Updated State Plan Aims To Assist Dunkirk

May 2, 2026

Cash-strapped Dunkirk could soon receive some much needed relief. On Thursday, state Sen. George Borrello and Assemblyman Andrew Molitor announced in a letter to Common Council members that both introduced legislation to establish an updated Fiscal Recovery Act for the city of Dunkirk. Before the bill can move forward in Albany, however, it needs the support of the council. “As you know, Dunkirk’s financial condition is in crisis. The loss of NRG plant revenue created a structural deficit that has never been resolved, and years of poor fiscal management have made it far worse,” ...

17 Democrats Ask Court To Enforce CLCPA

May 2, 2026

Seventeen Democratic Party members of the state Assembly are asking an appeals court to require New York state to proceed with regulations to further implement the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. The CLCPA mandates a 40% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 ...

Confirmed Closing: County Pushed To Save Company; Local Officials React To Closure

May 1, 2026

County officials were involved for nearly a year trying to prevent the closure of eSolutions Furniture’s plant on Mason Drive in Ellicott. Those efforts, according to County Executive PJ Wendel and Mark Geise, county IDA director, included working with Empire State Development, Upstate ...

Wicked Warrens eyes improvements to hold banquets

May 1, 2026

A newly established Jamestown restaurant is getting some assistance as it looks to expand. During the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency meeting, Chief Executive Officer Mark Geise stated that Wicked Warrens owner Rob Roth would like to “free up some cash” so he can make some improvements to its banquet area. Wicked Warren’s, under the name “Wicked Jimmy, LLC” has a 10-year Payment In Lieu Of Taxes agreement, which was approved two years ago. Shelby Bilskie, the Chief Financial Officer for the county IDA, said they have been working with the city of Jamestown ...

eSolutions Says Market, Tariffs Are Reasons For Bankruptcy

May 1, 2026

The eSolutions Furniture Group is pursuing bankruptcy in a Canadian bankruptcy court, leading to the decision to end manufacturing activities at the Jamestown Bush Industries facility. The company said this morning that the Fedaraon des caisses Desjardins du Quebec, as lender and as administrative agent for the company’s lending syndicate, is expected to present a moon on May 4, 2026, before the Superior Court of Quebec under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act in Canada to appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc. as receiver over the company’s assets. The company has ceased ...

Employees React To Bush Closure

May 1, 2026

One day after saying it had no public information to share, eSolutions, formerly known as Bush Industries, announced it is closing its doors. Employees were told during a 9 a.m. meeting Thursday that the Jamestown plant - and longtime headquarters of the company - was closing. Rumors had been running rampant throughout the community for the past week that Bush was closing. Facebook posts have said employees have been told the Jamestown plant is closing. As of Thursday, Bush Industries officials are neither confirming or denying the community reports. In an email reply to The ...