City Council President Tony Dolce reads proclamation recognizing retiring DPW-Parks Director Jeff Lehman (March 27, 2023)

Three grant allocations totaling $365,060 to Jamestown businesses have been approved by Jamestown City Council.

The three resolutions were approved by the Jamestown Local Development Corporation board at its March meeting, but each exceeded the $100,000 threshold, thus requiring council approval.

Summit Wealth Management‘s request of $108,705 was amended through a motion by Council member Andrew Faulkner to $83,100.

Faulkner said the amended amount is what was needed to finish the project, “They’ve already started it and been working on it. They recently purchased their building. They’re making their renovations to fit what they need, and the effects of COVID, what they needed. So, the form we got at the last work session, they had to break down all that and that will give them what they need to complete the project from here.”

Council member at Large Jeff Russell said several council members did tour the businesses, “And business owners did show them around and basically show them their project that was going on. So, there were council members that did their due diligence when they were invited to check out the projects.”

The allocation of $167,105 was approved for Panache and $114,855 was approved for Labyrinth Press Company.

Council also recognized Department of Public Works Director and Acting Parks Department Director Jeff Lehman for his 29 years of service to the city. Lehman’s last day before retiring is Friday, March 31. He served on the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities and City Planning Commission during his tenure, which also included overseeing the creation of the Jamestown Riverwalk.

Lehman is being succeeded by Acting DPW and Parks Director Mark Roetzer, who was sworn in at Monday night’s meeting for the temporary position while the city continues to looks for a full-time replacement.

Labyrinth Press Company owner Jeff James presents on expansion plans to Jamestown City Council (March 20, 2023)

Businesses seeking approval of American Rescue Plan funding gave further details on their proposed projects to Jamestown City Council members.

The three businesses, Labyrinth Press Company, Panache Salon, and Summit Wealth Management; had applied for Business Expansion and Building Acquisition (BEBA) Grant program funds.

The Jamestown Local Development Corporation board approved their requests at its February meeting but as the three requests were over the $100,000 threshold, they required City Council approval as well.

Council tabled the resolutions at its voting session in February, with council members saying they wanted more information about what the businesses planned to do.

Labyrinth Press Company has requested $114,855.

Owner Jeff James said he purchased the adjacent building, 4 East Fourth Street, in December 2021 to help expand the restaurant’s kitchen and add more seating, “Without this funding right here, I don’t see what the next step, path forward is to get the spaces to the level of a functioning kitchen down there, which is my goal. My number one goal is getting that space on the basement level to basically add 600 square feet to the kitchen space.”

James said he also has secured $100,000 in working capital from the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency for the project as well. He said Labyrinth currently has 22 employees, with four to five more being hired after the new kitchen is constructed.

Panache Salon owner Kristie Schwab also plans to use $167,105 in funding, if approved, to renovate an adjacent business space she purchased on West Third Street to add additional services to the business, “So that’s where the idea came to add flotation. We had a plan for four tanks. We’ve reduced that to three. I’d like to put in a salt cave, similar to what you find out in Ellicottville, also a sauna and cryotherapy.”

Schwab also said that if she doesn’t receive the ARP funding that the project will not be able to move forward.

Summit Wealth Management, which purchased 1285 North Main Street, has requested $108,705 for renovations to the building including a new roof, handicapped accessible entrance, and additional parking spaces.

Partner Doug Schutte said the business’ main goal is to serve more people, which means hiring more staff, “It would be more of a higher end hire, somebody who’s licensed and capable of processing securities related business. There’s a good chance we’re going to have to go outside of the area to find that, hope not, but we’ll do what we need to fill that position. And we can see, as Kristie pointed out, without funds like this, everything, the whole schedule of doing this, slows down.”

Council member at Large and JLDC Board Member Jeff Russell encouraged council members to try to visit the businesses in person before the voting session on March 27th to see the proposed projects in person. The funding requests will be on the March 27th voting agenda.

Jamestown City Council voting session (February 27, 2023)

Jamestown City Council tabled three business grant requests for American Rescue Plan funding, citing the need for more information.

The three resolutions that appeared under new business had been passed on February 15 by the Jamestown Local Development Corporation, but needed approval by Council as the requests were over $100,000.

Council President Tony Dolce said Council members just received the information about the grant requests with the pre-file on February 23 and wanted an opportunity to discuss the applications, “I think the general consensus was, they were concerned about the amounts and maybe what was going to specifically be done. We really didn’t have time to vet it out, check it out. There may be some tweaks and changes to that. I know that Crystal (Surdyk) will probably go back to those three businesses and see precisely if there can be some changes to that. It might be changes in the amounts. But, basically wanted council to have an idea of how that process works.”

The businesses seeking grant funding include Labyrinth Press Company‘s request for $114,855; Panache Salon’s request of $167,105; and Summit Wealth Management‘s request of $108,705.

Dolce said a joint meeting between the JLDC and City Council will take place during a Council work session in March to further discuss concerns.

Council did approve a resolution allocating an additional $296 from ARPA funds to cover added costs for the purchase of 12 Police Car Data Terminals. That had initially been funded with $40,000.

Jamestown City Council

The three resolutions under new business are American Rescue Plan Building Acquisition and Business Expansion grants approved by the Jamestown Local Development Corporation at its February meeting.

As all three grants are over $100,000, City Council is required to approve them for funding to be disbursed.

The businesses seeking grant funding include Labyrinth Press Company‘s request for $114,855; Panache Salon‘s request of $167,105; and Summit Wealth Management‘s request of $108,705.
Council also will vote on a resolution allocating an additional $296 from ARPA funds to cover added costs for the purchase of Police Car Data Terminals. That had initially been funded with $40,000.

A public hearing will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers regarding the City’s HOME-ARP Allocation Plan.

The plan is related to $1,227,069 received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for homelessness assistance and assistance to other vulnerable populations. The funding was to go toward capital investment for affordable rental housing, upgrade available stock of shelter to include non-congregate shelter, and provide tenant-based rental assistance and supportive services.

The City’s plan for the funding included its use for two emergency homeless shelters.

The City Council voting session will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers on the second floor of the Municipal Building. The meeting is open to the public and will be livestreamed on jamestownny.gov.

The Irish Brothers present their request for downtown event funding to the Jamestown Local Development Corporation (February 15, 2023)

Over $105,000 in grants and loans have been approved for four downtown events.

The Jamestown Local Development Corporation heard presentations from five organizations, tabling one at its monthly meeting Wednesday.

Funding approved includes:

– $9,500 for the Irish Brothers to appear at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church on March 15,
– $10,000 for Roger Tory Peterson Institute‘s two-day presentation of the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts in April
– $49,970 for the 2023 Whirlybird Festival in July that includes $24,900 in grants and a $25,000 loan
– and $35,700 for four Earlybird concerts that includes $10,700 in grants and a $25,000 loan.

A $42,500 request from St. Susan Center to bring in CashCab’s Ben Bailey for a Trivia Night fundraiser was tabled, with JLDC members requesting additional information about the space for the event.

The JLDC Board also approved funding eight businesses under the Business Expansion and Building Acquisition (BEBA) Grant program. City Council allocated $750,000 in American Rescue Plan monies for the program with $749,980 in requests received.

Department of Development Grant Manager Tim O’Dell said the businesses receiving funds have promised to create 40 full time jobs and 18 part-time positions, “To mention as well, the contracts, if approved they would be signing as structured as a 50% grant and 50% forgivable loan. The forgivable loan portion comes into as they will need to meet their employment goal. And if not, they will have until December 31, 2026 in order to obtain that goal. And if they weren’t to obtain that goal, they would pay half of it that was the loan portion if the jobs were not met.”

The eight businesses who were approved funding are:
– The Beer Snob – $60,000
– BW Wholesale Florist – $83,335
– Falcon Acquisitions – $93,480
– Fringe Hair Salon – $58,500
– It’s Your Day – $64,000
– Labyrinth Press Company – $114,855
– Panache – $167,105
– and Summit Wealth Management – $108,705

Building Acquisition & Business Expansion Grant funded Companies

Jamestown Economic Development Coordinator Stephanie Wright shared that 54 businesses were notified directly about the grant program with 19 declining to apply.

O’Dell said they heard from the Small Business Development Center that often businesses don’t have the time to invest in the application process, “And they don’t want to go to a commitment like that, as it’s a very long project in when the American Rescue Plan ends. And we’ve also run into instances where either they’re just not interested, they do not want to participate, as well as some businesses do not want to get involved in government programs.”

O’Dell said the Department is working with SBDC and the Chamber of Commerce on getting out the word on the next set of business grant programs. He said SBDC also will help businesses complete the grant applications.

The grant applications for Labyrinth, Panache, and Summit Wealth Management will now appear under new business on City Council’s voting agenda on Monday, February 27. Any grant that exceeds $100,000 must also receive council approval to move forward.

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.