SHERMAN — Becoming a “Trail Town” is the village of Sherman’s greatest economic opportunity, Mayor Colleen Meeder told board members this month.

Many aspects of the village’s comprehensive plan are intended to draw people to the village and to provide opportunities for economic development. Becoming a “Trail Town” could be “huge for Sherman,” Meeder said.

According to the Rails to Trails Conservancy, “a trail town is a community through which (a trail) passes that supports (trail users) with services, promotes the trail to its citizens and embraces the trail as a resource to be protected and celebrated. Trail Towns are built on a relationship between a town, the trail and its volunteers.”

Meeder referenced the Erie-to-Pittsburgh trail corridor that encompasses about 270 miles of connected trails. It crosses six Pennsylvania counties, as well as Chautauqua County, she said.

“Trail activity is booming,” Meeder said. “We are looking at ways to connect the trails.”

Jacob Bodway, president of the Western New York Mountain Bicycling Association, said the Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation was recently awarded a $25,000 grant from the Sheldon Foundation in order to study the feasibility of creating a “Friends of Chautauqua County Greenways” organization.

“This organization will serve to consolidate the various trail-user groups in the county to work towards the objectives outlined in the 2012 Chautauqua Greenways Plan,” he said. “As a unified group, we feel that we have a better chance to secure larger grants and to work on fulfilling common objectives.”

The Erie to Pittsburgh Trail begins in the city of Erie, Pa., but actually travels northeast into Chautauqua County where it connects with the Chautauqua Rails to Trails (CR2T) in Portland, Meeder said. The CR2T proceeds through Brocton, Mayville, Sherman and finally connects with the Corry Junction Greenway Trail, which then continues to Pittsburgh.

However, there are several sections of this path that need to be completed to unify the trails, Meeder said.

“The old railroad bed between Sherman and Clymer is the focus of completing the CR2T, as well as completing the Erie to Pittsburgh Trail,” she said.

Studies conducted by the Rails to Trails Conservancy have shown that becoming a “Trail Town” can result in significant positive economic impact by “drawing visitors and stimulating local businesses through spending on meals, lodging and gear.”

In other business, Meeder updated board members about the electric vehicle charging stations to be constructed on Church Street. A bond for $215,000 has been deposited into the general checking account, with board approval to open a separate checking account for this.

Meeder said everything is ready to go for construction; however, the village is still awaiting a partial lien release from the seller to purchase the property in the parking lot beside Graham’s Market.

“I don’t want to go any further without getting closure on that property,” Meeder said.

Meeder also updated board members on village efforts to receive more credits as a Climate Smart Community. As Sherman take steps to cut energy use, reduce emissions and adapt to climate change, the village receives more credits.

“Also we are going to reapply for the Green Innovations Grant Program,” she added.

In a related matter, Meeder told board members that French Creek, one of the most unique waterways in the eastern United States, has been selected as Pennsylvania’s 2022 River of the Year. She noted that the change from a chlorinated system to a UV system at the village’s water treatment plant will have a positive effect on French Creek.

Meeder also told board members that Chautauqua County is updating its multi-jurisdiction mitigation plan and the village will need to submit a couple of comments. The wastewater treatment plant is not even on the plan, Meeder said. The village will also request that the county include planned stormwater projects 2 through 5, which cover all of the upper flooding areas, she said.

“If these are directly referenced, it will support our applications for FEMA funds,” she said.