Chautauqua County has been awarded a $250,000 grant through the New York State Homes and Community Renewal (NYS HCR) “Technical Assistance to Grow Pro-Housing Communities” program.

The funding will be used to advance the Chautauqua County Housing Market Analysis and Development Strategy developed in collaboration with the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth in 2024.

“Affordable housing supports our workforce, helps businesses attract employees, and ensures that people of varying income levels can locate to or continue to live and thrive in Chautauqua County,” said County Executive PJ Wendel. “The multitude of efforts being facilitated by the County’s Department of Planning & Development, the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth, and the CCIDA are moving us in the right direction, with the fact sheet providing unbiased and fact-based information to support productive community conversations.”

Funding will be used on the following areas:

– Inventory of Potential Housing Sites: The county will develop a county-wide inventory of potential housing sites using a GIS oriented platform. Outreach to municipalities and building owners will support the creation of a developer�’ready listing and marketing campaign.

– Pre�’Development Activities: Five sites will be selected for pre�’development analysis to move projects closer to construction readiness.

– Developer Forum: A one�’day forum will connect housing developers with local site opportunities, incentives, and community housing needs.

– Zoning Analysis: Review of municipal zoning codes with recommendations to allow for an array of housing types, remove barriers, and encourage housing development.

– Public and Stakeholder Engagement: Outreach to build awareness and collaboration around housing challenges and solutions.

“Understanding housing affordability helps communities make informed decisions, and the term ‘affordable housing’ encompasses a wide range of income categories. Currently, approximately 75% of our county’s households qualify for affordable housing programs,” said Mark Geise, deputy county executive for economic development and county IDA CEO. “Affordable housing basically means that a household is not spending more than 30% of their gross income on housing costs and utilities, otherwise they are considered ‘cost burdened.’ That being said, approximately 50% of renters in Chautauqua County are just that, cost-burdened. We need to improve our existing housing market and support new housing developments in order to increase rental availability, improve quality, and reduce the cost burden on those renting in the county. Bottom line, we need more housing that meets the needs of our population, thereby setting the table for the retention of the current workforce and attraction of people to the county to fulfill open job positions. At the same time, we need communities to understand the facts and support these projects.”