enliven the downtown, and develop a master plan that sets the stage for a NY Forward, NYS Consolidated Funding Application (CFA), or other related economic development program application. Like many small cities and villages in Chautauqua County, Falconer and Westfield have faced challenges with vacancies and disinvestment. However, today both municipalities have passionate leaders, a strong community fabric, a spirit of entrepreneurship, and thriving small businesses. These communities have private investment and potential investment from developers that could bring more mixed use, infill housing and reuse of historic buildings to their main street corridors. They are poised to re-energize and a clear and cohesive strategy for revitalization will ensure that new public and private projects complement the historic small town character that makes Chautauqua County unique. Planning Coordinator Rebecca Wurster stated, “The Downtown Revitalization Master Planning Grants are tools that will advance economic prosperity for thriving and resilient municipalities, with benefits that spread throughout the entire County. The Villages of Falconer and Westfield are very unique communities, with charming downtown corridors. By providing technical assistance, we envision a master planning process that identifies projects which align with each community’s unique downtowns and strategically positions these municipalities for grant funding opportunities.”   Mayor Jaroszynski stated, “I can’t express how excited we are to be receiving this grant for the Village of Falconer.  This grant will allow the Village to pursue ideas for the development of our Main Street and business corridors.  We have already put in place a steering committee comprised of Village residents, business owners and government leaders to provide ideas and a vision to the consultant team.  Thank you to the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth for recognizing the potential for our small Village and for giving us this opportunity for revitalization.” “The Village of Westfield wishes to thank CCPEG for the opportunity to work alongside of CCPEG and Barton and Loguidice, in cultivating vision driven projects and developing a master plan for our downtown areas,” stated Mayor Lutes. CCPEG, through its economic development funding opportunity, has also awarded funding and assistance to the Village of Sherman, Findley Lake (Town of Mina), and Imagine Forestville, to complete planning efforts and support the implementation of downtown projects meant to enhance and revitalize downtowns and hamlets. CCPEG is also supporting several other communities with downtown revitalization and waterfront activation programs including: City of Dunkirk in their recent award of $10 million in Downtown Revitalization Initiative funding; the City of Jamestown with the Chadakoin River Activation Initiative; and the Village of Mayville with the Waterfront Activation Planning and Lakeside Park improvements. “These efforts are all about building on the success we’ve seen in recent years in seeking resources to improve our downtowns, waterfronts, and community quality of life,” said Mark Geise, Partnership Co-Chair and CEO of the CCIDA. “We’ve seen how being proactive and engaging our partners and community early in the process has resulted in significant funding from New York State and other sources and we plan on continuing down that path and building on that momentum.” About CCPEG – The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth 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. For more information, please visit chqpartnership.org.

Partnership for economic growth awards complete streets fundingDUNKIRK, N.Y.: The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) recently invited local municipalities to apply for small-scale Complete Streets project funding. In order to expand funding opportunities, the Chautauqua Health Network (CHN) has collaborated with CCPEG to increase total funding availability to $60,000 and in concert, will be making in-kind technical contractor support available to the awardees in Complete Streets planning, demonstration, and stakeholder engagement financed by the NYS Department of Health ‘Creating Healthy Schools and Communities’ (CHSC) program. After reviewing several applications, CCPEG in partnership with CHN, awarded the Jamestown Urban Renewal Agency (JURA), Town of Clymer, Village of Westfield, Village of Sherman, Village of Fredonia, and Village of Silver Creek with planning and implementation funding. The awarded projects include: Jamestown Creative Crosswalk ($4,310) – A visually impactful creative crosswalk will be installed that the intersections of Sixth Street and Cherry Street, at the Prendergast Library. Village of Westfield Connectivity Projects ($12,500) – Installation of three segments of sidewalk at North Portage Street, Spring Street, and Cass Street will enhance the safety of pedestrians and cyclists. Village of Sherman Walkability Planning ($12,000) – A complete streets plan will be developed to help the Village identify multimodal improvements, wayfinding and signage, trailhead connections, and Village branding. Town of Clymer Walkable Downtown ($10,000) – Phase II of Clymer’s Route 474 sidewalk project will provide ADA compliance and improve walkability. Village of Silver Creek Safe Routes to School ($5,500) – A feasibility study will be developed to provide conceptual designs and cost estimates for new sidewalks surrounding Silver Creek Central School. Village of Fredonia Building Connectivity & Increasing Safety ($10,000) - A community-vetted design will be developed for the Central Ave. corridor that incorporates new and improved pedestrian and bicycle facilities. There is an expressed need for more pedestrian-friendly, safe and accessible streets in many small cities and villages in Chautauqua County. Several municipalities have adopted Complete Streets policies and have implemented elements of Complete Streets to address this need. Complete Streets are nationally recognized as an approach to planning, designing, and constructing streets to include access and mobility considerations for all public road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders, as well as users of all ages and abilities. Projects can include sidewalk improvements and connectivity, bicycle lanes, crosswalks, pedestrian signals, curb cuts, curb bumpouts, lighting, landscaping, wayfinding and signage, and traffic calming measures. The awarded municipalities have either adopted Complete Streets policies or are following through with visions and designs from past planning efforts to develop accessible streets for everyone in their communities. These municipalities were chosen based on their project’s readiness, feasibility, and economic impact. They address significant needs such as sidewalk connectivity for schoolchildren and crosswalks on busy streets. Furthermore, the projects have the potential to spur additional future investment in their streetscapes. The positive effects of a walkable street may include reducing vehicle/pedestrian accidents, making travel more accessible for the disabled and elderly, increasing foot traffic to local businesses, creating more “eyes on the street” which enhances safety, encouraging active transportation and physical and mental fitness, and reducing traffic congestion and local pollution. Within the context of CCPEG’s dedication to local economic development, the Complete Streets Grants are a tool that will advance economic prosperity for thriving and resilient municipalities, with benefits that spread throughout the entire County. In addition to these efforts, Chautauqua County’s Complete Streets Working Group, which includes the County Executive’s Office, Department of Planning and Development, Department of Public Facilities, and Department of Health, has identified four complete streets projects on County roads in the City of Jamestown, Village of Fredonia, Village of Cassadaga, City of Dunkirk, and Town of Dunkirk. These projects include the addition of complete streets features on Water Street, Maple Avenue, and Baker Street. A feasibility study to develop conceptual designs and cost estimates, will take place on Vineyard Drive in the City and Town of Dunkirk.    About CCPEG – The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth 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. For more information, please visit chqpartnership.org.

The Chadakoin River Activation project will bring new life to the river and surrounding area in Jamestown by enhancing access, creating business opportunities, and establishing the Chadakoin as a recreational destination. The project plans include conservation and improvements to the natural environment. Visit www.Chadakoin.org to learn more! Since the Chadakoin River Strategic Business Plan was created in 2021, partners from around Chautauqua County have been collaborating on its implementation, and funding for the first phase of projects has been secured.

In 2012, the Chautauqua County Department of Planning and Economic Development, along with dozens of stakeholders, developed a comprehensive Greenway Plan to expand trail and greenway development within the county. While some of the planned projects have been completed, others are still in the works. The Sheldon Foundation awarded the Partnership for Economic Growth with a $25,000 grant to support the development of an organizational plan for the Friends of the Chautauqua County Greenways. In early 2022, Camoin Associates was hired and conducted several workshops and stakeholder interviews over the spring and summer months. The goal was to create an organizational structure for multiple recreational user groups to collaborate for the purpose of cooperation and leveraging financial resources, as well as create a sustainable organization that could continue developing the county’s trail system for years to come. In late 2022, stakeholders, with support from the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth and Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation, launched the “Friends of Chautauqua County Greenways," (FCCG) as a collaborative group of dozens of individual groups working to advance trail development, recreation, and conservation efforts in Chautauqua County.  The “Friends” group will be working to achieve a unified approach for the purpose of cooperation, outreach, and fundraising to build upon Chautauqua County’s incredible trail and outdoor recreation assets.  The Partnership for Economic Growth recently hired Jacob Bodway as Trails Coordinator to advance this effort, which will lead to further implementation of the County’s Greenway Plan and to further develop Chautauqua County as a mecca for outdoor recreation and active living.  You can reach Jacob via email at BodwayJ.CTR@chqgov.com

Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and Chief Executive Officer of the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA), provided an overview of the CCIDA’s activities in 2022 at the CCIDA Board of Directors meeting on January 24, 2023. After discussing the nature and breadth of projects approved by the Board in 2022, Geise discussed the economic development team’s top 10 accomplishments in 2022, as well as their top 10 priorities for 2023.  Geise explained that during 2022, the CCIDA Board approved more than 50 projects, which included the approval of loans for businesses, incentives for development projects, and the procurement of grants. Some of these projects included incentives for the $348 Million ConnectGen Project in South Ripley; the $42.3 Million Electrovaya Project in the Town of Ellicott; approval of incentives for the $4.5 Million White Inn Restoration Project in Fredonia; and a myriad of less than 5 MW solar projects located throughout the county (to name just a few). In 2022, the CCIDA approved Cares Act Loan funding for 8 businesses throughout Chautauqua County in the amount of approximately $896,000, which were part of the $10.5 Million U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant received by the CCIDA in 2020. The CCIDA also approved nine AL Tech Loans totaling $2.2 Million, and secured 15 grants totaling $7.9 Million. All said, the CCIDA was involved in projects, loans, and grants that will result in more than $500 Million being invested in Chautauqua County, which are projected to create 363 new permanent jobs, retain more than 770 jobs, and create hundreds of construction jobs. Additionally, $2.1 Million in PILOT payments were made to the school, municipal, and County taxing jurisdictions in 2022. Geise also discussed the evolution and successes of the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG), which was formed in 2019 as an initiative of the CCIDA’s non-profit subsidiary, the Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC). CCPEG, which is a public/private partnership, represents the active participation of over 100 economic development partners from throughout the county. CCPEG is supported by the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation, Gebbie Foundation, the CCIDA, and the County, and is managed by Nate Aldrich. After completing an economic development strategy for the County, CCPEG was awarded a $1.05 million grant from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation in 2021. CCPEG convenes and supports Business, Placemaking, Workforce, Housing, and Infrastructure partners in identifying, developing, funding, and implementing projects that impact the local economy and improve quality of life. Through meaningful collaboration, CCPEG leads efforts to procure resources to advance a wide array of projects and initiatives consistent with the County’s recently completed Economic Development Strategic Plan. In 2022, CCPEG focused on advancing 15 priority projects in alignment with the Economic Development Strategy.  The Partnership also provided over $420,000 in financial assistance and technical assistance to support several dozen partner-led projects and initiatives that support economic revitalization and long-term strategic investment throughout Chautauqua County. In addition, the Partnership was awarded nine grants in 2022, totaling over $1.4 Million, and leveraged an additional $7.5 Million on behalf of its partners. Some of the key projects receiving grant funding that CCPEG played a key role in advancing include: an Empire State Development (ESD) Grant for the Chadakoin River Activation Initiative - $361,000; a NYS Water Infrastructure Improvements Act (WIIA) grant for the Westside Sewer Extension Phase 2 Project - $6 Million; an ESD Restore NY grant for the White Inn Redevelopment Project- $1.25 Million; an ESD Restore NY grant for the Silver Creek School Housing Project - $1 Million;  a Department of State (DOS) Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP) grant for the Mayville Waterfront Activation Project - $675,000; and several others.     In terms of aspirations for 2023, Geise discussed his desire for the CCIDA to acquire land for expansion of their shovel-ready site offerings; re-activating several key vacant buildings, including the Furniture Mart Building in Jamestown, Lake Shore Hospital in Hanover, Silver Creek School in Silver Creek, Truck-Lite Building in the Town of Ellicott, Lenhart Hotel in Bemus Point, and the large formerly ConAgra-owned building (now owned by the CCIDA) in Dunkirk; continue to work with the City of Dunkirk, State, and NRG in getting the NRG facility back into productive use; developing a marketing and branding strategy for the county to help address population decline and supply businesses with much-needed talent; and continuing to work with economic development stakeholders and municipalities through CCPEG programming to undertake key projects and initiatives. “This has been an epic year,” explained Geise. “Through all of the adversity posed by the pandemic and its aftermath, the CCIDA team was once again able to deliver. This was due to the unwavering dedication of an extremely capable staff, board, community volunteers making up our Loan Transaction Committee, consultants, and so many others. We will continue to be aggressive and intentional as we concentrate our efforts on key priorities such as creating shovel-ready sites, re-purposing key vacant buildings throughout the county, and attracting talent.” Mike Metzger, Chairman of the CCIDA Board of Directors (retired in December 2022), echoed Mr. Geise’s sentiments when he said, “Congratulations to the entire economic development team for all of your dedication and hard work. We have a great relationship with the business community, the municipalities, and the County, and this has proven to be true in the substantial impact that we are making throughout the county. A special thanks to the volunteer CCIDA Board and Loan Committee, as well as the staff and every entity involved with economic development in Chautauqua County for making 2022 a banner year.”    Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel said, “I am very pleased with the level of effort and accomplishments of the CCIDA and the extended economic development team, which includes the Partnership for Economic Growth and the County Department of Planning & Development. I commend Mark Geise and the CCIDA team for their focus on key strategic matters such as creating shovel-ready sites, repurposing vacant buildings, and reversing population decline through county branding and talent attraction initiatives. While we face ebbs and flows in our local, regional, state, and federal economies, Chautauqua County continues to raise the bar year-after-year when it comes to our local economy through their hard work and intelligent decision-making.” 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 www.ccida.com.

Through a grant from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, to support small business entrepreneurship, the Small Business Development Center at Jamestown Community College is offering a new online, self-paced course revolving around small business and entrepreneurship skills. The $195 certification is provided by Jamestown Community College and the 6 module course provides essential information regarding entrepreneurship basics, product design, accounting and financials, legal issues, market research, and human resources. Individuals interested in taking the certification course or any of our other courses in e-commerce, website development, social media marketing, zoning, or succession planning can go to the Online Business Academy’s website. “The Small Business Development Center at JCC worked in collaboration with the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth to ensure entrepreneurship and the support of small businesses throughout the county is a priority that will encourage economic growth.  Members of the CCPEG Advisory Board made this initiative a priority and thus will enable more individuals in our region to learn more about starting and growing business ideas.”- Courtney Curatolo Click here for more information on the Entrepreneurship Essentials certification course.

Congratulations to the City of Dunkirk for their $10 million New York State Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant award. The DRI funding will advance a number of public and private investments to improve Dunkirk’s downtown and enable it to take full advantage of its waterfront potential. Downtown Revitalization Initiative projects will create a robust environment for rehabilitation of historic downtown buildings designed to develop significant new infill mixed-income residential opportunities that are inclusive while embracing our strong heritage and ethnic diversity. Reactivation of Central Avenue storefronts with new businesses and services and upper floor downtown residential activity will power the transformation inspired through adaptive reuse projects. Improvements to the Dunkirk Harbor to bolster Lake Erie spawned sport fishing and boating, new recreation experiences for tourism growth, and extended Dunkirk stays will power the potent conduit from the waterfront to Central Avenue extending to Fredonia. With DRI funding, Downtown Dunkirk will be more attractive, livable, walkable, vibrant, and memorable while catalyzing additional private investment and development interest. Great work by Mayor Wilifred Rosas and the City of Dunkirk Department of Planning and Development  and all those who helped make this happen! Our economic development team at the CCIDA, CCPEG and CCPD which offered other technical and monetary assistance leading up to and during the DRI application process. CCPEG was proud to partner with the City to produce this video, which was used during the City's presentation to the Regional Economic Development Council. Each individual project mentioned still needs to be selected and approved to be part of the City’s DRI Strategic Investment Plan, which will be developed by a local planning committee this year.  Click here to view the video.

JAMESTOWN, N.Y.: — The Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC), the umbrella organization of the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG), today authorized the acceptance of a three-year, $1.05 million grant award from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. 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 to implement priority projects in alignment with the county’s recently completed economic development strategic plan. 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 Co-Chair Mark Geise, who is also the 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 this funding commitment and I am very pleased to see our collaborative economic development strategy come to fruition.” The Partnership for Economic Growth finalized and adopted a five-year economic development strategy last summer. The 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 investment, 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 Community Development, Business Development, Tourism, Workforce Readiness and Development, and Housing. The CCPEG Board is charged with developing an annual work plan, which contains a menu of priority projects to be pursued in that calendar year. This mechanism has proved to be successful and will continue to be utilized to identify, vet, develop, fund, and implement specific actions, projects, programs, and initiatives that align to the strategy. “This funding award is exciting news for our county,” said PJ Wendel, Chautauqua County Executive. “The County and CCPEG have worked tirelessly to bring additional economic development opportunities to our communities and this generous grant will help us continue our work in making Chautauqua County a better place to live, work and raise a family.” 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, said “This award is a game-changer and will help us take our work to the next level. I look forward to realizing the tremendous impact that this funding will have on our ability to execute our mission along with several transformative projects within in the next few years. Mr. Wilson’s legacy certainly lives on in our community, and we are so proud be the recipient of his generosity.” 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 an early supporter of the initiative.   “In addition to the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, NCCF, and the Gebbie Foundation, we thank all of our committed partners, funders, Board and Advisory Council members, and staff for their dedication to this unique public-private economic development collaborative,” said Geise. “The Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation appreciates and recognizes the years of hard work and collaboration in Chautauqua County that has led to a common vision and an innovative platform from which to drive a new model of economic growth. The new project leveraging funding at CCPEG will support the implementation of priority projects in the coming years, with a laser-focus on raising quality of life across the entire county,” said James Boyle, Vice President of Programs and Communications, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. For more information about the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth, please visit CHQpartnership.org.

May 9 to 15 marks National Economic Development Week, in which communities across the country celebrate positive contributions to economic development and provide and explain the role of the profession in our local community. While my last few columns have chiefly looked back at what our economic development partners accomplished in 2020, we want to take this opportunity to look forward. As we reflect on the past year and the difficulties brought on by the pandemic, what are the key issues that we need to collectively focus on? What are the opportunities we need to seize? Chautauqua County’s leaders and our economic development partners are not ignoring critical issues such population decline, the availability of a skilled workforce, or the negative impacts brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic. Just the opposite! Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all approach or a magic bullet solution for addressing these issues. Take population loss for example – while we are fully aware that this is a major issue that needs to be addressed at the County level (and all levels for that matter), there is no simple fix to this complex issue. I wish there was a switch we could flip that would solve all of our problems; however, this simply is not the case. Population loss here, which has been occurring since the 1970s, is not unique to Chautauqua County. This is a systematic issue throughout Western New York and New York State, and is believed to be attributed primarily to high taxes, weather, over-burdensome business regulations, and the perception that there is a lack of good paying jobs here (to name a few). In recognition that this is a multifaceted issue and that no one partner can address these issues on their own, we developed a public-private economic development collaborative, the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth, which is taking a comprehensive approach to economic development, and in so doing, has broadened the traditional definition of this multifarious discipline. If we are to compete with other areas in attracting people to our county, we need to create an environment in Chautauqua County that is attractive to everyone, but especially young professionals. While we have a low-cost of living, extraordinary natural assets, and planned events/activities throughout the County, I believe we lack in what I would characterize as the “cool” factor. That is, more concentrated and walkable communities; breweries; new, more modern and efficient housing; a critical mass of organized groups for young people; “sexy” businesses that appeal to young people; and more opportunities for young people to stay and work in the multitude of businesses that have open positions (to name a few). Again, this is a complex issue which deserves and requires a long-term and multifaceted strategy, which is one of the primary issues that the economic development strategy is addressing. It’s a big lift! Through the Partnership, Chautauqua County’s economic development stakeholders are taking bold action to implement a comprehensive, data-driven, and results-oriented economic development strategy for the County. The plan offers ambitious, but achievable actions, and calls for game-changing projects and programs aimed at reversing the stifling economic trends of population loss, net job loss, and stagnant household incomes. Through careful tracking of performance, and by adapting tasks as the plan advances, implementation of the strategy has been designed to move the needle on increasing median household incomes, reducing poverty, and ultimately reversing population loss in our county. This unique public-private strategy focuses on five key areas: Business Development; Workforce Readiness and Development; Housing; Community Development; and Tourism and Destination Development. This approach is in recognition that these five areas are not only equally important, but intertwined, and several initiatives need to occur simultaneously if we are to be successful in reversing decline. Not only that, advancement in one area will surely breed success in another. The Business Development Work Group encompasses a multitude of partners from business support entities to municipal officials who are working collaboratively to ensure Chautauqua County fosters a positive environment for the creation and expansion of small and large businesses, the preparation of development-ready sites, and extension of needed infrastructure throughout the county. The partners are working to help businesses grow, expand, locate, and thrive in Chautauqua County, and has identified core sectors that should be targeted in order to optimize key assets and amenities. Ensuring that Chautauqua County’s businesses and not-for-profits have access to a qualified workforce is vital to their productivity and the future of our economy. As such, workforce training and the availability of skilled labor is a critical component of the county’s economic development strategy. Partners involved in the Workforce Readiness and Development Work Group are acting collaboratively to make every effort to do what is necessary to prepare the future workforce, as well as further develop the current workforce. This is much harder than it might seem on its face! Childcare is a big issue, as is transportation, work ethic, and many other factors. Creating a diverse mix of safe and well maintained housing options throughout the County is critical to the future of Chautauqua County. The county has a glut of old housing that isn’t necessarily conducive to the lifestyles of young or retired people. The Housing Work Group is engaging and supporting municipal leaders, housing agencies, investors, homeowners, and tenants through projects that will ultimately improve the County’s housing stock and continue to remove blight. Specific projects have been identified, and when fully implemented, will ultimately result in the provision of a diverse range of housing stock to meet the demands of today’s workers and active adults. Again, this is a challenging prospect, and is not something that is going to happen overnight. Chautauqua County encompasses many small, agricultural-based towns that possess unique rural character and charm. These historic downtowns and lakeside communities have “good bones,” which is one of the assets that can be beneficially exploited to becoming attractive centers of activity and commerce. By convening partners and providing support and technical assistance, the Community Development Work Group is seeking to create healthy, vibrant, walkable communities, characterized by thriving downtowns and enhanced waterfronts. This, too, is a lofty goal; however, we are up to the challenge one community at a time. Fully capitalizing on the County’s renowned tourism offerings and abundant outdoor recreation attractions is, no doubt, a central component of Chautauqua County’s economic future. The Tourism and Destination Development Work Group is working collaboratively to break down silos and more broadly promote unique experiences and destinations throughout Chautauqua County to increase visitor stays and spending, while also encouraging private businesses and entrepreneurs to invest in the themes of these assets. In addition to these collaborative efforts, our economic development team is working closely with County Executive Wendel on several other economic development priorities in 2021. These include: Assist businesses, Not-for-Profits, agencies, and other institutions to fully resume operations and offerings following the negative consequences wrought by the pandemic; Revise and implement the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Chautauqua Lake, which lays the groundwork for cooperation of key stakeholders in management of the Lake, and has a 2-year term; Establish “CHQ Scientifica”, a national research Hub on Chautauqua Lake, which will integrate research professionals and programs into a collaborative center for researching and addressing major water quality issues affecting Chautauqua Lake and its reservoirs, especially the mitigation of harmful algae blooms; Develop a “County Airport’s Strategic Plan” in-house, which will re-think what the function of the airports should be and what customers they should be serving, based on existing assets, locational advantages, current and future customers, and other relevant factors; Develop a tourism transportation shuttle connecting major tourism venues throughout the county, including hotels, wineries, breweries, and other key attractions; Work closely with the CCIDA, CCPEG, CCVB, WDB, and other stakeholders to develop and implement a proactive Talent Retention and Attraction initiative, along with other parallel efforts, to assist businesses in retaining existing employees, filling open positions, and attracting new businesses; Purchase and/or control key parcels, both greenfield and brownfield sites, for future development, along with advancing the needed infrastructure, so we have more development-ready sites to drive and meet future demand; and Seek additional resources and establish partnerships to extend broadband internet coverage throughout the County, especially to rural areas that are unserved or underserved. Like most rural counties, we face some very difficult economic challenges; however, I believe our partners are up to the challenge. We are continually reminded of Chautauqua County’s incredible assets and the dedicated partners and individuals working every day to make Chautauqua County a better place to live, work, visit, and conduct business. Dozens of organizations, agencies, municipalities, educational instructions, and non-profits are working diligently through a unity of effort. To them, we say “Thank You!” To learn more about the Partnership for Economic Growth, the Chautauqua County Economic Development Strategic Plan, and priority initiatives, please visit chqpartnership.org. Please also follow us on Facebook @CCPEG, especially during economic development week, as we recognize our partners, outline our priorities, and showcase success stories. Mark Geise is Chautauqua’s Deputy County Executive for Economic Development, and CEO of the CCIDA.

CCIDA/CREDC 2020 Totals The following is a summation of the results of ALL programs administered through the CCIDA and CREDC in 2020: CCIDA & CREDC 2020 Recap   As has been the case with most everyone, the pandemic created many challenges in 2020 and beyond, especially as it pertains to economic development. That being said, the pandemic also created opportunities that would not have otherwise existed. In 2020, we turned lemons into lemonade! In fact, the CCIDA and CREDC had a banner year! Perhaps not in terms of the total number of new jobs created (although the numbers were good), but in terms of jobs retained and the total number of businesses, agencies, and not-for-profits served directly with financial incentives. In total, the CCIDA and CREDC, working with its many partners, were successful in committing and/or leveraging just under $47 million in investment in the county in 2020. Below is a detail of the work we did, in concert with our many partners, in 2020. The Al-Tech Revolving Loan Fund and PILOT Incentive The CCIDA approved just over a dozen typical incentive transactions in 2020, which resulted in a total investment approved/committed of $41.3 million (excluding Round 1 of the EDA Cares Act Loan program, the Emergency Working Capital Loan Program, and grants made via CREDC for the PPE program). These transactions resulted in a total job creation over 3 years of just under 200 full-time equivalents, and the retention of just over 300 jobs. Some of the projects approved by the CCIDA Board in 2020 included the following: ROM Ventures, LLC – Renovations and the purchase of equipment ($4.2 Million); Arktura, LLC – Purchase and equipping the former Acurite facility in Ellicott to manufacture architectural ceiling products ($7.3 Million); ECR Properties – Capital Investment in facility for equipment, repair, and upgrades to Dunkirk facility ($2.2 Million); Petri Baking – Purchase and equipping Silver Creek facility for the manufacture of soft cookies ($13 Million); Hy-Wit Corporation – Purchase of Cassadaga Kwik Fill and Denison Enterprises ($1.3 Million); Hanover PV, LLC – Construction of 5 MW AC Solar Farm in Silver Creek ($6.9 Million); and KGPHJ, LLC (Premier Precision Machining, LLC) – Acquisition, 7,000 SF expansion, and security system upgrades ($953,000). Emergency Working Capital Loan Program In response to the COVID-19 crisis and the impact it was having on businesses throughout Chautauqua County, the CCIDA provided low-interest loans not exceeding $10,000 to businesses throughout Chautauqua County. This program was approved by the Economic Development Administration (EDA) before it was launched. This emergency funding, which originated from the Al-Tech Loan Fund, was used for working capital needs, and the normal application and securitization requirements were relaxed. A simple two-page application was developed, and the process was expedited so that businesses could access needed working capital quickly in order to keep paychecks flowing to working individuals and their families. While the funding was limited, we helped as many businesses as we could with as much funding as we could afford to carve out for this purpose. While these emergency loans are to be paid back, they were interest-only for a minimum of three months, and leniency was exercised in terms of normal collateral requirements. In total, 24 Companies were lent $10,000 each for working capital purposes. Some of these included: Merritt Estate Winery; Cleaners of Chautauqua; 3 C’s Catering; Falconer Hotel; Lost Recording Studio; and many others. Personal Protective Equipment Matching Grant Program The CCIDA Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Grant Program had two components. Component 1 involved a 50/50 matching grant program for the purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other materials needed by businesses (e.g., thermometers, face masks, face shields, tape, barriers, and other implements) to comply with the Governor’s workplace safety mandates. The second component involved the provision of technical assistance services provided by JCC’s health experts in order to assist companies in developing safety plans that would identify what they needed to do in terms of the provision of PPE, in re-designing of their workplace layouts, in revising work schedules, etc., in order to protective their employees and customers. Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC), the 501C3 arm of the CCIDA, was the recipient of donations toward the program from the Gebbie Foundation, the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation, and the Rotary Club of Jamestown, that matched CREDC’s contribution. CREDC managed the program, which included public outreach/PR, application development and intake (a simple 1-pager), application review, dispersal of funds, tracking and managing compliance, etc. All said, 34 companies and not-for-profits benefitted from this program, with a total of more than $24,000 in funding being disbursed.  Some of the benefactors of the program included Bailey Manufacturing; Wells/Fieldbrook Foods; Rand Machine; DFT Communications; Chautauqua Woods Corporation; Chautauqua Lake Marina; Domus Fare; and many others. CCIDA/EDA Cares Act Revolving Loan Fund The CCIDA was awarded $10.5 Million in funding in the 3rd quarter of 2020 as part of the Federal Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Cares Act Stimulus funding, which was to be used for working capital, the purchase of equipment, and other defined purposes to keep their businesses viable. Just as with the Emergency Working Capital Loan Program, collateral requirements were relaxed and the interest rate was set at a low 2.44%. The CCIDA was successful in approving 26 loans totaling $5.4 Million in the first round of approvals in October. Some of the benefactors of this program included Artone; Heritage Ministries; Pucci Carpet One Furniture & Bedding, Inc.; Bilicki Law Firm, PC; Big Inlet Brewing, Inc.; Shawbucks, Inc.; Cockaigne Resort, LLC; and many others. Other Initiatives Undertaken by CCIDA/CREDC in 2020 Started earnest search for suitable land for industrial park expansion – negotiated with landowner in northern Chautauqua County. Additional funding in the amount of $130,000 secured from County through capital projects fund; Inventoried all county brownfields, suspected brownfields, and/or properties within a BOA (over 400), working collaboratively with the municipalities and other stakeholders along with consultant (Prospect Hill); Worked with Invest Buffalo Niagara (IBN) to identify suitable development sites/buildings in Chautauqua County for their WNY Site Identification Initiative. Six are to be highlighted in Newmark Frank’s detailed report; Worked with Gebbie Foundation, City of Jamestown, BPU, RTPI, and other stakeholders, along with consultants (C&S/H. Sicherman) on Chadakoin River Strategic Business/Activation Plan; Worked with City of Dunkirk and other key stakeholders, along with consultant (Bergmann), on NRG Reuse Alternatives and Feasibility Study; Initiated eminent domain proceedings for Roberts Road access to Roberts Road Freezer, LLC and county-owned brownfield site; Initiated proactive Business Retention initiative with Business Development Managers; Revamped website to support and highlight COVID-19 news bulletins for businesses, and answered calls from hundreds of businesses to interpret state mandates related to the pandemic; and Worked with Empire State Brands to secure funding to undertake a feasibility study, and assisted them in securing a $2.2 Million state grant. CCIDA & CREDC 2021 WORK PLAN The following projects and initiatives are being pursued in 2021 by the CCIDA and CREDC: Revamp/Rethink CCIDA Website; Team with STW for Statebook (save $) Team with IBN for Atlas software Collaborate with CCPEG and Planning on website Fully Commit CCIDA/EDA RLF CARES Loan Fund; Purchase at Least 80 acres of Land to Expand Industrial Park(s); Investigate Pros and Cons of Instituting a Local Labor Policy; Complete NRG Reuse Study; Move forward with priority recommendation(s) Fully Consolidate Planning & Development/CCIDA locations; Complete Phase II of Brownfield Strategy & Implement Recommendations (including infrastructure needs); Update Computer Equipment; Implement MOU for Chautauqua Lake; Develop Airport Master Plan in-house; Implement New CRM System (Sales Force); Re-think Marketing Strategy – Collaborate with CCPEG, CCDPD, CCVB, and perhaps others; Package and Seek Funding for 16 CCPEG Projects; Find a Buyer for 26 E. Talcott Street; Finish/Implement Chadakoin River Strategic Business Plan and initiate the implementation process; Finish Eminent Domain Proceedings for Roberts Road Property and Secure Easement; Finish “Agriculture as Economic Development” Plan; Assist Empire State Brands in Launching Integrated Hops and Barley Processing Facility; Fully implement Proactive Business Retention Initiative; Work with County Stakeholders on Talent Attraction Initiative; and Continue providing articles for “Building Chautauqua” Article. Our Team 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, visit, and conduct business. The organization 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 for our businesses.  For more information, visit www.ccida.com.

In 2018, Chautauqua County embarked upon a two-phased economic development planning process with the assistance of a nationally recognized consulting firm, Camoin Associates. The primary goal of this process was to work with public and private stakeholders from across the county to identify a cohesive and comprehensive strategy, and as importantly, a collaborative mechanism for its implementation. Our work with stakeholders throughout Chautauqua County revealed that there was strong interest in collaborating to better position the county for continued economic success. Phase I of the process was geared toward creating a Chautauqua County Economic Development Organizational Plan, which ultimately led to the formation of a project-based, private/public economic development “collaborative” that encourages county-wide economic development stakeholders to work together to develop and implement a county-wide Economic Development Strategy (Phase II). This collaborative, known as the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth, was launched in 2019 under the umbrella of the Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC). Chautauqua County’s numerous assets, including a supreme quality of life, decent infrastructure, a strong tourism industry, numerous opportunities for skilled workers, a low cost of living, and many others, provide the necessary foundation for growth in the coming years. The energy and interest in overcoming challenges and seizing upon opportunities demonstrates that Chautauqua County has the will to work together to be more effective as compared to working in individual silos. It is our belief that coalescing and forming a robust county-wide partnership will result in a stronger economic development strategy, increased efficiencies and effectiveness of program development and implementation, and optimization of financial and human resources. The partnership consists of a Board, a private sector Advisory Council, and five individual working groups consisting of key stakeholders from throughout the county in the areas of Business Development; Community Development; Workforce Development, Housing Development, and Tourism/Destination Development. Each of these groups is working together to define what their key challenges and opportunities are, and what initiatives/projects need to be undertaken to either take advantage of assets or address problems. Phase II resulted in the creation of a County-wide Economic Development Strategic Plan that contains high-level concepts for change and a clear vision for transformative projects and equitable opportunities to be pursued, with specific tactics, projects, programs, services, and policies to be updated or initiated. Moreover, it promotes a county-wide outlook that supports substantial initiatives to incrementally transform Chautauqua County’s economic standing in Western New York and across the State. The strategy was created to: Align with and contribute toward the goals of increasing levels of per-capita income, private capital investment, population, and job growth; Promote an equitable quality of life for county residents, with vibrant downtowns and healthy neighborhoods having affordable, diverse options for housing and accessible amenities; Help create an environment where entrepreneurs of diverse backgrounds and incomes can start and grow businesses across all industry sectors; Improve the business climate, characterized on the frontline by streamlined processes and business-friendly efforts of municipal officials in all jurisdictions; Contribute to the fiscal sustainability of the County – either in terms of tax revenue generated as a result of economic growth, program income, and dedicated funding streams, and/or in a decreasing the need for public spending, particularly on social services; Support efforts of public education and workforce development professionals to help retain graduates and attract talent to become permanent residents and fill local jobs; Fill gaps in local economic development programming and target resources in order to support the growth and development of each jurisdiction within the County; Leverage regional collaboration and State resources to support County services and initiatives; Complement the County’s comprehensive plan and target resources to improve infrastructure and community development priorities, especially shovel-ready sites; and Produce right-sized performance metrics to stay on track and implement management control and accountability measures for maximum impact. Across individual and group meetings, there is an enthusiasm to refine economic development delivery services in Chautauqua County in a method that emphasizes the best of what is currently underway, while eliminating duplication of services and adapting other programs to meet the needs of today. The Economic Development Strategic Plan is a call to action for the wide range of economic development partners in the county. The challenges loom large; however, this is an opportunity for the Partnership and its stakeholders to exhibit the best of what the county has to offer and make the case for why investment is crucial from state, federal, and foundation partners. The Partnership Board has approved 16 priority projects as part of the 2021 Work Plan. Staff and partners will now work to further develop these projects, and secure support and funding to implement them. Among these projects are: Site and Infrastructure Development Program – Identify, control, prepare, and market development-ready sites; Chadakoin River Activation and Development Initiative – Create amenities and commercial development opportunities along the Chadakoin River to increase visitation and spending in downtown Jamestown; NRG Reuse Alternatives and Feasibility Study – Develop reuse concepts, gauge their feasibility and benefits to the community, and understand development constraints and opportunities; Agricultural Development and Enhancement Strategy – Devise strategies to increase the economic viability of the agricultural industry, encourage farmland protection, and increase public interest and awareness of local agriculture; Talent Attraction and Retention Initiative – Develop a cohesive recruitment and retention branding and marketing initiative to attract and retain talent to live, work, and start up new businesses in the county; Workplace Culture Improvement as a Recruitment/Retention Strategy – This initiative is intended to assist businesses in competing for talent by concentrating on their economic, social, and environmental practices; Consolidated Code Administration and Enforcement Feasibility Study – This initiative will explore whether there is better and more efficient way to deliver code enforcement services, and what that might look like; Dunkirk Downtown Revitalization Initiative – This effort focuses on idenfiting, developing, gauging feasibility, packaging, and presenting a series of cohesive projects for funding through the New York State Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) process, aimed at improving and activating Dunkirk’s downtown and waterfront; Trail Development – Complete trail segments and develop more trails that are consistent with the Chautauqua County Greenway Plan, which will ultimately create more opportunities for outdoor recreation and active living; Village of Mayville Strategic Waterfront Activation Framework – Develop a conceptual plan and strategy for activating the Mayville waterfront in proximity to the historic Train Depot; and Tourism Transportation Shuttle – Working with CARTS, Chautauqua Institution, and other stakeholders to create dedicated shuttle service to connect tourism destinations, tourism-related businesses, and traveler accommodations throughout the County; Lastly, I would like to thank our numerous partners, including municipalities, development organizations and agencies, business leaders, educational institutions, and foundations. Our work would not be possible without our dedicated Board and Advisory Council members, and our staff, led by Nathan Aldrich. I also wish to recognize our premier sponsoring partners – the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation (NCCF) and the Gebbie Foundation. For more information about the Partnership for Economic Growth, visit chqpartnership.org. Mark Geise is deputy county executive for economic development/CCIDA CEO.