Chautauqua County continues to make progress in developing a new shovel-ready site for industry in the western area of the county, while expanding another site in the southern portion.

Mark Geise, the chief executive officer of the county Industrial Development Agency and the deputy county executive for economic development, gave an update to IDA board members on the proposed Ripley Industrial Park and the Mason Industrial Park in the town of Ellicott.

For Ripley, they have received some grants in the past and Geise said they’re still working on some other grant funds.

“We’re still feeling optimistic that things will line up,” he said.

Originally the project was expected to cost $16 million, but Geise said the final number is “in flux.”

So far they have $15 million secured.

“We have the ability to scale back the project a little bit if we need to,” he said.

National Grid is working on the engineering for the electric extension and environmental studies are taking place.

Design for the water, sewer and the road will run from May to December. During that time period, they hope to get the necessary permits for the project.

Geise said if all works out, the contracts for the work will be bid out between December and March of 2026 and construction can take place from March to October, 2026.

The property sits off of Shortman Road between Route 20 and I-90. Near the property is Regal Trucking and across the street is Love’s Travel Stop.

The property had been divided up into two phases. The first phase focuses on 62 acres and the second phase involves 84 acres.

At the Mason Industrial Park, there’s about 66 acres of vacant land there total with about half able to house development.

Right now the county has an engineering firm in place doing some design work.

Geise said the environmental studies are finished. The design work should be done by August, with construction taking place from August through May 2026.

Geise has said previously that they regularly get calls from companies seeking large “shovel-ready” sites that can be developed for various industries and warehouses. While the county has some smaller sites, these sites are being developed to attract large scale industries.