ARTICLE
The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce and Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier encourage all local business people to make your voices heard on re-establishing commercial air service to the Jamestown Airport. Chautauqua County is working to develop the data that will lead to reinvestment in county airports, and the input of business leaders and stakeholders is crucial in that effort. A quick, easy, and confidential survey is available online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Business-JHWAirport. With just a few minutes of your time, this valuable information can be compiled to help identify the strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities at the Jamestown Airport, address capital improvement needs, and develop a customized plan to benefit the airport’s users and surrounding community. Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development, points out that Chautauqua County has a viable proposal on the table from Boutique Air to re-establish a federally subsidized commercial air service between the Jamestown, Pittsburgh, and Baltimore-Washington International Airports. In the past enplanements rates in this region demonstrated the need and usage of commercial air service when Jamestown was served by reliable carriers. Restoration of commercial air service can only come through business and tourism traveler feedback. The survey will not only help to provide service again, but will also point out infrastructure improvements the federal government is poised to make if they are supported with credible market research. The County and the Industrial Development Agency hosted a meeting in March which demonstrated that both airports in Jamestown and Dunkirk are needed for all business sectors. But the supporting data must be captured in order to be included in a documented proposal for airport investment. If you are an airline traveler, a business that uses airline travel, or a tourism-related business in Chautauqua County, we strongly encourage you to complete the county survey online.