Tremendous opportunities in Chautauqua County form an exceptional quality of life and present reason to invest here. The grand opening of the National Comedy Center in Jamestown introduces another amazing asset that our entire community can leverage to enhance the experience of visitors and residents, as well as encourage new investment. With that in mind, here is a list of ten reasons to live and invest in Chautauqua County:

World Class Manufacturing. Chautauqua County manufactures $5.1 billion worth of shipments annually. We are home to facilities for some of the world’s leading manufacturers. Cummins, Nestle Purina, SKF Aeroengine and Truck-Lite are international. These are among the 200 large, medium and small firms that pay out over $478 million in payroll and employ over 9,000 residents in advanced manufacturing trades countywide. These manufacturers have a wide variety of job openings in engineering, administration and technical trades.

Low Cost and Convenient Living. With an ample assortment of living options available, residents can easily find and afford the lifestyle they seek. Housing ranges from single to multi-family units in urban, suburban or country locations, and the median value of owner-occupied housing is just $85,500. In addition, the mean travel time to work is just 18 minutes, meaning there are no long commutes on multi-lane interstate highways for those who live and work here.

Excellent Educational Opportunities. Local school districts provide a high quality education in a variety of settings for students from pre-kindergarten through high school. The State University of New York at Fredonia has been listed on many of the top college lists and was recently named one of the Best Northeast Colleges by the Princeton Review. Jamestown Community College was the first community college certified in New York State, with a main campus in Jamestown and satellite campuses in Dunkirk and Olean. Jamestown Business College is a private college focused on preparing students for careers in business fields. Empire State College and Bellevue University offer non-traditional higher learning options. In addition, the P-TECH Academy offers a project-based learning environment featuring a high school to Associates Degree continuum. Options for technical training and traditional learning are numerous.

Rich Agricultural Center. Chautauqua County is in the center of the Lake Erie Concord Grape Belt, the oldest and largest grape growing region in the world. A variety of grapes grow in this climate, thanks to our proximity to Lake Erie. Grapes are a big business here, as companies like Grower’s Co-Op and others turn them into juice which is bottled or turned into jelly. Dozens of local award-winning wineries dot the Lake Erie shoreline as well. We have a strong agricultural base as farm crops abound and cattle graze along our beautiful landscapes.

Business and Entrepreneur Assistance. Experienced and helpful staff are available to help anyone who wants to start or expand a business here. The County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency works hand-in-hand with local, regional, state and federal resources to support existing businesses and those interested in locating in the county. The Small Business Development Center at JCC is ready to assist with business planning and marketing, and the SUNY Fredonia Technology Incubator provides its client entrepreneurs with support and resources to successfully launch new businesses.

Excellent Health Care. UPMC Chautauqua, Brooks Memorial, Westfield Memorial Hospital and TLC Health Network are all affiliated with regional medical centers and offer high quality care in a local and convenient setting. Skilled medical staffs and state of the art technology are available to help get people well and keep them healthy.

Vibrant Arts Community. Founded in 1874 as a Sunday school assembly, the historic Chautauqua Institution has become a center for music, art, education and religion offering a full summer calendar of events and programs. Restored theaters in Jamestown and Fredonia offer a year round array of live entertainment, movies and opera streamed via satellite. Visual arts abound with numerous galleries and shops run by local and regional artists. Music is plentiful with live summer concerts in lakeside and park settings in nearly every community, as well as thriving choral and instrumental programs.

Recreation and Sports. Whether you’re a player or a spectator, there’s a sport here to match your interests. Minor league teams bring ice hockey, baseball and basketball to outstanding local venues. For outdoor lovers, fishing, hunting and hiking are plentiful. Skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling and ice fishing keep the winter enthusiasts busy, while water skiing, rowing, swimming and more happen all summer long on our amazing local lake and rivers. You’re never more than a 20 minute ride from a body of water in Chautauqua County.

Diversity of Workplaces. Whether you’re interested in manufacturing, engineering, education, finance and real estate, or our growing tourism economy, there’s a workplace to suit your lifestyle and desires here in Chautauqua County. Interesting and career-focused jobs are available.

People. All the assets we enjoy would be nothing without the people who bring them to life. From small business owners to service providers to volunteers, people in Chautauqua County pitch in to help. We are seeing that now as the annual Comedy Festival in Jamestown winds down and the 16-18 Year Old Babe Ruth World Series cranks up. We are watching it unfold with preparations in Dunkirk as the community prepares for the Great Lakes Offshore Grand Prix speed boat races Aug. 17-19, and with efforts being put into the upcoming Chautauqua Gran Fondo Aug. 25 starting in Mayville. From the smile of a store clerk to the philanthropic giver who helps to bring life to a dream, Chautauqua County is rich with giving and helpful people.

We extend a thank you to those visiting our community, and for considering our corner of New York State as the best possible place for your next home or business venture.

CHAMBER GOLF

TOURNAMENT IS AUG. 16

Some limited space is still available in the Annual Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament Aug. 16. This spectacular event will be played on the Upper Course at Peek’n Peak and is sponsored by DFT Communications, Bush Industries, Community Bank, County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency, Insurance Management Company, Jamestown Mattress Company, Koester Associates, Lake Shore Savings Bank, Lawley Insurance, Lynn Development, National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation, National Grid, Nestle Purina PetCare, OBSERVER, The Post-Journal and Shults Auto Group. A portion of the proceeds from this tournament go toward the Thomas L. Barresi Scholarship fund through the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation. For more information or to register, call the chamber at 366-6200 or 484-1101 or register online at www.chautauquachamber.org/events.

JAMESTOWN

CRUISE-IN IS AUGUST 17

The Jamestown Community Chamber of Commerce proudly presents Jamestown Cruise-In for its 26th year, Friday, Aug. 17. This popular event will be held from 5-10 p.m. along Third Street in downtown Jamestown between Spring and Washington streets. Classic, custom and cool cars and trucks will be on display downtown, along with live music, vendors and fun games and events for the whole family. Drivers are encouraged to pre-register their vehicles for easy and quick entry the day of the event. Registration is available online at chautauquachamber.org/events or you can register in person at the Chamber office at 512 Falconer Street, Jamestown (MTI building at Jamestown Community College) Jamestown Cruise-In is sponsored by Landmark Chevrolet, WJTN/WWSE/SKSN/WHUG/WQFX, Ahlstrom Schaeffer Electric, Jamestown Renaissance Corporation, Matco Tools, Lake Shore Paving and Elegant Edibles Catering. For more information, contact Sherry Hutley at Northwest Arena at 720-1834 or Rebecca Voty at the Chamber 484-1101.