During the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency meeting, the Board of Directors approved Artone, LLC receive a low interest loan of $240,000.

“The funds are for new equipment. The new equipment will allow for Artone to keep their competitive edge,” explained Carol Rasmussen with the county IDA.

Rasmussen noted the new equipment costs $600,000 total.

She said Artone recently signed a contract with Disney and this new equipment will help them with that new contract. Rasmussen didn’t share any other details regarding the Disney contract.

From left are brothers, Executive Vice President Sebastian Calimeri, and President Michael Calimeri. Submitted photo

The rate and term for the loan was 4% for six years. The loan was unanimously approved.

Artone manufactures furniture for the hospitality industry and earlier this year the company celebrated 50 years in business.

IDA Chief executive Officer Mark Geise said the IDA is glad it is able to assist.

“Artone is a family owned-and-operated business in Jamestown with a successful track record of providing quality furniture for the hotel and hospitality industry. We are happy to assist them with the purchase of new equipment that will help the company keep a competitive edge by creating more efficiency in their operation to help expand capacity and capability.”

The company is located at 1089 Allen St. and recently celebrated its 50th anniversary.

The company began in 1954 when Rosario Calimeri immigrated to Jamestown from Sicily, according to the company website artonemfg.com. A furniture apprentice in Sicily and cabinet maker by trade, Rosario worked for furniture manufacturers such as Maddox Table and Chase Interiors before he decided to be self-employed. Rosario and his wife Antonietta would spend countless nights awake trying to figure out how they could start a business of their own and give their children a head start. With four children at the time, determination was at its best and an idea was born. The couple founded their own company, making music boxes for the music industry in the basement of the Calimeri home, the website stated.

Rosario partnered with his cousin Joseph Trusso, and together they created the “Artone” name using part of each of their wives’ names, Arlene and Antonietta. “Ar” came from Arlene and “Tone” came from Antonietta (often called “Toni” by Rosario). Although this partnership was brief, the Artone name carries on to this day. The company was founded in January of 1971, and incorporated in January 1974, which is the year the company recognizes and celebrates, the website said.

Artone’s key focus is offering a variety of hospitality casegoods (closets, nightstands, TV stands, headboards) and services to the hotel and resort industries, Michael Calimeri said.

“When we do a hotel, whether it’s a renovation or a new build, every hotel is going to need casegoods,” Michael Calimeri added.

rtone’s hospitality portfolio consists of Brand Packages, Boutique Hotels, Casinos and Resorts as its own Signature Collection that the company will be adding in 2025.

Artone’s current customers are Wyndham Corporation (Microtel, Wyndham Garden, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Days Inn), Hilton (Tapestry, Hampton Inn, Doubletree), Marriott Incorporated (TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, StudioRes), Disney Resorts (Animal Kingdom Lodge, Coronado Springs), Universal Studios Cabana Bay Beach Resort, Loews Sapphire Falls, and the most recent projects Universal Stella Nova Resort and Universal Terra Luna Resort, set for completion in 2025.

Local projects include Doubletree by Hilton located in downtown Jamestown, Chautauqua Harbor Hotel by Hart Hotels located in Celoron, Seneca Allegany located in Salamanca, and Seneca Niagara Casino located in Niagara Falls.

Artone outgrew its 107 Institute St. building, and relocated to 1809 Allen St., a state-of-the-art, 250,000 square foot manufacturing facility employing more than 100 workers. The company has employed many workers over the 50-year span, and Michael Calimeri said that reaching a 50-year anniversary milestone is very rewarding.

“To support families (also) is really key,” Michael Calimeri said. “Going forward for the next 50 years, we certainly want to leave a legacy together so that it can continue.”

Michael Zabrodsky contributed to this report.