“Everything is in good shape,” is how Richard Dixon, County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency chief financial officer, described the proposed 2019 budget for the economic development organization.

On Tuesday, the IDA board passed its budget for 2019, with Dixon mostly talking about the Al Tech Revolving Loan Fund prior to the board’s approval of the fiscal plan. He said the fund will be loaning around $1.5 million to development projects in the county, of which Dixon mentioned that one of the loans is going to the Hamister Group for the new DoubleTree By Hilton Jamestown hotel.

Dixon said, typically throughout the year, there are several amendments to the budget as the board approves loan funds to countywide projects.

“This is our best attempt at the revenues,” Dixon said about next year’s budget projections.

The purpose of the Al Tech Revolving Loan Fund is to finance existing and new businesses in the area with a below-market, fixed-interest rate for subordinated loans, fixed assets or working capital needs.

The revolving fund aims to create jobs and foster continued sustainability and growth of businesses within the county. Certain types of businesses that are considered to be eligible to apply for the loan include technology-oriented businesses; manufacturing; tourism-related businesses; agricultural-oriented businesses; and private developers who have identifiable tenants that are unable to assume or handle real-estate obligations.

The fund is managed by IDA officials, with loans being recommended by the IDA loan committee and approved by the IDA board.

In other business, Mark Geise, IDA chief executive officer, said IDA officials are working on several initiatives that includes developing a Brownfield Opportunity Area development strategy, a brochure and a workforce development website.

Geise said the state Brownfield Opportunity Area program through tax credits is a lucrative program for developers.

He said IDA officials are meeting with development officials from both Dunkirk and Jamestown on developing a Brownfield incentive marketing strategy to draw potential project developers to the county.

Linda Burns, IDA business development manager, briefly discussed a couple potential Brownfield projects with one being located along Jones and Gifford Avenue in Jamestown and another being a Buffalo business interested in developing a solar energy company.

Geise said the brochure is still in the development stage, but would be about 40 pages in length.

He said once finished, about 1,000 copies of the brochure would be created for distribution. He added they will also post the brochure on the IDA’s website — ccida.com.

IDA officials are also working on a workforce development website, Geise said. The workforce development website will be a “one stop” location that will link to other businesses websites.

He said IDA officials are currently working with a website developer, who is currently creating proposals for the new site.