By Daniel J. Heitzenrater

President and CEO of the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce

The Chamber of Commerce is in business for business, so let us help spread the word for your business. Have you recently hired new staff or promoted staff members? Moved your business? Have a new product line to share? Have a public event coming up? Offering a class or training? All of these and more are worthy of sharing with your fellow Chamber of Commerce members in a way that will help get your business noticed.

Each week the Chamber distributes the Chautauqua Business Weekly email newsletter to more than 2,500 businesspeople throughout Chautauqua County. All Chamber of Commerce members are invited to include short articles in the e-newsletter. We are happy to include a link to your website or email, as well as a photo to go along with your article.

Submissions are simple. Just write a quick couple of paragraphs about your newsworthy item, and email them to Sheila Webster, Director of Marketing, Communications and Governmental Affairs at swebster@chautauquachamber.org. You can send a Word document or just write your article in the body of your email.

If you’re not getting the Chautauqua Business Weekly email newsletter, you can sign up to receive it, whether your business is a Chamber member or not. Use the simple sign-up form at www.chautauquachamber.org/stay-up-to-date and choose your community or just ‘general email list’ to be automatically added to our Constant Contact system. The Chamber of Commerce periodically sends other informational email content and specific emails about upcoming events. Of course you can unsubscribe at any time, but we expect you’ll find these emails helpful and pertinent.

Submitting articles for the Chautauqua Business Weekly email newsletter is a direct benefit of your membership in the Chamber, at no additional cost to you. But you can go above and beyond your membership with advertising or sponsorship to reap even more benefits at a nominal extra cost. We offer advertising advertising opportunities for Chamber members through the Chautauqua Business Weekly email and on our website. We can include your ad in a prime spot near the top of the email newsletter, or on any page on the Chamber’s website. These ads are perfect for helping you highlight products, recruit, announce events, and more. Ask us about what may best suit your needs.

Your business affiliation with the Chamber of Commerce is valuable. A Chamber membership demonstrates your commitment to the community, and your interest in interacting with other businesspeople. When you sponsor Chamber events and programs, you’ll see an even greater impact for your investment. Sponsorship aligns your company’s brand with community service, drives up your return on investment, and gets you noticed. Visibility is crucial for businesses, and you can showcase your company as a vital part of the local business community through your commitment to Chamber programming, at the countywide or community level.

For more information about sponsoring and advertising through the Chamber contact Director of Member Services Becky Voty at rvoty@chautauquachamber.org.

REGISTER NOW FOR TUESDAY TALKS: BUSINESS SUCCESS PLANNING

The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce Tuesday Talks present a forum for panel discussion and informational programs on a variety of issues pertinent to all businesses. The next Tuesday Talks event will be held Tuesday, February 8 at 8:30am with a panel discussion on Business Succession Planning.

Whether you are a business owner looking to sell or to transition to the next generation, or even if you are not in those markets now but may be in the future, this discussion can be valuable for you. Panelists will be: Andy Reinwald, President of Ripley Machine & Tool Co., Danny Hickman, Business Advisory with the Small Business Development Center, and Eric Harvey, Financial Representative with Alliance Advisory Group.

All local businesspeople are invited to attend this free online event. We encourage you to pick up some coffee or takeout from a local restaurant, and then join us online for this hour-long event, conveniently brought to you where you work. Tuesday Talks is sponsored by OBSERVER and The Post-Journal.

Register now through the Chamber’s online calendar at www.chautauquachamber.org to get the Zoom link for this event.

MAYVILLE WINTER FESTIVAL SEEKS VOLUNTEERS, SPONSORS

The Mayville-Chautauqua Community Chamber of Commerce is busily working on the 2022 Mayville Winter Festival, scheduled for President’s Day Weekend, February 18-20 at Lakeside Park. There are still spots available for potential sponsors, vendors, and volunteers.

If you would like to assist in any way with this outstanding local event, please contact Mayville-Chautauqua Community Chamber Coordinator Shannon Biekarck at sbiekarck@chautauquachamber.org.

To stay up to date on the Mayville Winter Festival, watch their page on Facebook or keep an eye on the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce calendar online at www.chautauquachamber.org.

DOORS OPEN JAMESTOWN IS MARCH 5

We hope the entire community will save the new date for Doors Open Jamestown – Saturday, March 5. The Jamestown Community Chamber of Commerce has delayed the event from its usual January time slot, in order to allow participating venues to more safely invite groups of guests. Some of the attractions will require pre-registration. A full list of participating attractions will be announced shortly.

Doors Open Jamestown is an opportunity for local residents to be a tourist right here in our hometown as it offers a free day at local museums and attractions. After moving the event to an online only video montage last year, we have determined to hold it in-person this year. Please save the new date: March 5, 2022, from 10am-4pm, and watch for details to be announced for our new text-to-win Doors Open Jamestown contest for that day.