By Kate Bartlett
This past year was an exciting and successful year of projects for the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA). As of December 1, the CCIDA helped 18 area projects move forward with a combined project value of $311.4 million, a true pledge to its continued investment in the county’s economic growth.
and service industry businesses: Wicked Warren’s
in Jamestown, Hideaway Bay Resort in Silver Creek, and
The White Inn in Fredonia. These projects continue to make
Chautauqua County a destination for tourism, as they attract
visitors with their unique offerings. Wicked Warren’s,
which opened in July of this year, is located in a prime location
inside the former Jamestown Brewing Company, and
features craft brewing, a restaurant, a banquet facility, and
more. The total estimated cost of the project was $2.35 million
and resulted in the creation of 40 jobs. The CCIDA provided
both a loan and tax abatements to help ensure this
project became a reality. (See Story “CCIDA”, Page 7.)
The Chautauqua County Department of Planning & Development works collaboratively with the CCIDA, an economic development organization authorized and empowered by the State of New York, with the mission “to make Chautauqua County a better place to work, live, and visit. The CCIDA 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.”
Mark Giese, Chautauqua County Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and CCIDA CEO, remarks that 2024 saw many impressive and lucrative projects for the Chautauqua region. “We were pleased to see several local projects across the county move forward or cross the finish line in 2024. From major expansion projects involving several manufacturers and food processing companies, to work aimed at highlighting and promoting the best our county has to offer, this year was another successful one when it comes to growing and strengthening our local economy,” Geise said.
Top projects and initiatives for 2024 included Phase Three Redevelopment of Wells Enterprises, which was recently approved this past November. This new state-of-the-art complex will produce ice cream and frozen novelty products, ultimately creating approximately 270 new jobs.
The CCIDA also saw continued focus on developing shovel ready sites, over 140 acres in Ripley and over 40 acres at Mason Industrial Park in the Town of Ellicott. These projects will help create economic development opportunities in Chautauqua County by preparing more than 180 acres for future development. The availability of development-ready acreage is low in this area, while demand from the manufacturing, transportation and warehousing industries is growing higher.
In 2024, the CCIDA approved a total of 10 low-interest, high-risk business development loans to assist local businesses, totaling $4.5 million. Highlights include loans to support the purchase of Dahlstrom Roll Form (Falconer) and Universal Tool Company (Gerry) by local ownership, and to assist with equipment purchases and/or building improvements for Dunkirk Metal Products, Artone (Jamestown); Tim & Edmond (Jamestown); and Excelco/Newbrook (Silver Creek).
“Supporting local companies is a cornerstone of the mission of the CCIDA and we were pleased to support several once again in 2024,” Geise said. “This ensures these companies can continue to operate in our county for years to come and provide stable, good-paying jobs for our residents.”
The CCIDA continued to address housing needs throughout the county in 2024 with several housing projects including Silver Creek Apartments, Gateway Loft Apartments in Jamestown, and 401 Central Avenue in Dunkirk. “One of our main priorities is working with developers to provide adequate and affordable housing for our local workforce,” Geise noted. “It’s been identified that there is a shortage of housing opportunities in our population centers that these projects will help address – not only in 2024 but in the coming years as well.”
Three projects receiving CCIDA support focused on hospitality and service industry businesses: Wicked Warren’s in Jamestown, Hideaway Bay Resort in Silver Creek, and The White Inn in Fredonia. These projects continue to make Chautauqua County a destination for tourism, as they attract visitors with their unique offerings. Wicked Warren’s, which opened in July of this year, is located in a prime location inside the former Jamestown Brewing Company, and features craft brewing, a restaurant, a banquet facility, and more. The total estimated cost of the project was $2.35 million and resulted in the creation of 40 jobs. The CCIDA provided both a loan and tax abatements to help ensure this project became a reality.
The Hideaway Bay Resort celebrated its Grand Opening in June 2024 in Silver Creek, offering a boutique resort experience, restaurant, and event venue. This four-season, eco-friendly resort is located on 3.6 acres of secluded lakefront property, formerly the Hideaway Bay Restaurant, and is the culmination of a $2+ million redevelopment project.
The White Inn, located in the heart of Fredonia, also recently celebrated their grand re-opening after being vacant for many years and an extensive reconstruction effort. Under new ownership, this historical hotel now offers renovated rooms with modern amenities along with a full restaurant and a banquet and event center. Both these projects also received technical assistance and grant support from the CCIDA, along with other incentives.
The CCIDA also played an integral role in launching Choose CHQ, Live CHQ, and Chautauqua Grape & Grain Trail marketing initiatives in efforts to further tourism and attract new residents in the area. The Live CHQ marketing campaign focuses on talent attraction and retention by highlighting quality of life aspects and career opportunities available in Chautauqua County. Choose CHQ focuses on encouraging business development and investment and job creation in the county. The Grape & Grain Trail initiative was designed to showcase the various wineries, craft breweries, and craft distilleries located within the county, along with its numerous outdoor activities and nature-based amenities that attract visitors to the area.
The CHQ Trails Map initiative was also completed, offering an interactive trail map and app allowing trail users to explore the hundreds of miles of trails throughout the county. These maps not only help market Chautauqua County as a tourism destination for outdoor enthusiasts, but also helps new and existing residents discover the more than 600 miles of recreational trails the area has to offer.
Looking forward to 2025, the CCIDA intends to further implement these initiatives, along with other projects and new initiatives that further their mission to make Chautauqua County a better place to work, live, recreate, visit, and conduct business.
For more information visit choosechq.com and planningchautauqua.com, and read upcoming editions of The Villager for details on specific Chautauqua County IDA projects.