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A Silver Creek pierogi business still needs assistance, but appears to be on its way to recover financially.
Last fall, the Chautauqua County Legislature transferred 12 Howard St. to the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency for $30,674, which was the amount owed in back taxes.
That is the location of Barbie Crockski Pierogi.
One of the owners had been dealing with some health issues and they fell behind on their taxes.
Previously, the county IDA had loaned the business, officially called Lancaster Foods, LLC, around $85,000.
The IDA set up a payment plan for the business to pay back the IDA or else it would sell the building.
During this week's IDA meeting, Chief Executive Officer Mark Geise told board members that the pierogi business is making progress but will need more time.
The lease agreement officially expired at the end of May and he asked the IDA Board of Directors to extend the lease through July 2027.
IDA Chief Financial Officer Shelby Bilskie said Lancaster Foods was unable to pay its village taxes this year, but has made its payments due to the IDA since January.
The village taxes owed are now part of the payments due over the next 12 months.
Bilskie said as long as the business meets this current extension, in July they can discuss them purchasing back the building.
She added they've already paid back $22,000 of back taxes owed.
Geise said there are people employed by Barbie Crockski Pierogi.
"We wanted to keep the jobs there. If it went into foreclosure, think about it, who knows who would have bought it and what would have happened there. There’s several jobs there, there's a business. We did all this to try to maintain those jobs," he said.
The IDA Board of Directors agreed to extend the lease. Board member Kevin Muldowney abstained due to a possible conflict of interest of his business relationship with one of the owners.