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Projects in Bemus Point and Falconer have been awarded state aid.
The funding -- $1.9 million toward the renovation of the Hotel Lenhart in Bemus Point and $250,000 toward the development of Falconer's downtown -- comes from the latest round of the Regional Economic Development Council Initiative through Empire State Development.
Chautauqua Lake Hospitality LLC will use the funding to update the 40-room Hotel Lenhart; plans by William and Jill Curry include the installation of heating and air conditioning, as well as adding bathrooms to each room, that will make the hotel a year-round tourist destination for the first time in its history.
The Currys are still in the process of purchasing the property from its current owners, Bebe Johnston and her brother, John.
In a recent interview, William Curry mentioned that state funding had been secured as part of the renovation and expansion project.
"We plan to inject $10 million into Bemus Point," he told The Post-Journal. "It's always been the goal, it's always been the focus.
There's a lot of people working with us to get the project underway."
Regarding the delay in purchasing the historic hotel property, Jill Curry said, "It's been a journey. We've not been able to work an arrangement with anyone locally, which has had us look outside of the community.
We had hoped to work with a local lender, but there seems to be interest from folks who finance hospitality.
We feel like we're pretty close here on being able to secure a closing date."
Chautauqua Lake Hospitality already has received assistance from the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency, which in March approved a $500,000 loan for equipment and working capital.
County IDA board members also started the process to give the Currys a 15-year Payment In Lieu Of Taxes agreement for sales and mortgage tax exemption and property tax abatement. They are eligible as a "tourism destination" business.
Meanwhile, Savarino Companies LLC will receive $250,000 for the development of a downtown block in Falconer. According to the award description, the project calls for 40 apartment units, residential common space and commercial spaces on the first floor front.
During a special meeting in March, the Falconer Village Board approved a purchase and sale agreement for six village-owned parcels on West Main and Everett streets with the Buffalo-based Savarino Development.
Four of the parcels are located on Everett and consist of open parking spaces. The remaining two are vacant lots on West Main.
In March, Rob Savarino provided preliminary plans for the project, indicating it would be mixed-use with both commercial space and residential units such as apartments or town houses.
"It's a real estate development, so there is some time for us to sort out all of the issues. This is just the starting point," Savarino said at the time. "The company that I represent has done numerous projects of this type."
Savarino alluded to what had been known as Falconer Square, a proposed housing project at the same site that fell through after developers were unable to secure funding.
"I know there was a previous purchaser that failed to consummate the deal," Savarino said. "I think it had a little bit to do with funding, or obtaining funding, most notably low-income housing tax credits from the state. As you know, that's a pretty competitive round.
"Our plan is to not utilize such funds -- not here to say we're duplicating someone else's efforts just hoping for better luck. That's not what our plan is."