New Initiatives in New York to Reverse Population Decline

LILY DALE, NY — Inside Lily Dale Assembly, a spiritualist religious center in Chautauqua County, is Sacred Grounds Coffee House.

Owner Stacy Schuerman, of Wisconsin, and her partner Michele, of Pennsylvania, had both visited Lily Dale for years before the business was for sale.

“By chance, some would say, or by divine intervention. And I thought I could leave everything behind to run this café,” Schuerman says.

They packed their bags, rented a U-Haul and moved to New York.

“Be careful what you wish for, because here I am,” Schuerman said.

They have been living and working in Lily Dale for about a year.

“And seeing people from all over come together and have a conversation and do things that light up their soul is pretty comforting for me and exciting for me and my partner Michele to do,” Schuerman said.

It’s also exciting for the county, as the couple are a great example of what the recently launched Live CHQ marketing initiative is seeking to do: encourage people to move to the area.

Leaders are busy making presentations across the region in an effort to reverse a long history of population decline.

“We really hope that we can make an impact in Chautauqua County, on the western edge of New York State, and maybe show other people across New York that there is a way to encourage people to come here, live here and stay here,” said Jason Sample, marketing/communications coordinator, Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency.

Recent data shows the state leads the nation in population loss, with more than 101,000 people, or half a percent, leaving the state.

IDA is now working with the Economic Growth Partnership.

“There’s a brain drain and we want to gain some. The fact that we’re able to attract new talent and retain the people we have here is really exciting. In addition to managing a group of young professionals, I see a need for this type of program,” said Monica Simpson, Partner Engagement Coordinator, Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth.

Schuerman supports the program and encourages others to step out of their comfort zones.

“Moving to New York, I love that there’s this beautiful community in rural areas that you don’t necessarily see in big cities. Getting gifts of happiness and smiles because you bought someone a cup of coffee,” she said.

Some elements of the CHQ are modeled after Invest Buffalo-Niagara’s Erie County Be In Buffalo program.