Past &
Future
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Promoting the rich history and vibrant community of Sherman, we are dedicated to preserving our heritage while building a promising future. Our commitment to progress and community development drives our efforts to create a thriving environment for our residents and visitors alike.
Past Investment
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The Village of Sherman has successfully administered $15M in grants and projects over the last 6 years; and Village businesses and non-profits have invested a few million more driven by entrepreneurs and organizational leaders with a commitment and passion for Sherman.
The Village municipality has invested in the infrastructural resources for stable and sustainable public services even through economic challenges. The available broadband through Spectrum and the Village’s public water and sewer utilities are attractive for prospective businesses and developers. The Village added LED streetlights for sidewalk safety and crossings near the school, then another $42,000 for four illuminating lights near I-86 making the Sherman Exit inviting to travelers with $16,000 in National Grid Energy Incentives earned from the $7M upgrades to the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Concurrently, the $2.2M Drinking Water Improvement Project was completed. The development of two Community Solar Arrays provides land lease payments to the municipality to offset the public infrastructure debt service, while infusing additional PILOT and Host Community Agreement payments into the community for more the $3.1M over the 25-year-life of the arrays, before offering solar credits on individual electric bills. In 2023, the Village installed two electric vehicle fast charging stations in a public parking lot conveniently located in the downtown encouraging commuter spending.
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American Rescue Plan Act funds went toward the planning and implementation of economic and community development initiatives, together with a Rural Business Development Grant for business signs, Community Development Block Grants for Community Planning, and NY Main Street Technical Assistance Grants leading to the Façade Restoration Project Award. This has created a new retail business and one of two short-term rentals on the second story of the mixed-use downtown attached row building that has been vacant since the fire in 1991, and the conversion of vacant space into a new ice cream shop opening May 2025. Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corp (CREDC) and Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) granted an additional $25,000 toward the restoration of the unique and historic walkway awning arcade that lines both sides of the downtown Main Street.
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Sherman’s Inn on Main is a beautifully restored bed and breakfast that is sought after in the downtown business district. What’s most impressive is the private investment since the COVID Pandemic. In 2024, Triple E Manufacturing celebrated its 40th year in business and added construction doubling its floor space. Several vacant establishments underwent significant rehabilitation including the Cooler Bar & Grille, Sherman Hotel, and The Cornerstone Restaurant, nearly all of which was private investment without any grant or supplemental funding. Others have been painting, repairing roofs, and refreshing façades, showing that property owners take pride in the Sherman community.
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Inspired by his meaningful early life influences and experiences in Sherman, Harold Wake has donated over $1,000,000 to Sherman non profits within the village. Especially dear to him was his uncle, ergo the George Edmunds Memorial Park, where his foundation has funded the children’s playground and newly constructed public restrooms complete with showers, while the Cooler Bar & Grille contributed toward the materials of the new sand volleyball courts. Non-profits, the Minerva Free Library and Stanley Hose Company, underwent major interior and exterior renovations while increasing programming and recruitment; and in 2023, Sherman’s French Creek Yorker Museum underwent over $20,000 in restoration in its most recent preservation efforts.
Great potential in the Village of Sherman
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An example for placemaking with inviting open natural spaces and parks along the multi-use trail promoting regional connectivity with amenities for residents and visitors encouraging healthy living and family-friendly activities.
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A walkable and bikeable community focused on safety, traffic calming, and accessibility.
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Diverse housing developments supplying the rental demand, need for single-family residences, and accessible homes to accommodate senior citizens.
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Non-profit organizations increase programming and foster interest in the rich history with improved accessibility and inviting aesthetics.
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An attractive gateway with mural, trailhead, and parks, coming into the downtown from I-86.
The Village of Sherman will have a competitive advantage in attracting tourists. There is no other children’s sensory gym serving the target market with the same size and scope of the We Rock the Spectrum – Sherman facility in Chautauqua County. Also, within the region, there is not a true hostel for convenient, inexpensive, safe, overnight accommodations for trail users and the like.
As the new restaurants continue to thrive, the short-term rentals are completed, and entrepreneurs build the amenities, like the Cooler Creamery opening May 2025, and the bike rental and repair shop coming soon, the Village can apply for a Trail Town Designation. This designation will exponentially attract trail enthusiasts. Ecotourism brings visitor spending, drives labor income, and increases tax revenue for the communities along trails. The Village of Sherman is the southern trailhead to the Chautauqua Rails to Trails, and with its expansion it will be a part of the greater Erie to Pittsburgh Trail. Chautauqua County has many trails systems traversing the region, including the Westside Overland Trail 1.25 miles to the east connecting NY State Forests. Outdoor recreation is key to the economic development and vitality of Sherman’s future, producing more accessible green spaces and activities for all ages and abilities will be a major contributing factor toward Chautauqua County’s greenway improvements and the Live CHQ campaign.
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​Presently, three developers are interested in constructing diverse and affordable residential homes in the village, within and around the focus area, each with a different interest in residential housing, filling the need for rental multi-family dwelling units, small single-story accessible homes for senior citizens, and new single-family homes. All proposed developments, including those outside the NY Forward focus area, will benefit equally from the walkable and bikeable proximity of the downtown center from the improvements and amenities with a NY Forward Award to the Village of Sherman.
Recent and Impending Job Growth
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As with the Western New York 2023 Strategic Plan, Sherman’s quaint village is striving to create a more vibrant downtown with ideal conditions for economic growth and placemaking. This will be accomplished by building a neighborhood that will attract talent and cultivate new business development by revitalizing outdated and vacant retail spaces on Main Street, providing additional affordable housing opportunities, and reusing vacant industrial buildings.
The Village of Sherman’s substantial investment in the public utility infrastructure and being situated along the I-86 corridor makes Sherman an attractive location for business development and construction of residential housing. In concert with the ‘Choose CHQ’ campaign, Sherman will contribute to a thriving regional economy. The Village subsequentially planned and implemented projects to revitalize the downtown Main Street and maintain essential residential housing stock with CDBG, NYMS, and MMHR funding programs through the NY State Office of Homes & Community Renewal. These efforts support transforming Sherman from one previously focused on small farms to one driven by ecotourism and agritourism in pursuit of a Trail Town Designation. The small downtown businesses and the trail advancements are becoming interdependent, presenting an opportunity for job growth as visitors require more of these amenities.
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​The Village of Sherman has seen job growth in the last five years from Triple E Manufacturing adding more products and doubling its floorspace; The Cornerstone Restaurant, Cooler Bar & Grille, and Sherman Hotel all remodeled and reopened previously closed eateries. New retail establishments on Main Street include BK Wine & Spirits and Sweet Meadows gift shop, while the Minerva Free Library has increased its hours. Regional employers are experiencing a workforce shortage, particularly in high demand are the most critical institutions and non-profits including nurses, teachers, skilled labor, licensed and certified operators. As a family orientated bedroom community supporting a healthy quality of life, Sherman is a contributor to the Live CHQ and greater regional initiative attracting a strong and talented labor force. Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency has made great efforts to establish multiple industrial sites, as near as the neighboring Town of Ripley, but all within an easy commute of Sherman; and with new developments there will be a significant need for communities like Sherman to supply the labor force.
