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County Receives Record Assistance For Development Projects

Chautauqua County has received a record amount of project funding grants through the state’s foremost economic development program.

On Wednesday, state officials announced the 2017 Regional Economic Development Council program awards, with Chautauqua County receiving a record $9,57,641 in the seventh year of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s regional economic growth action plan.

The more than $9 million in state funding will go toward 23 projects throughout the county. The county received $4.7 million for 23 projects in 2016; $7.7 million for 27 projects in 2015; $3.8 million in 2014; $3 million in 2013; $1.475 million in 2012; and $5.2 million in 2011.

The largest award was $5 million for the sewer extension for the west side of Chautauqua Lake. This project will provide public sewers to a portion of the unsewered west side of Chautauqua Lake in the town of North Harmony. This project will reduce the amount of phosphorus entering Chautauqua Lake and improve water quality.

In October, the Chautauqua County Legislature approved a resolution regarding the extension project which included making sure the proposed facilities for the extension are satisfactory and sufficient; the property and property owners within the proposed extension would be benefited by the extension; everyone benefited will be included with the proposed extension; it is in the public interest; and the proportion of the cost of the system of the original districts included in the cost of the extension shall be zero.

The town of Chautauqua also received $1 million for the Chautauqua Heights Sewer District Wastewater Treatment Plan project. The project description stated the town of Chautauqua will decommission the existing wastewater treatment plant and replace it with a pumping station. A force main will be installed to convey flows from the pumping station to the North Chautauqua Lake Sewer district Wastewater Treatment Plant where the effluent will be treated to remove phosphorus. This will reduce phosphorus entering Chautauqua Lake, which will reduce eutrophication and make the lake a better habitat for wildlife.

“These awards are more fantastic news for Chautauqua County,” said County Executive Vince Horrigan.

“I am especially thrilled to see all of the awards for water and sewer infrastructure that are so important to our local communities and for improving the water quality of Chautauqua Lake. Special thanks go to Governor Cuomo and the WNY REDC for their continued investment in Western New York and Chautauqua County. I congratulate all of the many grant writers and awardees who spent countless hours submitting these fantastic CFA applications. Just one more example of how Chautauqua County is on the move.”

Other projects receiving money in the county includes:

¯ $1 million to the tillage of Sinclairville for water system improvements;

¯ $450,000 to the village of Fredonia for Card Seed Company Building renovations;

¯ $382,680 to the village of Celoron for Lucille Ball Memorial Park Improvements – Phase IV design and construction;

¯ $313,890 to Chautauqua County Soil and Water Conservation District for Chadakoin River Watershed – Jamestown Riverwalk Restoration;

¯ $240,663 to the town of Ripley for Ripley Beach Town Park improvements design and construction;

¯ $138,585 to the Southwestern Central School District for its shared fuel station project;

¯ $100,000 to Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES for adult education workforce development;

¯ $100,000 to the village of Mayville for Mayville/Chautauqua stormwater management engineering study;

¯ $92,511 to Chautauqua County for the Barcelona to Chautauqua Institution multiuse trail easements;

¯ $78,022 to Chautauqua County Soil and Water Conservation District for Chautauqua Lake watershed rehabilitation — Prendergast Creek;

¯ $75,000 to Young Audiences of Western New York Inc. for Traveling the Erie Canal: 200 Years of Journeys;

¯ $67,150 to New York Cider Association for Craft Beverage Agritourism Cider Week in Western New York;

¯ $50,000 to the village of Sherman its comprehensive assessment sewer study;

¯ $48,000 to Chautauqua County Soil and Water Conservation District for Chautauqua Lake Watershed Rehabilitation – South Basin Periphery;

¯ $33,640 to Chautauqua County Soil and Water Conservation District for Chautauqua Lake Watershed Rehabilitation – North Basin Periphery;

¯ $30,000 to the town of Chautauqua for Chautauqua Heights Sewer District inflow and infiltration study;

¯ $30,000 to the town of Westfield for sanitary sewer collection system planning study Phase II;

¯ $15,000 to the village of Falconer for its comprehensive plan 2017.

The Western New York Regional Economic Development Council received a total of $68.8 million for 112 projects. Since 2011, the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council has received a total of $425.2 million in funding for economic development projects.

In April, Cuomo launched Round VII of the Regional Economic Development Council initiative, officially kicking off the annual competition that will reward more than $800 million in state economic development resources this year.

In 2011, Cuomo established 10 Regional Councils to develop long-term strategic plans for economic growth for their regions. The councils are public-private partnerships made up of local experts and stakeholders from business, academia, local government and non-governmental organizations. The councils have redefined the way New York invests in jobs and economic growth by putting in place a community-based, bottom-up approach and establishing a competitive process for state resources.

For more information about the awards or the Regional Economic Development Councils, visit regionalcouncils.ny.gov.

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