Planning committee closes Restore New York grant for White Inn, OKs tourism matching application and adopts 2026 planning goals

The Planning & Economic Development Committee of the Chautauqua County Legislature voted July 16 to accept and close out a $1,250,000 Restore New York grant for the White Inn in Fredonia, authorized the Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau to apply for state tourism matching funds, and adopted 2026 goals and performance measures for the county Department of Planning and Development.

The actions are the final steps in several projects the committee discussed in public session. The committee discussed the White Inn grant for several minutes, heard that the project has new ownership and operator support, and then approved a resolution to execute the grant disbursement agreement and close out the award.

Nate Aldrich, identified in the meeting as the county's economic development coordinator, summarized the White Inn item and said the resolution "simply allows us to really accept and close out, accept and disperse a $1,250,000 Restore New York grant that we applied for and received a few years back for the White Inn project." Mark Geist, deputy county executive for economic development, described the renovated facility as "truly an asset for the village" and said the project "exceeded our expectations." One legislator who spoke, Legislator Fred Johnson, said he supported the action while registering a general concern about using public funds to support projects that are commercially viable only with public incentives.

The committee also approved a resolution authorizing the Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau to serve as the county's local tourism promotion agency for a New York State Division of Tourism matching-funds application. Andrew Nixon, who introduced the item for the visitors bureau, said the bureau will request the state formula maximum needed to start the application process (the application form allows a broad request up to a formula cap) and that the county typically receives a smaller award after the state's scoring formula is applied; he said the bureau expects a roughly $49,000 award under the formula used in the example he distributed.

A third resolution adopting 2026 goals and performance measures for the county Department of Planning and Development prompted the meeting's longest discussion. Legislator Fred Johnson read the county code aloud and urged the committee to state job creation as the county's top goal and to add five specific measurable objectives, including proposals to acquire up to 200 acres for industrial parks and to make 120 acres shovel-ready for industrial development. Johnson moved to amend the resolution to add the five points; the amendment received no second and therefore failed. The committee then voted to adopt the original resolution as presented. The chair called the vote and the motion carried.

Votes at a glance: 1) Restore New York grant for the White Inn: resolution to accept and close out the $1,250,000 grant ' approved by voice vote. 2) Authorization for Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau to apply for New York State tourism matching funds: approved by voice vote. 3) Adoption of 2026 goals and performance measures for the Department of Planning and Development: original resolution approved by voice vote after a proposed amendment (to add five measurable items) failed for lack of a second.

Committee members and presenters emphasized that the resolutions are administrative steps: the White Inn item closes a multi-year grant file and the visitors bureau item allows an application; neither action committed additional county capital beyond what was already approved. During debate on the planning goals, legislators asked for clearer, measurable benchmarks; one legislator said he wanted the county to more proactively acquire and ready land for business parks rather than rely on the county's industrial development agency to do so.

The committee meeting began with a brief public comment period. A resident who identified herself as Karen used the privilege-of-the-floor time to raise broader concerns about regional energy policy and data-center development, arguing that large data centers would increase local electricity demand and that repowering decisions should prioritize local economic benefits.

The committee carried the resolutions and closed the agenda item. Staff said the county will submit required paperwork to complete the White Inn grant closeout and will file the visitors bureau application according to the state timetable.

Additional details captured during the meeting: the White Inn grant closeout followed about six years of redevelopment work and other incentives; committee members reported combined grant support for the project was "a little shy of $2,000,000" when state and CDBG-linked funds are included. The visitors bureau representative said the state application requires a high cap request (the example form shows $172,000 as a maximum starting point) even though the county's likely award under the state formula would be smaller. During debate on goals, proposals included specific 2026 objectives, such as acquiring 200 acres and making 120 acres shovel-ready for industrial use, and seeking to restore passenger air service to Jamestown's Chautauqua County Airport as a tourism and off-season strategy.

The committee did not adopt the amendment proposed on the 2026 goals resolution; it adopted the original resolution as presented. The meeting record shows voice votes and no roll-call tallies were read into the record during the actions.

The committee moved on to an informational presentation on energy and repowering options after adopting the resolutions.