On Sept. 9 local, state and federal officials announced $10.5 million in federal funding to assist businesses in Chautauqua County during the COVID-19 pandemic. From left to right – Assemblyman Andrew Goodell; Joel Frushone, EDA Director – Office of External Affairs; Anthony Foti, Intergovernmental Affairs Director – U.S. Department of Commerce; Richard Dixon, CFO – County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency; Congressman Tom Reed; Senator George Borrello; County Executive Paul Wendel; Mayor Wilfred Rosas; Crystal Surdyk, Interim Director of Development for the City of Jamestown; Michael Metzger, Chairman of the Board for the CCIDA and VP for Finance and Administration at SUNY Fredonia.

JAMESTOWN – The Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency has allocated more than half of the federal CARES Act money it recently received to assist businesses throughout the county during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In September, The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced the county IDA was selected to receive a $10.5 million grant to establish a new, low-interest Revolving Loan Fund (RLF). Both businesses and non-profit organizations are allowed to apply for the funding as a means to respond to economic injury resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

As currently established, the new RLF provides loans of no less than $25,000 and not to exceed $1 Million, and working capital loans of up to $250,000, with an interest rate of 2.44% (the lowest allowed).

The first round of funding – totaling more than $5.7 million, was awarded during the Tuesday IDA board meeting – going to 28 businesses and non-profit entities.

Of the 28 loan approvals, six of them covered more than half the total amount being borrowed:

• $700,000 to SKB Auto Sales (Fredonia)
• $646,650 to Big Inlet Brewing (Mayville)
• $500,000 to Cockaigne Resort (Cherry Creek)
• $494,460 to Artone (Jamestown)
• $375,000 to Heritage Ministries (Gerry)
• $375,000 to Advanced Production Group (Dunkirk)

The remaining loans were as follows:

• $322,000 to Luscombe Aircraft Corporation (Jamestown)
• $250,000 to La Quinta/ Holiday Inn Express/ Hampton Inn (Jamestown)
• $227,000 to Pace’s Pizzeria (Jamestown)
• $200,000 to Webb’s Candies, Inc./ Webb’s Motel Inc. (Mayville)
• $182,183 to Kimbert Manufacturing dba Barton Tool Inc. (Falconer)
• $125,000 to Ark Wholesale, LLC (Fredonia)
• $125,000 to Brigiottas Farmland Produce & Garden Center Inc. (Jamestown)
• $125,000 to Corvus Bus & Charter, Inc. (Falconer)
• $125,000 to Excelco/Newbrook, Inc. (Silver Creek)
• $125,000 to Falconer Hotel, LLC (Falconer)
• $125,000 to International Ordnance Technologies (Jamestown)
• $125,000 to Pucci Carpet One Furniture & Bedding, Inc. (Fredonia)
• $115,000 to Shawbucks, Inc. (Jamestown)
• $125,000 to Webb’s Harbor Restaurant and Bowling Lanes, Inc. (Mayville)
• $87,500 to Bilicki Law Firm, PC (Jamestown)
• $85,000 to Skate Shop (Jamestown)
• $75,000 to The Original Crunch Roll Factory, LLC (Westfield)
• $41,000 to Merritt Estate Winery, Inc. (Forestville)
• $35,000 to Ivory Acres Weddings LLC (Frewsburg)
• $25,000 to Uhl Ventures LLC dba Servpro of Jamestown/Olean (Jamestown)

IDA Director Mark Geise reminds businesses that the application and program details are still currently available, and urges anyone interested in applying to contact the CCIDA office at 661-8900.

An old promotional image from the former Cockaigne Ski Area, which closed in 2011 following a fire that destroyed its iconic lodge.

CHERRY CREEK – The effort to reopen the Cockaigne Ski Resort has hit a snag and as a result the venue won’t be able to open for this coming winter season.

In early 2017 business partners Adam Pirtz and Isaac Gratto announced their $3.75 million plan to purchase, upgrade, and reopen Cockaigne in Cherry Creek by this summer, with the slopes being open for skiing by this winter.

However, the resort announced on Facebook that complications preparing slope lighting, snow-making systems and ski lifts means they will not be opening for the 2018/2019 Skiing and Snowboarding Season.

“We are disappointed and heartbroken to say that we will not be opening for the 2018/2019 Skiing & Snowboarding Season,” the post read. “Despite a lot of hard work and investment, we are not able to get slope lighting and lifts operational. There have been many people involved to this point, however, the scope of work that needs to be done on the slopes has grown significantly and is beyond the point that we can complete prior to this season.”

The resort was still planning to hold certain events, unrelated to skiing and snowboarding, for the winter.

“Our focus is on completion of the lodge and serving the community with a place to stop for food, drinks, and the family-friendly atmosphere that Cockaigne Resort strives for. Keep checking the website and social media as we look at potential snow-sport events and activities for this season. We are not giving up, we hope you don’t either,” the post said.

For decades Cockaigne had been a local ski destination in Chautauqua County until a fire destroyed the historic ski lodge in 2011 and the business folded.

Rep. Tom Reed (R-Corning)

DUNKIRK – Congressman Tom Reed (R-Corning) was in Chautauqua County Thursday and toured the WNY STEM College and Career P-TECH Academy in Dunkirk.

The academy allows students to participate in a six-year program that provides not only a high school education, but a college degree.

Using hands-on learning, a high-rigor STEM curriculum and state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment, students are given an innovative education they can’t get elsewhere.

Reed said that Chautauqua County is having trouble finding the skilled workforce and it’s programs like P-Tech that will give students and young adults the opportunities they need to succeed. He said while in Congress he’ll work to support legislation to ensure the program is able to continue.

The P-Tech Academy is one of 32 in New York State, and has their first senior-level class this year.

Also while in the County, Reed toured the newly renovated Cockaigne Ski Resort, which is set to reopen this winter under new ownership after being closed for six years.

“Seeing the rebirth of such an important facet of the community of Silver Creek and the Chautauqua County area is heartening,” Reed said. “The fire at Cockaigne was a devastating event, but it is good to see it end on a positive note with the reinvigoration of Cockaigne. We care about the success of this area, and are glad to see it first-hand.”

An old promotional image from the former Cockaigne Ski Area, which closed in 2011 following a fire that destroyed its iconic lodge. The destination is expected to reopen with expanded offerings during the second half of 2018.

FALCONER – The redevelopment of the Cockaigne Ski Resort is moving forward.

That’s from officials with the Cherry Creek-based ski destination, who appeared before the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency on Tuesday to provide an update on the project, which has been expanded since they first presented their plans more than a year ago.

According to the Post-Journal, the Cockaigne project cost has increased by $250,000, with a total price tag of $3.75 million.

In addition to constructing a new lodge, the resort will also have a terrain park, a concert venue and a tubing hill.

For decades Cockaigne had been a local ski destination in Chautauqua County until a fire destroyed the historic ski lodge in 2011 and the business folded.

Cockaigne owners Adam Pirtz and Isaac Gratto developed a plan to resurrect the ski resort in 2016 and sought financial support from the IDA in 2017.

With the new overall project cost, terms to the Al Tech loan given to Cockaigne had to be changed and re-approved by the IDA board on Tuesday.

The project is expected to be open for business this fall, with the Brewgrass Music Festival set to be held on Sept. 14-16.

In other business, the IDA board approved three resolutions for the 200 kilowatt, E2I Ventures solar project in Fredonia. The project will be located on 35,000 square feet of property on Martin Road in Fredonia.

The total cost of the project is $329,100.