• It’s the economy. Participants made an unequivocal call for creating more and better jobs as the foundation of both economic prosperity and community stability. Without jobs, the children of Chautauqua County can’t stay or can’t return to the communities where they grew up. Among the requirements for reaching this goal will be attention to small business, especially in the tourism and agriculture sectors, and stronger and better- coordinated economic activities in general, but also fundamental change in the public sector, better education, and concern for the environment.

• Government must be a part of the solution. There was strong sentiment at the Summits that greater economic prosperity will not be possible without lower taxes, less burdensome regulation, and more efficient government overall. And there was clear sympathy for approaches that span the familiar boundaries between political jurisdictions, and between the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors.

• The environment is both a means and an end. Concern about the quality of air, water, and land was strong at the Summits. However, the environment, natural beauty, and "quality of life" of Chautauqua County was described by participants as something to protect for its own sake, but also as an asset to use on the road to a greater and better prosperity.

• Ultimately, it’s about people. Throughout the discussions, there seemed to be a realization that prosperity for Chautauqua County must both emanate from the resources of the pople and return to them. There was strong concern about education and the development of young people to become productive members of the community, and some awareness that a healthier economy will not be possible and that many not benefit from it, unless we make a greater investment in people.

This is the basic story. There is a much more detailed and complex story from the Summits contained in the pages that follow. Those who are interested in the discussions concerning one part of the County or one particular issue, should read the analyses and transcripts carefully and in full.

The Chautauqua County Community Summits held in November 1999 were part of longer process which began when County Executive Mark Thomas took office, and which continued through extensive discussions with departments of County government, the Mayors and Supervisors, county legislators, and active citizens around the county, leading up to the Summits.

The next steps in the process will include broader publication of these results, detailed briefings with Mayors and Supervisors, and use of these results in the formulation of work plans for the coming annual County budget. The results of the Summits will also be used as the basis for a vision and mission statement and goals for the emerging county-wide plan.

Moreover, it is intended that the 1999 Community Summits will be just the first major events in a process of continuous planning, participation, evaluation and adjustment on the way to a better community. There will be a second round of Summits in mid-2000 to continue to review the goals we have set, to measure our progress toward achieving them, and to make adjustments as necessary.

(back to the top)