The City Council debated the proposal to provide $300,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding to rebrand the city. Despite the Finance Committee voting against the proposal, William Reynolds, R-Ward V councilman suggested he would still bring the resolution before the council for a vote next Monday. P-J photo by Timothy Frudd

The City Council’s Finance Committee voted against a resolution to fund efforts to rebrand the Jamestown community during Monday’s Finance Committee meeting.

During the City Council’s full work session, council members discussed the resolution that would allocate $300,000 in American Rescue Care Act funding to rebrand Jamestown.

The proposed re-branding campaign would be administered through the Jamestown Local Development Corporation by the Jamestown Urban Renewal Agency.

William Reynolds, R-Ward 5, asked the City Council to reconsider the resolution, which was previously voted down.

During the City Council’s previous work session, Marie Carrubba, D-Ward IV councilwoman, suggested the $300,000 proposed for re-branding efforts would be better used to help fund the city’s Building and Property Infrastructure Improvements program or other programs that have a direct impact on constituents.

At Monday’s work session meeting, Carrubba once again suggested the funds would be better used for different programs that would make more of an impact on the citizens of Jamestown. Carrubba also warned that regardless of how successful a rebranding or marketing campaign could be for the city, it would be difficult to convince people to move to Jamestown if issues like housing and public safety were not adequately addressed first.

While the finance committee voted against the resolution, Reynolds suggested that he would still bring the resolution before the full City Council for a vote during next week’s City Council voting session.

City Council President Anthony Dolce, R-Ward 2, previously said council members were concerned about whether the city’s rebranding efforts would be duplicating the work of other organizations and whether the initiative was necessary for the city to engage in.

“I think the concern before was whether the city should be doing that,” he said. “Is it the best way to spend the ARPA funds?”

While Dolce said he was open to the idea of rebranding the city, he agreed with Carrubba that the money could be used for better purposes.

Reynolds previously said that the original rebranding resolution was put together before he joined the City Council; however, he believes it could be an opportunity for Jamestown to promote growth.

“I thought it should be included in funding to have the city sell its good qualities,” he said. “I think there’s a lot of positive things about this city that aren’t necessarily told or shared or marketed regionally.”

Reynolds said the city’s low electric rates, access to water, parks, educational opportunities, the National Comedy Center, the proximity to the Chautauqua Institution and Chautauqua Lake, the city’s police department and fire department and the housing market are factors that should be promoted to encourage people and businesses to relocate to Jamestown.

“I think the city’s in a great place to advertise all the benefits that we have for raising a family,” he said. “There’s just so many positives and so much availability for growth.”

Reynolds believes the city has the right people who could “put Jamestown on the map” with professional rebranding efforts. He is asking the City Council to consider investing in the future of Jamestown by allocating $300,000 for rebranding efforts.

“If that’s well spent, I think we would reap the benefits of quality marketing and quality rebranding,” Reynolds said. “I’d like to see the positives be accentuated. There’s more positive than negative to our wonderful city.”

Reynolds said the people of Jamestown could benefit from the city’s rebranding efforts if new opportunities are created by businesses and companies moving to Jamestown.

“All this is interlocked, and I feel that if we can lead the way by touting what we have in a positive aspect, only good things will come,” Reynolds said.