Could Grand Island’s loss be Chautauqua County’s gain?

The county, according to a report by Buffalo Business First, is one of several other potential sites Amazon is looking at for its proposed “megaproject,” a regional distribution center that when completed would be one of the largest in the world. Amazon had been looking at Grand Island, but announced this week it was pulling out and looking at alternative sites.

Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel was quick to promote the benefits of bringing Amazon to the area.

“Awesome news that Chautauqua County is reportedly in consideration for the new Amazon facility in Western New York,” Wendel said in a message posted to Facebook. “Weeks ago at the first sign of opposition on Grand Island, I called our County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency-CCIDA team on a Saturday to ensure we were continuing to make Chautauqua County part of the conversation for this project. They got to work that weekend and we have remained in contact with Invest Buffalo Niagara and others to submit potential sites and provide information as needed. We will continue working hard to bring this monumental project to Chautauqua County.”

Mark Geise, deputy county executive for economic development, said officials are working with Invest Buffalo Niagara to “promote Chautauqua County as a good location.”

He added: “We have provided several sites for consideration. That being said, we are being very proactive.”

Since 2010, one of the sites the county Industrial Development Agency has been looking to market is in the town of Ripley near the state Thruway toll booths. That area remains available.