Based on a grant report provided to City Council at its December 5, 2022 meeting, only three out of 13 grants received by the City on the list had gone through formal acceptance and authorization by City Council.

Two examples of grants received by the city that had not been formally accepted include a $25,000 grant from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation toward improvements of the Johnson Street Playground and a $1.2 million State Environmental Protection Fund Local Waterfront Revitalization Project grant.

According to a staff report on a resolution to purchase new fencing for Johnson Street Park in the agenda for the June 12 City Council work session, the City has already used the grant from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation to purchase a new swing set, benches, picnic tables, new hoop, signage, trash receptacles, and repave the basketball court. As of Sunday, June 11, the basketball court with new hoop has been completed, but other new equipment had not been installed.

According to the City Charter, under Article IV, C-31.F for Powers of the Mayor,

“When authorized by the City Council so to do, the Mayor shall execute on behalf of the City all deeds, contracts and other papers to be executed as an act of the City. All contracts, agreements, obligations or other instruments made, executed or issued by order of the City Council or at the direction of the boards provided by this Charter and in behalf of said City or boards shall be signed by the Mayor except as otherwise provided by the Local Finance Law.”

At the Finance Committee meeting on June 5, Corporation Counsel Elliot Raimondo made the comment that per the Mayor, City Council didn’t need to approve a $4,310 grant awarded by the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth. Finance Committee Chair and Council member at large Kim Ecklund disagreed with that opinion at the meeting.

In a statement by Ecklund, she said she had requested council be updated monthly at minimum about what grants the city has applied for, but that has not been happening on a regular basis.

Johnson Street Playground with newly paved basketball court (June 11, 2023)

She replied to a request for comment on this matter, saying Council should be approving the acceptance of all grants,  “.. just as we would any donation by a group or person. I have no idea why these have not been brought in front of us to do this and it should be corrected. In particular, I do remember speaking about the Johnson Street project at Parks Commission. We have not been aware of any reason why these would not come to a legislative body for approval. I honestly only asked for the grant list in March because of the ‘surprise’ FEMA Grant and had not received a copy again until today because I had to ask for it yet again. The bottom line is there is a lack of communication and honestly these grants and any other financial donation or in kind gift needs to come before the legislative body for acceptance and approval.”

Mayor Eddie Sundquist responded on the issue with a statement saying that, “For many of these grants, we may have been awarded them, but have not yet received a formal contract from the entity. In addition, some grants the City applies for on behalf of entities but the funding does not pass through the City. Many of the state grants, we may have been awarded but have not yet received a contract. ESD and some state agency grants require a pre-application resolution and in that resolution, it authorizes acceptance, if won.”

Council President Tony Dolce said he agreed that Council needs to formally vote to approve and accept the grants. He said in a statement that he had requested the City Clerk and Corporation Counsel bring forth resolutions to Council to approve those grants.

SKF Aeroengine

The bearing manufacturer, located in Falconer, will use the funds to purchase new machinery and equipment that focuses on implementing new manufacturing technology and continued development of high skilled technical careers.

According to a press release from ESD, the company will invest in small bearing manufacturing, cage manufacturing and roller manufacturing improvements, targeting improved efficiency, and building towards new technology needed to support future development programs within the Aerospace.

The award announcement came as part of $24 million grants being awarded to 28 shovel-ready priority projects in New York State through the Regional Economic Development Council initiative.

The Furniture Mart building at the corner of W Second and Washington Streets.

Jamestown City Council has approved moving forward with a $2 million Restore New York application to redevelop the Furniture Mart Building.

Director of Development Crystal Surdyk said they increased the request amount to $2 million because that’s the limit. The original Restore New York Application approved in September 2022 only requested $500,000 in grant funding.

Gebbie Foundation Executive Director Greg Edwards said the redevelopment project is estimated to cost over $18 million. He said if the investment happens, it will have a dramatic impact on the city, “Right now, it’s projected to be high-end residential, plus some modest level residential, hotel property in the middle of the structure… it’s nine floors… in the first and second floors, maybe the third floor, and maybe commercial retail.”

Edwards said they’re also working with the developer to add more parking, “We’re working really hard in partnership with the city to convince the developer to also add a multi-level parking structure adjacent to and attached to the Furniture Mart building to enhance its positive impact on the city. Because, clearly we need substantial growth in our parking capacity.”

Edwards said other funding in place includes a $1.34 million Empire State Development grant.
Savarino Companies of Buffalo is in negotiations with the current owner, Art Bailey, to purchase the 172,217 square foot building.

A public hearing on the Restore New York application will be held today at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall. It is open to the public and will be livestreamed on jamestownny.gov.

The Furniture Mart building at the corner of W Second and Washington Streets.

Jamestown City Council will hold a special voting session tonight to vote on a Restore New York funding application.

The City of Jamestown is applying to Empire State Development for $2 million in Restore New York Communities Initiative funding to redevelop the Furniture Mart Building.

This application replaces a previous application requesting $500,000 that Council approved in September 2022. Director of Development Crystal Surdyk said that application was not submitted due to not being ready.

At the September 26 meeting about the previous Restore New York application request, Surdyk stated that 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.

The special session will take place at 6:45 p.m. in the City Council Chambers located on the second floor of City Hall. The meeting is open to the public and will be livestreamed on jamestownny.gov.

If the measure passes, a public hearing will then be held at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, January 24, 2023, in the City Council Chambers at City Hall.

CCIDA CEO, Deputy County Executive Mark Geise and Chautauqua County Partnership Economic Development Specialist Kristy Kathman Show Proposed Upgrades to Chadakoin River Basin (October 5, 2021)

An initiative to increase public access and encourage economic activity around the Chadakoin River has received $361,00 in state funding.

The City of Jamestown received the funding from Empire State Development for the Chadakoin River Basin Activation Initiative. The City had initially only requested $301,000.

The monies will be used to make enhancements to the north shore of the Basin including a signature garden, mural, tiered seating space, and place-making items. The south shore will see the addition of a kayak launch, dock, and welcome center for visitors.

The city had two consolidated funding applications that did not recieve funding in this eleventh round of ESD grants. Those included a $361,473 request for the Chadakoin River West Brownfield Opportunity Area project and a request for $20,000 so the City can enter into the New York Main Street Program.

The Village of Sherman also was approved funding by ESD, receiving $358,283 to assist in the renovation of commercial and mixed-use buildings in the historic downtown commercial core on East & West Main Street.

Lakewood Community Development Corporation and Village Officials gather in front of new playground at Hartley Park (November 10, 2022)

Construction is underway for a new $700,000 playground at Hartley Park in the village of Lakewood.

The new playground replaces a structure that had been deteriorating, with parts of the structure having to be removed in recent years due to being unsafe.

Lakewood Mayor Randy Holcomb said the project is a collaboration between the Village Board of Trustees and Lakewood Community Development Corporation.

LCDC President Bill Evans said the project began with a community fundraising effort that led to $456,000 being funded through Empire State Development.

He said there are multiple phases to the project, “So what is initially happening now is we’re replacing all of the equipment on both pads. New equipment, new engineered wood chips surface, there’s going to be slides built into the hill between the two pads, longest zip line in the region, that is phase one. Phase two will involve creating handicap accessible pathways to the different paths.”

Evans said landscaping will be added too.

The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2022

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that Electrovaya has selected the town of Ellicott as the location for its first U.S. plant. The company will set up operations at the former Heidenhain facility in the Mason Industrial Park.

The publicly traded company will produce lithium-ion batteries for e-forklifts, e-trucks and e-buses. Electrovaya designs, develops and manufactures proprietary lithium-ion batteries, battery systems and battery-related products for energy storage, clean electric transportation and other specialized applications.

Empire State Development provided up to $4 million through the performance-based Excelsior Jobs Tax Credit Program and $2.5 million in Regional Council Capital Funding. In July, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) Board of Trustees approved a more than 1.5-megawatt low-cost hydropower allocation to Jamestown under the Power Authority’s Industrial Economic Development program to meet the increased electric load resulting from Electrovaya’s town of Ellicott expansion.

The initial cost for the facility has been placed at approximately $75 million, and it is expected to open in the fall of 2023.

BPU Business Development Coordinator Ellen Ditonto said the conference is one part of a $750,000 NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority) grant the BPU received to help rebuild and retool Western New York.

She said the conference is designed for manufacturers, public sector employees, and businesses, “And this is to help us decide how can we become part of the climate tech, or clean tech, sector. As you know, there are federal and state legislation laws that have been passed now that require changes to reduce greenhouse gases and to move into alternative energy sources.”

Ditonto said they’re looking for manufacturers to move into clean technologies like making parts for electric vehicles (EVs), solar manufacturing, and wind power.

The conference will take place October 17 through 19.

Ditonto said a final webinar ahead of the conference will be held on Tuesday, September 13 featuring Empire State Development (ESD) Director of Industry Development David Whipple and Launch NY President and CEO Dr. Marnie LaVigne. The link to register is available here: https://whova.com/web/QI@22lQwk6A87Aa@hPTaGntUwUVryQuGtn7QxZ5vPZA=/%20%20Webinars/

Rendering of Edgewater Art House

A joint project between the City of Jamestown and The Resource Center to create an art studio on the Riverwalk has received a $195,000 grant.

The funding comes from an Empire State Development grant.

The proposed Edgewater Art House project will be located on Eighth Street across from the future Riverwalk Community Skatepark and McCrea Point Park. The project will re-purpose a storage garage currently located at the Edgewater Day Habilitation Site.

The Arthouse will provide access to an indoor and outdoor art studio for people with disabilities and the community at-large. The community art classes provided will include painting, drawing, mixed media, ceramics and a gallery space to showcase the art.

The Resource Center President and CEO Denise Jones said they hope to break ground on the project this Spring.

TheZone at Northwest Arena

TheZone project at Northwest Arena has been awarded a $450,000 grant through Empire State Development.

The Jamestown Center City Development Corporation is the group that sent in a Consolidated Funding Application for the project.

TheZone will create a new indoor activities venue for children in downtown Jamestown. It will utilize space in Northwest Arena to create a center focused on technology and play, encouraging kids to explore STEAM principles through physical activity.

The announcement of funding was part of $81 million dollars being awarded to 97 projects across New York State through the Regional Economic Development Council initiative.