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BBB gives advice regarding federal student loan cancellation

BUFFALO — The Biden Administration’s recent announcement the federal government will cancel up to $20,000 of federal student loans per person is prompting the Better Business Bureau to warn of possible scams. As student loan holders navigate the new forgiveness program, con artists will undoubtedly be there to take advantage of any confusion. It happens with any big government initiative, including the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out, eviction moratorium, and pandemic relief programs. Tips to avoid student loan forgiveness scams include: ¯ Get to know the terms of a student loan ...

Networking is good for businesses and employees

Networking. It’s much more than a buzzword. It’s an integral part of today’s business climate. The benefits of networking in business are numerous: generating referrals and increasing sales, learning about resources in and around your community that can benefit your business, raising your profile with other businesspeople and broadening your own sphere of influence in the business community, and helping to build your brand and market your products and services. There is no question about it, when businesses are looking to grow and improve, they need to be in contact with other ...

Chamber: Seasons change. Are you and your business ready?

By now you have probably had at least one friend who proclaims they are ready for “pumpkins spice everything.” So, while the calendar says it’s still summer, the air is cooler in the morning, the sun is setting earlier, and the kids are back at school. Fall is knocking on the door, and we are about to let it in with an array of autumn colors and the scents of apple cider and ripened grapes. What does all this mean for your business? It means transitioning, not just your merchandise and dÈcor, but also your mindset. It also means preparing for the season to come: Christmas. ...

Chamber to host congressional breakfast at Moon Brook C.C.

The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present an opportunity to meet with our new Congressional Representative, Joe Sempolinski. He will be sworn into office when the Congress reconvenes this month and is setting aside some time to meet with constituents including this session with businesspeople during a Chamber of Commerce breakfast to be held Friday, September 23 at 8:30 a.m. at Moon Brook Country Club, 2879 North Main Street Extension, Jamestown. Mr. Sempolinski is filling a vacancy left by the resignation of former Congressman Tom Reed in the existing New York ...

Valu Home Center Closing Dunkirk, Lakewood Stores

Valu Home Center is closing stores in Lakewood, Fredonia and Batavia. Michael Ervolina Jr., Valu Home Center president and CEO, said in a letter that the three stores are under-performing, low-volume stores that are struggling in the wake of changing consumer habits, the rise of e-commerce, supply chain issues, labor availability, wage increases, increased interest rates and inflation. "The pandemic added further pressure because it has not only affected our business, but also the communities in which Valu operates," Ervolina wrote. "Unfortunately, not all of our markets remain ...

Fishing is great, but Lake Erie is an asset for more too

Chautauqua County has once again hosted a national-level sporting event. The National Walleye Tour has been enjoying Lake Erie off Dunkirk Harbor for the past several days. With major sponsors Cabela’s, Bass Pro Shops, Ranger Boats, Power-Pole, Mercury, and others, the event not only attracts top anglers it also attracts nationwide coverage. The Pursuit Channel and World Fishing Network have been streaming on-demand televised coverage through several platforms. Professional walleye anglers have typically fished the waters of Lake Erie’s western basin, so this move to Dunkirk is ...