New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli addressed the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting on Friday and pointed out the county has seen solid results in job development and unemployment in the last two years. But he also said while the impact of the COVID pandemic is mostly behind us it is not entirely gone yet. The hospitality and manufacturing sectors added jobs in Chautauqua County and are back to pre-pandemic levels. But government, including public education, is the largest employer in the county and is still below early 2020 levels.

While New York State has made important investments in childcare, mental health, education, and other needs, the Comptroller – who is the state’s fiscal watchdog – also urged caution on the coming year’s budget. He noted that monthly tax revenue has declined this fiscal year and urged state lawmakers and the Governor to be restrained when it comes to next year’s budget.

“Chambers are natural conveners,” DiNapoli noted, “and this Chamber and County have a lot of assets including tremendous natural resources, world class institutions, and great anchors in state education.”

He urged business, government, and nonprofits to continue to work closely together to keep New York State and its communities on sound financial footing.

The Chamber presented its 2023 Pam Lydic Coalition Builder Award to Bishop Leecroft Clarke, project director of the I.D.E.A. Coalition (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility). Under his leadership, the Coalition has grown from 18 to 45 members since June of 2022, and hosted six listening sessions in both Dunkirk and Jamestown with communities of color. It has identified three priorities that historically marginalized communities have elevated: Education, Business/Jobs, and Community/Social Activities.

Bishop Clarke said, “Often people tell me things won’t change. But I know things will change. We are all people with a history that we have not chosen, and we are all called to do something with that history to make it better for the next generation. We are looking to make Chautauqua County a better place for all.”

The Pam Lydic Coalition Builder Award is named for the first President/CEO of the Chautauqua County Chamber and recognizes an individual who has worked hard to bring groups of people together around a common goal or objective.

During a brief business meeting the Chamber membership elected new officers and board members for the coming year. Heather Brown of The Resource Center will be the Chair in 2024. Additional officers are Vice Chair Emily Reynolds, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County; Treasurer John Felton, Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union; Secretary Courtney Curatolo, Small Business Development Center, and Immediate Past Chair Fred Johnson, Johnson Estate Winery. Newly elected to the board are Robert Mazza, Mazza

Chautauqua Cellars/5 & 20 Spirits and Brewing, and Arthur Pearson, Roger Tory Peterson Institute. Continuing in At Large Board positions are Stephen Kolison, State University at Fredonia; Kris Sellstrom, Jamestown Board of Public Utilities; and Ben Webb, Webb’s Captain’s Table. Representing each Community Chamber Committee are: Dunkirk, Ellen Luczkowiak, Community Volunteer; Fredonia, Larry Fiorella, HBKS Wealth Advisors; Hanover, Aimee Rogers, Imagine Forestville; Jamestown, Vicki McGraw, Elegant Edibles Catering; Mayville-Chautauqua, Brian Pender, Chautauqua Lake Dental; and Westfield-Barcelona, Fred Johnson, Johnson Estate Winery.

ShopLocalCHQ Gift Cards Make Good Gifts For All

The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce sells ShopLocalCHQ Gift Cards all year round, but there is no doubt that December is our busiest month for these sales. The ShopLocalCHQ Gift Card can be purchased in any amount from $5 to $500 and can be redeemed at over 170 local participating merchants for everything from dining to gift shopping to services.

When you give a ShopLocalCHQ Gift Card, you can be assured that the recipient will find a local business (or more than one) where they can use the card. Whether they choose to have an experience such as visiting a local museum, winery, or attraction, buying necessities at the grocery or hardware store, purchasing a gift for yourself or someone else, or a great meal at a local restaurant, this one card will be supporting our local economy. In 2022, consumers used over $50,000 in ShopLocalCHQ Gift Cards to make purchases right here in Chautauqua County. That number is already on track to increase this year.

To make it easier to purchase ShopLocalCHQ Gift Cards, the Chamber is staffing its Jamestown office at 300 North Main Street from 8am-4:30pm Monday-Friday, and its Dunkirk office at 10785 Bennett Road from 8:30am-4:30pm Tuesdays and Thursdays before Christmas. The Chamber will be closed December 22, so please be sure to get your gift cards in advance.

Processing orders for multiple cards does take some time, so we urge you to call in advance at (716) 484-1101 extension 201 or email Carrie Swanson at cswanson@chautauquachamber.org. A convenient order form, and more details, can be found on our website at www.shoplocalchqcard.com.

The ShopLocalCHQ Gift Card is issued by Pathward™, N.A., Member FDIC. Funds do not expire. Non-reloadable and no cash access. For Cardholder Agreement or Customer Service: www.getmybalance.com or 1-833-558-1088.

Westfield Cookie Tour is December 16

Plan to do some shopping and cookie tasting in Westfield Saturday, December 16. From 11am-3pm, 23 businesses or organizations in the Westfield region will be offering one free cookie to each customer, along with a chance to win a $50 ShopLocalCHQ Gift Card. Stop at any of the participating businesses during those hours, get your cookie, and pick up a punch card. Then have it marked at other participating businesses and drop it into the entry box at ROCKTerra in Westfield at the end of the day. There is no purchase necessary, and you do not

need to fill the punch card. Participating businesses will be listed on the Chamber’s website and Westfield Facebook page along with a convenient Google map.