A south county company has been approved for tax breaks for a small solar project on its property.

During a recent Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency meeting, board members approved a 15-year Payment In Lieu of Taxes agreement for 0.24 megawatt alternative energy facility to be located at 1611 Foote Avenue, in the town of Kiantone for Jamestown Rubber Stamp Company.

According to Rosie Strandburg with the county IDA, power generated from the solar project will go directly back to the company to offset electricity costs and demands.

A battery storage facility will also be installed. Strandburg said it will be used to “both reduce demand changes and protect the business from loss due to frequent power outages.”

The resolution states it will be placed on a parking lot less than 25 acres.

The total cost of the project is $1,041,520.

Strandburg said the project will allow the Jamestown Rubber Stamp Company to retain 16 jobs and create seven additional positions by the third year of the agreement.

Richard Dixon with the county IDA said years ago, the state wanted to make all solar projects, wind projects and methane digesters exempt for real property taxes, unless the taxing jurisdictions opted out of the law, which all of the local municipalities in Chautauqua County did.

He explained that the county legislature didn’t want to hurt local businesses, so they agreed they would be eligible for a 15-year PILOT, which would basically exempt them from paying property taxes for that time period. Each business would still need formal approval.

The county IDA unanimously approved the request.

After the vote, IDA Board Chairman Gary Henry congratulated Nick Bradish, the chief executive officer of Jamestown Rubber Stamping Company, who attended the meeting virtually.

“It’s an exciting project and we wish the best for your business and look forward to the growth,” Henry said.