Governor Kathy Hochul with Dunkirk Mayor Willie Rosas and other officials for the Downtown Revitalization Initiative Award announcement (January 23, 2023)

The City of Dunkirk has been awarded $10 million in Downtown Revitalization Initiative monies.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the funding from Empire State Development Corporation at the Clarion Hotel Monday.

Dunkirk Mayor Willie Rosas said the plan presented to the EDC has ten different projects including work on the marina, an indoor waterpark, Jamestown Community College having a presence downtown, and renovations to the Clarion Hotel.

Dunkirk will now begin the process of developing a Strategic Investment Plan to revitalize its downtown with up to $300,000 in planning funds from the $10 million DRI grant.

A Local Planning Committee made up of municipal representatives, community leaders and other stakeholders will lead the effort, supported by a team of private sector experts and state planners.

The Strategic Investment Plan will guide the investment of DRI grant funds in revitalization projects that will advance the community’s vision for its downtown and that can leverage and expand upon the state’s $10 million investment.

Jamestown Director of Development Crystal Surdyk addresses City Council on Restore NY Grant application request (September 26, 2022)

A request to apply for a $500,000 Restore New York grant to redevelop the Furniture Mart Building has been approved by Jamestown City Council.

Director of Development Crystal Surdyk said Savarino Companies of Buffalo would be the developer of the building at 111 West Second Street. She said they have a negotiated offer to buy the 172,217 square foot building from owner Art Bailey along with at least two other nearby parcels. The property is currently assessed at $800,000.

Surdyk said other properties were looked at downtown for the Restore New York program, but only the Furniture Mart Building project was far enough long to meet criteria to apply to Empire State Development Corporation.

She said that criteria includes the building being vacant, or 50% not occupied, “The community must be qualified as a disadvantaged community, it must be in a Brownfield Opportunity Area, it also needs an Empire Zone qualification, feasibility and readiness need to be completed, committed financing, expected to start within 12 months, induce commercial investment, and improve local housing, and leverage other state and federal programs.”

Surdyk said the property will be mixed use with low-income and market rate apartments, “As far as the rest of the building program, they’re anticipating a mix of apartments, a boutique hotel, and then the rest will be commercial.”

Surdyk addressed a concern raised by citizen Pete Miraglia about parking in the area, “There are two other parcels that are part of the package. So, as Mr. Miraglia mentioned, in the past there had been discussions about doing a parking ramp. That is still part of this plan and would not fall on the city. That would be part of the development and the developer would be responsible for that parking ramp.”

The Furniture Mart Building project did receive $1,346,000 in Consolidated Funding Application monies in 2019 which Surdyk said is unexpended. She said Savarino will have access to use that funding addition to whatever grant funds received. She anticipates they also will be applying for Historic Tax Credits in addition to other funding for the project.

If the Restore New York grant is awarded, the City of Jamestown would be required to provide a 10%, or $50,000, match. Surdyk did not say where that funding would come from at this time.

Furniture Mart Building on West Second Street

Jamestown City Council will consider tonight a resolution for the city to apply for a $500,000 grant to redevelop the Furniture Mart Building.

A public hearing will first take place at 6:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers to gather public comment on the city’s application to the New York State Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) under the Restore NY Communities Initiative.

Council then, under new business, will consider the city’s request to apply for $500,000 to redevelop the property at 111 West Second Street for residential and commercial mixed use.

West 2nd Street had to be closed recently after part of the upper facade of the Furniture Mart Building fell onto the street.

Also, under new business, Council will vote on amending the city code on recommendation by the Board of Electrical Examiners. Chapter 131, which deals with electrical, was first adopted in 1962. According to the staff report, this section of the code provides specific educational and licensing requirements for those employed in the trade of electrical installation and installation/repair of electrically-powered manufacturing equipment.

Further, it provides a governing Board of Electrical Examiners to review and approve applications for electrical licenses and established minimum requirements for electrical inspectors. The ultimate goal of this chapter is to reduce the risk of fire by ensuring all electrical work performed within the City of Jamestown was performed by qualified personnel.

The public hearing on the Restore New York grant takes place at 6:30 p.m. with the voting session taking place at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall. The public is welcome to attend both with the public hearing and voting session being livestreamed on jamestownny.gov.

The Former Viking Temple at at 318 Washington St.

JAMESTOWN – The Jamestown City Council will host a Public Hearing Monday night, Nov. 27, to consider an application for state funding to help restore a downtown building that’s been closed for more than a decade.

According to a recent public notice filed by the city clerk’s office, the hearing will focus on funding from the Restore NY Communities Initiative, a program administered by the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC).

The ESDC established the initiative to help developers obtain funding for -among other things – the development of vacant, abandoned, surplus or condemned commercial and/or residential buildings.

Monday’s hearing will focus on an application for up to $1,000,000 in funding to redevelop the former Viking Temple Building property, located at 318 Washington St. The plan is to redevelop the 27,000 Square ft. building for commercial mixed use, including a craft beer bar/restaurant.

The hearing will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the city council chambers.

Any persons wishing to comment on this matter are invited to speak at this time, or may also submit comments in writing to the city development office. All written comments must be received by 4:30 p.m. Monday.

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.

Thomas DiNapoli

ALBANY – New York State is not doing a proper job in overseeing how its tourism and marketing money is being spent.

That’s according to state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, who released a scathing report Monday against the Empire State Development Corp (ESDC).

DiNapoli’s says what began as a $50 million ad campaign by BBDO USA LLC, an advertising and marketing agency, to promote tourism and business has mushroomed into a $211.5 million boondoggle with little proof that the ads have generated jobs.

The comptroller said that when government spends hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to promote the state as a place to visit and which is open for business, it should have clear objectives, but, he said that ESDC’s attempts to measure the results of the campaign were weak at best.

Officials with ESDC – which is controlled by Gov. Andrew Cuomo – responded by citing increased visits to their websites and focus group results showing that business executives in and out of the state have recalled the TV ads promoting the state.

The ESDC oversees economic growth efforts ranging from tourism promotion to the START-Up NY tax break program for new businesses.

Image from RaefoodsInc.com

MAYVILLE – Chautauqua County economic development officials are scrambling to find a new tenant for a food processing plant in Westfield after the most recent occupant had to close its doors due to a lack of business.

Rae Foods, Inc., which specializes in making the Nowinski brand pierogis, has closed its 15,000 sq. ft. operation at 75 Bourne St. in Westfield, just a year-and-a-half after the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency signed off on a series of incentives to bring the business to the village. The company was operated by Beverly Braley and Rachelle McFeely.

In the summer of 2013, the IDA Board of Directors voted to give Rae Foods a significant incentive deal, which included a 10-year Payment in Lieu of Tax schedule, a $640,000 in AL Tech Revolving Loan at 4 percent interest, machinery and equipment, abatement of sales tax during the construction period, and also abatement of mortgage recording tax.  Additional economic incentives were also approved by Empire State Development. In exchange, the company had said it would hire up to 50 people within a five year period.

However, the Rae Foods never had more than 15 employees since moving into the new space. Recent news reports have said the company was forced to close its doors because it could not build a strong enough customer base to survive.

Village officials will work with the IDA in trying to find another business to move in. In the meantime, the owner of Rae Foods will still be required to pay back the remainder of the loan it owes to the county.

• LISTEN TO MEDIA INTERVIEW WITH MAYOR TERESI AND DEJOY

Monday night was the culmination of nearly three weeks of preparation for DeJoy, who was announced as Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi’s selection to be the next development director. Speaking with reporters, DeJoy said Monday was his first day on the Job and he’s ready to hit the ground running.

“I spent the morning trying to get to know what [the staff] is working on and what they do. I’ve been thoroughly briefed in the past as to what projects they are working on, so I had my opportunities to ask some questions on it and what their priorities are and how they are tackling their many challenges to work through each day,” DeJoy said, adding, “I think the relationship has started off wonderfully between myself and the staff and I’m very excited to be working with some very talented and extremely experienced people.”

When DeJoy was announced as the mayor’s choice as the new city development director, he pledged to usher in a new era of collaboration in the city. Last night, DeJoy said he already has reached out to some of the local agencies and organizations in the area and will continue to do so in the coming weeks and months.

“I think some of our economic development partners, such as with the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation – Mr. Lombardi and his staff. Also as the mayor mentioned, I met today with the Empire State Development Corporation. I’ve had several meetings so far with [Chautauqua County] IDA members Mr. (Rich) Dixon and Mr. (Bill) Daly and I met with County Executive (Greg) Edwards. I am just so excited because they’ve been enthusiastic. They know me and I think they know that I am very sincere and passionate about Jamestown and Chautauqua County.”

The position of city development director is an unpaid position in Jamestown government. However, the director of development has also traditionally been the same individual who serves as Secretary of the Jamestown Urban Renewal Agency – which is a paid position. DeJoy was already approved to be the next secretary of the agency during a meeting on Feb. 7.

DeJoy will replace former city Development Director Steve Centi, who announced his retirement at the beginning of the new year.

The Jamestown City Council voted 7 to 1 in favor of accepting the appointment of DeJoy as city Development Director, with councilwoman Kim Ecklund (R-At Large) voting against it.