The CHQ Chamber has won one of eight Springboard grants announced this past week during a reception at the Cutco Theater on JCC’s Cattaraugus County campus. Springboard was launched in March as a regional rapid-prize competition aimed at programs that benefit entrepreneurs or businesses that need funding to expand or bring an idea to market level. There were three application rounds, with programming focused on the Greater Buffalo, Greater Rochester, or Southern Tier regions.

The CHQ Chamber had not applied until the third and final round of funding, as we worked to fine-tune some programming that will benefit local businesses. After several months of exploration, our team determined we would take our plan to launch a reimagined foot traffic initiative to the Springboard competition, and we were rewarded with a $25,000 grant.

The CHQ Chamber will use Bandwango to provide data to evaluate impact and consumer traffic of new and existing initiatives, with a goal of marketing repeat visits to consumers. Bandwango is an established technology platform that “gamifies” customer visits to local businesses. In some areas it is used to create beverage trails, or to provide digital coupons to encourage customers to patronize businesses.

Urging customers to visit small, locally owned businesses is central to our work at the CHQ Chamber. In recent years we have tried to incentivize local shopping and dining through a variety of projects including our Holiday Window Decorating Contest, Small Business Saturday initiative, and more. This year, through the use of this new-to-us program, we hope to do an even better job of connecting consumers with small businesses.

All of this is possible thanks to the $25,000 Springboard grant. The grant will allow us to procure the subscription, as well as improve marketing efforts and offer prize drawings for participants. We would not have been able to afford this pilot program without the grant funding.

Springboard is a collaborative effort of the Center for Regional Strategies, Main Light Strategies, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, Victor & Company, and additional community partners in the region including the Small Business Development Center at Jamestown Community College. With a clear focus on the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Western New York and the Southern Tier, Springboard grants are going to promote business growth, pilot new programs, and support efforts such as business mentoring and more. The CHQ Chamber is grateful to all partners involved in this process.

To our local businesses, please watch for us to provide more information in the very near future about how you can participate in one of our upcoming Bandwango projects throughout Chautauqua County. We encourage you to join our email list to be in the loop as we unveil opportunities. Anyone may add their name to our list at www.chqchamber.org/stay-up-to-date.

Business After Hours at Southern Tier Brewing is November 13

Enjoy some great CHQ Chamber networking during one of our most popular Business After Hours events! We will hold Business After Hours at Southern Tier Brewing Company, 2072 Stoneman Drive, Lakewood, on Wednesday, November 13.

At this Business After Hours event, you’ll enjoy complimentary appetizers, a cash bar, and a chance to mingle with a wide variety of local businesspeople in a tremendous setting.

Business After Hours at Southern Tier Brewing Company is sponsored by Brooks-TLC Hospital System, Chautauqua Harbor Hotel, DFT Communications, Jamestown Community College, LaBella Associates, M&T Bank, Media One Radio Group, National Grid, Observer, The Post-Journal, and Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union.

Chamber member businesses may send two people for free to each Business After Hours. After that the cost is just $10 per person, or it’s $10 if you’re a non-member. We always enjoy visiting with our friends at Southern Tier Brewing Company! This event fills up quickly, so registration is strongly encouraged. Visit our web calendar at www.chqchamber.org.

Nominations Open Now for Pam Lydic Coalition Builder Award

Each year the CHQ Chamber presents an award in memory of the first President of the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce, Pam Lydic. It recognizes an organization or individual in the region who has worked hard to bring groups of people together around a common goal or objective.

This award is presented to an entity or person who has helped move the region forward in a positive direction through collaboration and by building partnerships. The award is particularly focused on those who have done their work consistently and oftentimes in the background. A typical awardee may be an ‘unsung hero’ in the community or one that has made a dramatic impact.

The award will be presented during the Chamber’s Annual Meeting in December and includes a $500 stipend to the recipient’s nonprofit of choice.

To submit an organization or individual for consideration please fill out our online form at www.chqchamber.org/award-nomination-form. Submissions must be received by November 11, 2024.