West NY News

The Chautauqua County Lakes and Waterways Occupancy Tax Grant programs will open for applications on January 1, 2025. These initiatives provide financial support for projects related to lakes and waterways within the county, funded by a portion of the county's occupancy tax.

Dave McCoy, the Chautauqua County Watershed Coordinator, stated, “We are pleased to announce the 2026 Round of Occupancy Tax grants for our Lakes and Waterways. We have two distinctly different grant programs, both of which are intended to increase Tourism and Recreation opportunities in Chautauqua County. Both programs are competitive because we get far more applications than we can fund.”

The Traditional 2% Grant Program has been available since 2009 and focuses on watershed projects such as streambank stabilization and stormwater management. The newer In-Lake Grant Program targets lake maintenance activities like shoreline cleanup and harmful algal bloom mitigation.

According to McCoy, “Not-for-profit organizations, government agencies, businesses and all landowners of Chautauqua County are able to apply for projects located within the watersheds of Bear, Cassadaga, Findley, Chautauqua and Lake Erie.” Funding requests can range from $5,000 to $50,000.

Applications can be accessed online at chqgov.com or PlanningChautauqua.com. Physical copies are available at the Department of Planning and Development office in Jamestown.