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 over $15M in grants and projects over the last 7 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’s upgraded public drinking water and sewer utilities are attractive for prospective businesses and developers. The LED streetlights extending to I-86 illuminate the Sherman Exit to invite travelers. This was accomplished with National Grid Energy Incentives earned from the $7M Wastewater Treatment Plant and $2.2M Drinking Water Improvement Projects. The development of two Community Solar Arrays provides payments to the municipality offsetting public infrastructure debt service, infusing PILOT and Host Community Agreement payments into the community for more the $3.1M over the 25-year-life of the arrays. In 2023, the Village participated in the Municipal ZEV Infrastructure Grant Program installing two electric vehicle fast charging stations in public parking conveniently located in the downtown encouraging commuter spending.
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American Rescue Plan Act funds stimulated 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. 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, $25,000 in the Paint CHQ Mural, and $20,000 in trailhead parking improvements.
Sherman’s Inn on Main invested $380,000 in the beautifully restored bed and breakfast that is sought after in the downtown business district. With over 40 years in business, Triple E Mfg & Design, a woman owned business, is continually innovating their American Made products resulting in them doubling their floor space (construction completed in 2024) and
being recognized as the CHQ Chamber Producer of the Year in 2025. Several vacant establishments underwent significant
rehabilitation including the Sherman Hotel, The Cornerstone Restaurant, and the Cooler Bar & Grille along with its addition of the Cooler Creamery in May 2025. Altogether representing another $1M in private investment.
Inspired by his meaningful early life experiences in Sherman, Harold Wake has donated over $1M to Sherman non-profits within the village. His family foundation built the children’s playground and newly constructed public restrooms and showers at George Edmunds Memorial Park. The Cooler Bar & Grille constructed the sand volleyball courts bringing large groups of people each summer. Non-profits, including the Minerva Free Library and Stanley Hose Company, underwent major interior and exterior renovations, increasing programming and recruitment. In 2023, the Village of Sherman French Creek Yorker Museum began its most recent restoration efforts with $20,000 from the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation. The Village continues to work with the NYS Preservation League through Preserve NY grants awarded.
Future Potential
There is great potential in the Village of Sherman.
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Opportunities for placemaking with inviting open natural spaces and parks along the multiuse 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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Attractive gateways with murals, trailhead, and parks, coming into the downtown.
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Renovating underutilized second story vacant residential space on Main Street within the focus area.
The Village of Sherman will have a competitive advantage in attracting tourists. As the new restaurants continue to thrive, the short-term rentals are completed, and entrepreneurs build the amenities, like the Cooler Creamery and K9 Complex which opened in 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 trail 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, contributing toward Chautauqua County’s greenway improvements and the Live CHQ campaign.
Developers are interested in constructing diverse and affordable residential homes in the village filling the need for rental multi-family dwelling units, small single-story accessible homes for senior citizens, and new single-family homes. The proposed developments will benefit equally from the walkable and bikeable proximity of the downtown center from the improvements and amenities with a DRI or NYF Award to the Village of Sherman.
More opportunities are presenting themselves for reuse of historical buildings at the Old Farmers Mill 118 Kendrick St, Millworks 114 E. Main St, Hart Street Grille 110 Hart St, and Masonic Lodge 197 Park St.​
Recent and Impending Job Growth
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As with the Western New York 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 its location along the I-86 corridor makes Sherman attractive for business development and construction of residential housing. In concert with Friends of the Chautauqua County Greenways (FCCG) and the Choose CHQ campaign Sherman will contribute to a thriving regional economy.
The Village subsequently 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. To provide for the quiet bedroom community, 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.
The Village of Sherman has seen job growth in the last five years from The Cornerstone Restaurant, Cooler Bar & Grille, Cooler Creamery and Sherman Hotel all who remodeled and reopened previously closed eateries. Triple E Mfg doubled its floor space to accommodate new innovative equipment to add more American Made products for their customers.
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-oriented 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 within an easy commute to Sherman, (e.g. Ripley). These new developments will bring a significant need for a labor force that will be supplied by neighboring communities like Sherman.
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