As we get back into more and more events locally, all organizations are finding they have some critical needs. Chief among those needs is people power. Volunteers are needed across the board to assist with every aspect of planning and implementing local events.

The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce operates as a countywide organization, with half a dozen local committees serving some of our communities. The core responsibility of those Community Chamber Committees is event planning and implementation.

Chamber events primarily focus on a few strategic initiatives: helping to drive consumer traffic into local businesses, connecting businesses to other businesses, and providing opportunities for local businesspeople to communicate with local elected officials. These events can take a variety of forms in each community. Sometimes they are in the form of a festival that helps to move foot traffic into the community, and those events generally require manpower to plan and execute. Some examples of this are First Fridays in Westfield, the Downtown Cruise-In in Jamestown, and the Mayville Winter Festival, among others.

Community Chamber Committees serve Dunkirk, Fredonia, Hanover, Jamestown, Mayville-Chautauqua, and Westfield-Barcelona. These committees generally meet monthly and consist of individuals from a cross section of local businesses and community organizations. In addition, the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce occasionally seeks volunteers to serve on committees for various purposes and on our board of directors.

Volunteerism is what makes projects, programs, and events thrive in Chautauqua County. Whether it’s an annual winter festival or a one-time project for a local non-profit, your community service is sincerely appreciated. If you want to know more about volunteering for events with the Chamber, call 716-484-1101 or 716-366-6200.

CLIMATE TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE SET FOR OCTOBER 17-19

RetoolWNY is inviting manufacturers and other interested businesses and organizations to a Climate Technology Conference in Jamestown, October 17-19. New York State has set aggressive targets to decarbonize the economy, driving the need for significant changes in industry and creating once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for manufacturers.

Industry leaders, manufacturers, investors, and entrepreneurs are invited to learn more about market opportunities, discover innovators already in the supply chain, and hear from those who can help grow your business in the region. The featured speaker will be Clint Wilder, veteran writer, best-selling author, and analyst who has covered the clean energy and climate tech industries for nearly two decades. He is co-author of The Clean Tech Revolution: The Next Big Growth and Investment Opportunity and Clean Tech Nation: How the US Can Lead in the New Global Economy.

For more information about the conference or to register, visit bit.ly/Retool22.

TUESDAY TALKS: GET YOUR BUSINESS NOTICED

The Chamber of Commerce is continuing its series of Tuesday Talks based on marketing avenues for small businesses. Coming up in July we will focus on how to get your business noticed through the use of local media as well as some other pointers. This session may be valuable for all types of businesses, whether you’re in a retail or a service setting.

We hope you will join us online at 8:30am, Tuesday, July 19 for this informative panel discussion. Our panelists will include Andrew Hill from Media One Radio Group and Meredith Patton from the OBSERVER in Dunkirk. Register now through our online calendar at www.chautauquachamber.org. This event is sponsored by LaBella Associates, OBSERVER, The Post-Journal, and the Small Business Development Center at JCC.

Tuesday Talks provide a convenient online forum for learning in a casual, panel discussion format. They are held via Zoom so attendees from all over the county can log on, learn something helpful, and then get back to their busy day. We hope you can join us.

YEAR-ROUND VENDOR OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL MAKERS

Vendors are wanted now for a new community-based collaborative showcasing local artisans in downtown Jamestown. CHQ PLUS is a collaboration among The Resource Center, Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce, and The Gebbie Foundation. This downtown Jamestown space will offer local businesspeople and artisans an opportunity to sell their wares without the costly overhead of your own space and without relying just on seasonal craft fairs and art shows. For The Resource Center, it’s a prime opportunity to expand its workforce development program for clients, while offering professional management in a high-traffic setting. Interested small businesses can learn more by emailing andrea.shierling@resourcecenter.org.