Newsroom

By Todd Tranum on 1/30/2012 8:44 AM

 

One of the best ways to combat the winter blues is to get outdoors and do something fun! And one of the best opportunities for that is coming up President’s Day Weekend, during the Winter Festival in Mayville. By volunteering your time for just a few hours you’ll spend time with lots of other people and be a part of one of the biggest annual outdoor festivals in Chautauqua County. 
The President’s Day Weekend Winter Festival will be held February 17-19 at Lakeside Park in Mayville. Since its inception in 1987, this event has brought thousands of people to the shores of Chautauqua Lake to take advantage of the best that winter has to offer.
By Todd Tranum on 1/20/2012 3:58 PM

 

On the heels of a State of the State Address that sent a strong, positive signal to New York’s business community, Governor Andrew Cuomo delivered a budget message this past week that backed up his call for a stronger state economic climate. 
The Governor’s proposed 2012-13 budget closes a $3.5-billion deficit and sends the message that New York is ready to turn around its sagging economy. Among the top priorities addressed are economic development, government reform, and mandate relief – all necessary items to make New York state business-friendly. 
By Todd Tranum on 1/16/2012 8:39 AM

 

A key part of the value of your Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce membership is the opportunity to market your products and services to both members and non-members through the Chamber web site and other Chamber offerings. 
As more and more people turn to the Internet to do business, the Chamber has done more to improve its web presence. In 2011 more than 11,000 unique individuals visited the Chautauqua Chamber web site, with over 70,000 page views. As that number continues to increase, the Chamber is doing more to provide its members with opportunities to advertise on the web.

 

By Todd Tranum on 1/9/2012 8:38 AM

 

Governor Andrew Cuomo’s second State of the State Address this past week demonstrates his willingness to create business-friendly change in New York. The Governor renewed his commitment to mandate relief and reducing the tax burden, while also calling for investments in infrastructure and economic development. 
Especially gratifying is the Governor’s announcement that mandate relief will be a top priority. With spiraling costs in pension plans for state workers, schools, and local governments, Governor Cuomo called for a reform of the system and creation of a Tier VI retirement plan. He will ask the joint Legislative and Executive Mandate Relief Council to hold hearings and issue recommendations, and bring measures to the Legislature for a vote this session. Mandate relief is critical to the reduction in tax rates at all levels of government.
By Todd Tranum on 1/1/2012 1:43 PM

For many individuals, the start of a new year provides an opportunity for renewed optimism and rededication to self-improvement.  The same is true for many businesses and organizations, as we look forward to growth and progress.
For the Chamber/MAST, our five point focus remains the same:  driving foot traffic into local businesses; increasing sales and reducing costs for our members; containing health insurance costs through pro-active solutions; advocating for positive change with a focus on reducing taxes; and supporting economic, workforce, and tourism development.  These items are at the core of our work plan because they are all significant for our members.