The City of Jamestown, the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce, and Collaborative Children’s Solutions are hosting the free event along the Riverwalk in Brooklyn Square.

Kids activities will begin at 10:00 a.m., featuring games, tie dye, face painting, and more.

At 11:00 a.m., Jamestown’s own Lucky Leprechaun will Turn the River Green.

Kids activities will continue until noon with a Downtown Scavenger Hunt taking place from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Entry forms will be available at the river event.

The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce will present an online Tuesday Talks panel discussion at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 21.

Guest panelists are County Economic Development Coordinator Nate Aldrich, Chautauqua Works’ Katie Geise, Jamestown Community College Workforce Development’s Brian Lebarron, and JCC’s Career Services’ Julie Page. Panelists will touch on the overall job market and workforce status including broad efforts to recruit and retain employees across Chautauqua County.

Tuesday Talks is a one-hour, online-only forum to provide tips and guidance for local business people. All attendees must register through the Chamber’s web calendar at www.chautauquachamber.org/events to get the Zoom link. Tuesday Talks is free and open to all local businesses, whether they are Chamber members or not.

The Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau will hold a free Spring Tourism Workshop from 8:30 a.m. to noon, Thursday, March 23 in the Carnahan Center at Jamestown Community College. The topic will be “Ramping Up for Seasonal Hiring.”

Speakers for this morning-long in person event will be Cabana Sam’s/Sunset Bay Beach Club owner Kelly Borrello, Chautauqua Harbor Hotel Sales Manager William Hart Frantz, and a panel from Chautauqua Works led by Executive Director Katie Geise and including representatives from the New York State Department of Labor.

To register for the CCVB workshop visit them online at www.tourchautauqua.com/spring-2023-tourism-workshop.

Both the Chamber and CCVB events are being held in conjunction with the Small Business Development Center at JCC.

The Irish Brothers present their request for downtown event funding to the Jamestown Local Development Corporation (February 15, 2023)

Over $105,000 in grants and loans have been approved for four downtown events.

The Jamestown Local Development Corporation heard presentations from five organizations, tabling one at its monthly meeting Wednesday.

Funding approved includes:

– $9,500 for the Irish Brothers to appear at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church on March 15,
– $10,000 for Roger Tory Peterson Institute‘s two-day presentation of the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts in April
– $49,970 for the 2023 Whirlybird Festival in July that includes $24,900 in grants and a $25,000 loan
– and $35,700 for four Earlybird concerts that includes $10,700 in grants and a $25,000 loan.

A $42,500 request from St. Susan Center to bring in CashCab’s Ben Bailey for a Trivia Night fundraiser was tabled, with JLDC members requesting additional information about the space for the event.

The JLDC Board also approved funding eight businesses under the Business Expansion and Building Acquisition (BEBA) Grant program. City Council allocated $750,000 in American Rescue Plan monies for the program with $749,980 in requests received.

Department of Development Grant Manager Tim O’Dell said the businesses receiving funds have promised to create 40 full time jobs and 18 part-time positions, “To mention as well, the contracts, if approved they would be signing as structured as a 50% grant and 50% forgivable loan. The forgivable loan portion comes into as they will need to meet their employment goal. And if not, they will have until December 31, 2026 in order to obtain that goal. And if they weren’t to obtain that goal, they would pay half of it that was the loan portion if the jobs were not met.”

The eight businesses who were approved funding are:
– The Beer Snob – $60,000
– BW Wholesale Florist – $83,335
– Falcon Acquisitions – $93,480
– Fringe Hair Salon – $58,500
– It’s Your Day – $64,000
– Labyrinth Press Company – $114,855
– Panache – $167,105
– and Summit Wealth Management – $108,705

Building Acquisition & Business Expansion Grant funded Companies

Jamestown Economic Development Coordinator Stephanie Wright shared that 54 businesses were notified directly about the grant program with 19 declining to apply.

O’Dell said they heard from the Small Business Development Center that often businesses don’t have the time to invest in the application process, “And they don’t want to go to a commitment like that, as it’s a very long project in when the American Rescue Plan ends. And we’ve also run into instances where either they’re just not interested, they do not want to participate, as well as some businesses do not want to get involved in government programs.”

O’Dell said the Department is working with SBDC and the Chamber of Commerce on getting out the word on the next set of business grant programs. He said SBDC also will help businesses complete the grant applications.

The grant applications for Labyrinth, Panache, and Summit Wealth Management will now appear under new business on City Council’s voting agenda on Monday, February 27. Any grant that exceeds $100,000 must also receive council approval to move forward.

The Chamber, which has operated the gift card program since 2017, is urging all cardholders to check their cards.

If the card is the new blue and white version that says “ShopLocalCHQ Gift Card” the card remains valid, and you may use it at any of more than 165 merchants throughout Chautauqua County.

If the card has an image of a family on the front and says “Shoptauqua” you will find that the date on the back of the card has expired. The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce can transfer the balance on your old card to a new card. To do this, you will need to turn in the old card to their office.

While the plastic card itself is expiring, the funds on the card do not expire.

People can take expired, or soon to expire, cards to the Chamber’s offices in Jamestown on North Main Street, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Cards also can be brought to the Dunkirk offices at the JCC North Training Center on Bennett Road, Monday through Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

People also can make an appointment by calling (716) 484-1101, ext. 201.

The day, held the Saturday after Thanksgiving, is meant to promote people shopping at locally-owned businesses during the holiday season.

The Small Business Development Center at JCC said when people shop locally, it helps an estimated 67-cents out of every dollar stay in the community. By comparison, they said shopping at big box stores keeps roughly 38-cents in the community, with online shopping having the smallest impact on the local economy.

The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce is holding a contest where those who shop local can enter to win ShopLocalCHQ Gift Cards. People who want to participate only need to post a photo and check-in at a small, locally-owned business on Facebook or Instagram and add #ShopSmallCHQ to your post. By posting, you will be automatically entered to win up to $500 in ShopLocalCHQ Gift Cards.

The business does not have to be a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and no purchase is required for your entry. The more times you check in and use the hashtag, the more entries you will get. Winners will be selected on Monday, November 28. Entries will be counted for Small Business Saturday, November 26 only.

On Cyber Monday, November 28, the Chamber is also offering a discount on products through ShopLocalCHQ.com.

Visit https://www.chautauquachamber.org/ for more information.

Also, the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts, who is the parent organization of WRFA, will be offering a deal starting Saturday through December. When you buy a $50 gift card, you will receive a free movie ticket good for use for movies at the Reg.

Visit reglenna.com for more.

Officials cut ribbon for reopening of Potter’s Terrace (November 2, 2022)

Officials cut the ribbon to reopen a renovated Potters Terrace Park in downtown Jamestown Wednesday afternoon.

The park, owned by the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation, had been closed since 2019 due to issues with the wood structure that used to cover an 8-foot hole beneath the park. That structure was removed and the hole filled in back in 2021.

JRC Urban Core Director Frank Besse said the park features trees and shrubbery, “..limestone benches and tables, different large boulders that can be used as seating or as kind of an area to run and jump and play if you’re a younger frequenter of downtown. And it’s a place where you can take a break, maybe, from your job downtown. Or if you live downtown, to get some fresh air. But it’s that congregation place, ‘Oh, I’ll meet you down at Potter’s Terrace,’ to maybe go shopping downtown or before a show, or just catch up with somebody or perhaps read a book.”

Besse said Leaf and Stone Architecture designed the space with Sivak Stonemasonry performing the construction work. He said facade work will be done soon on the neighboring Chamber of Commerce Building as well as the facade of the building next to Potter’s Alley, “A long standing project of the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation has been what we call ‘Potter’s Gallery.’ This public art that we see on buildings neighboring on Potter’s Alley. So, the oldest of those pieces is about nine years old and is showing weather. So what we’ve done is work with Jamestown Public Schools to find more local student artwork, get that printed, and hung up here. So, hopefully we’ll see that here in the next few weeks to a month.”

Besse said the facade work will hopefully be completed on the Chamber Building by Spring.

The project was funded through a grant of $200,000 from the Gebbie Foundation with some support by Community Development Block Grant funds from the City of Jamestown.

Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Dan Heitzenrater and Rep. Joe Sempolinski (September 23, 2022)

Congressman Joe Sempolinski answered questions about education, child care, workforce development and more at the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce Congressional breakfast Friday morning.

Sempolinski, addressing a crowd of about 50 people, said he considers the Education and Labor Committee he’s been appointed to one of the most important committees. He also serves on the Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education subcommittee.

On the topic of what the federal government can do to help students who are two to three years behind after the Pandemic, Sempolinski said it’s something all of society needs to on work together, “Whether it’s the federal government setting broad policy. Obviously, much of what happens in education is a state and local issue which is where it should be, frankly, constitutionally. That should be in the province of the state of New York and the other states and, most importantly, with the parents, and with the local officials on the ground. Those are who should be taking the lead on education but it’s something we all need to work on together to make sure we don’t leave behind an entire generation.”

Sempolinski said when it comes to child care, that the federal government should do things within its purview that have a good return on investment, “What we’re talking about here is people trying to do the right thing, right? They’re trying to go work. They’re trying to come into one of your businesses and be a productive employee and maybe what’s holding them back is that they have some sort of childcare issue or other issue at home. All right, maybe that’s something where we can, as the government, as the society, help those folks out because then they’re going to be working. They’re going to be paying taxes. They’re going to be a productive member of society.”

Sempolinski said more emphasis needs to be put on the skilled trades when it comes to addressing workforce development issues, “And I’m not saying four-year college is bad. I went to four-year college. That’s fine if that’s what you have a passion for. But if you’re someone who has a passion for something a little more tangible that’s going to lead directly to a job, then let’s encourage that. Let’s get people the skills they need. And also we need to coordinate between the educational institutions, whether it’s the BOCES programs, or the community college programs, and employers.”

He added there are community colleges working with manufacturers on what skill sets are needed, resulting in students being able to enter the workforce in those kinds of jobs.

MHA Executive Director Steven Cobb, Small Business Development Center at JCC staff, and Tom Benson

The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce will recognize local leaders and organizations at its Annual Awards Banquet on Thursday, October 6.

Steven Cobb will be honored as Person of the Year. Cobb is the Executive Director of the Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County. He is lauded in the nomination letter for his work with the agency.

Under his direction, the MHA has expanded services by opening an office in Dunkirk and grown the agency’s annual budget by $1 million, with 22 staff members.

The Chamber’s annual Economic Development Award will be presented to the Small Business Development Center at Jamestown Community College. With a staff of five full time certified business advisors and two part time advisors, the staff at the SBDC has seen a bulge in its request for services in the past four years. While it once served 350 small businesses a year, that number is now close to 800 annually.

The SBDC was instrumental in assisting small businesses through COVID relief programs at the federal and state level. Since March of 2020, over $33.5 million was received by area businesses to help with the economic regrowth of the region, and the team at SBDC helped those small businesses create and retain over 2,400 jobs.

Each of the six community Chambers of Commerce will present a Community Service Award during the Chamber Banquet.

The Jamestown Community Chamber of Commerce will present its Community Service Award to Tom Benson. He will be recognized for his part in the revitalization of downtown Jamestown, including his work in recent years with the National Comedy Center.

The Chamber’s Annual Awards Banquet will be held in person at the Williams Center on the campus of the SUNY Fredonia. Advance registration is required and can be done online at www.chamberrsvp.org.

The free event will take place from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Chautauqua County Chamber of commerce office located at 300 North Main and East Third Streets in downtown Jamestown.

Local entrepreneurs and business owners are encouraged to attend to learn more about resources being developed, programs and services currently available; and future initiatives.

The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce held its annual State Legislative Breakfast on Friday, April 8, 2022. State Senator George Borrello and Assemblyman Andy Goodell appeared via Zoom to discuss their initial thoughts on the new 2022-23 State Budget agreement.