Chautauqua County has agreed to help fund improvements at The Larson Boating Heritage Center in Bemus Point.

County legislators unanimously approved a resolution to spend $45,000 on structural repairs to the building.

According to the resolution, The Lawson Center needs about $140,000 worth of work. The state is providing a $75,000 grant. There’s also $8,060 coming from local charitable foundations and The Lawson Center is contributing $11,600 of its own money on the project.

During an earlier committee meeting, Max Pickard with the boating center, said the property, which is located at 73 Lakeside Drive, was a marina from 1918 until 2010 when The Lawson Boating Heritage Center was created. “It’s basically a boat museum specializing in displaying and preserving the history of wood boats” that operated on Chautauqua Lake, he said.

The lakeside of the building has been damaged by waves and ice. Pickard said an engineering study recommends the foundation be stabilized and then armor it with a riprap rock wall to prevent future damage. “It’s getting worse every year; it’s not getting better,” he said.

Pickard noted that last year 5,000 people visited The Lawson Center. They’re mainly open from Memorial Day through September.

“We (Bemus Point) have a population of about 500, so to have 5,000 people visit is a significant number,” he said.

He also noted they’re one of the few facilities in the village that is family-friendly.

Craig Butler with The Lawson Center said they have between 75 to 100 events there annually, including high school reunions, weddings and memorial services. There’s also a number of organizations that use their building for board or community meetings.

When they first opened The Lawson Center, they needed to borrow $600,000, which was paid off last year. They do not have any paid staff.

Pickard said they would like to do the project this fall.

The $45,000 the county agreed to spend will come from its Occupancy Tax funds, which is generated from taxes collected from motels, hotels and short-term rentals in the county.