CCIDA

CCIDA facilitates development by attracting new businesses, while promoting the retention and expansion of existing businesses.

201 West Third Street, Suite 115
Jamestown, NY 14701
Tel: 716-661-8900
Email: ccida@ccida.com

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CCIDA Board Minutes – January 26, 2021

February 23, 2021

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

  County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency

Via Zoom Video Conference

January 26, 2021

10:04 a.m.

Mike Metzger                              Chairman

Dennis Rak                                 Vice Chairman

Gary Henry                                 Secretary

Steven Thorpe                             Member

Mark Odell                                  Member

Hans Auer                                   Member

Kelly Farrell-DuBois                   Member

Brad Walters                               Member

Also in attendance:

Mark Geise                                  Administrative Director/CEO

Richard E. Dixon                         Chief Financial Officer

Milan K. Tyler, Esq.                    Counsel

Greg Peterson                              Counsel

Michael Borrello                         Counsel

Dan Heitzenrater                         County Executive Staff

Carol Rasmussen                         Business Development Manager

Kristine Morabito                        Business Development Manager

Linda Burns                                Business Development Manager

Kayla Strandburg                        Controller

Nate Aldrich                               Special Project Coordinator/Manager

Jeanette Lo Bellow                      Administrative Assistant

Rosie Strandburg                         Executive Assistant

Rebecca Wurster                         Special Projects Coordinator/Planning Manger

Absent Board Member(s):

Jay Churchill

Meeting was called to order by Mike Metzger, Chairman, at 10:04 a.m.

 

Mike Metzger

 

I would like to call to order the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency’s Board of Directors Meeting. This is a Zoom Conference. It is January 26, 2021 and the time is 10:04 a.m. Roll call. Let the record show there are 8 members present, we do have quorum. I will entertain a motion to approve the December 15, 2020 minutes.

Mark Odell

So moved Mr. Chairman.

Dennis Rak

Second that.

Mike Metzger

Motion made by Mark and seconded by Dennis. Any discussion, changes or comments? All those in favor?

Board

Aye.

Mike Metzger

Opposed, abstained, motioned carried unanimously. Now let’s move in to New Business. Please Linda, if you could introduce New Business A.

 

Linda Burns

Introduced project, provided description of the project, history of the company, location, number of jobs being created, scope of work, assistance being requested, incentives being offered and resolution being presented.

Milan Tyler

Reviewed and explained the resolution being presented to the Board. Loves is negotiating with Town for Host Community Agreement. May influence the PILOT resulting in a Deviation.

Linda Burns

Does the Board have any questions?

Mike Metzger

Questions from the Board?

Mark Odell

Expressed excitement for the project and impact it may have on Ripley Gateway Project.

Mark Geise

Worked with Loves for years now. Through the Host Agreement, it will allow the town to do needed upgrades to water and swear infrastructure.

Mike Metzger

Any other questions or comments?

Brad Walters

What is the time frame for construction?

Linda Burns

Should be completed in 2021.

Rich Dixon

Bids are out for demolition and April 19th is target for groundbreaking.

Linda Burns

Spoke about how Loves takes care of their employees through positions, salary and benefits.

Hans Auer

Expressed excitement over having a “premium brand” coming to our community.

 

Mike Metzger

If I could please ask Mark Odell to move the resolution.

 

Mark Odell

Resolution 01-26-21-01 Love’s Preliminary Resolution.

Mike Metzger

Motion made by Mark. Do I have a second?

Dennis Rak

Second.

Mike Metzger

Motion made by Mark and seconded by Dennis. Roll call votes.

 

Board

Aye – Unanimous

Mike Metzger

Let the record show there are 8 votes in the affirmative. Motion carried unanimously. Now to New Business B.

Rich Dixon

Presented loan requests/descriptions, amounts requested, amount reduced to, how they were affected by COVID, and purposes for the following applicants: Service Manufacturing Group, Monofrax, Dahlstrom Roll Form, National Comedy Centers, STEL, Kosciuszko Polish Home Association, Reg Lenna, Cleaners of Chautauqua, Falconer Power Sports dba Harley Davidson of Jamestown, Lynn Development, Ready About Sailing, Rocky’s Karate, MKJM dba The Landmark, Scott’s Peek n’ Peak, Maple Springs Inn, and Lidos Cresent Inn. Another organization applied but did not have employees and the Loan Committee agreed that employees are needed to qualify.

Mike Metzger

Questions for Rich?

Mark Geise

Reviewed balance of EDA funds, what was spent during Round, and what is being spent in Round 2. Next round is in April. We previously though funds would go heavily towards manufacturing but we are seeing that Tourism and Hospitality is more in need. EDA wanted to make sure we pushed this out to as many sectors as possible.

Mike Metzger

In full transparency, we had a discussion in regard to the risk to our Loan Portfolio based on the loans being presented in Round 2. They are correct that there is risk with these loans and we need to get it out to as many sectors as possible but we must realize we are going to have to adjust our Bad Debt Reserves to represent the level of collateral of these businesses is not of the level or mix of our current portfolio.

Mark Geise

We recognize there is a fair amount of risk associated with these loans. That being said, this is exactly what the EDA asked us to do. We communicate with the EDA every month and they are happy with what we are doing. We expect higher default rates that there has been and we do need to prepare for that.

Rich Dixon

The EDA Cares act is a completely separate funding request and we are keeping it segregated from the Al Tech Fund. As we receive the funds from the EDA, we record it as revenue, and plan for% in bad debt, so we will still show revenue for the year. I don’t want to recognize all the revenue one year and write it off in another. I’m also going to review the All Tech and the CRLF and we will go through that in more detail at our next meeting.

Mark Geise

I don’t know what the chances are of getting additional funding but we are going to see if we can get more money.

Mike Metzger

Thank you Mark and Rich. Any other questions?

Gary Henry

I think you have done a great job. We know that this will be risky but this is what the funds are for and the Loan Committee has done a great job of recommending adjustments to these requests.

Mark Odell

I agree with Gary, the Loan Committee has done a great job. We have a working template.

 

Mike Metzger

Any other questions or comments?

 

Rich Dixon

Thanked council, Kayla and BDM’s for their work.

Mike Metzger

Thank you team. Gary can you move New Business B 1?

 

Gary Henry

Resolution 01-26-21-02 Resolution Of The Members of County Of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency To Grant Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration Award to The Revolving Loan Fund.

Mike Metzger

Motion made by Gary. Do I have a second?

Brad Walters

 

Second.

Mike Metzger

Motion made by Gary and seconded by Brad. Roll call vote.

Board

Aye – Unanimous.

Mike Metzger

Let the record show there are 8 votes in the affirmative, motion carried unanimously. On to the Executive Directors report.

Mark Geise

Introduced Rebecca Wurster, advised that 2021 Year in Review will be shared in February, and thanked team for their hard work. Does anyone have any questions for me?

Brad Walters

What is going on with ConnectGen?

 

Mark Geise

We have been working with them on the PILOT since we passed the preliminary resolution. At the present time, we have an energy expert that is assisting us in reviewing ConnectGen’s position paper, which they are trying to justify a certain PILOT payment. We are speaking with them this afternoon and then Wednesday evening they are having a public meeting to share where they are at. On the Legislature side, we previously spoke about a moratorium on large solar projects and it has been decided there are taking a break from that to do some due diligence before they take that action.

Mark Odell

We want to make sure we hear from both sides, have some workshops, and conversations to make the right choice for all.

 

Mark Geise

ConnectGen is currently doing their Article 10 Review.

Rich Dixon

We passed that resolution some time ago and that kicked in to motion us working with Phillips Lytle to get a Demand Funding Agreement in to place and the company gave us $35,000 to hire experts in this field. People want to know what are we going to get and what is this going to cost us. The company has opted out of Article 10 and they are now in Article 23 but the environmental work won’t be done for a while. We could in 3-4 months pass a resolution outlining what the PILOT will look like and terms so the company has certainty. We are taking the lead of the Town. That Public Meeting is on Thursday and we will get that link out to you.

Hans Auer

We need to project an image that we are open to these types of alternative energy ideas as a region and as a community. From my perspective, investors are demanding that their money be placed with companies in areas that we take in to consideration these ESG components. You’re going to hear about that a lot over the next few years. You’ll also hear a lot more about sustainability and I think that certainty to the developers is one thing but to potential investors who want to do business in our community, they are going to want to our regions is open minded and forward thinking about developing some of these sustainable projects. I know there has to be a balance and a process that considers all side but I think we have a real opportunity and I hope we don’t squander it.

Mark Geise

Amazon is building one of their warehouses in Monroe County and it is businesses like that, that if we pass a moratorium against renewable energy projects will scare business like that away from doing business in our community. Big companies are looking to convert to renewable over time and I think we need to have a positive image.

Rich Dixon

I will send out something I prepared for the legislature about renewable energy.

Mike Metzger

Any questions for Mark? Thanked Rebecca for joining team.

Rebecca Wurster

Thanked everyone and expressed her excitement.

Mike Metzger

Treasurers Report Rich?

Rich Dixon

I spoke with Hans and with all that is going on with the Cares Act; we will do our report in February.

Mike Metzger

Thank you Rich. I’m going to entertain a motion to move to Executive Session. Do I have a motion?

Dennis Rak

So moved.

Mike Metzger

Thank you Dennis. Do I have a second?

Steven Thorpe

Second.

Mike Metzger

Motion made by Dennis and seconded by Steven. All those in favor?

Board

Aye – Unanimous.

Executive Session

Start Time: 10:48 a.m.                                                                                                                                                 

Mike Metzger

I will now accept a motion to exit Executive Session.

Dennis Rak

So Moved

Mike Metzger

Motion made by Dennis. Do I have a second?

Steven Thorpe

Second.

Mike Metzger

Motion made by Dennis and seconded by Steven. There were no actions taken in Executive Session and therefore there are no minutes to be taken.

Executive Session

End Time: 10:57 a.m.                                                                                                                                                  

Mark Odell

No actions were taken in Executive Session; therefore no minutes will be taken.

Mike Metzger

Any Old Business to come before the Board? Hearing none. Thanked Board and Staff. Meeting is adjourned.

 

Meeting adjourned at 10:59 a.m.

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­__________________________________                                 ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­_____________________________________

(Assistant) Secretary                                                                             (Vice) Chairman

Filed Under: Board Minutes, CCIDA Minutes, News

CCIDA Mission and Goals

The CCIDA is an economic development organization authorized and empowered by the State of New York to make Chautauqua County a better place to work, live, and visit. We facilitate development by attracting new businesses, while promoting the retention and expansion of existing businesses. Assistance in the forms of incentives – tax abatements, low interest loans, and bond financing – enhances the opportunities for job creation and retention by our businesses. Business … Learn More

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