LILY DALE, N.Y. — Inside Lily Dale Assembly, a center for the religion of Spiritualism, located in Chautauqua County, sits Sacred Grounds Coffee House.
Owner Stacy Schuerman, from Wisconsin and her partner Michele, from Pennsylvania, both had visited Lily Dale for years, before the business was for sale.
“By chance, some might say, or by divine intervention. And I said to myself I could quit everything just to run this coffee house,” said Schuerman.
They packed their bags, rented a U-Haul and moved to New York.
“Careful what you wish for cause here I am,” said Schuerman.
They’ve been living and working in Lily Dale for about a year.
“And watch people come together from all over and have a conversation and do things that enlighten their soul is pretty heartwarming for me and exciting for me and my partner Michele to do,” said Schuerman.
It’s exciting for the county too, as the couple is a prime example of what the recently launched Live CHQ marketing initiative is looking 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’re really hoping that we can make an impact in Chautauqua County on the very western end of New York state, and maybe illustrate to other folks 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 of a percent leaving the state.
The IDA is now working with the Partnership for Economic Growth.
“There’s a brain drain and we want to have a brain gain. Having us be able to attract new talent and also retain the people that we have here is really exciting and also running a young professionals group, I can see there’s a need for this type of program,” said Monica Simpson, partnership engagement coordinator, Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth.
Schuerman supports the program and encourages others to step out of their comfort zone.
“Moving to New York, I love the fact that there is this beautiful community in the rural areas that you don’t necessarily see in big cities. Receive the gifts of happiness and smiles because you handed somebody a cup of coffee,” she said.
Some of the CHQ elements are modeled after Erie County’s Be In Buffalo program from Invest Buffalo-Niagara.
