The Chamber News

Volunteers Sought for Winter Festival

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:44:00 GMT

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.

Governor's Budget Can Help Build a Stronger Business Climate

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:58:00 GMT

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.

Market Your Business

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:39:00 GMT

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.

New York's Business Potential

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 13:38:00 GMT

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.

New Year's Resolutions

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 18:43:00 GMT

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.

A Very Good Year for Chamber/MAST

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 20:05:00 GMT

As 2011 draws to a close in the next week, we are taking a look back at our progress over the past year. Some significant Chamber/MAST initiatives have made tremendous strides and we are delighted to share those successes with our membership and with the entire community.

On the public policy front there have been a number of key changes that will be meaningful in the years ahead.

Here in Chautauqua County, the Chamber/MAST led the advocacy drive for a reduction in the size of our County Legislature. After a number of false starts, the measure was put on the ballot, and Proposition One was overwhelmingly approved by county voters during the November election. This is a tremendous step forward for our County government. The reapportionment process will take a little time, yet, and the actual reduction in the size of the Legislature will take effect in January of 2014. We congratulate the voters of Chautauqua County who approved this measure which will save money and create a more efficient system of government.

Chamber/MAST Commend State on Tax Agreement

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:08:00 GMT

The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce and Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier commend Governor Andrew Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver for their recent bi-partisan agreement to restructure the tax code and create jobs in New York State.

The plan cuts the corporate franchise tax for manufacturers, reduces the MTA payroll tax for small businesses, and includes the first middle income tax cut for New Yorkers in over 50 years.

In addition, the agreement creates a $1-billion infrastructure fund to create jobs by rebuilding roads, bridges, parks, flood control projects, and upgrade water systems and educational facilities. The New York Works Infrastructure Fund will focus on projects that support regional Economic Development Plans. Financing for the fund will come through a combination of private investment, state funding through pension funds, the Port Authority, and moving up capital projects that were planned for later years

Dream It Do It to Expand Thanks to $500,000 Grant

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:41:00 GMT

Dream It Do It will be growing substantially, thanks to a $500,000 grant through the New York State Regional Economic Development Council initiative. The funding is part of the $785-million in economic development spending announced Thursday by Governor Andrew Cuomo through the state’s Regional Economic Development Councils.

Dream It Do It is a national program developed by the Manufacturing Institute, a division of the National Association of Manufacturers. The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce and the Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier secured a license to implement the program in Chautauqua County in 2009, and later acquired the statewide license to allow for its expansion.

Local Legislators Score High with Business Council

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:41:00 GMT

Senator Cathy Young and Assembly members Andrew Goodell and Joe Giglio all score high with the Business Council of New York State. The Business Council recently unveiled its new 2011 Voters’ Guide, which measures New York State legislators’ commitment to improving the state’s economic climate and performance by scoring their support for key business legislation during the 2011 session.

Senators and Assembly members were rated for their stance on eleven two-house bills, which were considered by the Business Council to have a significant impact, either positive or negative, on New York’s economic climate. Included were such items as the real property tax cap, Medicaid spending reductions and program reforms in the budget, Recharge New York and an improved Excelsior Jobs Program. Negative scores were given for votes on measures with detrimental economic impacts, for example, legislation which would make employer-provided health coverage more expensive.

Shop Locally This Holiday Season

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 03:30:00 GMT

Among our many assets in Chautauqua County, we are fortunate to have a wide variety of small businesses including retailers. In combination with our large department stores, these small retail shops provide many options for holiday shopping right here in our own communities. From boutique-style shops, consumers can find specialty goods including household items, clothing, artisan and handcrafted jewelry, and much more.

When we support locally-owned businesses, we are truly supporting our local economy. Your shopping dollars go back into the pockets of entrepreneurial store owners and their employees, who then, in turn, support other local restaurants and service providers.