A monthly newsletter from the
Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce June 2018 Base Hits Lead to Wins in Economic Development Written by Todd J. Tranum, President and CEO of the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce & Executive Director of the Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier
While everyone loves to see a homerun, that’s a rarity. But a series of base hits can be even more effective when it comes to regional economic development. That message was delivered loud and clear during the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundations Local Economic Development Initiative annual summit this past week. Patrick Whalen is currently the director of the Niagara Global Tourism Institute and is the former Chief Operating Officer of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. Whalen, who has launched his own successful businesses over the years, admits that he is more of an operator and not a visionary. But he says all of the success of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus has been due to a series of smaller steps that transformed the way people function and even their attitudes. “Buy in at the top is critical,” he said. “The BNMC was only successful because the leadership at the University at Buffalo, Kaleida Health, and Roswell Park Cancer Institute were all directly involved in making joint decisions.” It is that high level collaboration, Whalen noted, that makes the most difference when it comes to actually getting things done. These are crucial points for Chautauqua County, even as we work to build off some major new economic drivers in the Dunkirk area with pending development of the Athenex plant, and in the Jamestown area with the National Comedy Center opening just months away. We must continually remind ourselves that those entities do not stand alone in the mix of industrial or tourism related business developments that are making transformative change in our region. It is the support and augmentation of numerous additional businesses and attractions, along with opportunities for lodging, recreation, housing, and a sound education, that will continue to create the type of full and rich lifestyle we want and need to attract a vibrant workforce to our region. Panelists for the follow-up discussion were County Executive George Borrello, Industrial Development Agency Director Mark Geise, SUNY Fredonia Vice President Kevin Kearns, Nate Aldrich, LED Community Economic Development Specialist, Katie Geise of the Workforce Development Board, and private developer Bill Gugino, who is working with the City of Dunkirk now to bring some vitality and passion to new projects along the waterfront. Collaboration is key and we commend all who participated, including the Chautauqua County Education Coalition which changed its meeting location in order to bring its members to the event in a show of community spirit.
Business Over Bagels: Hire and Train Good Employees The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce and JCC Continuing Education are proud to present an important topic for the next Business Over Bagels, which will be held Tuesday, June 19 at the JCC North Training Center, 10785 Bennett Road, Dunkirk. Trainer Elizabeth Cipolla will present Hire and Train Good Employees, with a focus on building a strong workforce. Businesses know that it takes time and money to find, hire, and train employees. Hiring the right employee is worth the effort, while hiring one who doesn’t work out is a cost to the business. Join us for this morning session that will explore a variety of topics including how to advertise for new employees, how to interview potential candidates, onboarding new employees, how to clearly state job expectations, and more.
Calendar of Chamber and Chamber Member Events 6/1 - 8:30am, Chamber Annual County Executive Breakfast, Moon Brook Country Club 6/1-3 - Fredonia Community Chamber Annual Attic & Seller Days 6/1 - 5-8pm, First Friday, Westfield 6/2 - Shake, Rumble & Roll for Traumatic Brain Injury, 10am start at The Resource Center, Dunham Ave, Jamestown 6/2 - 9am, Bach BBQ, Bake Sale & Basket Auction to support the Bach & Beyond Baroque Music Festival at the 1891 Fredonia Opera House 6/7 - Laugh Out Loud: A Sneak Peek Comedy Extravaganza, National Comedy Center, Jamestown 6/8 - 4-7pm, Audubon Community Nature Center retirement party for President Ruth Lundin 6/8 - 6-8pm, Art Gala Event at Raymour & Flanigan, see works by artists with disabilities in The Resource Center's Creations Art Program 6/9 - 10am-2pm, 2018 Season opening for the Jamestown Public Market 6/12 - 10am-12noon, Business Plan Workshop, Fredonia Technology Incubator 6/15-17 - Bach and Beyond Festival, 1891 Fredonia Opera House 6/19 - 8:30am, Business Over Bagels: Hire and Train Good Employees, JCC North Training Center, Dunkirk 6/19 - Technology and Manufacturing Expo, Allen Industrial Sales, Falconer