The Furniture Mart building on the corner of Washington and W. Second Streets in Jamestown.

MAYVILLE – Two recently proposed development projects in Chautauqua County – including one in Jamestown – have been designated with a priority status for state aid by the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council.

According to County Executive George Borrello, the Furniture Mart Building renovation project and the Empire State Brands hops and barley program were given the designation as part of the 2020 round of Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) grant requests to Empire State Development.

In July, the Gebbie Foundation submitted a CFA in the amount of $1.8 million to redevelop the Furniture Mart Building in Jamestown, N.Y. The funding would be part of a $15 million renovation effort that would see the building converted to a mixed-use, nine-story commercial building with associated parking to support the new development and the growing need in downtown Jamestown.  The building is located on the corner of West Second and Washington Streets directly across from the National Comedy Center.

The Empire State Brands program was formerly being called Grow Chautauqua Hops and Grains. It involves a $2.9 million CFA request to assist in the re-purposing of an existing building in Chautauqua County for a fully integrated hops, barley, and grain processing facility, with the total project cost approximating $14.7 million. A recent study calculates an economic impact of $91 million and 404 jobs created from the development and growth of the new business.

The two CFA requests, along with several others that were submitted earlier this summer, will now advance to Albany for review and pending approval. The final announced funding totals for all 2019 CFA projects will likely be announced in December.

As part of its 2018 regional Progress Report, the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council (WNYREDC) announced 16 priority projects have received its recommendation to advance the region’s growth objectives.

Four of those projects come from Chautauqua County and have been labelled as top priority projects by WNYREDC. The projects are located in Jamestown, Westfield, and Fredonia. They include:

• The Riverfront Property Development Proposal in Jamestown – $100,000 recommendation
• The Welch’s Building Redevelopment in Westfield – $1,000,000 recommendation
• The White Inn redevelopment project  in Fredonia – $220,000 recommendation
• The AgriAmerica projects in Fredonia – $498,6000

JAMESTOWN RIVERFRONT PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT

The project in Jamestown focuses on the purchase and development of riverfront property along the south bank of the Chadakoin River. The application for the project said it supports smart growth by concentrating investment near the newly opened National Comedy Center (NCC).

While the details of the project don’t include a specific location, city officials have said it would likely involve acquiring and relocating the Chautauqua Brick business to another area of the city so that its present location on Harrison St. can be developed for a project that caters to downtown visitors and tourism.

• Jamestown Renaissance Corporation Unite North Main Facade Project – $390,000
• Lakewood Chautauqua Ave. Green Street Retrofit – $699,511
• Lakewood Lowe Park Stream Stormwater Project – $255,951
• St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Bell Tower and Front Porch Stabilization – $500,000
• VIEW TOTAL LIST OF PROJECTS AND SCORES

The priority designations increases the likelihood the state will award Consolidated Funding Application grant money to the projects, with an announcement expected by the end of this year of just how much money all projects across the state will receive.

Unpredictable thrills, side-splitting comedy, acrobatic tricks, daring feats, magic and daredevil stunts are the signature style of Circo Comedia’s Jean Saucier and Patrick Cote. Following in the tradition of the Quebec Circus, Saucier, juggles, cycles, balances and performs magic from dizzying heights while Côté clowns, skates and drums trying his best to be the (imperfect) assistant. The duo have been performing together for nearly 15 years. Both attended the Quebec’s National Circus School.

Tickets start at $5 for children aged 18 and under and $10 for adults.

Prior to the performance Reg Lenna Center for The Arts’ 2018-19 season lineup will be announced. The events will include the return of a few performers from recent seasons to the stage. Audiences can expect an international drumming ensemble, an evening of standards and stories from a well-known television actor, live seasonal music just before the holidays, an afternoon of clowning from a master of the art, a high flying circus performance and three stand-up comedians who have all performed in Jamestown. Tickets for the season will go on sale June 1.

The 2017-18 season has been the most successful since 2014 with half of the six performances selling out. The Reg also increased the number of movie showings over prior seasons, programming most Wednesdays and Saturdays throughout the year with the exception of a few dates around holidays and scheduled performances. Attendance at movies and live events has been just over 12,000 to date.

Throughout the season, 6 of the 7 buildings that are part of the Reg Lenna Center for The Arts have been undergoing substantial renovations. A new lobby, concession area and box office will be open before the Lucille Ball Comedy Festival and the 3rd on 3rd Gallery will open in a completely restructured street level space in August. Offices for administration and both offices and studios for WRFA are on track to reopen this fall. A new multimedia arts studio and an adjacent pre-function meeting space will open to the community before the year’s end.

Demolition for the multi-million dollar project began in December, 2017 with renovation and construction following in early 2018. Funding for the project comes from Western New York Regional Economic Development Council DRI, Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation, Gebbie Foundation and Lenna Foundation. Monthly public constructions tours will be offered until renovations are complete.

A temporary box office location is open at 215 Spring St. (between 3rd and 2nd streets) and the entrance to the theater is next door. This box office is open between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and (through May) 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday. The temporary theater entrance will be open one hour prior to movies and events, at which time tickets will be available in the box office. Tickets may be purchased at our box office locations during the times listed above, over the phone at 716.484.7070 or online at RegLenna.com.

During Monday’s Jamestown City Council meeting, Jamestown mayor Sam Teresi said that WNYREDC members will hold a meeting on Monday, Aug 14 at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts. He said that if weather allows, they will also do a walking tour of downtown Jamestown to learn about recent economic development initiatives in the city, including those that will benefit from the $10 million DRI grant awarded to the city in 2016, along with funding from the Consolidated Funding Application program.

“They’re interested in doing a walking tour of the downtown area to see some of the projects that are underway or being planed and that are being assisted with Consolidated Funding Application resources and also the projects that are receiving funding through the DRI,” Teresi said.

According to the mayor, nearly $200 million in development has taken place in the city’s downtown through various public-private partnerships since the early 2000s, when the $23 million Northwest Arena was first built. Other major projects include the $25 million National Comedy Center, $14 million Gateway Train Station Restoration, $14 million for the Hilton Double Tree Hotel, $12 million for the Jamestown Area Medical Associates development in Brooklyn Square, $22 million to replace the Washington St. Bridge, and $10 million in downtown public parking facilities.

The mayor said that next week’s meeting will be the first that has taken place during the past six years in Jamestown, or any southern Tier Community.

Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi (photo courtesy of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Flickr Page)

“this is the first meeting that they have held that has been more than five miles or so off of a thruway interchange. So we are quite pleased to finally get them to come to Jamestown,” the mayor said. “I think one of the reasons they are looking to come to Jamestown isn’t just out of obligation, because they see a need for the council to get out through the southern tier counties of Western New York, but also because the members truly do what to come and see in person what is happening here.”

As far as the projects that will benefit from the recent $10 million DRI Grant, Teresi said he’s hopeful that once next week’s meeting takes place the funding will be released to the respective developers and work can get underway, especially for the Hilton Double Tree Hotel on 4^th St., which officials would like to see open for business in time for the 2018 Lucille Ball Comedy Festival and 2018 Babe Ruth World Series, both which are slated for August 2018.

The program, which will feature the awarding of grant money through the state’s consolidated funding application initiative, will begin at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Egg Center for Performing Arts in Albany.

Several projects in downtown Jamestown have already received favorable scores as part of the CFA process.

In October, the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council (WNYREDC) submitted its 2016 Progress Report – which recommended 32 priority projects to advance the region’s growth objectives, including six from Chautauqua County – including the National Comedy Center’s Gap Funding project in Jamestown, with $1.5 million requested (the total cost of the project is $20.4 million).

The report also scored dozens of other projects from across Western New York that have applied for funding but weren’t given “priority” status. These projects scored either a 20 (categorized at “other priority project”) or a score of 15 (“regionally significant priority project”).

Projects in downtown Jamestown receiving a score of 20 include the National Comedy Center, the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts Master Plan, and the Tracy Plaza renovation project.

Those receiving a score of 15 include Phase II of the Winter Garden Plaza, Façade work at St. Luke’s Church, and the archives project at RTPI.

Downtown Jamestown projects that didn’t have a score listed include the Riverwalk Illumination Project, the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation’s Up Close regional plan, and the Fenton Mansion ADA porch restoration.

As part of the CFA initiative for this year, the 10 Regional Councils across the State are competing for up to $175 million in capital funds and $70 million in Excelsior Tax Credits for projects. The CFA funding is separate from the $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant Jamestown was selected to received earlier this year.

The CFA award program Event will be streamed live on www.governor.ny.gov.

Earlier this month the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council (WNYREDC) submitted its 2016 Progress Report – entitled A Strategy for Prosperity – to New York State. The progress report details the council’s achievements in implementing its five-year strategic plan and reflects Western New York’s progress on efforts to ensure sustainable and long-term economic growth.

The report also recommends 32 priority projects to advance the region’s growth objectives, including six from Chautauqua County. These priority projects were announced in September and included the National Comedy Center’s Gap Funding project in Jamestown, with $1.5 million requested (the total cost of the project is $20.4 million).

And the report also scores dozens of other projects from across Western New York that have applied for funding but weren’t given “priority” status. These projects scored either a 20 (categorized at “other priority project”) or a score of 15 (“regionally significant priority project”).

Projects in downtown Jamestown receiving a score of 20 include the National Comedy Center, the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts Master Plan, and the Tracy Plaza renovation project.

Those receiving a score of 15 include the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation’s Stabilization plan for buildings located at 10-12 E. Second St, Phase II of the Winter Garden Plaza, Façade work at St. Luke’s Church, and the archives project at RTPI.

Downtown Jamestown projects that didn’t have a score listed include the Riverwalk Illumination Project, the JRC’s Up Close regional plan, and the Fenton Mansion ADA porch restoration.

To encourage the implementation of the Regional Economic Development Councils’ strategic plans and to continue to motivate investment opportunities and job creation, the 10 Regional Councils across the State are competing for up to $175 million in capital funds and $70 million in Excelsior Tax Credits for projects.

the 2016 funding award announcements are anticipated in mid-December.

The projects include:

• TimberFish’s Commercial Demonstration project in Westfield – $338,000 requested with a total cost of $900,000;
• the Concord Grape Belt Heritage Association’s Grape Discovery Center Expansion project in Westfield – $135,000 requested with a total cost of $671,540;
• Chautauqua County Rural Ministry Inc.’s Colburn Block Development project in Dunkirk – $190,000 requested with a total cost of $218,000;
• the National Comedy Center’s Gap Funding project in Jamestown – $1.5 million requested with a total cost of $20.4 million;
• the Village of Westfield’s West Main Water Upgrade project – $100,000 requested with a total cost of $486,700;
• the Village of Fredonia’s Barker Commons project – $325,459 with a total cost of $488,808.

In addition, over 50 other projects from across the county were scored as part of the CFA process. However, the specific scores for each project has not been made public by the council.

• VIEW ALL 2016 CFA PROJECTS FROM WNY REGION

All projects will now go to before state economic development officials for their review. The final project scores in specific funding allocations are expected to be announced in early December.

According to the report, the council has highlighted 27 regional priority projects across Western New York, with a total cost of $235.7 million, $30 million of which would be funded by New York State’s Empire State Development program. In addition, the council has included dozens of other projects as well.

Of the 27 projects, six are in Chautauqua County, with five in the greater Jamestown area.

One project involves the National Comedy Center using $2,000,000 in funding for construction of the facility, while another project focuses on $325,000 in state money being used to further develop the National Comedy Center Park, which is connected to the River Walk. Also, more than $985,000 in state funds would also go toward expanding JCC’s Manufacturing Technology Institute.

Other projects that were featured in the report include proposed resort hotel in Celoron which would receive more than $2,000,000, a $200,000 expansion to the South County Industrial Park in the town of Ellicott, and the E-Works program in Dunkirk would receive $33,000.

Projects that were included in the report as state priority projects that also scored 20 points, included:

• Frewsburg Water System Planning Study – $50,000
• South and Center Chautauqua Lake Sewer Districts POTW Improvements – $2,500,000
• City of Dunkirk New York Main Street Program – $500,000
• Ellery Sno-Cruisers’ Class A Trail Groomer for Snowmobile Trail Maintenance – $176,000
• Jamestown Renaissance Corp. STRIVE Jamestown – $500,000
• JRC Wintergarden Plaza Phase II – $111,297
• Westfield Welch Trail Recreation Area – $200,000
• Fredonia Technology Incubator – $375,000
• B& Club of Northern Chaut. Co. – Workforce Development – $42,000
• Reg Lenna Marquee Upgrade and WRFA Studio – $93,820

The projects and total funding outlined in the regional economic development council’s report are only recommendations at this point. They will go to Albany for review by the state board, with final project allocations to be announced later this year.

The Western New York Regional Economic Development Council (WNYREDC) will hold a Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) Technical Conference from 1 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11 at the Chautauqua Suites Hotel.

Stakeholders from Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie and Niagara counties with community development projects and businesses that wish to apply for state funding through the next round of the CFA are invited to attend.

Potential projects may include community and waterfront revitalization, strategic planning, infrastructure, parks, trails, historic preservation, arts and cultural projects.

Interested participants should RSVP by Tuesday, March 10 at http://regionalcouncils.ny.gov/content/march-2015-wny-redc-consolidated-funding-conference-rsvp.

According to a recent article in the Jamestown Post-Journal, village officials have met with members of the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council to get an update on their requested funding for a proposed waterfront revitalization project around Lucille Ball Memorial Park.

But there is some doubt that the village will see any money in the next round of funding. That’s because Village Mayor John Keeney says that officials with the development council turned down the village, citing a grant application that was not written well enough.  However, the mayor went on to say that village officials were instructed on how to reapply next year with a better chance of receiving funds.

In December, the state program awarded $52.8 million to 58 other projects in Western New York to improve local infrastructure and create jobs. Over $1.4 million was awarded to projects in Chautauqua County.