I was disheartened to see the news that Jamestown Community College has chosen to “not proceed” with the Downtown Revitalization Initiative project in Dunkirk. The $2.2 million project, awarded by Gov. Kathy Hochul, would have opened new child care slots, expanded office space, created new state of the art classrooms, and created opportunities for youth in Dunkirk by making education and job training more accessible. This, coupled with the announcement to close the Bennett Road Campus, feels a bit like a regrettable mic drop.

Despite this setback, Dunkirk is a City with tremendous potential, a City that deserves ongoing support and celebration.

Although this is a misfortune for the young people and young families in the City of Dunkirk, many opportunities still exist in Dunkirk. The Dunkirk City School District has continued to work hard for school aged children and their families, putting forward many opportunities for growth. BOCES offers adult learning opportunities and access to job training programs, English language learning opportunities and robust job training partnerships. In addition to a community filled with expertise and resources, there are many business partners choosing to invest in the City of Dunkirk — among those include other businesses funded by the DRI, like Clarion/ Steelbound, Central Station, Regan Development, Steve St. George, Alan Steinberg, John Atzrott and other developers.

In addition, community members, small businesses and entrepreneurs abound in Dunkirk. With further collaboration, attention and funding, I know the city of Dunkirk will flourish in the future!

Beth Starks is a founding partners for Flourish Leadership Consulting and founding executive director for the Chautauqua Lake Child Care Center.