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Committee approves SBDC, greenway and occupancy‑tax grants; OKs state snowmobile award and LWRP correction
Summary
The committee approved a package of economic and recreation funding: a 2026 SBDC agreement (transcript notes $59,719), a $35,000 greenway contract from occupancy‑tax funds, CEQR approvals for $100,000 in lake projects and multiple watershed grants, acceptance of a $133,000 state snowmobile award, and a correction to the LWRP capital budget.
At its Dec. 10 meeting the Planning and Economic Development Committee approved several contracts and grant actions intended to support business assistance, trails and lake/watershed projects.
The committee amended and approved the county’s 2026 agreement with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) hosted at Jamestown Community College. Beth Reed, director of the SBDC, described one‑to‑one counseling, assistance with grant applications and business planning, and a suite of services for local entrepreneurs. Reed said the SBDC provides "1 to 1 counseling and advisement to businesses in the county" and that local support leverages federal funding; the transcript records a specified 2026 county contribution of $59,719 and the committee approved the amended contract.
The committee also authorized a $35,000 agreement (funded through the county’s 3% occupancy tax) to support Greenway Development and a contractual position that assists local trail organizations, as well as a tourism/placemaking contract intended to help communities pursue state grants such as the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and New York Forward. Staff reported that greenway and trail investments have leveraged roughly $1,000,000 into local projects over recent years.
On lake and watershed grants, watershed coordinator Dave McCoy said the county received four applications for the 2% lake access occupancy‑tax program and approved two projects totaling $100,000; he also said the county operates six Mobitrax units on Chautauqua Lake to assist with aquatic management. For the separate 2% watershed occupancy‑tax program, McCoy identified the top three recommended projects — McCray Point buffer improvements, Chautauqua County Fair drainage improvements, and an Illinois green infrastructure project — and the committee approved CEQR/SEQR determinations and funding allocations.
Staff reported a state award that increases a county revenue account by $133,000 above the 2026 budget; those funds will be passed through for snowmobile trail support and related reimbursements. The committee also approved a correction to the Northern Chautauqua Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP) capital project budget after a review found phase‑2 expenses had not been properly booked in prior years; staff emphasized that the correction relies on state aid rather than county general funds.
Committee members asked for clearer language in future resolutions to describe the scope and dollar amounts of contracts the legislature is authorizing; staff agreed to add more detail to resolutions going forward. The committee approved the package of resolutions by voice votes.
