LIFE WELL EARNED

Manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism dominate the business landscape

For new as well as established businesses, Chautauqua County offers a strategic geographic location, ground breaking economic development incentives such as START-UP NY, inexpensive hydro-power, a low-cost of living, and an incredible quality of life. For people seeking employment opportunities, the county boasts a low unemployment rate with living wage jobs available for every skill level. While tourism, agriculture, and manufacturing are the county’s primary industries, a growing number of people are moving to the area and working remotely or starting their own enterprise.

In order to bolster the economic growth and stability of the county, the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency collaborates with a significant number of partners and businesses to offer financial incentives, technical assistance, and business planning.

LIFE WELL

Agribusiness

From grapes and fruit to corn and dairy, the county’s small, local farms grow products and deliver services that support the national food supply.

Advanced Manufacturing

Manufacturing has a strong history in Chautauqua County, from early craftsmen who built furniture and tools to today’s businesses that utilize state-of-the-art technology to provide materials used in transportation, medical supplies, packaging, and industrial tools.

Earned

Tourism and Hospitality

Myriad accommodations, resorts, and restaurants provide comfort and convenience for accessing the county’s four-season recreational and cultural attractions. 15

Advanced Manufacturing

Historically, furniture and tool and die shops dominated Chautauqua County’s

manufacturing businesses. Today, products and services utilizing advanced technology lead the sector, while 20 percent of the county’s workforce is employed in manufacturing.

Rand Machine

SKF USA Inc.

A leading world supplier of high-performance and precision bearings to the aerospace industry, SKF USA maintains a modern 96,000 square foot heat-treating and R&D facility in Falconer. In October 2018, Premier Precision Machining reopened Rand Machine Products, a custom/build-to-print manufacturing facility in Falconer which has been a fixture in the community for nearly three quarters of a century. Through strong leadership and significant investments in technology, equipment, people, and facilities, Rand is now positioned to take advantage of both existing and new opportunities in the defense, aerospace, industrial, and commercial arenas. Like many other manufacturers, Rand employs machinists, CNC lathe and mill operators, engineers, quality control CMM operators, and programmers.

‘‘ ‘‘ Cummins has a long history of providing challenging careers and growth opportunities. We are committed to partnering with our communities to make this a prosperous area where our employees and their families can thrive. We welcome you to our region and would encourage you to explore its many opportunities. Anna Dibble

PLANT MANAGER, CUMMINS ENGINE

Jamestown Plastics

Located in a 100,000 square foot plant in Brocton, Jamestown Plastics provides custom thermoforming and packaging solutions for a wide range of industries including medical devices, aerospace defense, electronics, consumer goods, and automotive. They are ISO certified and known for their rapid turnaround and creative solutions. Their Click-it-Clam design has revolutionized traditional clamshell packaging.

Immunitybio, Inc.

In early 2022, this clinical-stage immunotherapy company moved into a new state-of-theart biotech production facility that includes clean rooms for upstream and downstream manufacturing activities, as well as fill and finish and large-scale lyophilization capabilities. The full-scale facility enables ImmunityBio to substantially expand and diversify its existing manufacturing capacity in the U.S. and through its strategic collaborators in Africa. They plan to add over 450 new jobs within five years.

Weber Knapp

Founded at the turn of the 20th century as a manufacturer of hardware for the furniture industry, by the 1960s, Weber Knapp engineers had devised a revolutionary counterbalance hinge technology that quickly found its way into a wide array of products, from furniture to food processing equipment, medical equipment, and office products. Today, Weber Knapp leads the motion control industry with state-of-theart spring assisted products, all manufactured domestically by 100+ skilled workers in two plant locations in Jamestown.

Agribusiness

Chautauqua County has two distinct microclimates that support agriculture and food processing businesses, an important segment of the county’s

economy. The microclimate along Lake Erie and the Allegheny escarpment supports grape and fruit farming. Atop the Allegheny Plateau, the uplands are utilized for field crops and grasslands.

20,055

ACRES OF GRAPES

makes Chautauqua County the largest grape growing region in the country outside of California.

1,850

FARMS IN CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY

grow a variety of crops including vegetables, fruit trees, grapes, and grains. The county ranks first in New York State for the number of farms it hosts.

Refresco

Refresco is the world’s largest independent bottler for retailers and branded beverage companies in Europe and North America, employing more than 400 people in Dunkirk. With a fruit processing facility and six lines of production running three shifts, Refresco in Dunkirk produces multiple types of beverages in a variety of packaging formats and sizes. Their vision is “Our Drinks on Every Table” and they take pride in providing quality bottling and packaging solutions.

Nestle Purina Farmer’s Markets

Chautauqua County residents enjoy a strong farm to table movement. There are five farmers’ markets where one can buy local and support local farmers. Discover Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs, farm stores/markets, and institutions committed to buying locally with the following resources: Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County, Edible WNY, and the Food Policy Council of Chautauqua County.

Purina is a global pet care leader dedicated to helping pets live longer, healthier lives through science-based nutrition and care. Dunkirk is home to one of Purina’s 20 manufacturing sites across the U.S. where they produce high-quality and trusted Purina pet food brands including Purina ONE, Purina Pro Plan, Busy, and Dog Chow. Purina’s 370 associates in Dunkirk are committed to the well-being and welfare of pets and people beyond the food bowl, with focused efforts to support their local community and reduce their environmental impact.

Wells Enterprises, Inc.

Wells is the largest privately held, family-owned ice cream and frozen treat manufacturer in the United States. Formerly owned by Fieldbrook Foods, the Dunkirk facility recently expanded to include new machinery and equipment, which enabled the addition of new production lines, and created more jobs. They are most known as the makers of Blue Bunny Ice Cream. Other brands include Halo Top, the iconic Bomb Pop, and Blue Ribbon Classics.

Tourism and Hospitality

Tourism in New York State has an annual impact of over $100 billion, reaching a record $108 billion

in 2017. This growth trend is no different in Chautauqua County, where tourism creates a $260 million economic impact and revenue from accommodations experienced double digit growth in the past year. July and August are consistently peak months for visitor revenues while significantly increased occupancy rates point to growing “shoulder seasons” in spring and fall. The snow season, typically lasting from December to early March, draws primarily hardy outdoor enthusiasts for downhill and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling.

50+

EVENTS

Held in Jamestown in early August, the annual Lucille Ball Comedy Festival features more than 50 events and 30 artists, and attracts more than 13,000 visitors from across the United States. Jerry Seinfeld, Jay Leno, Trevor Noah, Brian Regan, Amy Schumer, Joan Rivers, Lewis Black, Ellen DeGeneres, Dan Aykroyd, Paula Poundstone, Nick Offerman, and Ray Romano have all taken the stage during past festivals.

Chautauqua Harbor Hotel

Opened in 2018, the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel on Chautauqua Lake provides 135 upscale hotel rooms overlooking Chautauqua Lake. Occupying a nine-acre site that features 1,100 feet of lakefront, the hotel is expected to expand the county’s tourism industry significantly by attracting lakeside vacationers, wedding and celebration groups, and corporate and conference guests.

Cockaigne Resort

Cockaigne Resort is a family-friendly affordable ski resort in operation since 1964. Located in a prime spot to receive the infamous Lake Erie lake effect snow, local and visiting skiers and snowboarders continue the tradition of taking advantage of this quality hometown resort. After a closure due to a fire, in 2020, Cockaigne has come back strong and built a new lodge that has four-times the footprint. The Snowmobile Adventure Park has dedicated parking for snowmobile trailers. Riders can access the County’s 400-mile trail system that connects with the nearby Boutwell Hill State Forest.

Peek’n Peak Resort

Founded as a ski destination in 1964 with six trails and two lifts, Peek’n Peak has grown into a resort with a world-class golf course that hosted the PGA Tour’s Web.Com Tour from 2016–2018. Peek’n Peak also offers an aerial course and ziplines, miniature golf, biking, and Segway tours. During the winter, the resort is transformed to a winter wonderland with Alpine and Nordic skiing, terrain parks, and snow tubing. The Inn at the Peak, a charming oldworld chalet, boasts 108 guest rooms, conference and meeting rooms, restaurant, day spa, fitness center, indoor/outdoor hot tub, indoor and outdoor pools, and 115’ water slide. The Peek is well-known for its annual Fall Fest held during two weekends in October, which often attracts 10,000+ visitors daily.

‘‘ Chautauqua County’s strength in the arts and education comes from a rich diversity of resources and a tireless spirit of collaboration that bring opera to a brew house, world-class musicians to countless high school classrooms, and Shakespeare to our parks. And we’ve only scratched the surface of what’s possible.