Deadline: 1-Apr-25
The Chautauqua County is inviting applications for the In-Lake Grant program intended to increase tourism and recreation opportunities.
This grant application is for in-lake projects located within Lake Erie, Chautauqua, Findley, Bear and Cassadaga Lakes.
Funding Information
- For 2026, the minimum grant amount available for the In-Lake Program is $5,000 and the maximum grant amount is $50,000.
Project Categories
- There are six in-lake project categories that Lake Associations and other stakeholders commonly undertake that are eligible for competitive funding from the In-Lake Program:
- Shoreline Maintenance
- Mechanical or Biological Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Management
- Chemical Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Management
- Invasive Species Management
- Harmful Algal Bloom Mitigation
- Dredging and Flood Mitigation
In-Lake Program Outcomes
- Recent revisions to Chautauqua County’s 2% Occupancy Tax Program are driven by changes to New York State legislation, which empowers Chautauqua County to collect an Occupancy Tax and use those revenues to improve the County’s Lakes & Waterways. The changes are intended to use Occupancy Tax revenues to fund in-lake projects with outcomes that improve tourism and recreation opportunities.
- Chautauqua County’s five lakes (Erie, Chautauqua, Findley, Cassadaga and Bear) have a substantial impact on the economy. Each lake is a world unto itself. Some lakes are big and some are small. Some lakes are densely developed, but some are not. Most, but not all lakes are located in multiple municipal jurisdictions. Most, but not all lakes have one or more Lake Associations. All Lake Associations monitor lake health and perform lake maintenance tasks. All of Chautauqua County’s lakes are special in their own way.
Eligibility Criteria
- Not-for-profit organizations
- Governmental agencies
- Businesses and corporations
- All landowners of Chautauqua County
Limitations
- Applications are limited to one project category, so combining several different project categories into one application is not allowed.
- Multiple applications by an applicant or group of stakeholders are not allowed unless the applications are for projects on multiple lakes.
- A project involving multiple municipal jurisdictions on one lake must be combined into one application.
Selection Process
- All applications submitted for the In-Lake Program will be evaluated by senior staff and management within the Chautauqua County Department of Planning and Development. Each application will be ranked based on the quality and content of the narrative, the project’s impact tourism and recreation, and the degree of collaboration with stakeholders and the amount of Federal, State and Local funds included in the project budget.
- A ranked list with be prepared for review by the Chairman of the Chautauqua County Legislature and the Chautauqua County Executive. The highest-ranking projects will be included in the County Executive’s proposed Budget for 2026 and approved by the Chautauqua County Legislature for implementation during the 2026 fiscal year.
For more information, visit Chautauqua County.