June is just around the corner, and you’ll be looking for a gift for your favorite dad or grad soon. Check out the ShopLocalCHQ Gift Card! More than 170 businesses in Chautauqua County accept the ShopLocalCHQ Gift Card! You can use the gift card to purchase items for your home or pantry, books, dining out or a recreational activity, gifts, your favorite beverages, services, and much more.

The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce provides the ShopLocalCHQ Gift Card because it meets the core of our mission: driving traffic to local businesses. In 2022 more than $50,000 was spent at local merchants through the gift card. We also saw a tremendous 28-percent growth in participating businesses, and that number continues to rise. Half of the 56 new business members that have joined the Chamber of Commerce in the past month have expressed an interest in participating in the ShopLocalCHQ Gift Card program.

The gift card runs through the point-of-sale system just like a credit card purchase and the business will see a normal credit card transaction fee. Otherwise, there are no additional costs for the business beyond their Chamber membership investment. It’s important to note that the Chamber, itself, does not make any profit from card sales, and does not charge a markup for purchasing the card. In fact, it costs us money each year to manage and market this program, which is why membership is required for participation. For anyone who is still holding an old gift card from the Chamber that says “Shoptauqua” please know that the funds are still valid but the card itself has now expired. We have a simple process to transfer your balance from the old card to the new ShopLocalCHQ Gift Card, so you can use the funds. You must turn in the old card, so please call us to make an appointment in either our Dunkirk or Jamestown offices and it will take just a few minutes once you arrive.

Look for our brand-new window clings on local business doors and windows that proudly proclaim “We Accept the ShopLocalCHQ Gift Card.” Our staff is busy swapping out the old window clings for the new ones and meeting with our local merchants. The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce is in business for business, helping to create connections to customers, peers, and resources for our local businesspeople. The ShopLocalCHQ Gift Card is a very tangible way that we help to connect customers to businesses. Anyone can purchase a gift card. Call us for more information or to place an order at (716) 366-6200 or (716) 484-1101.

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, Phillips Lytle LLP, 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.

HANOVER BEACH BASH IS JUNE 15

The Hanover Community Chamber of Commerce Committee is hosting a summer kickoff Beach Bash, Thursday, June 15 at the Sunset Bay Beach Club in Irving. Enjoy live music by Two Towns, food, beverages, door prizes, and a chance at the basket raffle, from 5-7pm. The whole community is invited!

The price is $12 for Chamber members or $15 for the general public and your ticket includes your first drink free. Tickets are available at Dave’s Outlet Store in Silver Creek, Hey Jude Custom Signs in Silver Creek, or Tavern on the Mall in Forestville, or you can register through the Chamber’s online calendar at www.chautauquachamber.org. Sponsors are Brooks-TLC Hospital System, Cabana Sam’s Sunset Bay Grill, Community Bank, Dave’s Outlet Store, DFT Communications, Hanford Country Market, H & R Block, Imagine Forestville, Kuppel Tires, and M&T Bank. Proceeds will support the Hanover Community Chamber scholarship fund which provides scholarships for graduating seniors from Forestville and Silver Creek Central Schools.