It is easy for businesses to understand the importance of marketing because you need to make consumers aware of your products or services. But a variety of factors make it difficult for small businesses to market themselves. Chief among those barriers is cost.

It may be harder than ever for small businesses to be seen or heard in the swirl and noise of the advertising world around us. Marketing is no longer as simple as buying advertising. We now face a multitude of platforms including traditional media such as print, radio, and television, while numerous social and video platforms have also been added to the mix. Thankfully, some of these new media platforms also mean it’s easier than ever to tell your business story.

Now, thanks to a new collaborative effort of the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency, the Small Business Development Center at Jamestown Community College, and the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce, small local businesses may be able to cut through some of the noise and carve out a marketing strategy that works. Together, our organizations have announced a small business marketing grant program through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds received by Chautauqua County. Businesses with 50 or fewer employees are eligible for up to $10,000 in marketing assistance. These funds can help you tell your story and are available for a broad range of improvements and initiatives.

What story does your business tell when someone visits or is considering a purchase? Perhaps you need improved signage or to add basic eye-catching items like an open sign or flag. What does a consumer see once they’re in your store? Maybe you want to explore ways to highlight specific products or direct consumers to certain services. Perhaps your business is looking to start a new chapter or launch a fresh image. Grant funding may be able to help with your branding effort. Of course, funds may also be available for development and execution of advertising campaigns, from creation of materials, to buying ad placement be it on television, radio, newspapers, social media, or online.

Interested businesses should begin with the Small Business Development Center at Jamestown Community College. To learn more or to apply visit www.sbdcjcc.org. A Business Advisor will help develop and review your application. Next, the Chamber of Commerce will reach out to meet with applicants, conduct a site visit if applicable, and offer additional ideas and feedback. Applications will get a final review and awards will be issued.

Manufacturers with 500 employees or less may also be eligible for funding to conduct an ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) assessment which may help attract and retain employees. Insyte Consulting is also a partner in this important workforce development effort.

Full program information is available at www.ccida.com. Our organizations are excited to partner and offer this program to continue our mutual work to support our local business community!

THE MAYVILLE WINTER FESTIVAL IS BACK, FEB. 18-20

The Mayville Winter Festival is back this year for President’s Day Weekend! This annual celebration of all things winter began in 1987 with construction of the first Mayville Ice Castle. Since then, the event has grown into a weekend-long festival that goes on whether an ice castle is constructed or not – except for last year when the pandemic curtailed the plans. This year’s event has been months in the making thanks to the efforts of numerous volunteers, especially the Mayville-Chautauqua Community Chamber of Commerce Committee.

The Mayville Winter Festival is a fun and exciting event for the entire family with a variety of events scheduled at Lakeside Park on Route 394.

Construction of an ice castle is underway this year, so the main attraction should be complete in time for the lighting ceremony at 6pm, Friday, February 18. Opening ceremonies that evening will also include the crowning of the Winter Festival King and Queen.

The Winter Festival will continue through the weekend with a food tent, food truck alley, beer & wine tent, vendor tent, KidZone activities featuring a wooden ice castle, horse-drawn carriage rides, chainsaw carving demonstration, warming fires, hockey and skating on the lake (weather permitting – bring your own skates), ice fishing demonstrations, and more. Saturday will feature a cold-water rescue demonstration by the Dewittville Fire Department at 11:30 a.m., the Polar Plunge at noon, a vintage snowmobile show and snowmobile rides from 1-4pm by the Chautauqua Lake Snowmobile Club, a snowball distance throwing contest at 2:30 p.m., a pet parade at 3:30 p.m., a chili cook-off from 3-5 p.m., live music by In-Crowd from 5-8 p.m., a flare parade at dusk, and fireworks at 8pm. Sunday’s line-up includes the Winter Fest 5-K at 10am and a snowman/animal building contest at 2:30.

In addition, we urge everyone to visit local businesses and attractions in the Mayville area throughout the weekend. Restaurants will be open to serve visitors, the Mayville Library will hold a book sale, the Chautauqua Historical Society will hold an open house at the Depot Museum, and you can see Inspired By Winter: Works by Audrey Dowling at Portage Hill Gallery.

The 36th Annual Mayville Winter Festival would not be possible without many volunteers and sponsors. Platinum Sponsors are: Town of Chautauqua, Lictus Oil & Propane, Douglas Crane Services, Jeff Lang Enterprises, Andriaccio’s Restaurant & Catering, and Webb’s Captain’s Table & Carry-Out CafÈ. Gold Sponsors are: Chautauqua Marina, Chautauqua Institution, Pepsi Bottling Company, Empire Energy, Chautauqua Ironworks, Chautauqua Lake Dental, Sorena Gilkinson Associate Broker with ERA Team VP Real Estate, Basil Chevy Buick, A-Way Self Storage, Casella Waste Services, Jamestown Awning, Mayville VFW Post 8647, ROCK of WNY, ROCKTerra, and Shults Hyundai. Silver Sponsors are: Freay Funeral Home, Pro-Forma A Trusted Name, The Best of Buffalo by Byron, Northshore Specialties, Greenbriar Property Management, The Green Door Tavern, Chautauqua Belle, DFT Communications, Lighthouse Point Grocery, Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation, St. Elmo Spa, Uptown Mall, Arthur R. Gren, 360 Graphics.

The festival is free to attend, with a $5 donation for parking at a variety of nearby parking lots thanks to Chautauqua Suites, Chautauqua Lodge, and the Village of Mayville.