The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce was proud to be one of the sponsors of the New York State National Federation of Independent Businesses Small Business Day this past week. This virtual advocacy event brought together small business owners and organizations from across the state to meet with a number of state legislators from both sides of the aisle. Lawmakers attending included Senator Anna Kaplan, Chair of the Committee on Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business; Senate Minority Leader Robert Ortt; Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay; and Assemblyman Al Stirpe, Chair of the Committee on Small Business.

Small, independent businesses have endured unprecedented challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. They now face higher costs due to labor shortages, supply chain disruptions, and spiraling inflation.

With a laser focus on issues that impact small businesses, the NFIB used its Small Business Day platform to ask lawmakers to: replenish the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund and mitigate UI tax increases; support long-term, structural tax cuts for small businesses; reject a ban on gas hook-ups that will lead to energy affordability and reliability issues; reform the state’s COVID sick leave law, which does not have an expiration date; and protect small businesses from lawsuits related to ADA regulations and websites.

The state NFIB has labeled New York’s Unemployment Insurance situation a crisis, as the UI trust fund is nearly depleted. Millions of New Yorkers were laid off during the state mandated COVID shutdown, but federal funds that flowed to the state have not been used to replenish the UI trust fund. NFIB is asking the state to use unspent ARPA funds to address this issue.

Governor Hochul’s Executive Budget proposal includes some needed tax relief for small businesses with under $1.5 million in gross income. The NFIB is asking lawmakers to expand that even more by supporting broad tax relief for small businesses that are organized as c-corps. This would cut the tax rate from 6.5-percent to 4-percent – saving small businesses up to $7,250 each year.

NFIB is closely watching the proposed energy proposals in the state legislature with an eye towards advocating for substantial enhancements to the electric grid and infrastructure before arbitrary deadlines are established for fossil fuel to electric conversions. The Chamber encouraged lawmakers on the virtual conference to make sure businesses and rural communities are represented on the Climate Action Council in order to make sure it addresses the needs of New Yorkers outside of the major metropolitan areas.

There are close to 500,000 small businesses in New York, employing half the state’s private-sector workforce. Production from those businesses accounts for almost half of the state’s Gross Domestic Product.

Register for the Chamber State Legislative Breakfast April 8

The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present an in-person gathering for its 2022 State Legislative Breakfast. Our guests will be State Senator George Borrello and Assemblyman Andrew Goodell.

The event will be held Friday, April 8 at the DoubleTree by Hilton, 150 West 4th Street, Jamestown. Advanced registration is required and requested by April 1.

Check-in the morning of the event begins at 8am, with breakfast and the program to get underway at 8:30am.

We hope you will come prepared with questions for our local state representatives. Questions can also be emailed in advance to swebster@chautauquachamber.org. Our moderator will be John D’Agostino from The Post-Journal and OBSERVER.

The annual Chamber State Legislative Breakfast is sponsored by Chautauqua Institution, DoubleTree by Hilton, Jamestown Mattress Company, Media One Radio Group, OBSERVER, The Post-Journal, Serta Simmons Bedding, Small Business Development Center, and UPMC Chautauqua.

Register online now through the Chamber’s events calendar at www.chautauquachamber.org.

Salute to the Finest Awards Presented

Congratulations to all of the local businesses that were honored during the recent Jamestown Community Chamber Salute to the Finest! Each year Salute to the Finest pays tribute to local businesses and organizations that are making a difference in the Jamestown community – through service, filling vital needs, or by helping to create the unique flavor of the city by providing unique and special merchandise, foods, or other products.

This year’s award recipients were as follows: New Business of the Year, ART Cloth + Craft; Young Business Leader of the Year, Linnea Carlson; Manufacturer of the Year, Support Enterprises; Restaurant of the Year, HotSpot CafÈ; Retailer of the Year, Dot’s Gift Boutique; Service to Humanity Award, UPMC Chautauqua; Pride of Jamestown Award, Roger Tory Peterson Institute; Legacy Award, Lind Funeral Home; and Business of the Year, Shults Auto Group.

The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce is proud to support and promote all local businesses and organizations all year round.

Save the Date:

County Executive Breakfast is June 3

Mark your calendar now for the annual Chamber of Commerce County Executive Breakfast. Our special guest will be County Executive Paul “PJ” Wendel, as we offer this opportunity for the local business community to ask questions and interact with the County Executive. Watch for more details to be announced.