The Jamestown Renaissance Corporation is officially closing its doors, with its programs set to be divided between the city of Jamestown and the Gebbie Foundation.

The Jamestown Renaissance Corporation was established in 2006 as a public-private partnership to implement the Jamestown Urban Design plan to assist the economic revitalization in the region, according to its website. In 2010 they expanded this work to include neighborhood revitalization, and their current mission is to revitalize the area’s urban landscapes and neighborhoods through strong public-private partnerships.

According to an article by WRFA Radio, in a statement released by the JRC Board Co-Chairs, Mayor Kim Ecklund and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Rev. Luke Fodor, stated that in evaluating the organization’s path forward, they decided that the City of Jamestown will lead neighborhood revitalization programs, while the Gebbie Foundation will continue its efforts on economic development initiatives in the city. The article adds that both JRC Executive Director Frank Besse and Neighborhood Coordinator Mary Maxwell’s employment with JRC is ending Friday. They are the only two paid staff members for the organization.

The statement from the JRC board said the city is working closely with JRC’s leadership and their community partners to make sure “core neighborhood revitalization programs continue without interruption,” including the Neighborhood Block Challenge, a program that provides matching grants to residents who work together to enhance the look of their blocks.

“(The) city will continue working with community partners and residents to sustain momentum in revitalization efforts, ensuring that collaboration, local investment, and resident leadership remain at the core of Jamestown’s future,” the statement continues.

The Jamestown Renaissance Corporation was established in 2006 as a public-private partnership to implement the Jamestown Urban Design plan. Initially a part of the Downtown Jamestown Development Corporation, the JRC was spun off into its own organization in 2007 to implement the 2006 Urban Design Plan. JRC initially undertook a massive facade restoration project for downtown, resulting in many of the building facades that are seen downtown today, and a push to help building owners renovate their upper floors to create more downtown living space. The JRC spent $306 million to complete nine new facades in 2008 and completed seven more in 2009. Alley restorations were also undertaken as were several new downtown murals and downtown art projects that are still seen today.

“Downtown Jamestown has gotten a swift and striking facelift over the past two years thanks to the partnerships we enjoy and the will and drive required to stick to a plan,” said Randy Sweeney, a former JRC board member and former executive director of the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation. “Our downtown core has been completely transformed.”

In 2010 the Renaissance Corporation’s expanded to include implementing the 2010 neighborhood plan approved by the City Council based on a study by consultant Charles Buki in a similar effort not to let the study go unimplemented. That led to the creation of the Neighborhood Block Challenge, which is still in effect, as well as a focus on programs to help create additional investment in areas of the city that had seen flagging home values over the preceding decades.