Jamestown Renaissance Corporation Enters Revitalization Phase:
Established in 2006 as a public-private partnership to implement the Jamestown Urban Design Plan, the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation (JRC) became a catalyst for downtown revitalization. In 2010, the organization expanded its mission to include neighborhood revitalization through the commissioning of City of Jamestown: A Livable Community, a study that laid the groundwork for several key initiatives—including the widely regarded Renaissance Block Challenge.
In 2025, the JRC Board made the strategic decision to evaluate the organization as a proactive response to evolving economic conditions, demographic shifts, and changing community priorities. This forward-looking transition is intended to position Jamestown’s revitalization efforts for long-term sustainability and continued impact.
During this transitional phase, essential programs will continue under the leadership of trusted local partners, ensuring continuity as the Board explores future pathways for community development. The City of Jamestown will oversee neighborhood-based initiatives—most notably the Renaissance Block Challenge—while the Gebbie Foundation will guide economic development efforts within the Urban Core. These interim arrangements are designed to maintain momentum while long-term strategies are evaluated.
Recent News & Updates
JRC Announces $20,000 Grant for Historical Resource Survey Update
Jamestown Renaissance Corporation is one of this year’s Preserve New York (PNY) grantees. Their grant of $20,000 will fund a Cultural Resources Survey for the City of Jamestown. The Preservation League of NYS and their program partners at the New York State Council on...
Third Thursday expanding with Drawn Together Events
The Third Thursday concert series at Winter Garden Plaza has been a staple of downtown summers for over a decade. Last August, we experimented with added complementary arts programming at several downtown businesses. As this year began, we talked with those businesses...
Third Thursday Line-Up Announcement
Live music and entertainment will fill downtown Jamestown with the return of “Third Thursdays Jamestown.” Every third Thursday in the months from May to September, will feature a free event at Winter Garden Plaza (313 North Main Street) from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The...
Opportunity Spotlight: 215 Spring St for Rent
215 Spring St is available for lease. This 400 sq ft storefront/office space is located across the street from City Hall and around the corner from the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts. Rent is $700 a month with all utilities included. Anyone interested should call the...
2024 Downtown Building and Business Improvement Grant Now Open!
Are you looking to adapt or improve your business?Is the downtown building you own not living up to all of its potential?The Jamestown Renaissance Corporation’s Building and Business Improvement Program(BBIP) may have the necessary resources. The program is a 50/50...
ArtScape Jamestown Opens Its 2024 Call for Artists and Sponsors
The Jamestown Renaissance Corporation is again partnering with Chautauqua Art Gallery and the City of Jamestown Parks Department to create an outdoor public art gallery in downtown Jamestown, N.Y. Artists of all ages who live in Chautauqua County or within 35 miles of Jamestown are invited to participate in this juried art competition.