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Businesses Can Reduce Energy Useage And Save

It’s no secret that energy costs can be significant for businesses of all types. According to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, nearly three-quarters of the electric energy efficiency potential in New York State resides in the business and industry sector. Energy efficiency can play an important role in helping you meet your businesses strategic goals. Whether your business is retail, an office setting, or a manufacturer, there may be ways to help reduce your energy costs, even if you don’t own your own building. Obviously, climate and energy usage go hand-in-glove. In Chautauqua County, winters require heat and summers require air conditioning, creating a year-round expense for homeowners and businesses alike.

Chautauqua County is moving to become a member of EnergizeNY. EnergizeNY can leverage PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) financing to help commercial and non-profit property owners with energy improvements, including efficiency projects and renewable energy measures for commercial, light industrial, multi-family, and nonprofit-owned buildings.

The first step towards reducing energy bills is an energy audit through a certified NYSERDA professional. One of those companies is Chamber member, Superior Energy Innovations, in Jamestown. While this can cost some money upfront, New York State also has a program in place now that will pay between 50 to 100 percent of the cost of the audit. The program encourages business tenants, landlords, and their energy consultants to work collaboratively to enhance the overall energy and environmental performance of commercial office buildings statewide. It provides funding to reduce the costs of obtaining an actionable list of energy efficiency measures and corresponding financial analysis.

The next steps toward lowering your bills and increasing occupancy comfort are implementing the efficiency recommendations. This too, can require upfront costs. The Chautauqua County Legislative subcommittee on Energy, Chaired by Mark Odell, has been working toward addressing this issue and this summer the legislature approved the County moving forward to seek approval as a PACE financing-eligible jurisdiction. One the County is fully authorized energy efficiency upgrades can be 100 percent financed through EnergizeNY. The costs are amortized for up to twenty years and repaid through your property tax bill or a special taxing account.

NYSERDA’s Commercial Tenant Program works to integrate energy efficiency in commercial office spaces through a collaboration between tenants, landlords, and their consultants. The program provides funding to reduce costs for both commercial tenants and landlords, when both parties pay into the process.

Companies can begin the process now and start an application, with the work to be finalized once the program gets underway in Chautauqua County. The Chamber of Commerce and Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier encourage all companies to take advantage of energy-saving measures as they become available, to help both our environment and your bottom line.

SAVE THE DATE: CHAMBER AWARDS

BANQUET IS OCTOBER 5

The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Banquet will be held Thursday, October 5 in the Williams Center on the SUNY Fredonia campus. Mark your calendar now for this annual event, which brings together the largest gathering of business people in Chautauqua County. Details and a full slate of award recipients will be announced soon and all members of the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce will receive invitations in the mail and by email shortly. For more information or to reserve a spot, please call the Chamber at 366-6200 or 484-1101.

SHOPTAUQUA GIFT CARD DESIGNED TO

BOOST YOUR SALES

If you are seeking to boost your sales, put the Chamber to work for you. Local businesses can sign up to participate in the Shoptauqua Gift Card program today. Businesses that currently accept a VISA card can participate. No additional point of sale equipment is necessary. This will be a closed-loop system, valid only for local, Chamber member businesses that choose to take part. Shoptauqua Gift Cards can be purchased pre-sale now and will be available starting October 2nd. In advance of that, please contact the Chamber to get your business on the list! You can call us at 484-1101 or 366-6200, and we’ll be happy to answer your questions and set an appointment to come to your business and get you set up. It’s fast and easy, and a great way to increase your sales.

HEALTH INSURANCE OPEN ENROLLMENT DATES

Despite an array of changes in the health insurance market, the Chamber remains focused on helping all businesses access a wide variety of health insurance products, seek cost containment, and provide optimum customer support. The Chamber’s licensed broker, Kevin Sixbey, will work with businesses and their employees to review the products available. Kevin works with small businesses and sole proprietors to find programs that suit their needs, including health, dental, vision, and other ancillary products either through our private Bright Choices Exchange or the public New York State Exchange for small businesses and individuals. For medium and larger size employer groups, the Chamber works in partnership with Lawley Benefits Group, a family-owned firm with local offices that is consistently recognized as one of the top brokers in the country. To help you make informed decisions for the coming year, the Chamber has scheduled a series of free informational and open enrollment sessions countywide. They will be held: Tuesday 9/19 at 7:30am or 6:30pm at the JCC MTI building in Jamestown; Thursday 9/21 at 7:30am or 6:30pm at the JCC North County Training Center, Dunkirk; Tuesday 9/26 at 7:30am at Eason Hall, Westfield; Tuesday 9/26 at 6:30pm at Tom’s Family Restaurant, Irving; Thursday 9/28 at 7:30am at the Lawson Boating Center, Bemus Point; and Thursday 9/28 at 6:30pm at the Turner Community Center, Chautauqua. These sessions are sponsored by Lawley Benefits Group and Univera Healthcare Southern Tier, and are open to anyone who wants to learn more about insurance options through the Chamber for the coming year, whether you are a Chamber member business or not and whether you currently get health insurance or employee benefits through the Chamber or not. We encourage advance registration for these sessions, through the Chamber website at www.chautauquachamber.org/events or by calling our offices at 366-6200 or 484-1101.

CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY RESTAURANT WEEK RETURNS OCTOBER 16-22

Dine Often. Dine Local. Chamber member restaurants can sign up now to participate in Chautauqua County Restaurant Week, October 16-22. Restaurant Week is all about celebrating local Chamber of Commerce member restaurants and keeping dollars in our local economy. Restaurant Week encourages consumers to be adventurous and sample a variety of local restaurants. Participating restaurants are encouraged to highlight a special meal and offer it for special Restaurant Week pricing. The cost is just $100 for local Chamber members to take part, or new restaurants just joining the Chamber can participate for $50 for their first year. For that low price, businesses will be included in the Chamber’s countywide promotional plan including social media, print, and radio, plus special email blasts to our more than 900 local member businesses. We will also have posters and table tents. Restaurants interested in participating can call the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce at 366-6200 or 484-1101, or sign up online at www.chautauquachamber.org/events.

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