Chamber Members: Sign up now to accept the Shoptauqua gift card
The new Shoptauqua Gift Card program is catching on quickly, and we continue to build participation. Our membership has taken an active interest in this program, and for good reasons. First and foremost: it is a gift card. While we have operated a gift check program for many years, paper checks are becoming a thing of the past and more and more businesses and customers prefer to handle cards for purchases. Secondly, this program is designed to help increase foot traffic and sales at local businesses.
The Shoptauqua Gift Card can be accepted on any existing system where VISA cards are processed. That includes card swipe systems, Square, and others. Normal VISA card processing apply to the transaction; otherwise there is absolutely no charge to Chamber member businesses for participating in this program.
The Shoptauqua Gift Card program is a closed loop system. That means that ONLY local, Chamber member businesses can accept these cards. They cannot be taken outside of Chautauqua County and be used for general purposes, and cannot be used at local merchants who haven’t been set up in the system.
Setup is fast and easy. Chamber staff simply swipes a “test” card through your system and it will be set to accept Shoptauqua Gift Cards. It takes just a few minutes.
So far, we have a quickly growing list of member businesses set up to participate, and more coming online daily. This program is proudly sponsored by the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency in recognition of its local economic impact. We strongly encourage all Chamber member businesses that accept credit cards to sign up to participate. You can call the Chamber for information or to make an appointment at 366-6200 or 484-1101. This is an excellent new way to boost local sales for our retailers, restaurants, wineries, attractions, and more!
Chamber Annual Awards Banquet Honors Achievements Countywide
The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce is proud to recognize a number of local leaders and business and community service during our Annual Awards Banquet on Thursday, Oct. 5. The event will once again be held at the Williams Center on the SUNY Fredonia campus.
The Chamber’s annual Economic Development Award is being presented to Fieldbrook Foods in Dunkirk, which recently completed a $4-million expansion project allowing it to retain 586 full time jobs and add 61 new jobs. The Person of the Year Award will be given to
William Andrews, Managing Director/President & CEO of Monofrax LLC in Falconer, who has brought positive energy and enthusiasm to Monofrax and the community. Bill has demonstrated a commitment to the community, opening the doors of Monofrax for Manufacturing Day and exhibiting a commitment to STEM education and programming such as Junior Achievement.
Each Community Chamber also selects a Community Service Award recipient, recognizing those who are active and have contributed greatly to our area in the past or present. The Dunkirk Community Chamber of Commerce will posthumously present its award to Carol Kozlowski, a longtime nurse at Brooks Memorial Hospital who remained an active volunteer after her retirement until her unexpected death last year. The Fredonia Community Chamber of Commerce has selected town of Pomfret Historian Todd Langworthy, who has published five books on aspects of Fredonia history and has also been an active youth sports coach and a volunteer for Festivals Fredonia. For her dedicated 25 years of consecutive service to organizing the Silver Creek Yard Sales, the Hanover Community Chamber will present its Community Service Award to Sue Briggs, who has actively worked to promote tourism through her business and marketed packaged motor coach tours. John Williams, Parks manager for the city of Jamestown Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department, is receiving the Jamestown Chamber Community Service Award, for going above and beyond his job duties and working tirelessly to ensure the success of a broad range of events and festivals in Jamestown. The Mayville-Chautauqua Community Chamber of Commerce has selected the Chautauqua Lake Central School Manufacturers Club, which focuses on careers in manufacturing through hands-on learning and field trips. Marion and Don Eno of Westfield have been chosen Community Service Award recipients for the Westfield-Barcelona Chamber, for their years of service together and individually for many organizations including the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation, Meals on Wheels, and Patterson Library.
We hope you will join us in saluting all of these deserving award winners during the Chamber’s Annual Awards Banquet on Thursday, Oct. 5 in the Williams Center on the SUNY Fredonia campus. Reservations are required by September 28. You can register online at www.chautauquachamber.org/events or call the Chamber at 366-6200 or 484-1101.
Health Insurance
Open Enrollment
The Chamber remains focused on helping all businesses access a wide variety of health insurance products, seek cost containment, and provide optimum customer support for the coming year. Our licensed broker, Kevin Sixbey, will work with businesses and their employees to review the products available for small businesses and sole proprietors, including health, dental, vision, and other ancillary products either through our private Bright Choices Exchange or the public New York State Exchange for small businesses and individuals. To help you make informed decisions for the coming year, the Chamber has scheduled a series of free informational and open enrollment sessions, which continue this coming week. These sessions are sponsored by AFLAC, Lake Shore Savings Bank, Lawley Benefits Group, and Univera Healthcare Southern Tier. Check the Chamber website at www.chautauquachamber.org/events to find a meeting near you.
CCIDA, PTAC offer
government
contracting workshops
If you are seeking to expand your business through government contacting, there are local workshops available to help navigate that process. Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) provide a wide range of help in topics such as determining suitability for contracting; obtaining required registrations and certifications including 8(a), Service to Disabled Veterans, and MWBE; identifying bid opportunities; and connecting with government buyers and prime contractors. The County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency and Cattaraugus County PTAC are holding sessions at 8am Tuesday, Oct. 17 at Moon Brook Country Club in Jamestown or at 8 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 19 at Shorewood Country Club in Dunkirk. There is no fee to attend and a light breakfast will be provided. Registration is required by contacting Sue Casel at the IDA at 661-8903.
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