County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency- CCIDA

09/16/2026

Congratulations to Wells Enterprises Dunkirk Plant, which is recognized as the 2026 Dairy Foods magazine Plant of the Year! The award recognizing North America's most innovative, efficient, and high-performing dairy 🐄 processing facilities!

"Ferrero Group-backed facility is making a huge difference in Dunkirk NY and beyond."

The CCIDA was instrumental in assisting this project. We are very pleased with our partnership with Wells and congratulate them on receiving nationwide recognition for a very special project right here in Chautauqua County and Dunkirk, NY!

Wells Enterprises’ facility in Dunkirk, N.Y., located at One Ice Cream Drive, was named the 2026 Dairy Foods Plant of the Year. The plant produces Nutella Ice Cream, Blue Bunny products, Blue Ribbon Classics, Kinder Bueno Frozen treats, and other customer brands, offering a range of novelty treats...

09/09/2026

GROWING A SUCCESSFUL SMALL BUSINESS

The New York SBDC at SUNY JCC is hosting a 5-part training series for entrepreneurs in Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua Counties - starting Thursday, Oct. 1 and continuing the next four weeks. The time is 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. At the Southwest Region Small Business Development Center at both the Jamestown and Olean JCC campuses. In-person and Virtual.

Registration Link:
https://sbdcjcc.regfox.com/growing-a-successful-small-business

09/09/2026

The CCIDA and Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth bring you Choose CHQ, Live CHQ every month to help showcase business development projects and economic development initiatives that help move Chautauqua County forward.
This month, host Jason Sample talks with Rebecca Wurster from CCPEG and Chautauqua County Planning & Development to share details about - which enhances placemaking in four (soon to be five) of our local communities.

Watch the segment on youtube to learn more!
https://youtu.be/yGxHJQIcyL8

09/02/2026

Congratulations to all the recipients of the 2026 CHQ Chamber Awards!
Business of the Year: DFT Communications
Business Champion of the Year: Chautauqua Lake Dental
Emerging Business of the Year: Westfield Makerspace
Hospitality Business of the Year: 3 Lakes Cafe
Service Business of the Year: Sanfilippo Solutions Inc.
Producer of the Year: Wells Enterprises
Not-for-Profit Business of the Year: Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation

The recognition event will take place on Thursday, October 8 from 6–9 p.m. at the Williams Center at SUNY Fredonia. To register, visit:
https://chautauquanycoc.weblinkconnect.com/atlas/events-v4/register/5103

CHQ Chamber has revealed the organizations that will receive awards during its Business Awards Banquet in October. Chamber President and CEO Dan Heitzenrater says a long-run

08/27/2026

More images from today's Wells Enterprises ribbon cutting in Dunkirk!

“Today’s ribbon cutting is an exciting milestone for Wells Enterprises, Dunkirk, Chautauqua County, and the region, and we are extremely proud of the role the CCIDA played and continues to play in helping bring this transformational project to fruition. We are grateful to Wells for their tremendous commitment to our community and workforce by preserving and creating hundreds of family-sustaining jobs that will benefit our region for years to come.”
- Mark Geise, CCIDA CEO

08/27/2026

08/26/2026

Stay at the historic Hotel Lenhart. Enjoy luxurious guest houses, stunning lake views, & nearby attractions. Book your getaway today!

08/13/2026

Ground was broken today in Dunkirk for the Homesteads at Dunkirk Landing project, with Governor Kathy Hochul on hand to mark the occasion.

A project being developed by Regan Development Corp and made possible, in part, through support from the CCIDA, the Homesteads project will result in the creation of 78 new workforce housing apartments along Washington Avenue and also at East 4th Street.

Of the 78 units, 11 units will be built as fully accessible and adapted for residents with mobility and/or hearing/vision impairments, and 16 units will be set aside for New York State’s Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESSHI.) The ESSHI provider will be Soldier On, a program that helps homeless Veterans find housing and provides supportive services.

There will also be commercial space for daycare operations at the East 4th Street location.

Both buildings are tentatively scheduled for completion by the end of November 2027.

08/11/2026

Chautauqua County Planning & Development needs your input to shape the Countywide Resiliency Plan.

Use the QR Code or simply visit the following link to learn more:
https://bandl.mysocialpinpoint.com/resilient-chautauqua-county