Great things are happening with the continued development of the National Comedy Center in Jamestown. The announcement in the past week that Jim Gaffigan will perform during the 2017 Lucille Ball Comedy Festival is just the icing on the cake!

A couple of not-so-minor items that may have received lesser notice in the NCC announcement last week include the launch of an endowment fund, including substantial investment already from some committed, local residents who have pledged to join the Founders Group with contributions of over $10,000 each, and a single local contribution of $100,000. These monetary donations represent how local people are demonstrating their desire to make their philanthropic gifts count for our future economic growth.

The National Comedy Center is a $50 million project that is truly a public-private partnership. New York state has awarded $4.3 million in grants to the NCC in recent years, mainly for construction, but also for tourism marketing for the new facility, which will be the first national visitor experience dedicated entirely to the art of comedy. It will include a year-round exhibit and museum space, an educational component, and an annual calendar of performances and programming.

Our hats are also off to Chautauqua Institution for its partnership with the National Comedy Center this coming summer. Chautauqua’s Week Six theme in the coming season will focus on Comedy and the Human Condition, kicking off with a lecture July 31 by nationally known comedian Lewis Black, and exploring the craft of comedy and political satire. Chautauqua and the National Comedy Center will encourage visitors to attend programming at both venues during the week, which leads into the Lucille Ball Comedy Festival Aug. 3-6. Gaffigan will perform Thursday, Aug. 3 at the Northwest Arena in Jamestown, and additional comedians will be announced.

Tourism has been a major economic driver in Chautauqua County for decades, and the opening of the National Comedy Center will expand that role as we welcome even more guests seeking a unique experience that incorporates learning, recreation and entertainment all within the natural beauty of our region of New York state.

We look forward to this continued development and growth as an enhancement for all businesses in Chautauqua County.

CHAMBER ANNUAL MEETING GETS RESCHEDULED

The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting has been rescheduled for Friday, Jan. 20.

It will still be held at a luncheon at noon at Shorewood Country Club, Dunkirk, and we are still expecting Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul as our keynote speaker. In addition, the Chamber will install board members for the coming year and will honor Carol Lorenc with the Pam Lydic Coalition Builder Award.

This event was sold out when we were forced to cancel due to poor weather early in December. We are asking all previously registered guests to call the Chamber by Jan. 6 to let us know if they can still attend on our rescheduled date. If guests cannot attend, that will create space for other Chamber members to participate.

We are asking all guests to call the Chamber at 366-6200 or 484-1101 to let us know if they are able to attend.

DOORS OPEN JAMESTOWN IS NEXT MONTH

The very popular Doors Open Jamestown will be back again in 2017. The date has been set for Saturday, Jan. 21.

Doors Open is designed to give area residents a look into our local attractions, with free admission for the day to demonstrate the many tremendous tourism opportunities right here in our own backyard.

Sponsored by the Jamestown Community Chamber of Commerce and the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation, Doors Open has grown substantially since it first began. Participating venues are Jamestown Audubon Nature Center, Roger Toy Peterson Institute, Robert H. Jackson Center, Northwest Arena, Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum & Center for Comedy, Fenton History Center, Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame, Reg Lenna Center for the Arts, James Prendergast Public Library, Infinity Performing Arts Center, Lucille Ball Little Theatre, Busti Grist Mill, and Lucille M. Wright Air Museum.

The hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for this free day at our local museums and attractions. Many of the participants will offer specials in their gift shops, and local businesses and restaurants will offer Doors Open specials, as well.

Spend Jan. 21 discovering Jamestown!

CHQ250 WORKING TO PREVENT HEART DISEASE

The Chautauqua Community Health Action Team (CHAT) is working to build a heart-healthier community.

The Chautauqua County Health Network notes that Chautauqua County has some of the highest disease burdens in the state around heart disease and strokes. The Community Health Action Team is a coalition that is working to change that trend, and has established a goal of preventing 250 heart attacks, strokes and related deaths in Chautauqua County in the coming year.

Two hundred and fifty lives is the CHAT goal toward helping the Million Hearts Initiative to prevent a million heart attacks and strokes nationwide. Businesses and local organizations are encouraged to sign the CHQ250 pledge and commit to taking at least one action in the year ahead to promote heart health in Chautauqua County.

You can learn more through the CHQ250 Facbook page, where you can also find the pledge form.