Kevin Sanvidge, Chautauqua Co. IDA
Posted by Walt Pickut
on Mar 09, 2015
Chautauqua County Executive, Rotarian Vince Horrigan, introduced Kevin Sanvidge, the new director of the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency (IDA), as a goal driven deal maker who will drive the county toward greater prosperity and higher employment.
Kevin Sanvidge is convinced that Chautauqua County has so much to offer that he created the county’s first Marketing Department to aggressively advance the region in the eyes of entrepreneurs and businesses from across the country for which Chautauqua is the ideal location. He cited ongoing projects and new projects to illustrate his point. The Dunkirk NRG refit and gas line installation continues with a projected up-and-running date of late 2016. A $150 million EDM Company wind farm project is being considered for the county with high wind, high altitude locations targeted as important energy resources. An all-organic dairy operation which will include both dairy production and an organic learning center to advance the science of organic dairy production is also under development.
The other side of Chautauqua County’s marketing value is tourism and hospitality. As examples he cited the PGA Champions Tour (pros aged 50+) and bike tours and races which are slated for development with a promise of $15 million and more coming into the county’s cash registers for such events, especially if elevated to annual events.
Sanvidge also said that the hospitality industry often operates very successfully on the principle of “Build it and they will come.” Based on that concept, Chautauqua County is now host to at least five new hotel and condo building projects, such as a new waterfront hotel project on the site of the old Celoron Park.
“Our work is measurable,” Sanvidge said. Work has to have a defined and measurable outcome based on solid goals and plans, so he has instituted an accountability system to measure and track the success, including increased revenue and jobs, produced by Chautauqua County’s marketing efforts. Cummins Engine Plant’s new $90 million investment is an example of the confidence which industry shows in Jamestown and Chautauqua County. Since a well-educated work force is foundational to industry, Sanvidge also described a cooperative program based on the region’s P-Tech Grant operating through JCC to introduce students starting in the 8th grade to industry, leading to an AS degree in manufacturing.
Kevin Sanvidge concluded: “Chautauqua County is on the move!”
Speaker Kevin Sanvidge with President Todd Allen