Center, Crystal Surdyk, Jamestown development director, discussing the city’s American Rescue Plan Act economic development plan during the Jamestown City Council retreat at the Robert H. Jackson Center Wednesday. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

Of the $14 million the city of Jamestown has already received in American Rescue Plan Act funding, only $12,600 has been spent.

On Wednesday, the Jamestown City Council held a special work session “retreat” to continue discussing how to use the federal stimulus money. Anthony Dolce, council president, said during their regular work sessions meetings the council doesn’t have time for in-depth discussions on how ARPA funds should be spent. He said the retreat was a chance for council members to ask questions and raise concerns.

During the retreat, the council focused most of its discussion on the ARPA economic development plan. City officials tentatively have $10 million of the $28 million earmarked for economic development.

Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist said the ideas for the programs in the economic development plan came from roundtable discussions with officials from local manufacturers, restaurants, retailers and service providers.

In February, Crystal Surdyk, city development director, presented the tentative ARPA economic development plan to the council.

“We are looking for direction on what you are supportive of,” she said. “Being able to give us a place to start is what we are looking for.”

One idea the council likes is the restaurant, retail and services program, which they have already allocated $200,000 toward. The program will encourage business owners to think outside the box and to be creative in using their spaces to generate more revenue. Examples of how the funds can be used would be to create outdoor dining space at restaurants, book entertainment or hold an industry-related seminar.

Another program the council likes is the workforce development program, which tentatively has an allocation of $750,000. Dolce said the return on investment for this program will be accomplished by assisting local manufacturers to fill available positions.

The workforce development program will consist of work readiness for youth, both in and out of high school; paid and unpaid work experiences; coaching for students and businesses; and assistance with barriers to employment. The program will continue the work of establishing an employee pipeline from high school and trade schools right to manufactures, skilled trades and business administration.

An additional program the council likes is the general contracting and trades initiative, which tentatively has an allocation of $500,000. The council discussed how there is a lack of contractors in the area. Surdyk said for city projects she is scheduling contracts two years in advance.

The program will partner with local building trade organizations to address contractors’ most urgent needs and working capital for new workers. The program’s goal is to recruit young people into trades upon graduating high school by pursuing partnerships with schools and organizations specializing in workforce development in the building trades.

Another program discussed, but there were questions on whether or not it’s needed is the establishment of a business incubator. Marie Carrubba, Ward 4 councilwoman, questioned with an incubator already established in Fredonia, would the program be a duplication of what already is available.

Kimberly Ecklund, At-Large councilwoman, also questioned if the program was worthwhile to helping people start new businesses instead of providing funding assistance to already established businesses. She said if the new businesses don’t succeed it would be a waste of resources and money. She added that the return on investment with ARPA funding needs to occur quickly while it takes several years to establish a long-lasting business.

Sundquist said city officials have visited the incubators at the University of Buffalo, State University of New York at Fredonia and in Olean. He said these incubators have all produced jobs.

While discussing the economic development programs, the council also talked about the need to improve Jamestown’s housing stock. Jeff Russell, At-Large councilman, said the $28 million the city received is not a gift from the federal government, but is taxpayer money that should go toward helping the residents in the city, which can be done by investing in the housing stock.

One of the programs under the healthy communities and neighborhoods, which has been tentatively allocated $5 million of the federal stimulus, is a roof and sewer laterals to help homeowners with repairs. The council decided it will allocate $750,000 toward this program.

Following the council’s voting session Monday, if all ARPA related resolutions are approved, the council will have allocated more than $7 million of the federal stimulus money toward programs, new vehicles and equipment, and other initiatives aimed at helping the city rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic.