By Jessica Schultz
Ellicottville Greens and Vertical Fresh Farms: The Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Meeting on July 26th started off with a great new project from Ellicottville Greens. Ellicottville Greens submitted an application seeking NYS Sales Tax Abatement and a PILOT with respect to their proposed project to invest $720,000 for their new corporate headquarters and growing facility for their vertical gardens. They will be building a distributed network of sustainable indoor vertical farms. Their mission will be to provide affordable. high-quality produce to economically distressed zones with food insecurity concerns. Growing micro greens, baby greens, leafy greens. and herbs. They will be selling to consumers, restaurants, institutions, food distributors, and grocery stores. They will be operating under the brands: Ellicottville Greens and Vertical Fresh Farms.
Solar Project Applications: The IDA moved onto a brief discussion about the current moratorium on solar project applications which was placed on the IDA accepting applications regarding any new solar projects. Corey Wiktor and the IDA were able to gather further information and confirmation relating to the projects in the City of Olean that help offset energy costs for Olean General Hospital, St. Bonaventure University and the City of Olean. They were also able to gather more information on recent projects and the use of local labor and suppliers. Discussion on the solar project moratorium will continue at the September Board Meeting.
Refugee and Resettlement Initiative: They are continuing to work with Great Lakes Cheese (GLC) and Journeys End Buffalo relating to the Refugee and Resettlement Initiative. There is a group meeting in early August and Wiktor is also putting together a trip with the Team to head to Hiram, OH to meet with the GLC and their HR relating to their current resettlement program that GLC has ongoing in their Hiram Plant. More information will follow at the Sept. Board Meeting.
Other Business: There were several smaller items discussed in relation to bringing in more investments/projects to the Farmersville/Franklinville area bolstered by the new Great Lakes Cheese development. Other items discussed were the Town of Portville solar projects, various Olean projects including building purchases etc. More details on these items will be available at September’s meeting. All resolutions from this meeting were approved.
Lastly, the CCIDA has a new website. This brand-new website has all of the IDA documents which now Include the Board Packets, Resolutions, Applications, Applicable Agency information etc. Visit cattcoida.com and take a look.