Last week, the state announced over $68 million in awarded funding for round 12 of the Regional Economic Development Council Initiative.

“Through the Regional Economic Development Councils, we continue to make strategic investments across New York that align with each community’s top priorities,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “I’m proud to announce this next round of awards that were recommended by stakeholders who live and work in the regions they represent. This investment will help bring more opportunity for New Yorkers, spur economic development, and fuel the future success of communities across our state.”

Lieutenant Gov. Antonio Delgado, chair of the Regional Economic Development Councils, said the $68 million in project funding represents the state’s commitment to invest in projects that will promote economic growth and new investments as the state continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Delgado said the state’s approach to economic development is “bottom-up” and is focused on “regionally-focused” projects.

New York state has awarded the city of Jamestown with additional funding for the Chadakoin River project as part of a $68 million investment in the Regional Economic Development Council Initiative. The city is currently moving forward with the Chadakoin River project and hoping to have some improvements completed by next fall. P-J photo by Timothy Frudd

“I’ve seen the results first-hand in communities across the state,” he said. “This latest group of awards will further those efforts by supporting shovel-ready projects that will grow our state and regional economies more quickly.”

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight explained the Regional Economic Development Councils play a major role in driving the state’s economic growth.

“These awards represent projects that showcase each region’s strengths and will go a long way to transform the local economies across the state,” Knight said.

According to the state, the Chadakoin River Basin project will increase public access to the river and promote economic growth in the downtown region of Jamestown.

Director of Development Crystal Surdyk explained the city’s Chadakoin River project includes extensive upgrades that will provide numerous benefits for the local community. Included as part of the project on the north shore of the Chadakoin River Basin are a signature garden, tiered seating space and mural. Included as part of the project on the south shore of the Chadakoin River Basin are a welcome center for visitors, a kayak launch and a dock.

Surdyk said the project has been labeled the Chadakoin River Basin Activation Plan, since the focus of the project is improving access to the river and connecting downtown Jamestown with Chautauqua Lake.

Last year, the state awarded roughly $1.2 million to the city’s Chadakoin River project. The City Council has also allocated $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act Funding for the project. With the additional funding grated by the state this year, the project has received almost $2 million in funding, providing a substantial investment into the downtown region.

Surdyk explained that the city is now preparing for the next step in the Chadakoin River project.

“We are in the process of writing requests for proposals,” she said. “We’ll be working for a consulting team that will be able to do design work and build. We’re hoping to get that out early after the new year, so that design can happen over the spring. Hopefully, construction can start in the late spring or early summer. A lot of these things are not very construction intensive.”

Surdyk said the goal would be to have some of the various elements of the Chadakoin River project completed by the end of next summer or possibly next fall. With limited construction required for the project, city officials are hopeful that the project will be able to make a “really big impact” in a short period of time next year.