Local Planning Committee Begins Jamestown's Second DRI Process
7/29/2026 3:56:31 PM
By Greg Larson, News Director
About 40 people were on hand for the first meeting of the panel that will decide on which projects will be funded in the City of Jamestown's second Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant. The Local Planning Committee -- which is made up of businesspeople, heads of local nonprofits, and CHQ Chamber -- met at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts Wednesday morning. Mayor Kim Ecklund, who co-chairs the committee, welcomed everyone and thanked those on the panel for being part of the process...
Kim Ecklund: you all bring a unique perspective
Laura Smith of the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council is the other co-chair. Western New York DRI Project Manager Ben Gunnell says the committee will decide which of the 24 proposals will be in the final DRI...
Ben Gunnell: state will decide the projects
Gunnell says the committee's process should take between six and eight months. Ecklund says the city's DRI proposal, titled "Core to Shore," builds on the city's first DRI about 10 years ago. She adds that several more public meetings will be held in the near future.