SOUTHERN TIER WEST REGIONAL PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT BOARD
  • About Us
    • Who We Are
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      • Partnership Program
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      • February 2026
      • December 2025
      • September 2025
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          • Natural Environment
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        • CEDS Evaluation
        • CEDS Conclusion
        • CEDS Data Visuals
      • Action Plan Natural Environment
      • Action Plan Built Environment
      • Action Plan Business & Industry
      • Action Plan Business Focus Destinations and Tourism
      • Action Plan Human Capital
      • Action Plan Human Capital: Employee Health
      • Action Plan Aging
      • Action Plan Agriculture
      • Action Plan Arts, History, Culture
      • Action Plan Health, Medical Care, EMS
      • Action Plan Downtown Revitalization
    • Annual Reports
  • Contact

About the STWRPDB

CONTACT
Lisa Keck
Executive Director

[email protected]
​

(716) 945-5301 Ext. 2203
FOCUS AREAS
  • ARC Area Development Program
  • Clean Energy Communities
  • Climate Smart Communities
  • Economic Development
  • Geographic Information Systems
  • Local Government
  • ​Water Source Management
BOaRD & COMMITTEES
  • STW Board Of Directors
  • EDA/ARC Project Committee
  • Local Government Committee​
  • STW Business Resource Committee
FUNDING
  • ARC Funding
  • EDA Funding
AFFILIATIONS
  • Southern Tier Entrerprise Development Organization (STEDO)
  • Southern Tier Extension Railroad Authority
    ​(STERA)

Our Mission

To help coordinate and enhance planning and development activities in Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua Counties so as to promote social, physical, and economic development in these counties.  Southern Tier West seeks to improve the quality of life for the region's people and assure that the "people of the Southern Tier West region have access to adequate occupational, educational, and recreational opportunities; environment; health care services; housing; public safety; and transportation.

Serving Allegany, Cattaraugus, & Chautauqua Counties in Western New York

In 1969 the County Legislatures of Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua Counties of New York State adopted a resolution creating Southern Tier West as a regional planning board (specialized unit of local government) under the authority of Article 12B of the New York State General Municipal Law.

The Southern Tier West Regional Planning & Development Board (STW) is the regional planning agency for Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua Counties in Western New York. STW assists 124 towns and villages in a diverse set of topics including community and economic development, community planning, data and information services, environmental and energy planning, regional services, local food planning, local government and community assistance, and water source management.

Member Counties

Southern Tier West partners with Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua Counties.
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Allegany County
Population: 46,694 (2022)
​Towns: 29  Villages: 10
County Administrator: Carissa Knapp
Chairman of the Legislature:
​W. Brooke Harris
7 Court Street, Belmont NY 14813 
585-268-7612 
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Cattaraugus County
Population: 76,439 (2022)
Towns: 32  Villages: 9  Cities: 2
​County Administrator: Kelly Reed
Chairman of the Legislature:
M. Andrew Burr
303 Court Street, Little Valley NY 14755
​Phone: 716-938-2577
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Chautauqua County
Population: 126,027 (2022)
Towns: 27  Villages: 13  Cities: 2
​County Executive: Paul Wendel Jr.
Chairman of the Legislature:
​Pierre Chagnon
3 North Erie Street, Mayville NY 14757
​Phone: 716-753-4000

Formal Designations

Local Development District ​
Southern Tier West oversees the broad direction and coordination of all ARC-funded economic and social development activities in the region.
Economic Development District
​Southern Tier West is authorized to identify specific objectives and projects for economic development within the region.
Area Wide Clearinghouse
​Review federal funding requests subject to the Presidential Order 12372 on "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs".  An Intergovernmental Review is required for any project, or action that is included in the New York State list of eligible federal programs for the Intergovernmental Review Process, as issued by the NYS Division of Budget.  
Data Center Affiliate
Southern Tier West provides data to the public through access to data development by New York State, the Federal Government, US Census Bureau, and other public and private organizations.

Affiliations

Southern Tier Enterprise Development Organization (STEDO)
​STEDO is a loan program for businesses in Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua Counties.  The primary purpose of STEDO is to create and/or retain jobs and stimulate development of small to mid-sized businesses within the region.  STEDO has a strong history of working closely with businesses and lenders to assemble financial packages flexible enough to accommodate the needs of most small business owners. 

The Southern Tier Enterprise Development Organization Inc. (STEDO) is a Revolving Loan Fund made up of federal, state, and locally funded capital to assist in bridging funding gaps for small businesses. The goals and objectives of STEDO are to foster and maintain economic growth in the Western Region of New York State, specifically Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua Counties and for some funds Erie and Niagara Counties are also included. Other goals include the diversification  of the regional economy and local economies within the region; to assist in the startup, retention of jobs, increase in per capita income, reduction of unemployment, and retention and growth of tax base in the region; and to help provide an environment that nurtures business development in the region.
​

For more information on STEDO, please contact Kimberly LaMendola, Regional Economic Development Coordinator at [email protected].


​Southern Tier Extension Railroad Authority (STERA)
STERA was created by the New York State Legislature to preserve and enhance the system of railroads serving Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Allegany, and Steuben Counties in NYS and Warren and Erie Counties in the Commonwealth of PA, so as to insure a healthy economy for these counties.
​
STERA's goal is
 to encourage an operating railroad that provides adequate rail service, to increase rail shipping carload volumes, to catalyze opportunities for additional business expansion and development based on rail service, to achieve improved functional performance of the rail lines through rehabilitation efforts, to encourage safe railroad operations, and to achieve a clean audit report and NYS ABO compliance report. 

For more information on STERA, contact Lisa Keck, Executive Director at [email protected].
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[email protected] | 716-945-5301

Center for Regional Excellence
4039 Route 219, Suite 200
Salamanca, NY 14779

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STW Offices are CLOSED on the following Holidays:   

​January 1, 2026: New Year’s Day
January 19, 2026: Martin Luther King Day
February 16, 2026: President’s Day
​April 3, 2026: Good Friday
May 25, 2026: Memorial Day
June 19, 2026: Juneteenth
July 3, 2026: Independence Day
September 7, 2026: Labor Day
October 12, 2026: Columbus Day
November 11, 2026: Veterans Day
November 26, 2026: Thanksgiving
November 27, 2026: Day after Thanksgiving
December 24, 2026: Christmas Eve
December 25, 2026: Christmas Day
  • About Us
    • Who We Are
    • Staff Directory
    • ARC Funding
    • EDA Funding
  • Board & Committees
    • Board of Directors
    • BRCI Committee
    • EDA-ARC Committee
    • Local Gov Committee
  • Services
    • ARC Area Development
    • Clean Energy Communities
    • Climate Smart Communities
    • Economic Development
    • Geographic Information Systems
    • Local Government >
      • Partnership Program
      • CAP Members 2026
    • STEDO
    • WRC
    • Water Source Management
  • Training
    • Local Government Conference >
      • Exhibitor.Sponsor
    • Powers & Duties
    • Fall Planning & Zoning
    • Archived Training
  • Resources
    • Minutes & Agendas
    • Newsletters >
      • February 2026
      • December 2025
      • September 2025
    • CEDS >
      • CEDSonline >
        • CEDS About
        • CEDS Engagement
        • CEDS Background
        • CEDS Action Plan >
          • Natural Environment
          • Built Environment
          • Business & Industry
          • Human Capital
        • CEDS Evaluation
        • CEDS Conclusion
        • CEDS Data Visuals
      • Action Plan Natural Environment
      • Action Plan Built Environment
      • Action Plan Business & Industry
      • Action Plan Business Focus Destinations and Tourism
      • Action Plan Human Capital
      • Action Plan Human Capital: Employee Health
      • Action Plan Aging
      • Action Plan Agriculture
      • Action Plan Arts, History, Culture
      • Action Plan Health, Medical Care, EMS
      • Action Plan Downtown Revitalization
    • Annual Reports
  • Contact