MAYVILLE — Step one in possibly growing a new agricultural crop in Chautauqua County was taken by the Chautauqua County Legislature.

On Wednesday, the legislature approved funding $20,000 toward a feasibility study to determine the possibility of growing hops/barley locally.

Last week, Mark Geise, deputy Chautauqua County executive for economic development, discussed funding for the feasibility study for a hops/barley economic development project with the Chautauqua County Legislature Planning and Economic Development Committee. Geise said the total cost of the study is $120,000, with half being funded by Chris Lacorata, who has 35 years experience in strategic development, with most of this time working in the beverage industry with corporations like Coca-Cola and Pepsi.

Last month, Lacorata gave a presentation to the committee about a new concept called “Project Grow Chautauqua” that could be the start of growing hops and barley in the county. He has been working with a committee of local stakeholders, which includes the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Southern Tier West and the State University of New York at Fredonia, on the concept that would be a dual industry with the hops and barley being grown for both the craft brewing and spirits industry as well as for the healthy foods industry.

Geise said the other half of the funding would be subsidized locally, with the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation pledging $20,000 and Northern Chautauqua County Foundation funding $7,500 toward the study. He said county officials are also awaiting word from the Gebbie Foundation for additional funding support.

On Wednesday, John Hemmer, R-Westfield, voted against the proposal stating that the initiative is not getting the county where it needs to go. Mark Odell, R-Brocton, countered Hemmer’s point by saying it is a unique proposal that could be a “game changer” as far as growing a new agricultural crop in the county. He said the planning board approved the proposal and three local foundations are providing funding support for the initiative.

The vote passed by a 12-4 margin, with John Davis, R-Frewsburg, Frank J. Gould, R-Ashville, and Daniel Pavlock, R-Sinclairville, also voting against the funding for the feasibility study.

In other business, the legislature approved accepting a $15,539,475 grant from the state Office of Indigent Legal Services. The grant is effective from April 1, 2018, through March 31, 2023.

Last week, Nathaniel Barone, county public defender, told the Public Safety Committee that the grant will completely reimburse all county costs associated with the representation of the indigent, which solves financial problems the Public Defender’s Office has experienced in the past. The Public Defender’s Office handles more than 7,000 cases a year, with a staff of 10 full-time attorneys, Barone said. Because of the grant, he said the number of attorneys in the office will increase to 18-20.

Along with the increase in the number of attorneys, Barone said they will also be able to increase the office’s clerical staff from four to seven. He said they will also be adding two more investigators as well. He added that when the grant expires in 2023, county officials are under no obligation to retain all the of the additional staff.

Along with additional staff, Barone will be able to add new office space in Jamestown and Dunkirk because of the funding the Office of Indigent Legal Services is providing. The legislature also approved for the Public Defender’s Office to lease 1,121 square feet of office space for $1,900 a month, which includes utilities and parking, from Lynn Development at the Lynn Building in Jamestown. Last week, Barone said 60 to 70 percent of the office’s caseload is in Jamestown. The grant for new office space will also go toward new space in Dunkirk as well. Barone said they are looking into leasing space at the Stearns Building.

The grant from the state Office of Indigent Legal Services is from a lawsuit known as the Hurrell-Harring Settlement Act that was brought against five New York state counties in Central New York for ineffective representation of the indigent.

Legislature Chairman Paul Wendel, R-Lakewood, said it is an exciting time for Barone and the Public Defender’s Office to receive this $15 million grant during the next five years.

“It will be somewhat life changing in his office,” he said.