On behalf of the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce and the Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier we express our appreciation to the 16 legislators who voted yes on resolution No. 189-12, titled Authorizing Negotiation of Contract for Sale of the Chautauqua County Home. We view this vote as reassurance that a majority of the legislators are hearing our voice and the voice of the majority of the property taxpayers in Chautauqua County.
As I stated at the special legislative meeting on Oct. 18 there is clearly consensus among everyone that we need to find a way to continue to provide care at the facility, maintain jobs, get the facility to a better financial situation and lower the burden on the property taxpayer. There is a difference in opinion on how to get this accomplished. The studies and data provide very clear evidence that there is only one solution to this situation and that is to sell the home to a private company. We view last week's vote by the legislature as a vote of confidence for the county executive to proceed with the next step of negotiating with the prospective purchaser, Altitude. We also view the vote in support of this next step as a vote to keep the facility open, maintain the jobs at the facility, improve the financial situation at the facility and put the facility on the tax rolls. This is good government.
Thank you to, George Borrello, Rod Rogers, Robert Stewart, Tom Erlandson, Larry Barmore, Mark Tarbrake, Victoria James, Paula DeJoy, Charles Nazzaro, Vince Horrigan, Paul Wendell, Jay Gould, Fred Croscut, David Himelein, John Hemmer and Bob Scudder for continuing the due diligence process.
MEET?THE?NEW?CONGRESSMAN
AT?NOV. 9 LUNCHEON
The Chamber of Commerce is providing a unique opportunity this fall for area business people to meet with the new 23rd district representative in Congress. Just days after the election, the Chamber will present the annual federal Congressional luncheon, to be held Friday, Nov. 9 at Moon Brook Country Club. Both Republican candidate Tom Reed and Democratic candidate Nate Shinagawa have accepted the invitation, and whoever wins the election will be the Chamber's guest speaker that day.
The Chamber has provided a meeting in the past with the area's representative in Congress. This year, however, offers a unique opportunity. Since new Congressional district lines were drawn following the 2010 Census, this is the first election for the new 23rd Congressional district. As a result, the nature of the district has changed and this will be a first chance for the representative to meet with his constituency.
The cost of the luncheon is $18 for Chamber members or $21 for nonmembers. This event is sponsored by Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Jamestown Mattress Company, Jamestown Savings Bank Arena, Lake Erie Regional Health System of New York, Medicor Associates, NRG Dunkirk Power, WCA Hospital, Jamestown Jammers Baseball, OBSERVER, The Post-Journal, Chadwick Bay Broadcasting-WDOE/KIX96, and WJTN/WWSE/WKSN/WHUG/WQFX. Anyone who wants to attend may call the Chamber at 366-6200 or 484-1101 to register, or may register online at www.chautauquachamber.org.
SOCIAL?MEDIA?CLASSES OFFERED?
FOR?BUSINESS OWNERS
The Chamber of Commerce and JCC's Office of Continuing Education will be offering four new social media classes for business in the next couple of months.
If a business has a website and the owners are wondering whether anyone can find it online, this next class is for them. "Search Engine Optimization and Google Analytics" will provide valuable information on how to make your website be one of the first to show up when someone Google's your name or type of business. Search Engine Optimization is the key to being "found" on the Web. Analytics will help track the numbers of people who are looking at your site and matching it to your business outcomes. The class will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 6 and Thursday, Nov. 8 in the computer lab at JCC's Carnahan Center.
"Having a Web Presence Without A Website" is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 13 at JCC's Carnahan Center. The Small Business Development Center is also a co-sponsor of this session, which will demonstrate how you can use other forms of social media to develop a presence on the Internet.
In addition, two classes in December will be offered jointly at both the Jamestown and Dunkirk campuses. On Tuesday, Dec. 4, the class "Using Google Tools to Support Your Business" will run from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. Google Tools is free software and available wherever you are to help you create and share surveys, forms, and documents. On Thursday, Dec. 6, "Social Network Office Policies" will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The class will focus on helping to establish policies for businesses and employees use of online tools. Both of these classes will be held in the boardrooms of the Dunkirk and Jamestown campuses, via videoconferencing, to allow the greatest number of participants.
This social media series is being offered for free to Chamber members and nonmembers alike, thanks to funding from the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation and the Knight Foundation. Lunch will be provided for these classes. To register, contact Continuing Ed at JCC at 338-1005.
CHAMBER?WEBSITE?HAS?
BENEFITS?FOR?MEMBERS
Members of the Chamber of Commerce can log in on the Chamber's website to update their business or contact information, pay a bill, add a coupon to the landing page, or review a referral report to see how often the business has been viewed on the Chamber website or referred on the phone. Those who need help logging in, can call the Chamber office at 484-1101 or 366-6200 or email cccc@chautauquachamber.org.