Twice in recent weeks we’ve reported that local businesses are looking at possible expansion.

The announcement that Jamestown had received money from the EPA to prepare several brownfields for future development included the nugget that three high priority sites – including the former Crawford Furniture site – were the subject of expansion talks by neighboring businesses. Then, county officials said during a recent IDA meeting that there has been interest in the Mason Industrial Park, specifically mentioning expansion from local manufacturers in spaces that include the former Bush Industries, Serta Mattress and Truck-Lite buildings.

“We’ve had a lot of conversations. I think you’re going to see some action here in the coming months with those buildings. I don’t think they’re going to sit there very long,” said Mark Geise, county IDA CEO.

Existing businesses expanding is good news compared to longstanding businesses closing their doors. It’s encouraging that existing manufacturers are strong enough to invest in expansion that hopefully helps those companies remain strong far into the future. It’s important to retain companies that have put down roots in Chautauqua County.

Manufacturing has seen some tough times since the COVID-19 pandemic. In January 2020 there were 8,700 people employed in the manufacturing sector in Chautauqua County. That number has dropped to 7,800 as of May 2026, according to state Labor Department statistics. To put those losses in perspective, the county’s manufacturing boasted 13,700 employees 25 years ago. To say things have been rough would be an understatement.

Attracting new manufacturing companies that can replace the losses of companies like Serta, Bush, Truck-Lite or the recently announced layoffs at SEFPRO is difficult and time-consuming. Companies like Electrovaya don’t come walking through the IDA’s doors every day with promises of hundreds of jobs, but growing existing companies can add jobs by the dozens and at least stem the trend of job losses that has plagued the county over the years.

We hope the optimism of county officials is warranted. We hope the city’s application to the federal government identifying possible expansions inside the city limits comes to fruition. Holding steady with small gains is better than losing manufacturing in big chunks.