The calendar is about to turn from summer to autumn, and that means the weather will be turning cooler and leaves will be starting to change soon. That also means businesses will be gearing up for the holiday season very soon.

To help facilitate this transition for businesses, the CHQ Chamber will hold a Business Builder Workshop October 21 at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute. Topics will include Small Business Saturday, and the Chamber’s programs aimed at helping support small businesses such as the ShopLocalCHQ Gift Card and our countywide Holiday Window Decorating Contest. Also on the agenda will be social media strategies to help you market your business – not just during the holiday season but all year round.

Business Builder Workshops are free for all local businesspeople to attend, and always include opportunities for networking. We appreciate advanced registration for our planning purposes. You can learn more or register now through our web calendar at www.chqchamber.org.

REGISTER NOW FOR THE CHQ CHAMBER CONGRESSIONAL LUNCH OCTOBER 3

Each year the CHQ Chamber provides an opportunity for local businesspeople to hear directly from their local elected representatives at the county, state, and federal levels. This year the Chamber’s Congressional Luncheon will be held Thursday, October 3 at Shorewood Country Club, 4958 West Lake Road, Dunkirk. Representative Nick Langworthy will be our guest, and we hope attendees will come with questions for our Congressman.

Registration is open now through the Chamber’s web calendar at www.chqchamber.org. The price is $25 for Chamber members or $29 for non-members. Advance registration is required, and we ask that you register before September 30. The CHQ Chamber Congressional Lunch is sponsored by Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Brooks-TLC Hospital System, Chautauqua Institution, County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency, Jamestown Community College, Jamestown Mattress Company, Media One Radio Group, National Grid, Observer, The Post-Journal, Shorewood Country Club, and UPMC Chautauqua.

FIRST EVER MADE IN FALCONER IS OCTOBER 5

For the first time, the CHQ Chamber presents Made in Falconer, Saturday, October 5! In recognition of National Manufacturing Month, the CHQ Chamber Committee in Falconer has organized this event to highlight the wide variety of local manufacturers. Participating manufacturers are Dahlstrom Roll Form, Ellison Bronze, Falconer Printing, Fancher Chair, Hanson Sign, and Stuart Tool & Die. These businesses will be open for public tours from 10am-2pm, with fresh tours beginning every half hour.

When you’re touring each location, find the scavenger hunt word at each site so you can text an entry into the Made in Falconer prize drawing. Prizes will include items donated by local businesses including 17-19 West Main Mercantile, Ellison Bronze, Falconer Printing, Hanson Sign, Persnikkity Pies, Stuart Tool & Die, and more. You are also encouraged to visit other local Falconer area businesses for dining and shopping between tours. In addition, to make this event even more accessible for all the CHQ Transit Trolley will be running continual loops from downtown Falconer to the manufacturers. The Trolley is sponsored by Live CHQ and Choose CHQ. Made in Falconer is proudly sponsored by CCB.

This project was developed through the CHQ Chamber Committee in Falconer. This group of local businesspeople has been looking for a way to showcase the wide variety of businesses in the community.

HELP HONOR THE CHQ CHAMBER AWARDS RECIPIENTS OCTOBER 10

The CHQ Chamber will present a variety of business-based awards during its Annual Awards Banquet to be held Thursday, October 10 at the Williams Center at SUNY Fredonia. Based on our new mission statement to build vital connections, provide professional resources, and champion our local businesses in Chautauqua County, the CHQ Chamber re-imagined its awards process this year. As a result, a broad selection of businesses from across Chautauqua County will be honored for their work.

Award recipients for 2024 are:

Emerging Business of the Year – Whizz-n-Smash, Dewittville

Hospitality Business of the Year – Central Station, Dunkirk

Service Business of the Year – Kravitz Tree Service, Fredonia

Producer of the Year – Ghostfish Brewing Company, Westfield

Not-for-Profit of the Year – Prevention Works, Jamestown

Business Champion Award – Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau, Chautauqua

Business of the Year – Persnikkity Pies, Falconer

Seventeen businesses from throughout the county will receive Legacy Awards for longevity, major milestones, and multi-generational commitments to family businesses.

Anyone is welcome to attend this event. Registration is open now through the CHQ Chamber web calendar, and we hope you will join us to honor these exceptional businesses and organizations. The CHQ Chamber Annual Awards Banquet is also an excellent opportunity for networking, as it is one of the largest business gatherings in Chautauqua County each year.

We hope you will join us to honor these exceptional businesses and organizations. Major sponsors for this event are Brooks-TLC Hospital System/Kaleida Health, County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency, DFT Communications, Jamestown Community College, LaBella Associates, Lake Shore Savings Bank, Media One Group Radio, Observer, and The Post-Journal. Registration is open now through the Chamber’s web calendar.