The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce will kick off its annual spring membership drive with some special events focused on small businesses countywide. The membership drive will run from May 1 to June 15 and will include social media training for small businesses, a series of Mornings on Main coffee hours with small businesses, two Experience Chautauqua Business After Hours networking events, and discounted pricing during National Small Business Week. For the first time, the Chamber will offer small businesses with ten or fewer employees a 20 percent discount off the price of their first-year membership, when they join during National Small Business Week, April 30-May 6. This is a great opportunity for some of our smallest businesses to get a feel for how the Chamber works, both countywide and within our local Community Chambers. To learn more about this special offer, call the Chamber at 366-6200 or 484-1101.

Small Business Week will kick off in Chautauqua County with a Business Over Bagels workforce development training on Monday, May 1. Smart Social Medial for Small Business is the topic, and the session will run from 8:30-10am at the JCC North Training Center, Bennett Road in Dunkirk. The presenter is Kate Moody, Business Advisor and Project Manager for Social Media Marketing at the Small Business Development Center at JCC. This event is sponsored by Buffamante, Whipple, Buttafaro and M&T Bank. The cost program is just $20 per person for Chamber member businesses or $25 for non-members. To register call JCC’s North County Center at (716) 363-6500 or pre-register online at www.sunyjcc.edu/ce.

Business people who join during the drive will have an opportunity to attend one of two special networking events for free. The Chamber’s Cruise Aboard the Summer Wind is scheduled for 5pm, May 18 at a regular cost of $15 per member or $18 for prospective members, and the membership drive will close out with Experience Chautauqua Business After Hours at Johnson Estate Winery in Westfield on June 15, hosted by the Chautauqua County and the Westfield-Barcelona Community Chambers.

In addition, Chamber staff and board members will be holding Mornings on Main coffee hours countywide on Tuesday mornings throughout the drive. The first event will be held at 8:00am, Tuesday, May 2 at the Lakewood Diner, 48 Chautauqua Avenue, Lakewood. All local business people, Chamber members and non-members, are invited to participate to talk about the joys and challenges of doing business in Chautauqua County. We welcome all feedback. Mornings on Main will be followed up with staff and board walking the community to meet and greet local business people. Additional dates and locations will be announced soon.

All business owners who join during the spring membership drive will be entered into a drawing for special prizes including a second year Chamber Membership Free, dinner for two at Webb’s Captain’s Table in Mayville, a one-night stay at Chautauqua Suites, a LECOM Health Challenge web.com PGA ticket four-pack, and a golf getaway package at Peek’n Peak Resort & Spa valued at over $300. The drawing will be held at the Johnson Estate event June 15. For more information about the Chautauqua County Chamber or any of its Community Chambers, please call 366-6200 or 484-1101.

Chamber State Legislative Breakfast To Be Held April 28

Each year the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce provides opportunities for its members to have a direct conversation with elected officials from each level of government. This year, the State Legislative Breakfast will be held April 28 at the Lakewood Rod & Gun Club. Senator Cathy Young and Assemblyman Andrew Goodell will provide their insights about legislation in Albany and be available for questioning from the audience. This event is sponsored by Affinity One Federal Credit Union, Chautauqua Institution, Cummins Inc., DFT Communications, Fredonia College Foundation, Jamestown Community College, Jamestown Mattress Company, Nestle Purina PetCare, OBSERVER, The Post-Journal, Serta Mattress Company, Star Media Group, UPMC Chautauqua WCA, and WJTN/WWSE/WKSN/WHUG/WQFX. The cost to attend is $18 per person for Chamber members and $21 for non-members. Advanced registration is requested. You can register online at www.chautauquachamber.org/events or call our offices at 366-6200 or 484-1101.

MAST Annual Meeting is May 4

The Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier will hold its 2016-17 Annual Meeting on Thursday, May 4, with a catered dinner at Artone, LLC, 1089 Allen Street, Jamestown. The guest speaker for the evening will be Ken Pokalsky, Vice President of Government Affairs with The Business Council of New York State.

This year, a national award will be presented to a local individual who has made a difference in manufacturing. The Manufacturing Institute’s STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Production) Ahead Awards recognize manufacturing women who exemplify leadership within their companies. Lori Jafarjian, Senior HR Generalist at Cummins, will receive a STEP Ahead award, to be presented during the MAST Annual Meeting.

This event is sponsored by Buffamante, Whipple, Buttafaro, PC; Enchanted Mountain Spirits; Lumsden & McCormick, LLP; OBSERVER; Star Media Group; and The Post-Journal. Reservations are requested by April 27. The cost is $30 and you can call MAST at 366-6200 or 484-1101, or register online at www.chautauquachamber.org/events.

Chamber Has Tickets Available for LECOM Health Challenge

If you’re looking for the perfect gift this spring for the golfer in your family, or if you’re thinking summer yourself, the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce is proudly helping to support the PGA Web.com LECOM Health Challenge at Peek’n Peak. We have tickets available for this spectacular event, to be held in July. The cost is just $10 for a day pass and proceeds help to support initiatives of the Chamber of Commerce and its Community Chambers including community events, workforce development, business training programs, and more. Week-long general admission passes are also available through the Chamber for $25 each. For more information, call us at 484-1101 or 366-6200.