Building Momentum: The ACIDA 2025 Year in Review

​Key Real Estate & Infrastructure Wins

• Cuba Business Park: Completed the donation of the GLC facility and approved a PILOT, mortgage tax exemption, and sales tax exemption to catalyze development.
• Allegany Gateway Marketplace: Submitted a $2.7M ARC Power Grant for a new facility at Rte. 86 Exit 30 to house ACIDA offices and a marketplace for local farmers and artists.
• Wellsville Business Park: Approved financial assistance in April and hosted site visits for a potential large-scale employer.
• Sale of Property: Transfer of property with 2 buildings at 6087 Route 19N in Belmont and Belmont school parking lot to County.

Entrepreneurship & Small Business Support

• Micro-Enterprise Grants: Finalized previous grant administration of $300,000 in CDBG funds assisting 9 companies and secured a $300,000 extension to assist 11 more. Conducted in-depth review of all businesses funded with 100% of grantees still operating and 33 new jobs created since program inception in 2021.
• New Entities: Successfully established the Allegany County Local Development Corporation (ACLDC) and assisted with funding for the creation of the new Economic Development Organization (EDO).

Energy & Innovation

• Solar Impact: Approved PILOTs for Rushford (CSG2/3), Burns (Moraine Solar $229 million project ), and Alfred (Water Chestnut). Reported on Solar Project Success through 2025 with $137M in capital investment and 62.9 MW of capacity—enough to power up to 10,000 homes.
• Biofuel Readiness: Secured a $150,000 USDA grant to develop a Biofuel Development Opportunity (BDO) zone, signaling to investors that the region is "bio-manufacturing ready."
• Brownfield Redevelopment: Began conducting Phase I studies through the $500,000 EPA grant with four sites EPA approved for Phase 1 studies and two studies completed by 12/31.

Marketing & Community Engagement

• Started a news blog on the ACIDA website, launched a first-ever Facebook presence and generated positive local press, along with a May article in the Southern Tier Builders Exchange showcasing the county as a premier destination for investment.
• Developed and presented reports on solar project impact and microenterprise grants.
• Held first annual ACIDA celebration event to showcase the ACIDA and connect legislators, developers, local companies, and other stakeholders to discuss current and future investment in the county.
• START up Allegany group hosted the 5th annual business competition with the three colleges.

Cohosted the manufacturing luncheon to discuss issues in the county holding manufacturers back.