There’s a lot of talk about the economy lately, primarily due to how much it’s flourishing nationally, especially compared to other nations emerging from the pandemic. Yet, most of us don’t spend much time thinking about it or the factors that impact economic changes. That’s often because few of us fully understand what economic development is, how it affects us personally, or what it means to others living near us.

Simply put, on a local level, economic development is activity that improves the economic well-being and quality of life for people living in a community. When an economy is doing well, people have a reliable source of income. They can meet their basic needs. They are able to amass assets. They prosper.

Thriving economies lead to business investments. Investments lead to high-quality jobs, great shopping, appealing housing, and plenty of engaging recreational opportunities. This attracts and retains talented people. The best places have a lot of potential for more growth and people working to make it happen. Businesses want to invest in thriving, welcoming communities, especially where their startup and expansion costs are reasonable.

People of all ages want to live, work, and play in places where the economy is doing well.

However, most of us don’t know precisely how economic development happens. Things like new businesses and community improvements don’t magically appear. A lot of people assume our tax dollars paid for all the improvements we see. Sometimes, that is the case, but many are surprised to learn how many enhancements and how much growth results from the hard work and the financial contributions of many different people and entities, including our friends and neighbors.

The people who make the most significant differences in their community’s economic development are those involved in what is happening where they live. Many get involved with community action efforts, like joining beach or highway clean-up projects, helping at fundraising events, or volunteering at soup kitchens. Some get involved in local governmental politics or serve on the boards of local organizations or businesses. Others donate time and money to community betterment projects, like those sponsored by the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation, including its Local Economic Development committee.

Many people want to improve their communities but don’t know where to start. The best way to be sure your contributions are used wisely is to donate your time and money to an independent charitable organization with a proven track record that you can trust to be neutral, especially one where you can designate how your efforts and financial contributions will be used to benefit current and future generations to make the biggest difference where you live.

The Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation’s Local Economic Development committee knows economic development requires everything from infrastructure improvements to marketing. The committee members also know changing conditions need flexibility when making economic development improvements. The group understands that every community has opportunities and challenges, so it examines them and sets priorities specific to local conditions before donated funds are designated for specific projects. Those economic development funding decisions are made by the

donors themselves or by qualified volunteers that the donors trust to best use the money others have generously contributed.

The Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation’s Local Economic Development committee is dedicated to making Northern Chautauqua County a better place for residents, visitors, and those choosing to work here. They help make that happen by educating the community, advocating for improvements, and designating funds for economic development.