Jamestown Director of Development Crystal Surdyk presents at public hearing (May 15, 2023)

A public hearing has been held on reallocating $225,000 in previous years HOME program funds to a First Time Homebuyers Assistance Program.

Jamestown Director of Development Crystal Surdyk said funds allocated in the 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 Annual Action Plans had not been fully spent in those years and an amendment to those action plans would allow the department to combine those funds for another program, “This funding will go to one of our Community Housing Development organizations, CHRIC, for the First Time Homebuyers Program that they currently administer. This is a great way for us to be able to spend those funds that we certainly don’t want to see go to waste and there’s definitely a need. CHRIC is ready to go.”

Surdyk said Chautauqua Home Rehabilitation and Improvement Corporation has applicants in their program waiting for funding and that U.S. Housing and Urban Development has supported CHRIC’s program in the past. She said CHRIC would retain an additional $500 per recipient for administrative costs.

The $225,000 would provide $4,000 to an estimated 50 low-to moderate-income first time homebuyers between 2023 and 2026.

Surdyk said the homebuyers would use the funds as gap funding, “It helps with down payment and closing costs. It also requires its participants to participate in a program that lasts over, I believe, nine weeks. They learn all of the basics of being a homeowner, responsibilities that they have as a homeowner.”

Surdyk said homebuyers sign an anti-speculation agreement that they won’t sell their home for five years, or risk having to pay back funding they’ve received.

She said there is about $1 million total in unexpended HOME funds. City Deputy Director of Housing Policy and Development Kasie Foulk said the Department of Development just learned that Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME monies not expended in previous years could have the action plans amended to reallocate the funds for existing or new programs.

Due to road construction, City of Jamestown officials have moved the Jamestown Department of Development Ward III Annual Action Plan Neighborhood walkthrough and Splash Pad Community Meeting from the pavilion to the site of the former skatepark off of 13th Street.

Residents interested in attending may enter off Washington Street onto 13th Street with parking in the loop next to the old ballfields.

For more information, contact the Department of Development at 716-483-7541.

DOD officials say there are $35,000 in grant funds that remain unallocated.

Applications are being accepted now through April 30, 2023.

The Downtown Small Business Evolution grant encourages business owners to think outside the box and pursue innovative ideas for diversifying their services and offerings, and generating greater number of patrons by increasing foot traffic.

Awards are provided in amounts of up to $15,000. This amount may be used exclusively for project costs.

Applications can be found and submitted online at www.jamestownny.gov or by mail to: Department of Development, 200 E Third Street, 4th Floor, Jamestown, New York 14701.

The Jamestown Department of Development will use the walks to gather community input for the Action Plan, which is the plan for how the city will use Community Development Block Grant and Home program funds it receives. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires the development of the action plan for CDBG and HOME funds.

The City of Jamestown has been awarded $1,144,628 in CDBG funds and $392,250 in HOME funds. This is $5,379 less than they were allocated in 2022.

The funding is used for Community Planning and Development activities, ranging from the development of affordable housing to expanding economic opportunities for people with low and moderate incomes.

DOD officials said while the walks are ward-based, all are welcome to attend. The walk will include a short presentation on the action plan followed by a public comment opportunity.

The workshops will be held as follows:
Ward 1 at 6pm, Tuesday, March 28 at Lillian Dickson Park
Ward 2 at 6pm, Thursday, April 6 at Washington Middle School
Ward 3 at 6pm, Tuesday, April 11 at Jackson-Taylor Park
Ward 4 at 6pm, Thursday, April 20 at Lincoln Elementary School
Ward 5 at 6pm, Tuesday, April 25 at Fletcher Elementary School
Ward 6 at 6pm, Tuesday, May 4 at Willard Park.

Locations may change due to inclement weather. Additional public input sessions that will take place at City Hall will be announced at a later date.

For more information, contact the Department of Development at 716-483-7541

The Jamestown Department of Development has opened the application period for the Non-Profit Assistance grant program. Non-Profits that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic now have until April 20th to apply.

The grant program will provide grants of up to $200,000 with applications exceeding $200,000 being reviewed on a case by case basis. Awards are structured as a 50% grant and 50% forgivable loan.

Jamestown City Council funded the program with $1.5 million

Applications can be found and submitted online at www.jamestownny.gov or by mail to: Department of Development, 200 E Third Street, 4th Floor, Jamestown, New York 14701.

Jamestown Urban Renewal Agency board meeting (March 14, 2023)

The Jamestown Urban Renewal Agency board has approved the creation of a new position focused on housing.

Jamestown Director of Development Crystal Surdyk said the city faces a monumental task when it comes to housing issues, including housing code enforcement and housing conditions.

She said following conversations with City Council members, other housing agencies, and internal staff on how to address this, she came to the conclusion that it doesn’t make sense to split the Department of Development into a department that solely deals with housing development and an economic development department, “I don’t feel that it should be separated. I still think there should be a director of development, not two directors who are working separately from each other and, very possibly, in silos. Economic development and housing and community development are very much intertwined. And so there still needs to be a really cohesive strategy and team around those even though they seem like different things, they’ve not so different.”

Surdyk said the position of Deputy Director of Housing and Community Development Manager will be similar to the Economic Development Coordinator position, but with more responsibilities, “Because housing is so complex and we really want to look at policies, and we’ve been working on some ordinances, and to attack housing and the issues that we have with housing it has to be a multi-pronged approach. And so this position will frankly free me up to do all of the things better.”

Surdyk said while the position was not included in the 2023 JURA budget, there should be enough room to fund it with the upcoming departure of Assistant Corporation Counsel Ben Haskins, other unfilled positions in DOD, as well as more grant funds.

The public meeting will take place from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 21 in the Lincoln Elementary School auditorium at 301 Front Street.

City Principal Planner Ellen Shadle will moderate the discussion. It is open to all Jamestown community members with a special invitation to those who identify West Third Street and Fairmount Avenue as their central neighborhood corridors.

The Community Conversation will be driven by an exchange about lived experiences framed by issues regarding housing, people, and neighborhood. The discussion will address not only the existing conditions of the area, but also provide a platform for attendees to share their stories as a resident of the westside. Additionally, business owners and operators are encouraged to attend and share their experiences and needs for viability and sustainability. What is produced by this inaugural westside conversation will help steer and inform future Community Convenings.

The next Community Convenings are tentatively scheduled for the northside on May 18, the eastside on July 13, and the southside on September 14. Exact locations, times, and dates will be announced at a later date.

For more information, visit https://www.jamestownny.gov/departments/department-of development/planning/community-conversations, following DOD’s Facebook page, or contacting Ellen Shadle by phone at 716-483-7657, or by email at shadle@jamestownny.gov.

In the sales tax report that will be presented to City Council tonight, the total sales tax collections for 2022 totaled $8,137,477. This is $5,943 more than what was budgeted for the year.

For 4th quarter receipts, the City received $2,061,532, which is 8.9% more than received in 4th quarter of 2021.

The 1st quarter 2023 payment will be received in May of 2023

City Council will review a resolution to allocate $295.92 of American Rescue Plan Act “Lost Revenue” funds toward the purchase of Mobile Data Terminals for twelve police vehicles. The terminals had initially been funded with $40,000 but actual costs came in slightly higher.

The Department of Development also will hold a discussion regarding demolitions, launch of the comprehensive plan and Zoning Code update.

The Council Committee meetings start at 6:45 p.m. for the Housing Committee and 7:00 pm for the Finance, Public Safety, and Public Works committees. The full work session is at 7:30 p.m. in the fourth floor Police Training Room in City Hall. The public is welcome to attend all meetings with the full work session being livestreamed on jamestownny.gov.

Tim O’Dell

Economic development programs funded by American Rescue Plan monies have created 119 jobs so far in Jamestown.

Department of Development Grants Manager Tim O’Dell, presenting to Jamestown City Council, provided a results summary for 2022 that focused on the Building Property Infrastructure Improvement grant – funded with $1.5 million; the Information Technology program – funded with $300,000; and the Downtown Small Business Evolution program – funded with $200,000; “So, so far, we have 11 economic development projects in the works. So far, $300,000 funds, economic development funds disbursed for the three grants that I mentioned. And, I’d say in spring time we can have an expected big increase in this as many of the BPII recipients and others have to wait until the Spring season to begin their roofing projects and receive quotes and whatnot.”

O’Dell said 10 roofs and 10 buildings also were revitalized by businesses. He said 119 jobs were created and 341 jobs saved as a direct result of the funding for businesses.

O’Dell said $215,730 has been disbursed under the Roof, Sewer, Lateral and Water Line Replacement program, “And that is 12 roofs for the City of Jamestown homeowners and there are also 15 that currently contractors are bidding on. And, essentially, similar to the BPII, once spring time occurs and hits, we’ll expect more and more of these to get done in upwards of 100 roofs. As well as 20 new products and services.”

O’Dell added that the New Business Development and Equipment & Machinery Upgrades programs are currently in the application period, which ends February 24. Other economic development programs that are in progress include the Business Incubator, Workforce Development, Chadakoin River Basin Activation, and Downtown Programming and Events.

Director of Development Crystal Surdyk said a complete report on funds used for downtown events will be provided at the Jamestown Local Development Corporation meeting on Wednesday, February 15.

View – Dept. of Development 2022 ARPA Annual Report

Grant Manager Tim O’Dell presents on business grant fund to the Jamestown Local Development Corporation board. (January 18, 2023)

Jamestown Local Development Corporation board members are requesting to review Business Expansion and Building Acquisition grant applications.

The American Rescue Plan funded program was allocated $750,000 by City Council with $749,980 in requests received from eight Jamestown businesses.

Department of Development Grant Manager Tim O’Dell said the City will experience a return on investment from the eight businesses who applied for funding, “All of these businesses have acquired property that was prior vacant or was partly vacant. And they will be running business operations there to make use of these buildings that delayed them from further decay and waste. And for this grant as well, many of these businesses are seeking to use these new spaces to create employment and optimize their business strategies.”

O’Dell said most of the work being done at the businesses includes HVAC repairs, roofing, interior work, and remodeling.

JLDC Board member and City Council Finance Committee Chair Kim Ecklund requested to see the business applications given that there were only eight received total, “It’s unfortunate that we only got eight because some of these people have received multiple funding other places too and some have not like Falcon Acquisitions is new, but I know we’ve seen Labyrinth get some funding and we’ve seen Panache get some funding through some other entities. So, they’re not newly getting funding, so I would’ve liked to see some new businesses, not necessarily new businesses, but new applications, if you will.”

JLDC Board member and Council President Tony Dolce agreed that all JLDC Board members should receive the applications to review.

The eight businesses who requested funding are the Beer Snob, BS Wholesale Florist, Falcon Acquisitions, Fringe, It’s Your Day, Labyrinth, Panache, and Summit Wealth Management.

The Jamestown Local Development Corporation Board will vote on the BEBA applications at its February meeting, which is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, February 15.