Electrovaya Inc (ELVA)

[BornAgain]

Ellicott holds special meeting for CDBG grant
https://www.observertoday.com/news/local-region/2022/09/ellicott-holds-special-meeting-for-cdbg-grant/

Sept 8, 2022

Ellicott holds special meeting for CDBG grant
The town of Ellicott is applying for state funding that will help Electrovaya, an electric bus manufacturer, to a vacant town business.

Ellicott Town Board members held a public hearing last week for a proposal to submit an application for a $750,000 Community Development Block Grant. Janet Bowman, town supervisor, said the CDBG grant will be used to purchase and install new machinery and equipment if it is approved by the state.

While the town held a special meeting with an opportunity for community members to attend and make public comments, Bowman said the meeting was not well attended.

“We had no one from the community in attendance at our meeting on August 30,” she said.

Despite the community’s lack of interest in the meeting and public hearing, Bowman said town officials accomplished the goal of the meeting. The board approved the resolution for the application of the CDBG grant.

After the board approved the grant, Bowman said she signed the grant application for the New York State Office of Community Renewal for an estimated $750,000. However, she explained the exact amount of the grant would be determined by the state.

“The grant is to be paid to Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation,” she said. “The CREDC will distribute to Electrovaya as loans.”

Electrovaya is a manufacturer and developer of portable lithium-ion batteries that recently received the Gov. Kathy Hochul’s support for expansion through the New York Power Authority.

The company’s proposal to develop a manufacturing facility in Jamestown for domestically produced cells and modules for electric buses could eventually expand to over 300 job opportunities in the manufacturing sector.

Bowman said the CDBG grant will have a positive impact on the community by providing additional job opportunities.

“The benefit to the town is an estimated 65 new employment positions,” she said.

In addition to passing the resolution for the application of the CDBG grant for Electrovaya, the town board also passed a resolution in support of a second public hearing for Jamestown Advanced Products Corporation’s completed CDBG.

The town’s second public hearing for Jamestown Advanced Products Corporation’s CDBG is scheduled for Sept. 19 at 6 p.m.