Mayville

CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N.Y. -- The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) is announcing several updates for Paint CHQ, Chautauqua County’s public art initiative that brings vibrant murals, creative placemaking, and cultural tourism to local communities.

For 2026, Paint CHQ will be implementing two mural projects that will continue to expand the county’s public art footprint. These locations will take place in Dunkirk at the Coburn Block (123 Central Ave.), and in Bemus Point, on Village Hall (13 Alburtus Ave.).

The mural in Dunkirk was originally scheduled to be completed in September 2025; however, due to scheduling challenges, it will now be finalized in 2026. This extended timeline ensures the project is completed to the highest standard, delivering a finished, professionally created piece of art that fully reflects the vision and quality intended.

For Bemus Point, the selection of Village Hall as a mural site highlights a strategic effort to draw attention beyond the main street corridor, encouraging visitors to discover a vibrant destination just steps off the beaten path. This new installation will serve as both a visual landmark and a gateway, guiding foot traffic toward a unique mural experience while supporting nearby local shops and hidden gems.

Additional details for both of the 2026 Paint CHQ murals, including participating in an artist apprentice program and also the community input sessions for Bemus Point, will be announced in the coming weeks.

Also new for 2026, Paint CHQ is partnering with the CHQ Chamber to launch a new “Murals of Chautauqua” interactive mural map, available through the Bandwango Passholder Experience App. The app serves as an interactive digital passport, allowing users to explore 23 murals throughout Chautauqua County, discover the stories behind the artwork, find out more about the artists, and travel from community to community while supporting local businesses and attractions.

The Murals of Chautauqua map is set to debut just in time for spring, inviting residents and visitors alike to explore the communities where public art is located through a fresh, artful lens as the season of renewal begins. No download is necessary to use the app, and as an incentive to use it, those that check in at any of the 23 mural sites will be eligible for a 2025 Paint CHQ t-shirt. The Mural Map can be accessed at Go.CHQChamber.org.

“One of the main goals of this project is to encourage residents and visitors alike to get out and explore Chautauqua County by visiting these amazing public murals,” explained Dan Heitzenrater, CHQ Chamber president and CCPEG Advisory Board Co-Chair. “The goal is to not only help people find Chautauqua County’s public art, but to explore our communities and support local businesses located within or nearby the host communities.”

The Murals of Chautauqua map features murals in several communities, including Cassadaga, Dunkirk, Falconer, Findley Lake, Forestville, Fredonia, Frewsburg, Jamestown, Lakewood, Mayville, Sherman, Silver Creek, and Westfield.

Finally, Paint CHQ has completed a 2025 Paint CHQ highlight video, showcasing the exciting work that went into the three professionally created murals in Falconer, Sherman, and Westfield last summer. The video celebrates how public art is transforming spaces, telling local stories, and creating memorable destinations for residents and visitors. The full video can be found on CCPEG’s Youtube Channel.

“These upcoming murals reflect the strong local partnerships that make Paint CHQ possible,” said Rebecca Wurster, Planning Coordinator for the Chautauqua County Department of Planning & Development and CCPEG. “Each project is community-driven and designed to reflect the character and stories of the places they call home.”

Residents and visitors are encouraged to watch the 2025 Paint CHQ video on CCPEG’s social media and Youtube channels, and also take part in the Mural Passport Map at Go.CHQChamber.org to start exploring Chautauqua County’s growing collection of public art.

For more information about Paint CHQ, mural locations, or partnership opportunities, please visit ChooseCHQ.com/PaintCHQ.

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 improving the quality of life in our communities, thereby attracting people and businesses to Chautauqua County to live, work, recreate, and invest. It is an initiative of the Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC).

For more information visit CHQPartnership.org.

JAMESOTWN, NY - The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) has announced the awardees of its 2026 Economic Growth Fund (EGF) program. The program was created 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, 13 different projects will receive a total of $217,500 in grant support from CCPEG, which is levering total investments of more than $8.4 million throughout the county.

Projects that received funding this year are located in nine different communities, including Bemus Point, Busti, Dunkirk, Falconer, Jamestown, Lakewood, Mayville, Sherman, and Westfield. Grant awards typically range between $10,000 and $20,000; however, requests of up to $50,000 were considered.

Applicants receiving the largest amount of EGF support for 2026 are the Villages of Mayville and Bemus Point, each of which will receive $25,000 to support projects related to outdoor recreation. Mayville’s funding award will go toward its Kayak Launch project, which has a total project cost of $100,000. Bemus Point’s funding award will go toward its Integrated Trail System project, which has a total cost of $57,890.

Three other projects each received $20,000 in funding support. They are the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation for its Jamestown Meetings and Conferences initiative, the Village of Lakewood for its Hartley Park upgrade project, and the Chautauqua Lake Child Care Center in Mayville for its Expansion Planning & Talent Attraction project.

A total of 38 letters of interest were received as part of the 2026 EGF process, with 31 of those projects being invited to complete and submit an application for funding. Of those 31 applications received, a total of $872,234 in total EGF support was being requested for projects that had a combined value of over $11.7 million. The final 13 projects were selected based on a number of criteria, including: readiness, economic impact, leverage potential, geographic distribution, alignment with the county’s economic development strategic plan, and input from CCPEG’s public-private Advisory Board.

“This year’s EGF process was especially competitive with over two dozen projects certainly being worthy of support. This made it extremely challenging for our grant committee to select this year’s grant recipients,” explained Josiah Lamp, CCPEG Program Manager. “While we wish we had additional funding in our EGF budget to support more projects, we are still extremely grateful to provide this resource to eligible applicants.”

Funding for the program was provided by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation (RCWJF). In November 2024, the Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC), the umbrella organization of CCPEG, authorized the acceptance of a three-year funding award from RCWJF, totaling $1.625 Million. This grant award not only extends and enhances CCPEG’s administrative capacity, it provides much-needed local-matching dollars through the EGF program to support catalytic economic and community development projects.

Since the EGF was first established in 2022, more than $1.3 million has been allocated to 81 unique projects with a total combined value of more than $31.2 million.

“For the past five years, CCPEG has supported a multitude of high-priority projects across Chautauqua County, each of which is intended to spur economic development in our communities and across the entire county,” said Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and CCPEG Advisory Board Co-Chair. “We once again look forward to realizing the impact that this funding will have on the host communities, as well as the entire Chautauqua County region.”

More information about the funding program is available at CHQPartnership.org.

2026 CCPEG EGF Recipients

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 improving the quality of life in our communities, thereby attracting people and businesses to Chautauqua County to live, work, recreate, and invest. It is an initiative of the Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC).

For more information visit CHQPartnership.org.

The CHQ Professionals Group has been hosting coffee meetups in various communities across Chautauqua County in 2025, including at Ryder’s Cup in Lakewood.

MAYVILLE, NY -- The CHQ Professionals Group will host a Coffee Meetup at Tulip’s Brunch House (186 S. Erie Street, Mayville) on Thursday, Oct. 2, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. There is no registration required and any and all professionals working in the Chautauqua Region are invited to attend.

The October coffee meetup is part of a series of monthly networking events that provide an opportunity for local professionals to connect and share details about their work. This year, CHQ Professionals has hosted four successful coffee meetups at businesses throughout the County, including Cassadaga, Lily Dale, Brocton, Westfield, and Mayville. CHQ Professionals is an initiative of the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG).

“Our coffee meetups bring people together to share ideas, build connections, and start the day on a positive note,” said Monica Simpson, CCPEG Partner Engagement Coordinator and co-chair of the CHQ Professionals Group. “We hope professionals from every background feel encouraged to join in and be part of the exciting momentum here in Chautauqua County.”

The CHQ Professionals Group has hosted five successful coffee meetups this season, with this being the final one before the series returns in the spring of 2026.

In addition to hosting educational, volunteer, and networking events, the CHQ Professionals Group distributes a monthly newsletter, shares local job postings, and is actively seeking partnerships related to workforce development.

For more information, email [email protected] or call 716-363-3770. More details about the group can also be found at ChooseCHQ.com/CHQProfessionals.

About the CHQ Professionals Group - The CHQ Professionals Group, housed under CCPEG, aims to provide social, civic, educational, and networking opportunities for professionals at every stage of their careers. For more information, visit ChooseCHQ.com/CHQProfessionals.

About CCPEG - The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) serves as the main convener of economic development partners and resources in Chautauqua County. As an initiative of the Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC), CCPEG acts as the catalyst for advancing economic prosperity, focusing on job creation, retention, and quality of life enhancements. For more information, visit CHQPartnership.org.