Chautauqua County is moving ahead to improve broadband in the county.

During the county Industrial Development Agency meeting, board members approved contracting with ECC Technologies, Inc. The Rochester-based company specializes broadband consulting.

Mark Geise, county IDA director and chief executive officer, noted that when the county legislature approved the $24.6 million American Rescue Plan Act spending, $2.5 million was designated for the expansion of broadband in underserved local communities.

The contract with ECC Technologies is for $110,000 — $50,000 for grant writing and $60,000 for non-grant writing. One of the goals, Geise said, is for the $2.5 million to be used as matching funds for the expansion of broadband.

IDA attorney Milian Tyler noted broadband expansion is a goal of the county. “This is part of your mission and purpose — economic development in the county is very dependent on available widespread broadband services. It is part of what the IDA does and should be doing,” he said.

In other business, it was announced that Dennis Rak and Hans Auer were resigning from the IDA board of directors. Rak has been a board member for around 20 years, while Auer was a board member for 13 years. The legislature appointed Sagan Sheffield-Smith of Bemus Point to the IDA to fill one of the openings.