Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel. P-J photo by Gregory Bacon

MAYVILLE – In 2024, Chautauqua County kicked off its effort to recruit both people and businesses to the area, through an initiative called “Live CHQ” and “Choose CHQ.”

Chautauqua County PJ Wendel believes the next step is for the county to grow.

“My ‘Grow CHQ’ plan focuses on three main goals: boosting local economic development, enhancing infrastructure, and promoting sustainable county growth,” Wendel said Wednesday during his State of the County address.

In his address, which was just under 30 minutes long, Wendel highlighted essential achievements from the past year, showcasing strategic investments aimed at economic growth, infrastructure, and community well-being.

Wendel noted that 50 years ago the office of the County Executive had just been established.

“It is truly an honor to be one of only 10 individuals to have held this position in Chautauqua County,” he said.

Wendel shared that while the county has changed dramatically over the last 50 years, “the values, goals and vision for the county remain the same – reducing duplicate services, reducing costs, focusing on economic growth and development, and most importantly, providing efficient, effective delivery of county services.”

He highlighted many businesses 2024, including the reopening of the White Inn in Fredonia, West Main Mercantile in Falconer, and Hideaway Bay Resort in Silver Creek.

Wendel believes the foundation for future success has been laid. This commitment, he said, is reflected in the Dunkirk Downtown Realization Initiative, Mayville’s Waterfront Improvement project, the Chadakoin River Activation, Westfield’s $4.5 million Restore NY grant, and local waterfront revitalization program, enhancing communities along the lake Erie shoreline.

For future initiatives, Wendel is proposing Chautauqua County be an innovator for micro-nuclear electricity production.

“We will be launching a committee that will explore nuclear opportunities for Chautauqua County. I feel strongly that micro-nuclear energy could make Chautauqua County a major electricity producer that would not only meet our communities’ energy needs, but those of the entire region,” he said.

For the 2026 budget, Wendel said he would like to build a financial resource and develop a strategy regarding local municipal mergers, consolidations and shared services.

“The purpose of this fund would be to reduce redundancies, thus leading to significant cost savings by streamlining operations and enhancing and eliminating duplicate services,” he said.

Wendel believes this will both lower taxes and improve services.

Wendel also looked back on the $24.6 million American Rescue Plan Act funds the county received from the federal government in 2021.

He shared how the funds were invested in 84 projects, covering a multitude of projects, including economic/workforce development, clean water and parks, infrastructure, public facilities, public health, social services, public safety and more.

The county produced a 46-page report, detailing how the money was spent.

“The $24.6 million was able to leverage a total of $75 million across county projects – a two-to-one return on our investment,” Wendel said.

The full ARPA report and Wendel’s complete address are available at chqgov.com.