Department of Development

Crystal D. Surdyk
Director of Development

The City of Jamestown Department of Development is committed to providing economic, social, and cultural opportunities through a variety of public and private partnerships and resources to engage, educate and empower our citizens, create vibrant and safe neighborhoods with decent and affordable housing options, and to generate new investment that will improve the overall quality of life, well-being and sustainability of the entire community. The Department of Development also aids business owners, both small and large, with grant and low-interest loan programs in the hopes of creating jobs within the city. This department is also in charge of administering Community Development Block Grant and HOME Program funds.

The DOD includes the Jamestown Local Development Corporation (JLDC) and the Jamestown Urban Renewal Agency (JURA). Further information can be received at 716-483-7541 or dod@jamestownny.gov.

Hours: 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday thru Friday

ALERTS & INFORMATION

AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN GRANTS NOW AVAILABLE!

The City of Jamestown Department of Development is pleased to announce that American Rescue Plan grants are now available and applications are open for the following programs!

The American Rescue Plan Roof, Sewer Lateral and Water Line Replacement Grant (RSLWLR) program beginning June 1, 2022 through June 30, 2022. The RSLWLR grant program will provide financial assistance to eligible home owner occupants whose homes need roof, sewer lateral and/or water line repairs or replacement. Eligible applicants may receive up to $25,000 for roof, sewer lateral and water line repairs or replacement.

The American Rescue Plan Building & Property Infrastructure Improvement (BPII) grant program beginning June 1, 2022 through June 30, 2022. The BPII grant program will provide businesses with capital to assist with necessary improvements to buildings and properties. Eligible applicants may receive up to $200,000 for building improvements and property infrastructure repairs.

The American Rescue Plan Information Technology Upgrades (ITU) grant program beginning June 15, 2022 through July 15, 2022. The ITU grant program will provide capital to eligible Jamestown businesses to assist with necessary information technology upgrades to support production, sales, and administration. Eligible applicants may receive funding for system upgrades that included, but not limited to, sales and administration supportive software, CNC software, Enterprise Resource Planning system, switches, production machine controller upgrades, firewalls, and point of sales systems, all of which are necessary to support day-to-day operations. Eligible applicants may receive up to $100,000 with a 25% match requirement.

The American Rescue Plan Downtown Small Business Evolution (DSBE) grant program beginning June 15, 2022 through July 15, 2022. The DSBE grant program will provide capital to eligible Jamestown businesses to create a fresh and exciting draw to their establishments that will generate new sources of revenue, enhance the vitality of Jamestown, and assist in their financial recovery from the COVID-19 response efforts. Funding may be used to make necessary adaptations to continue operating within COVID safe practices and to utilize exterior or interior design principles to create safety, engagement, and activity. Eligible applicants may receive up to $15,000.

Applications for programs can be submitted by email to dod@jamestownny.gov or by mail to: Department of Development, 200 E Third Street, 4th Floor, Jamestown, New York 14701.

Access the Roof, Sewer Lateral and Water Line Replacement Grant Application here.

Access the Building & Property Infrastructure Improvement Grant Application here.

Access the IT Upgrades Grant Application here.

Access the Downtown Small Business Evolution Grant Application here.

NOW HIRING: Grants Manager (Contractor)

The City of Jamestown, New York is seeking experienced professionals to provide grant management services in connection with the administration of American Rescue Plan funds. This is a request for qualifications. Any award for services will be on a contractual basis.

BACKGROUND: To help local governments, which have borne the brunt of the costs of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) established the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, designed to deliver $350 billion to state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments to bolster their response to the COVID-19 emergency and its economic impacts. The City of Jamestown is in line to receive more than $28 million in federal funding to aid in the city’s recovery and in accordance with the US Treasury Department’s Final ARPA Rule, states that the funds can be used for “respond[ing] to the public health emergency or its negative economic impacts, including assistance to households, small businesses, and nonprofits, or aid to impacted industries such as tourism, travel, and hospitality” and it places an emphasis on combating the disproportionate negative economic and health impacts of COVID-19 on minority and low income populations, to mitigate the pandemic’s “longer-term impact in compounding the systemic public health and economic challenges of disproportionately impacted populations,” and encourages uses “that foster a strong, inclusive, and equitable recovery, especially uses with long-term benefits for health and economic outcomes.”

The City of Jamestown has taken a proactive approach to put together a plan that allows for broad funding allocations to classifications that are eligible expenditures. The City of Jamestown’s ARPA Funding Plan is the result of the City’s consideration of a variety of factors along with its robust public outreach process, including but not limited to holding public meetings with members of the community, civic groups, nonprofit organizations, elected officials, businesses, and other stakeholders. The City and its Department of Development utilized the data and feedback collected to develop several programs that are flexible enough to meet the varying needs of struggling businesses, and strategic enough that they will meet the requirements set forth by the US Treasury Department as well as address the critical needs of the community.

DESCRIPTION: Performs professional and administrative work in the coordination and implementation of strategic investments of the City’s allocation of the American Rescue Plan Act’s (ARPA) Local Fiscal Recovery Funds ($28M). Duties include responsibility for tracking, organizing, and directing these investments including adherence to all related policies, procedures and regulations. Moreover, this role will include the administration of grant programs approved by the City Council and facilitated by the Jamestown Local Development Corporation (JLDC).

Work is performed with considerable technical independence under the administrative direction of the Department of Development and Mayor’s Office with oversight by the JLDC Board.

Position Summary: The Grants Manager is responsible for coordinating the development, administrative management, reporting and closeout of American Rescue Plan related grant programs for the City of Jamestown. The Grants Manager will ensure that the City’s grant-making and related processes, documents, procedures and implementation are executed professionally, efficiently, on schedule, and in a manner consistent with best practices.

DUTIES:

Manage grant programs established for the expenditure of the City’s ARPA funds.
Provides administration for the grants process throughout all stages including developing, advertising, receiving, assessing, tracking, payment/check requests, documenting all inquiries and/or applications; assuring that submitted documentation meets all City and legal requirements; and maintaining accurate and timely records of City grant-making and other programmatic activities.
Provides technical assistance to grantees with online application and reporting processes.
Maintains all grant files ensuring the accuracy and integrity of data as well as grantee relationship history.
Oversees standard terms and conditions for grant award letters and agreements.
Works with ARPA Program Administrator to coordinate and maintain grant cycle calendar and site visit schedules.
Prepares grant related materials and reports for Committee and Board Meetings.
Supports the City’s finance and communication functions; generates requested information, data and reports from information maintained in the grants management database or other sources of information.
Track and report expenditure of grant funds and monitor sub-recipient agencies to ensure expenditure of allocated funds meet grant requirements.
Review, confirm, and maintain strong knowledge of all requirements outlined in contract documents.
Maintain strong relationships and communication with City officials and staff to relay information related to grant management and provided services.
Maintain grant agreements ensuring that contracts remain executed within the parameters of the agreement.
Monitor agreements for compliance with contractual requirements.
Close out awards and sub-awards.
Prepare and present progress reports and final reports.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: A Bachelor’s degree in Public or Business Administration, Accounting, Urban Planning, or Non Profit Management is preferred or equivalent work experience in a related field.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY.

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that The City of Jamestown’s CDBG and HOME FY 2022 Annual Action Plan has been prepared and will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) pending a mandatory 30-day public review period. The purpose of this public input period is to assist the Department of Development in gaining a better understanding of the housing, neighborhood, and economic development needs that should still be addressed through the City’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Program allocations for 2022.

The draft plan will be available beginning Monday, May 23rd, 2022, in the Department of Development and the Office of the Mayor, on the fourth floor of the Municipal building at 200 East Third Street, Jamestown, NY 14701. Additionally, they will be made available at Prendergast Library and online at https://www.jamestownny.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/AAP-Draft_05232022.pdf. A public hearing will be held on June 27^th at 7:00 pm in the Council Chambers, located on the second floor of the Municipal building. All comments regarding Annual Action Plan will be accepted up until June 27, 2022 by 4:00 pm, in writing to the Department of Development, Municipal Building, Third Floor, Jamestown, NY 14701.

The Jamestown City Council and the subsequent submission of the City’s FY 2022 CDBG and HOME Annual Action Plan application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will consider all comments received prior to the formal authorization of the application.

Any person with a disability requiring reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the meetings should call (716) 483-7612 with their request prior to the scheduled meeting(s).

NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNFICANT IMPACT AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS

These notices shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by the City of Jamestown.

REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS

On or about June 7th, 2022, the City of Jamestown will submit a request to the New York State HUD Administrative Office for the release of CDBG funds under Title VIII, Section 801 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992as amended, to undertake a project known as Environmental Assessment and Remediation – 215 East Third St. for the purpose of removing the remaining underground fuel tanks that are no longer in use in order to transform the space into an accessible transportation hub and local economic development opportunities.

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

The City of Jamestown has determined that the project will have no significant impact on the human environment. Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is not required. Additional project information is contained in the Environmental Review Record (ERR) on file at 200 East Third St Jamestown, New York, Municipal Building, Fourth Floor, and may be examined or copied weekdays 9A.M to 4P.M. or it can be accessed at the links provided below:

Part 1 215 Third Street Part 58-CEST-HUD ERR

Part 2 215 Third Street Part 58-CEST-HUD ERR

Part 3 215 Third Street Part 58-CEST-HUD ERR

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to the City of Jamestown, Department of Development. All comments received by June 6th, 2022 will be considered by the City of Jamestown prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds. Comments should specify which Notice they are addressing.

ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION

The City of Jamestown certifies to New York State HUD that Crystal Surdyk in her capacity as Director of Development consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied. New York State HUD approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the City of Jamestown to use Program funds.

OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS

New York State HUD Office will accept objections to its release of fund and the City of Jamestown certification for a period of fifteen days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following bases: (a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the name of R (b) the City of Jamestown has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR part 58; (c) the grant recipient or other participants in the development process have committed funds, incurred costs or undertaken activities not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by New York State HUD; or (d) another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58, Sec. 58.76) and shall be addressed to New York State HUD administration office at 300 Pearl Street, Suite 301, Buffalo, NY 14203-1780 or by email at CPD_COVID-19OEE-BUF@hud.gov. Potential objectors should contact New York State’s HUD Office to verify the actual last day of the objection period.

Permits shall be filed with Larry Scalise, Building Code Enforcement Officer, by appointment. Residents may call during normal business hours for all other questions and concerns at (716)483-7541.

Click here for Resources for Businesses & Workers Impacted by COVID-19.

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