Part of the $10 million plan for Dunkirk includes Jamestown Community College moving to the Graf Building on Central Avenue.

Jamestown Communtiy College plans three “Business Roundtables” Monday to seek input on a proposed move of its North County Center to downtown Dunkirk.

The roundtables are set for 8 a.m., noon, and 5 p.m. at the current North County Training Center at 10807 Bennett Road in Dunkirk. People interested in attending should contact James Kelemen, JCC administrative specialist, at 716-363-6500 or JamesKelemen@mail.sunyjcc.edu.

“The goal of the Business Roundtable is to have a candid conversation with our local business owners to get a better understanding of what programs they need, how JCC can meet those needs, and how businesses will support programs initiated on their behalf in a downtown location,” said Daniel DeMarte, president of JCC. “As we prepare for a possible move downtown, it is imperative that we have community engagement and support.”

The Graf Building at 319 Central Ave. is the proposed new location for the North County Center. Local government planners are seeking funding for the move from Dunkirk’s $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative, awarded by the state earlier this year.

If chosen to move forward in the DRI, the new space could bring access to workforce training and certificate programs within walking distance of Dunkirk schools.

JCC first established the North County Center in 1988 as an effort to develop and offer non-credit training courses to northern Chautauqua communities. The center was first housed in the Dunkirk Chamber of Commerce, at the time located on Lakeshore Drive.

The center was relocated to the first floor of its current address on Bennett Road in 1991. The move created easy access for commuters using the Thruway and provided greater visibility for the college in the north end of the county. The building was purchased in 1993 from Chautauqua Opportunities. Extensive renovations were completed, and in 1999, the property adjacent to the North County Center was purchased to create the Training and Conference Center, offering a variety of amenities, and the opportunity to host outside events.

Over time, the economics and needs of the area shifted. According to information in the 2022 DRI presentation prepared for the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council, “Dunkirk has been designated a severely economically distressed community with an Average Median Income far below the state average.”

Dunkirk High School juniors and seniors were surveyed by JCC this spring to gauge the impact the project might have on interest in attending the college. It was found that changing the North County Center’s location increased the number of students who would consider attending JCC by 8.4%. Eighty-one percent of the students thought relocating the center would increase attendance.

“We’re a community college, this is a community betterment project, and we want it to be right for the community,” said Beth Starks, director of Adult Education and JCC’s North County Center. “Given the economic conditions of the area, it is highly likely that many of the students in the downtown area could attend JCC for free. We’d like to make sure we are the strong community partner Dunkirk deserves.”