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Public investment spurs private business growth

When Governor Kathy Hochul came to Dunkirk this past week to announce a $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative award for the city, almost every public official who addressed the overflow crowd called the announcement “a game-changer.” They are not wrong. We have seen firsthand how the DRI investment in Jamestown helped to develop attractions and opportunities for visitors and residents alike, and on the heels of those projects numerous small businesses have opened their doors in downtown Jamestown, breathing new life into the city and its economy. Now, the same thing can ...

Let the Chamber help with your grand opening

There are lots of reasons for businesses to celebrate: a grand opening for a new business, a change in location, new ownership, new product lines, and more. In any and all of these cases, the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce can help you create a meaningful ribbon cutting or grand opening event that will get your business noticed. All good events begin with good planning. Whether you have some ideas yourself about how to host a grand opening or re-opening, or need to start from scratch, the Chamber has some tools at the ready for you. We can help invite dignitaries, provide some ...

Mike Metzger, after 23 years, retires from IDA board

JAMESTOWN — Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and Chief Executive Officer of the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA), announces that Mike Metzger of Chautauqua, NY retired from the CCIDA Board Chairmanship in late December of 2022. Mr. ...

St. Elmo Spa receives business improvement award

The Mayville-Chautauqua Community Chamber of Commerce recently presented its 2022 Business Improvement Award to the St. Elmo Spa. After purchasing the St. Elmo Spa in 2018, owner Julie Ambrose renovated and refreshed the spa’s interior, enhanced existing treatments, and added new services ...

New York state must be business friendly

The proof is always in the final budget, but Governor Kathy Hochul’s State of the State Address this past week included a proposal for $100 million in tax relief for small businesses. That’s a good start, but as always, the initial plans look like a mixed bag of benefits and challenges. Accelerating tax cuts for the middle class and focusing on workforce development are also welcome news from Albany. The Governor rolled out a plan to create the Office of Workforce and Economic Development, with an aim of expanding access to apprenticeships and the state’s technology pipeline. ...

New year brings new opportunities

The start of a new year is an opportunity for many to reflect on the past year and set a course for the year to come. Some set resolutions, others chart their goals, and many may simply put thought into the general directions they’d like to go. Reflecting on my own past year and new year ahead, I thought about a book I became aware of titled “The Coffee Bean” by Jon Gordon and Damon West. This fable looks at how we respond to situations and environments of pressure by drawing a comparison to a boiling pot of water. To illustrate some potential reactions, the story uses a carrot, ...