By TODD TRANUM

President and CEO of the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce & Executive Director of the Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier

An abundant supply of clean water is essential for any type of development: industrial, commercial or residential. That is why the proposed North County Water District is the number-one advocacy priority this year for the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce and the Manufacturers’ Association of the Southern Tier. When the Public Policy Committee meets, water issues rise to the top of every discussion. That includes issues surrounding the water district, as well as maintenance of lakes and watersheds.

Everyone learned in elementary school that more than 60 percent of the human body is water. Water is essential to life itself. Water is also essential for economic development, especially for certain types of industries, including food and beverage processing, which is critical in Chautauqua County.

The Chadwick Bay Regional Development Corporation has drafted a plan that would establish a regional water system to serve the towns of Dunkirk, Hanover, Sheridan, Pomfret and Portland, including the city of Dunkirk and the villages of Brocton, Fredonia, Forestville and Silver Creek. The Chamber applauds the work that has been done to bring the key stakeholders to the table in an effort to bring the project to this point. The work that is being done is essential for further economic development.

The reasons for moving the water district forward are clear: this is an opportunity to stabilize water rates, expand water service to more consumers and businesses, provide consistent and reliable water supplies to the region for generations, address health concerns caused by deteriorating infrastructure and develop infrastructure that will help keep jobs in the community and establish a foundation for further economic growth. This project is a win-win for residents, businesses and local government; economic development is at stake and failure is not an option.

The next steps are intermunicipal agreements among all of the local governments within the region. The Local Economic Development Committee for Northern Chautauqua County supports this project. The Chamber and MAST support this project. Many of the local governments involved are already on record supporting this project. The Chamber has and will continue to communicate its observations and concerns about this issue to elected representatives at all levels of government. The Chamber invites you to join it. Attend a meeting of your town, village or city government and make your voice heard that a North County Water District is in everyone’s best interest. Industry and jobs can be grown in the community, but only when the necessary infrastructure is provided to make it happen. Water is essential. This project needs to stay on track.

STEM Wars draws big crowd of students

Four hundred sixty five middle and high school students from 18 regional school districts converged on the physical education complex at Jamestown Community College this past week. They were there for what can only be described as the “super bowl” of technology. STEM Wars was a tremendous success! Competitions included catapult launches, egg-crash carts, robotics and more. Students brought the machines they had already constructed and came prepared to compete against teams from other schools. They also came to learn. Each student had opportunities to meet with local business and manufacturing representatives to learn about industry right here in Chautauqua County.

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math skills are critical for the future of local students and the future of the local economy. The Dream It Do It initiative focuses on helping to expose young people to career options in STEM fields, and on helping to develop and celebrate their STEM education. Sponsored by DIDI and the technology teachers of NYSTEEA and hosted by JCC, STEM Wars has grown in the past three years to become a major event for local students and manufacturers. The Chamber looks forward to continued growth in the years to come.

MAST Annual Meeting focuses on education

Education was the focus of the MAST Annual Meeting on March 18, as dozens of local manufacturing leaders met at Jamestown Community College. The MAST board and other guests got a tour of the STEM Wars event, followed by a presentation by BOCES Superintendent David O’Rourke on P-TECH and career and technical training. The MAST Annual Meeting was sponsored by Blackstone Advanced Technologies, KeyBank, OBSERVER and The Post-Journal.

Paul Zebraski of Nestle Purina is a newly elected member of the MAST Board of Directors. Other board members for 2015 are: President Mark Shafer, Heidenhain; Senior Vice President Kevin Brombacher, M&T Bank; Vice President Jay Churchill, Jamestown Electro Plating; Treasurer Eric Livengood, Ulrich Planfiling; Immediate Past President John Zabrodsky, Advanced Manufacturing Technology; Mike Abbate, Cummins, Inc.; Dale Gier, Producto Corporation; Rex McCray, Weber Knapp; John Mulryan, Lufkin; Herman Ruhlman, Rand Machine; Nichole Segrue, Universal Tooling; John Stahley, Dresser Rand; Rick Turner, Blackstone Advanced Technologies; and Marilyn Zagora, Jamestown Community College.

Chamber State Legislative Breakfast April 17

Each year the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce provides opportunities for its members to have a direct conversation with elected officials from each level of government. This year, the State Legislative Breakfast will be held Friday, April 17 at the Lakewood Rod & Gun Club, 433 E. Terrace Ave., Lakewood. State Senator Cathy Young and Assemblyman Andrew Goodell will provide their insights about legislation in Albany, and be available for questions from the audience. This event is sponsored by Buffamante Whipple Buttafaro, P.C., Chautauqua Institution, DFT Communications, Fredonia College Foundation, Jamestown Mattress Company, KeyBank, Nestle Purina PetCare, OBSERVER, The Post-Journal, Serta Mattress Company, WCA Hospital and WJTN/WWSE/WKSN/WHUG/WQFX. The cost to attend is $18 per person. To register call the Chamber at 484-1101 or 366-6200 or visit the Chamber website at www.chautauquachamber.org.