President and CEO of the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce

It’s a simple formula, really. People drive business. Whether your business is a sole proprietorship, a small restaurant or office, or a larger manufacturer, it’s the people doing the work that make things happen. Our employees provide goods and services – whether they are putting food on the table, managing cash flow, assembling parts, or any one of hundreds of other tasks that need to be done.

For a few years now we have been hearing about workforce shortages. In a county like ours where we have seen a population decline, it is increasingly hard to find employees. As people retire in our area it is harder to replace them. We have heard that repeatedly from restaurants to manufacturers to construction businesses and everything in between. Not all jobs can be automated, so we need to work harder to build back our workforce throughout the region.

Fortunately, Chautauqua County is taking steps to help combat both the population decline and the workforce decline. While our county has long been a tourism destination, now many of those same assets that draw tourists are being touted as reasons for people to live here year-round. The Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth is focused on business and community development, as well as workforce recruitment and development, with a heavy emphasis on the quality of life in our communities.

The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce, the Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau, and the Small Business Development Center are focusing on these issues in a couple of forums coming up in March. The Chamber will hold a one-hour panel discussion on Workforce Recruitment and Retention as part of our Tuesday Talks webinar series on Tuesday, March 21. The CCVB will hold a morning-long session on tips and tools for hiring and keeping a seasonal workforce for a variety of tourism-related businesses on Thursday, March 23. The SBDC is partnering on both of these events and they are being cross-promoted by all three organizations. We hope your business will take part in one or both of these programs to learn what resources are available and how you can take advantage of them. You can sign up or learn more through the Chamber’s online calendar at www.chautauquachamber.org or through the Visitors Bureau website at www.tourchautauqua.com.

TUESDAY TALKS: WORKFORCE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION IS MARCH 21

The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce and the Small Business Development Center are pleased to open this year’s series of Tuesday Talks panel discussions with a forum centered on growing and retaining a strong workforce. In an atmosphere where good employees may be hard to find and harder to hold onto, the informative panel discussion will focus on local efforts and resources.

Our guest panelists are Nate Aldrich, Economic Development Coordinator, Chautauqua County; Katie Geise, Workforce Investment Board/Chautauqua Works; Brian Lebarron, Jamestown Community College Workforce Development; and Julie Page, Jamestown Community College Career Services

Tuesday Talks is a one-hour, online-only forum to provide tips and guidance for local businesspeople. These events are conveniently held via Zoom, so you can attend from the comfort of your own desk chair and so they won’t take a great deal of time out of your workday. All attendees must register through the Chamber’s web calendar at www.chautauquachamber.org to get the Zoom link.

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS AT THE GREEN DOOR TAVERN MARCH 16

The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce will hold its first Business After Hours event for 2023 on Thursday, March 16 at The Green Door Tavern, Route 430, Bemus Point. Business After Hours is a Chamber networking event that runs from 5-6:30pm. It’s designed to let local businesspeople meet in a comfortable setting, enjoy some appetizers and a cash bar, and provide a little information about their business or organization.

Each Chamber member business can send two people at no cost to each Business After Hours. Any employees above the two-person limit, or non-members, are welcome at $10 each. Advanced registration is not required but is requested for our planning purposes. You can sign up now through the Chamber’s web calendar at www.chautauquachamber.org.

This Business After Hours event is sponsored by The Green Door Tavern, Media One Radio Group, The Post-Journal, and OBSERVER. Additional Business After Hours events will be announced throughout the year.

CHAMBER STATE LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST IS

APRIL 28

The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce has scheduled its annual State Legislative Breakfast for Friday, April 28 at Chautauqua Suites in Mayville. State Senator George Borrello and Assemblyman Andrew Goodell will be our guests for a discussion session with moderator John D’Agostino from the OBSERVER. We urge you to come prepared with questions for our state elected representatives.

Advanced registration is required and is open now on the Chamber’s web calendar at www.chautauquachamber.org. This event is sponsored by Chautauqua Suites Meeting & Expo Center, Media One Radio Group, OBSERVER, The Post-Journal, and the Small Business Development Center.

Check-in will begin at 8:00am with a buffet breakfast prepared, and the program will begin promptly at 8:30am. We ask that all attendees visit the buffet line before the program begins. The price is $22 for Chamber members or $26 for non-members. Sign up now or save the date and watch our calendar as we confirm venues and dates for many other events in the year ahead!