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Another transition will be taking place in the city of Dunkirk and Chautauqua County Legislature.
On Tuesday, Vince DeJoy announced he will be leaving his position as Director of Planning and Development for the city of Dunkirk at the end of the month. DeJoy has accepted a position with a nonprofit healthcare organization in Western North Carolina in the Asheville area. He will be starting in that role in early November
"I want to thank Mayor Kate Wdowiasz for her leadership and support during this current fiscal crisis that Dunkirk has faced. The mayor has had to make some difficult and painful decisions that should have been made before she became mayor, and she has strong vision for the right path for the future of Dunkirk, and I have enjoyed working with her," according to DeJoy.
DeJoy has served as Director of Planning and Development since November 2021 when he was appointed by Mayor Wilfred Rosas. During his tenure with the city of Dunkirk, DeJoy led the effort to receive a $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative award that when fully completed will be transformational for several projects, especially along the lakefront shore.
He also will be stepping away from duties as a Chautauqua County legislator, representing the city of Jamestown.
"I am still on the ballot for the upcoming election," he said. "The Chautauqua County Democratic Committee announcement for a replacement is forthcoming, and I want to thank them for their support and well wishes and I am confident in their choice.
"The residents of Jamestown deserve strong and effective representation in Mayville, and I have tried to provide that in my time in the legislature -- fighting for lower property taxes and to take a more measured and collaborative approach to moving County Offices into the Lynn Building, rather than the way that played out."
DeJoy has helped to lead the effort to bring new development and power generation to the former NRG power plant site with the sale to Genover Power. Additionally, DeJoy has submitted a proposal to New York State Power Authority to site a nuclear power plant on this site working with Mark Geise and the County IDA as well as Genover Power.
"Additionally, I want to acknowledge the extraordinary partnership that I have enjoyed in my role as Director of Development with Mark Geise, Nathan Aldrich, and Rebecca Wurster from Chautauqua County IDA and Planning Department," DeJoy said. "We have worked as a team to help set up Dunkirk's future for success in a new direction. Moreover, my Deputy Director, EJ Hayes has been there by my side to help bring projects to fruition."
DeJoy has also been successful in being awarded millions of dollars in grants to the city of Dunkirk to address lead in homes in a HUD grant, plant trees on city streets and parks, environmental testing of Brownfield sites with EPA grant funding, redevelop downtown buildings and new investment in docks at the marina, and to put forth resiliency plans to address storm damage and erosion to the lakefront working with the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative and Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper.
Additionally, DeJoy has helped to bring new workforce affordable housing development to Dunkirk that will support job and plant expansion at Wells Enterprises that DeJoy also played a significant role in bringing the $432 million expansion to Dunkirk.