As more and more New Yorkers get vaccinated, the state continues to lift restrictions for all types of businesses and venues. Governor Cuomo recently announced that effective May 19 most business capacity caps will be removed and businesses will be limited only by the space available for patrons to remain safely physically distanced. These changes will impact commercial settings, food services, gyms, amusements, entertainment, salons, houses of worship, and more.

At the same time, venues that host sporting events, performing arts, and catered events will be able to operate at 30% indoors or 33% outdoors. Full capacity will be allowed for large gatherings where proof of full vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test can be shown. For the full guidance from the state visit https://forward.ny.gov.

These changes are only being made possible by the continuing trend of New Yorkers getting vaccinated. Without vaccinated people, we would remain stuck in partial shut-down mode.

The health of our families, communities, workplaces, and economy remains tied to COVID vaccinations. Getting vaccinated is safe, it’s free and it is easy to get an appointment. Vaccines are now readily available in Chautauqua County – often without an appointment. You can find vaccine sites and make an appointment by visiting www.vaccinehound.org/chautauqua – a site developed by the University at Buffalo to help all Western New Yorkers get vaccinated. In addition, The Chautauqua Center will bring vaccines to your workplace if you have ten or more employees ready to be vaccinated. For more information contact The Chautauqua Center at (716) 484-4334 or find them online at tcchealth.org.

Our Objective Simplified: The Chamber is Here to Serve Business

It’s no secret that the past fourteen months have been a very trying time for businesses of all types and sizes. Yet through it all the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce has been here to serve in a variety of ways.

At the start of the pandemic shutdown last year the Chamber of Commerce launched a rolling communications initiative to help keep businesspeople informed about decisions impacting their businesses and employees. We emailed, held webinars, and reached out to all types of businesses to assist. As re-opening began we continued to focus on the needs of businesses across a variety of areas including human resources, marketing, and more.

Over the many months since then the Chamber of Commerce has launched new initiatives to help businesses find new ways to work, to reach customers, and to increase revenue. Just before the holiday season we launched ShopLocalCHQ – an online marketplace where small local businesses can market and sell their products. Online sales have grown exponentially in the past year and our focus has been to make sure small, independently operated businesses can be a part of that crucial revenue stream. ShopLocalCHQ currently offers a variety of products from 73 local merchants. If you haven’t checked in on it lately, we encourage you to take a look.

The Chamber provides ready access to a cloud-based platform to provide Human Resource Compliance tools and workplace training videos, offering a low-cost and efficient way to manage HR needs. A convenient employee handbook builder and consistently up to date online reference library for HR professionals are also part of the system.

Communication remains a critical aspect of the Chamber’s work. We run an ongoing series of webinars titled Tuesday Talks – a monthly look at a topic of particular interest for local businesspeople. These sessions can cover a variety of issues from pandemic relief to marketing and much more.

Also included with your Chamber membership are programs such as access to health insurance and ancillary products that meet your needs, discounts on employee background screenings, and dozens of events held throughout Chautauqua County each year that to drive foot traffic into local businesses.

We take pride in the fact that with a membership in the Chamber of Commerce you will receive a return twelve times greater than your initial investment. Learn more about all the services provided by the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce through our website at www.chautauquachamber.org or call us at (716) 366-6200 or (716) 484-1101.

Chamber Offers an Opportunity to Reach New Customers

The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce, working with the Gebbie Foundation, The Resource Center, Jamestown Renaissance Corporation, and other partners, is offering a new opportunity to grow your market reach. If your business is not already located in the Jamestown area, we are working to provide a year-round retail location that would allow regional businesses to consign merchandise and/or rent shelf space in order to sell products to a new and growing market in downtown Jamestown. As tourism and local events build back into our communities, we know there will be tremendous potential for local businesses to sell products in a new way.

We invite all interested businesses to attend one of two upcoming informational sessions as we continue to build this project. Sessions will be held at 9am, either Tuesday, May 11, or Thursday, May 13. They will be held online as a convenience to all participants. You can sign up now through our online events calendar on the Chamber website at www.chautauquachamber.org.

Tuesday Talks: Focus on New Aid for Business

The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce will continue its series of Tuesday Talks events for local businesses on May 18 with special guest Courtney Curatolo, Director of the Small Business Development Center at Jamestown Community College.

The discussion will focus on new assistance available for small businesses through the American Rescue Plan. As the Small Business Administration issues application information and eligibility requirements for new programs, the SBDC serves as the local resource for information about those programs.

This event will be held online beginning at 8:30am, Tuesday, May 18. You can register online through the Chamber calendar at www.chautauquachamber.org.

Any local small business is welcome to contact the SBDC at (716) 366-1024 with questions or concerns about assistance programs.