With a continuing focus on promoting small businesses in Chautauqua County, the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce has launched a new monthly radio show and podcast aimed at telling the stories behind local businesses.

CHQ Chamber Chats is an interview-based platform designed to focus on the back stories about local businesspeople and organizations: how they got started, what drives them, and how they focus on customers, merchandise, and service. Our objective is to provide listeners with some tidbits they may not have known about local businesses, and to immerse them in the narratives of local businesspeople.

The Chamber is partnering with WRFA-LP – a listener supported, non-commercial, low-power FM radio station which is provided as a public service by the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts in Jamestown. WRFA broadcasts at 107.9 FM in Jamestown and streams live on their website. This public radio station is providing the Chamber with studio space, time, and equipment to record our podcasts, as well as airing them online and posting them to SoundCloud.

Our first episode will air this weekend and will feature John Felton of Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union – a countywide business with a unique background and a focus on serving the community in a variety of ways.

The show will air at 10:30 a.m. the first Sunday of each month and will be available to stream as a podcast the following day.

We already have a short list of local businesses from all over Chautauqua County to participate in this new CHQ Chamber Chats podcast, and we welcome your input. For more information or sponsorship opportunities, please contact us at dheitzenrater@chautauquachamber.org.

CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP DRIVE UNDERWAY

The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce launched its annual spring membership drive during Small Business Week and is continuing to run it through the month of May. So far, we have had fifteen businesses join the Chamber, many of them newer businesses in the area.

It’s exciting to see this level of interest in the programs and services the Chamber can provide including 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.

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.

MAYVILLE FARMERS AND

ARTISANS MARKET BEGINS MAY 25

The Mayville-Chautauqua Community Chamber Committee hosts the Mayville Farmers and Artisans Market throughout the summer months at the Village Park, corner of Routes 394 and 430 in Mayville, each Thursday from noon-4pm. This year the market will begin May 25 and run through September 7. Vendor spots are available. For more information or to register as a vendor, visit the Chamber’s online calendar at www.chautauquachamber.org.

COUNTY EXECUTIVE BREAKFAST IS JUNE 2

Each year the Chamber is pleased to host our elected representatives from the county, state, and federal levels for a breakfast designed to focus on emerging issues that face local businesses. This year the Chamber’s County Executive Breakfast is set for 8:30am, Friday, June 2 at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel in Celoron. County Executive PJ Wendel will be on hand to answer questions from the audience. We invite all residents to attend and come prepared with any questions they may have.

The Chamber’s County Executive Breakfast is sponsored by Brooks-TLC Hospital System/Kaleida Health, Chautauqua Harbor Hotel, Chautauqua Institution, County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency, DFT Communications, Jamestown Mattress Company, LaBella Associates, Media One Radio Group, National Grid, OBSERVER, The Post-Journal, Small Business Development Center, and Southern Tier Environments for Living. The price is $25 for Chamber members or $29 for non-members. Advanced registration is required. You can sign up now through the Chamber’s online calendar at www.chautauquachamber.org.