Kim Ecklund

The City Republican Committee has unanimously nominated Kim Ecklund to run for Mayor of Jamestown.

Ecklund will face Democrat and current Mayor Eddie Sundquist who announced his re-election campaign in early January.

Ecklund, who has served as a City Council Member at Large since 2004, said “it’s time,” “There are some things I feel I can make a difference in that I feel it’s time for me to step forward and at least try to do that.”

Ecklund said she plans to stay true to who she is, “Obviously, very important to me is fiduciary responsibility and obviously keeping the city in a fiscally responsible place. I’ve been on every avenue of City Council but some things obviously, public safety is very important, homeowners, and tax base, and businesses along with the quality of life issues that we have here.”

Ecklund has a multi-decade career in finance at eSolutions Furniture, formerly known as Bush Industries, in addition to her nearly 20 years in city government.

She has served on the City Council’s Public Works and Finance committees and has been the Chair of the Finance Committee for over three years. Ecklund currently serves on the Jamestown Local Development Corporation and the Parks and Recreation Commission and previously served on the Riverfront Management Commission, the Joint Task Force on Efficiency and Cost Reduction, as well as other ad hoc committees.

She is married to Keith Ecklund, a former Jamestown Firefighter. She has been a mentor through Chautauqua Striders for 18 years and also is the Vice President of the Jamestown Babe Ruth World Series Board of Directors.

She thanked the Republican Committee for their support and said she expects to make a more formal announcement about her campaign in the coming weeks.

Lexington Machining, Winchester Road (Google Maps)

The Chautauqua County IDA Board has approved an Al Tech Loan for Lexington Machining to make upgrades to a warehouse it owns in Lakewood.

Project Manager Carol Rasmussen told the IDA Board that the $218,900 equipment loan would be used for two air-vac units at the facility on 201 Winchester Road. It’s a seven year loan with a 4% interest rate.

Rasmussen said the air-vac units will help the facility become more manufacturing ready.

She said the building had been vacant for 10 years, but that Bush Industries is now leasing 59% of the building, “Bush is excited about them getting this ready for manufacturing. They’re very happy to be there. They’re on a month to month lease, but right now they’re very happy with their lease and they would like to get on a permanent lease.”

Rasmussen added that Lexington Machining has put about $1 million into the building, “They’re very serious about this. They’ve put new lighting in, new roofing, new units, a couple of doors, crate doors, and so they’re very adamant about keeping this building and leasing it out.”

IDA CFO Rich Dixon brought up the fact that active environmental monitoring at the site has scared away a few buyers of the facility, but he’s excited to see the investment by Lexington Machining to turn it into manufacturing space.

EDITOR’S NOTE: As a point of transparency and disclosure to our audience, the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency is a corporate underwriter for WRFA and has provided a financial contribution for the general operations of the station within the past year. Funding we receive for General Operations is not used to fund our coverage of local news in the community. That is only made possible through a Community Service Grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. 

According to the Post-Journal, the Canadian firm Bestar Inc. announced on Tuesday it had acquired Bush Industries, although specific details of the acquisition – including the cost – was not released. Bestar is based in Quebec and is a company owned by Novacap – a Canadian private equity firm.

In 2018, Bush Industries was purchased by Lorraine Capital, a private equity firm in Buffalo.

Bush president and CEO Michael Evans will continue to serve in that capacity. Evans also notes that while there will be some savings from efficiencies once the companies are integrated, the main objective will be to further expand the Bush product assortment and to leverage quick shipping capabilities and global manufacturing to further accelerate the rapid growth both companies are now experiencing.

Bush Industries has 350 full-time employees nationwide and the majority of its employees work in Jamestown.

According to the Post-Journal, private equity firm Lorraine Capital from Buffalo recently acquired the furniture manufacturer and distributor based in Jamestown. Lorraine plans on investing more capital into Bush Industries, which has seen significant sales growth and plans to offer 10 new positions in the company.

The acquisition is the culmination of a three-to-five-year process developed by private investors to identify a more “strategic owner” for the operation.

Left to right in Photo: Patrick McLaughlin, Town of Ellicott Supervisor; Vince Horrigan, Chautauqua County Executive; Lisa Vanstrom, Chautauqua County Legislator (R-Ellicott, Falconer and Celoron), James Garde, Bush Industries CEO; Neil Frederick, Director of Operational Accounting; Carol Rasmussen, CCIDA Business Development Manager; Diego Sirianni, Economic Development Program Specialist II of Empire State Development; Michele Turner, CCIDA VP Marketing and Richard Dixon, CCIDA CFO.

ELLICOTT – The board of directors for the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) has a approved the acquisition of 66 acres of land in the town of Ellicott to be used for future business development.

According to a media release from the county executive’s office, the unused land – located on Peck Settlement Road just to the South of Falconer – had previously been owned by Bush Industries and is situated in Mason Industrial Park area.

The property was paid for with a $200,000 grant from Empire State Development (ESD), which is earmarked for infrastructure improvements to enhance shovel ready sites.

The county IDA will work with County officials to develop the property, by creating an access road and put utilities in place, along with other work they say will  make the location shovel-ready.

“The ability to market shovel-ready sites in an established and successful industrial park will allow Chautauqua County to retain growing businesses and attract new ones,” said Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Howard Zemsky.“I am confident, based on past success, that this public investment into the South County Industrial Park will be met by private investment at the employment hub.”

“This was a great opportunity to keep Chautauqua County moving forward,” said Vince Horrigan, Chautauqua County Executive. “I thank Empire State Development, the Chautauqua County Legislature and CCIDA for their efforts in acquiring and developing this parcel. Shovel Ready sites are crucial to attract new businesses to our county and this purchase is positioned for success.”

Once work is completed the site will be marketed by the IDA for prospective businesses.

Image from Bush Industries

JAMESTOWN – Governor Andrew Cuomo Monday announced that $39.2 million in economic development funding has been approved for 34 projects that are spurring growth and opportunity across the state, including one in the Jamestown area. According to the governor’s office, the funding – which was approved by Empire State Development’s Board of Directors – supports projects that are creating 233 new jobs and retaining 1,589 existing New York State jobs.

Locally, Bush Industries, Inc. has been awarded $900,000. Bush Industries designs and manufactures ready-to-assemble wood entertainment, storage and office furniture. As a result of the funding, officials say Bush will continue operations in Jamestown and retain 230 employees through January 2022. The governor’s office says that without ESD’s assistance, private investors would have likely closed the facility and moved the operations overseas, which would have caused over 200 employees in Chautauqua County to lose their jobs.

“With this funding, we are supporting regionally-significant initiatives and growing local economies across New York,” Governor Cuomo said. “This investment is another example of our commitment to developing key industries and creating new opportunities for companies and workers to thrive in every region of this state.”

“Protecting and promoting manufacturing jobs is vital to the long-term success and prosperity of Chautauqua County, and all of New York State. Bush Industries, a leading furniture manufacturer with deep roots in our community, is a significant economic driver and the loss of over 200 jobs would have been devastating to Chautauqua County, especially for those men and women who support their families by making a living at the facility,” said Senator Catherine Young.

Campaign Chair Vince Horrigan called the news “Unbelievable!” – saying the agency had many individuals give a little extra toward the end to help push the fundraising effort over the top. Horrigan said with the campaign able to reach its goal, the United Way partner agencies are able to continue to meet the needs of this community.

The 2012 United Way Campaign officially began last September at the Girl Scouts Service Center on Horton Road, where campaign volunteers lit the cauldron that was then symbolically blown out Tuesday night in the Sarita Weeks Reception Room at Jamestown Community College. United Way board members, volunteers, staff, and invited guests from various agencies were all in attendance.

Campaign Awards were presented to Allied Fire Protection, Cargill Animal Nutrition, Blackstone-NEY Ultrasonics, Bush Industries, Jamestown Public Schools, Northwest Jamestown Savings Banks, Ring Precision Components, Wegmans and recently retired Jamestown Post-Journal Editor Cristie Herbst.

The United Way of Southern Chautauqua County supports 19 partner agencies and 44 local programs. For more information, visit www.uwayscc.org.

The Jamestown City Council’s public safety committee has given its approval for an outdoor tailgate party for Buffalo Bills, to be held on September 11. The Q Bar and Nightclub is sponsoring the event. But while the special event application was approved in committee, it only received conditional support.

The event is described on its application as the Red, White and Blue Party for “Sept. 11 Remembrance Day and Buffalo Bills season opener,” including a tailgate party outside The Q establishment. Lindell states his intention to provide outdoor music, games, cookout and a beer tent across Cherry Street at the untitled municipal park.

Although the event received the support of the Public Safety Committee, Council President Greg Rabb raised concern over whether the event would be a commemoration of the Sept. 11 events from 10 years ago, or just a tailgate party for football fans. Rabb explained it may seem inappropriate to some people, especially those who lost loved ones in the attacks.  According to the Post-Journal, Rabb said a tailgate party would be ideal on another date, and councilman Tony Dolce suggested removing the “Remembrance Day” slogan from the accompanying poster text.

The applicant is waiting to obtain its outdoor liquor permit from the State Liquor Authority. If approved, City public safety officials would then have to provide their signatures after confirming the times of setup and breakdown as it affects the closing of Cherry St. between 3^rd and 2^nd.   The council will formally act on the request during its upcoming voting session.

SENATOR GILLIBRAND VISITS CHAUTAUQUA CO.

New York State’s Junior U.S. Senator was in Chautauqua County yesterday to hear from farmers in the area.  Kirsten Gillibrand (D-Brunswick, N.Y.) made a stop in Westfield to collect input for the 2012 Farm Bill. As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Gillibrand is the first New Yorker to serve on the committee in close to 40 years.

The Farm Bill is a multi-year omnibus bill passed every several years by congress. which contains federal commodity and farm support policies, as well as other farm-related provisions.

In addition to collecting input on the bill, she also listened to comments and concerns regarding various other federal issues.

HUMANE SOCIETY HOLDS SPECIAL ADOPTION EVENT FOR PROSPECT ST. DOGS

The Chautauqua County Humane Society (CCHS) is hosting an afternoon of reduced adoption fees for the cruelty case dogs rescued from Prospect Street in Jamestown. “Katie plus Eight (+20)” will be held on Sunday, August 28th, from 1p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Strunk Road Adoption Center in Jamestown. During this time the rescued dogs will be located in a specific area of the shelter so that people can spend time with them and explore adoption possibilities. The promotion is made possible by grants from the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.

Anyone who adopts one of these dogs that day will receive a reduced adoption fee of $50 and $30 off obedience classes with canine behavior specialist, Andrea DiMaio.

Adopters will also be furnished with a free bag of dog food and a new dog bed. The dogs have received all of the necessary shots and are already spayed/neutered with microchips in place.

Since the dogs came into the humane society’s care on May 13, only three have actually been adopted. ‘Katie’ is one of the older Labrador/Shar-Pei mix dogs ready for adoption ‘plus Eight’ nearly identical puppies are ready too.

For more information call The Strunk Road Adoption Center at 716-665-2209 or visit www.spcapets.com.

BUSH INDUSTRIES ANNOUNCES REORGANIZATION

Bush Industries, Inc. is announcing that it has completed the final phase of separating into two distinct operating divisions – Bush Furniture and bbf.  Effective immediately, each division assumes their brand name and will operate as a separate strategic business unit of Bush Industries.

Bush Furniture will continue to focus on the retail furniture market and e-commerce channels, and bbf will continue its focus on the commercial furniture market. To support each business unit, the company is reinvesting to enable expansion in the areas of sales, product development, marketing and distribution.