After years of planning and delays, construction is underway on a new Seneca County Welcome Center that leaders say will serve as a gateway for both visitors and the local business community.
Jeff Shipley, president of the Seneca County Chamber of Commerce and Discover Seneca, said crews have begun erecting the 3,200-square-foot building at the corner of Routes 318 and 414 in the Town of Tyre, just off New York State Thruway Exit 41. The highly visible location was selected because it is the busiest entry point into Seneca County.
“I think people that have driven by on the corner of 318 and 414 in Tyre have noticed in the last couple of days or week that there is a shell going up right now,” Shipley said. “It’s taking shape.”
The new facility will serve as the headquarters for the Seneca County Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber Foundation while also functioning as a visitor center showcasing local businesses, tourism attractions, artists, and the county’s food and craft beverage industries.
“It’s going to be able to showcase our business community along with our tourism community, and the artists, and the many wonderful food and craft beverage businesses that we have,” Shipley said.
Plans also call for landscaped outdoor space that could host events such as a farmers market, along with a meeting room available for local organizations and community groups.
“We can think of no better place to showcase what we have in our community than a welcome center,” Shipley said.
The project has been in development for nearly eight years. Initial plans called for renovating a historic property on the site, but the project was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, historic preservation requirements, structural issues with the existing building, and rising construction costs. Officials ultimately shifted to constructing a new building.
Under an agreement approved in 2024, Seneca County is providing $50,000 annually for 10 years from its tourism promotion budget to support operation of the visitor center, which is being built and operated by the Chamber as the county’s designated tourism promotion agency.
Shipley said the organization hopes the welcome center will become a central destination for both travelers entering the county and residents looking to connect with local businesses and organizations.
“We’re really excited about it,” he said. “It’s been a long time in the making, and we couldn’t be more proud.”
