OLEAN — THREE TIMES A CHARM: The Olean Local Development Corporation (OLDC) has chosen the Tri-County Arts Council (TCAC) as its recipient of the OLDC Community Driven Project Fund for 2024.  TCAC has applied three years in a row, and OLDC has awarded the arts cultural group three times.

Colleen Taggerty, OLDC president explained, “The OLDC’s mission is to promote economic development and area’s quality of life through community-based projects.”

TCAC worked with Olean native Alex Derwick on the creation of “Community Sports” on the west exterior wall of Sports Locker, at 711 W. State Street. The mural measures roughly 1,072 square feet and was completed by July XX.

“These monies are allocated under special events that the OLDC can donate to special projects following guidelines,” added Mrs. Taggerty.

One of the conditions of receiving a grant is the Organization, entity, etc. must have previously submitted and been awarded grant funds from another source in an amount matching the funding request or exceeding the request to the OLDC.

Paula Bernstein, Executive Director at TCAC reported, “We are so happy that the third mural was supported by OLDC and members of the community. The mural is currently 94% fully funded and will cost about the same as the mural in 2023.  TCAC has plans for additional murals that may appear throughout our service area of Chautauqua and Allegany Counties, in addition to Cattaraugus.”

To visit the mural, please visit the Sports Locker.  Please contact TCAC’s executive director Paula Bernstein at 716-372-7455 to donate.    For more information on the OLDC, please contact the City’s community development office at 716-376-5647.

PHOTO CAPTION: (L-R) OLDC President Colleen Taggerty and Paula Bernstein, Executive Director, Tri-County Arts Council