Diane Pintagro

Chautauqua Opportunities, Inc. is pleased to announce the recent promotion of Diane Pintagro Of Chautauqua Opportunities, Inc. (COI) Microenterprise Loan Fund and the Women & Minority Micro enterprise Loan Fund Programs and Chautauqua Opportunties for Development Inc. (CODI), an affiliate corporation of COI, to Director of Economic Development. 

CODI promotes opportunities for development to new and existing entrepreneurs in Chautauqua County by providing capital (through lending), technical assistance, and training which allows businesses to grow and invest in the community.  CODI"s Microenterprise Loan Fund Program provides business capital (through loans) to low and moderate income people who are looking to start a new business or expand on existing business in Chautauqua County.

CODI offers an eight week "Small Business Essentials" Entrepreneurial training course that targets new and existing micro entrepreneurs who would like to gain or sharpen their business skills.

Roberta Keller, Executive Director of COI and CODI stated, "Ms. Pintagro's programs allow for the creation of economic opportunities for low income people: opportunities to accumulate wealth and to enhance earning capacity.

Director Pintagro already has several goals in place including maintenance of current loan funds, providing business training that has real world applications and making available consulting services to interested clients.  She plans to expand our existing small business incubator, implement and advertising program for our loan recipients and implement the Incubator Without Walls Program for individuals who have talents and would like to market their services from their homes.

Pintagro says, "by assessing our current and potential businesses needs, we will be able to expand our services to accommodate the needs of the entrepreneur.  Our local economy can only be impacted in a positive way once we get the message out that Chautauqua County is a business friendly  area."

Ms. Pintagro previously held the title of Chautauqua Microenterprise Loan Fund Coordinator for Chautauqua Opportunities, Inc.  Ms. Pintagro, a resident of Jamestown, holds degrees in Accounting and Business Administration and is also a small business owner.

Ms Pintagro can be reached through the Economic Development Center, of Chautauqua Opportunities, for Development Inc. at 366-2334, extension 12