Local artist Joseph Grice stopped by the WRFA studios to talk with Anthony Merchant about an upcoming open house at his art studio, preparing work for a new exhibit at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute, what the organization (or chaos) of an artists workspace says about them, the amount of time Joe tends to put in his paintings and much more

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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.

The grants are part of nearly $45 million going toward over 1,200 arts organizations and 426 artists in New York State.

Chautauqua Institution is receiving $40,000 in funding as well as $10,000 toward the program, “Cerstin Johnson: The Trian of Millicent Owakhu,” and another $10,000 for the program, “Jimin Han: Mistaking Minari: Growing Up Korean American in Chautauqua County.”

The Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet will receive $40,000. Infinity Visual and Performing Arts has been granted $30,000. The Reg Lenna Center for the Arts, which is the parent company of WRFA, is receiving $30,000. And the Roger Tory Peterson Institute will receive $25,000.

In 2021, NYSCA overhauled its funding strategies to allow greater access to art funding across the state and recommitted its support to artists. As a result, NYSCA increased its funding of artists by 400 percent and awarded grants to 83 percent of first-time applicants.

The Reg Lenna Center for the Arts’ programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

David Niles of the Roger Tory Peterson Institute joined WRFA’s Anthony Merchant in the studios to discuss RTPI’s Holidays at the Lodge, Art After Five, the 2023 Banff Film Festival and much more

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WRFA’s Anthony Merchant joined Maria Ferguson at the Roget Tory Peterson Institute in Jamestown, NY to discuss 3 new exhibits at RTPI including works by Charley and Edie Harper, Fredonia artist Margaret Braun and various local artists who did art inspired by local nature

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The New York State Council on the Arts is distributing nearly $32 million in grants to 1,032 organizations. Statewide Community Regrants will promote local decision-making by art organizations.

Organizations receiving regrants in Chautauqua County include the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts, who is WRFA’s parent company, receiving $10,000 to increase staff hours. The Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet will receive $10,000 to pay artists and $10,000 to increase staff hours. Infinity Visual and Performing Arts will receive $10,000 for marketing and the Roger Tory Peterson Institute will receive $10,000 to rehire staff.

Jamestown painter and punk rock musician Joseph Grice joins WRFA’s Anthony Merchant in studio to discuss Joe’s musical and artistic journeys, his upcoming art classes and residency at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute, whether or not Joe can see himself playing in a band again, his solo music under the name “Joey Cobra”, future plans and goals and much more

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RTPI’s Maria Ferguson and George Harper speak with WRFA’s Anthony Merchant about the institutes new art exhibition called Art that Matters to the Planet, the on going Art After 5 series, how the Roger Tory Peterson Institute plans to celebrate Roger Tory Peterson’s 114th birthday this summer and much more

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County Executive PJ Wendel, Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist, Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy’s Carol Markham, Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy’s Twan Leenders

The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy has kicked off an effort to certify Chautauqua County as a National Wildlife Federation Community Habitat.

Officials, including Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel, Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist, as well as representatives from the Roger Tory Peterson Institute, Chautauqua-Conewango Consortium, Jamestown Public Market, and Master Gardeners gathered at an event Thursday in the South Basin area of the Jamestown Riverwalk.

CWC Ecological Restoration Manager Twan Leenders said the restoration area of the south bank of the Chadakoin River by the Board of Public Utilities is now part of the certified habitats, “Which has native plants on it. It has habitats for wildlife in it. We’re not using harmful chemicals on it. It provides all kinds of resources for native plants and animals, and those are really the criteria needed to certify an area, your backyard, a park, as an accredited wildlife habitat.”

CWC Board President Becky Nystrom said there are 98 gardens of the 400 needed are already certified in Chautauqua County.

Leenders said anyone can certify their yard by filling out an online questionnaire. He said this is also how the National Wildlife Habitat Federation tracks how many habitats are in a county, “But it could be any scale, it could be a preserve. Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy’s preserves certainly qualify. The city has already agreed to work with us for city parks. The county, various community partners, corporate, non-profit.. Really, it’s a very easy process but it’s really a way to collaboratively get them into the mindset that if we manage any kind of property that we manage in a way that we provide resources, a place to live, and food for native wildlife we can make this whole area greener, and better, and healthier.”

The certification checklist and link to certify for your property can be found at nwf.org/certify.