The Chautauqua County Education Coalition brings together more than 60 organizations on a regular basis with a focus on aligning resources to enhance Chautauqua County’s learning system. The Coalition is where business, education, foundations, government and community organizations come together to work on improving educational and workforce results. The Coalition is bringing these organizations together because aligning the resources of our learning system is critical to building a workforce that meets the needs of employers, improves the tax base of the area, reduces poverty and reduces the number of children in poverty.

The complex nature of our workforce challenges us to think and act differently. The Chautauqua County Education Coalition has united new thinking with new partnerships that will enable our region to thrive in the future. The Coalition has brought together organizations to identify and support strategies that assure that children are ready for kindergarten. As a result programming that has proven effective in improving outcomes is being scaled to be available to more children and families. The Coalition has brought organizations together to build middle school to high school career pathways that support manufacturing and health care careers. As a result organizations have been brought together to build programs such as P-TECH and expand the Dream It Do It initiative to support manufacturers. Various groups are collaborating to build and expand programming to help serve the needs of the health care industry. As a recent example of the Coalition’s work, a curriculum review was facilitated bringing manufacturers together with Jamestown Community College to conduct a detailed analysis of existing Industrial Equipment Technology (IET) programming. That process has revealed the opportunity for program expansion as well as the need for a concerted effort on the part of manufacturers and local organizations to fill the programs with students.

William Smock, Administrator Dunkirk City School District, recently stated the value of the work of the Coalition by stating, “The Education Coalition made an immediate impact for the Dunkirk City School District. It provided a platform for collaboration that allowed us to create partnerships that benefit our students. From a work-to-school program with Cummins in 2015, to the successful implementation of the P-TECH College and Career Academy, we’ve been able to develop educational programs with local business support through the Coalition’s efforts and support.”

The Coalition was recently reminded of the importance of its work by County Executive George Borrello. At the Education Coalition’s March 27th meeting at Cassadaga Valley Central School, Borrello noted that he has visited 91 businesses since coming into office and through those visits has identified 425 job openings. The County Executive’s findings are consistent with data collected by the Manufacturers Association, which has identified the need for 280 skilled workers per year in the area to back-fill job manufacturing job openings due to retirement.

Additional stakeholders are always invited to share in the process. We welcome participants from business, education, government, and community organizations that may be interested in working collaboratively on issues that affect our entire region. For more information, contact Education Coalition Director Justin Hanft at jhanft@educoalition.com.

CHAMBER APPRECIATION LUNCHEON APRIL 12

County Executive George Borrello will be the featured speaker during the Hanover Community Chamber of Commerce Annual Appreciation Luncheon, which will be held at noon, Thursday, April 12 at The Colony Seafood and Steakhouse, 876 Main Road, Irving. A long-time resident of the Hanover area, Mr. Borrello is in the process of visiting 100 businesses in Chautauqua County during his first 100 days in office. This luncheon is sponsored by Ecolab and is open to all Chamber members or prospective members. The cost is $25 per person. Seating is limited and advanced reservations are required. To register, call the Chamber at (716) 366-6200 or sign up online at www.chautauquachamber.org/events.

LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST IS APRIL 27

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 27 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., Fredonia College Foundation, Jamestown Community College, Jamestown Mattress Company, Nestle Purina PetCare, OBSERVER, The Post-Journal, Serta Mattress Company, 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.

SHOPTAUQUA GIFT CARDS MAKE GREAT GIFTS

For Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, or spring graduations, birthdays, weddings, showers and other events, you can give one gift that does it all: the Shoptauqua Gift Card! The Chamber’s Shoptauqua Gift Card can be used at more than 100 merchants throughout Chautauqua County for everything from groceries to housewares to local entertainment or dining. In recognition of the value of supporting local merchants, the Shoptauqua Gift Card is proudly sponsored by the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency as we work together to support oru small, local business community. To purchase Shoptauqua Gift Cards, contact the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce at 484-1101 or 366-6200 or visit our offices during normal business hours, 8am-4:30pm Monday-Friday (closed holidays) at 512 Falconer Street, Jamestown or 10785 Bennett Road, Dunkirk. To learn more, visit www.shoptauqua.com.