How does your business look? Did you spruce some things up for the summer season? Have you thought about how customers see your space?

As a business, attraction, or community organization, these are good questions to ask yourself on a regular basis. Perhaps even more so as the summer tourist season gets underway.

Our Chamber of Commerce office in Jamestown is getting a major facelift as we write this. Working with the property owner, we will soon unveil a new and brighter space both inside and out. This very visible downtown structure will soon be more inviting to all when the facade and interior work are complete.

Inviting is the key word for all of us. Whether your space is in a high traffic downtown center, a plaza, or a more suburban or rural setting, it’s important to make sure it welcomes your customers or clients.

But you don’t need to undertake a major project to have an impact. We can all do the routine work of picking up trash, sweeping out debris, and keeping windows clean.

These are the little things that go a long way towards making our workplaces inviting – both for guests and employees.

Acknowledging that we can’t all do all the work on our own, we encourage you to seek local companies and suppliers to help with your fix-up needs.

If you’re looking for a cleaning or janitorial crew we can suggest Chamber members Porter-Blair Cleaning & Co., The Resource Center, Jamestown Soap & Solvent, or SERVPRO. If you want a painting company to help put the finishing touches on your space, check out Gregg Wefining Painting and Wallpapering, Ideal Coatings, Inspired Painting, or Swan Painting. Contractors may be booked for the season, but there’s always next year if you want to contact Anderson Builders of WNY, CoPar Construction, Davis Exterior Contracting, E. E. Austin & Son, Empire Development, Gary Nichols Construction, H & K Services, JK Wirsen Construction Company, Kraig Sweeney General Contracting, LaPaglia & Sons Contractors, NuWood Creations, Press Construction, Professional Contractors, Rowe Construction. If a new sign would help draw customers into your business contact 360 Graphics, Chautauqua Sign Company, Falconer Printing & Design, Hae Jude Custom Signs, or JRSC Digital. These local companies, and more, can help your space look fresh, stand out, and welcome guests.

Whether you’re in a village or a city setting, we can all pitch in to make our communities more welcoming. Demonstrating pride in our communities starts with our own front doors. Thanks to all for doing your part to create an important sense of place for all who live, work, and visit Chautauqua County.

Chamber Congressional Breakfast

is July 21

Please join us for the annual Chamber Federal Congressional Breakfast with our guest, Representative Nick Langworthy. We invite you to come prepared with questions for your congressman.

This event will be held Friday, July 21, at Shorewood Country Club, 4958 West Lake Road, Dunkirk. Pre-registration is required. The price for breakfast is $25 for Chamber members or $29 for non-members.

The Congressional Breakfast is sponsored by Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Brooks-TLC Hospital System/Kaleida Health, Chautauqua Institution, County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency, Jamestown Community College, Media One Radio Group, National Grid, OBSERVER, and The Post-Journal.

Sign up now through our web calendar at www.chautauquachamber.org.

Chamber Golf Tournament

Register now and take advantage of the Early Bird Special for the Chamber’s Annual Golf Tournament, August 17 on the spectacular Upper Course at Peek’n Peak Resort in Clymer. The Early Bird Price is just $185 per golfer, and it includes lunch, snacks, beverages, and dinner as well as cart and golf fees.

Par sponsors for this year’s Golf Tournament are Brooks-TLC Hospital System/Kaleida Health, Chautauqua Patrons Insurance Company, Community Bank, N.A., Dahlstrom Roll Form, DFT Communications, Jamestown Community College, Jamestown Container Companies, Jamestown Mattress Company, Jamestown Plastics, Inc., Koester Associates, Lake Shore Savings Bank, National Grid, Nestle Purina PetCare, OBSERVER, The Post-Journal, R & R Property Services & Landscaping, Shults Auto Group, and Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union.

Early bird registration is available until July 17. You can sign up now on the Chamber’s web calendar.

The Chamber

Does Ribbon

Cuttings

If you have a new business or a new facility, let the Chamber help you with a ribbon cutting ceremony. We have big scissors, and we can invite local dignitaries and media to help get some exposure for your company.

We have participated in over 30 ribbon cutting events so far this calendar year!

It is now easier than ever to get the process underway for your organization. We have posted a simple form on our website to get you started. Visit www.chautauquachamber.org/ribbon-cutting-request, fill in some basic information and hit the submit button, and our staff will check on your preferred date and get back to you to confirm your information.

We livestream ribbon cuttings on Facebook to get you even more attention, too. It’s a simple process and we are happy to help organize and publicize your grand opening.