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Salute to small businesses!

April 30-May 6 is National Small Business Week, and we couldn’t be prouder to work with hundreds of small businesses all across Chautauqua County all the time.

The Small Business Administration considers any business with fewer than 500 employees to be a small business. Here in Chautauqua County, that accounts for almost all of the more than 2,600 businesses countywide. Across the country, there are more than 33-million small businesses.

Small businesses in Chautauqua County put food on our tables, provide all types of services from construction to heating to insurance, and sell us all types of merchandise from books to clothing to housewares. They produce goods like wine, craft beer, and all types of agricultural products. They run restaurants, hotels, campgrounds, and entertainment spaces.

At the core of our work is a very direct and targeted effort to encourage consumers to support locally owned businesses. When the Chamber of Commerce encourages people to Shop Small, what we are really saying is please support your friends and neighbors in their local small business endeavors. Small businesses are not just the core of our local economy, they also create a sense of community. Small businesses are unique and inviting, creating a vitality that keeps our communities diverse and interesting. In support of small businesses all year round the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce provides the ShopLocalCHQ Gift Card, which provided a direct return into the local economy of over $70,000 in 2022. With more than 165 local merchants participating, the ShopLocalCHQ Gift Card incentivizes local people to shop small. The Chamber also promotes Small Business Saturday, and in conjunction with the Small Business Development Center is observing National Small Business Week with a kickoff event on Monday that will also celebrate the 125th anniversary of DFT Communications – a local small business.

We hope you will personally observe National Small Business Week by shopping at or doing business with small businesses in the week ahead – and all year long.

Chamber Kicks off Membership Drive

The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce is launching its spring membership drive with a special offer for small businesses. Organizations that join the Chamber between now and May 7 can receive a $45 discount off their Main Street I, Main Street II, or Main Street III membership investment for the first year. That means a business that would normally join at the Main Street I level for $195 can get a one-time discount and pay just $150 for their first year of membership.

The Chamber provides a variety of services for businesses of all types and sizes and is a great investment for all businesses. Chamber programs and services include accepting the ShopLocalCHQ Gift Card, cost-competitive health and ancillary insurance products for your employee group through a private exchange that allows you to mix and match a wide variety of products through multiple carriers, easily comply with the state’s workplace sexual harassment law for all employees at no additional cost, get discounts on background checks or discounts for your employees on auto and home insurance, and much more. When your organization joins the Chamber of Commerce, you can take advantage of the many programs and services offered and see a return value twelve times greater than your initial investment! In addition, Chamber membership dues are tax deductible for businesses. To learn more about the Chamber and its benefits, or to join online and take advantage of the discounted pricing now for Small Business Week, visit www.chautauquachamber.org.

First Fridays

Begin May 5

First Fridays are back this year in Westfield! Starting Friday, May 5, this street fair event will be held in downtown Westfield, organized by the Westfield-Barcelona Community Chamber Committee. The theme for this season-opener is Cinco de Mayo!

First Friday runs from 5-8pm and is fun for the whole family, with businesses staying open, vendors offering food and more, and entertainment. If you want to be a vendor or a sponsor, you can easily sign up online through our web calendar at www.chautauquachamber.org or for more information contact Community Chamber Coordinator Staunzie Grady at sgrady@chqchamber.org or at (716) 484-1101 ext. 300.

Additional First Fridays for 2023 will be held June 2, July 7, August 4, September 1, and October 6.

Business After Hours at 64 on the Rocks is May 11

The Chamber of Commerce will hold its next Business After Hours at 64 on the Rocks, 64 West Main Street, Fredonia, on Thursday, May 11. These events run from 5-6:30pm and are designed to provide some information networking after work in a way that still allows you to relax in the evening.

Enjoy complimentary appetizers and a cash bar and get to know some potential customers. Chamber member businesses can send two people at no cost. The price is $10 for non-member businesspeople or for additional member attendees above the two free. Be sure to bring business cards for our door prize drawings and come prepared to give a quick overview about your business so other attendees can get to know you.

Pre-registration is not required but is helpful so we can plan appropriately. Business After Hours at 64 on the Rocks is sponsored by 64 on the Rocks, DFT Communications, Media One Radio Group, OBSERVER, The Post-Journal, and Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union.

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