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Small Business Saturday is Nov. 24

Shopping locally is good for our economy and very directly helps to support your friends, neighbors, and community. Time after time studies have shown that it does make a difference when people choose to buy from locally owned stores and businesses. A 2010 study by the Michigan State University Center for Community and Economic Development shows that for every $100 in consumer spending with a locally owned business, $73 remains in the local economy and is dispersed through local wages, charitable donations, taxes that fund local services, and purchases of goods and services through other local businesses. The Michigan State study also shows that for each $100 spent with a non-locally owned business, just $43 remains in the local economy.

Once again this year the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce has signed on as a Neighborhood Champion for Small Business Saturday. That means we are helping to promote the shop small movement right here in our own communities. We hope you will take time this coming holiday season to check out locally owned businesses. You are sure to find special and unique gift items that are personal and meaningful.

Participating member businesses this year include art galleries: Chautauqua Art Gallery in Lakewood and Two Lakes Studios in Mayville; book store: Off the Beaten Path Bookstore in Lakewood; consignment shop: Til You Drop Shoppe in Fredonia; florist: Girton’s Flowers & Gifts in Jamestown; furniture and flooring: Moran’s Floor Store and Furniture in Jamestown and Pucci’s Carpet One Furniture in Fredonia; hair salon: A Cut Above the Rest in Silver Creek; hardware stores: ADD Lumber Company in Dunkirk, Irving, and Westfield, and Weiss Hardware in Dunkirk; interior design: Feather Your Nest in Fredonia; marina: Smith Boys of Chautauqua in Ashville; museum shops: Audubon Community Nature Center, Fenton History Center, and Roger Tory Peterson Institute all in Jamestown; satellite systems: Lane TV and Satellite in Sinclairville; retail and specialty items: Craft Cottage of Chautauqua in Falconer, Cross Roads Farm & Craft Market in Westfield, Grape Discovery Center in Westfield; Hollyloft Ski & Bike in Jamestown, Jamestown Cycle Shop in Jamestown, Skillmans in Bemus Point, and Webb’s Cottage Collection in Mayville, and thrift shop: 2nd Chances Thrift Store in Jamestown. You can also take a lunch or dinner break and dine local at these and other locally owned restaurants: Ashville General Store, Ashville; Calarco’s Italian Restaurant, Westfield; Central Station Restaurant, Dunkirk; EBC West, Fredonia; Honest John’s Pizzeria, Jamestown; Pace’s Pizza, Jamestown; and Rookies on the Lake, Dunkirk. To learn about their specials and hours for Small Business Saturday, check our website.

In addition, The Dunkirk Community Chamber of Commerce and the City of Dunkirk will celebrate Small Business Saturday at the former JC Penney location in the D & F Plaza, Dunkirk, featuring snacks and beverages, vendors, activities for children, live music, and a visit from Santa! The hours are noon to 5 p.m. on Nov. 24. In Fredonia, Small Business Saturday kicks off a full week of shop small activities and specials leading up to the Miracle on Main celebration on Dec. 1.

The Chamber is focused on supporting local business and helping to drive foot traffic into local businesses. As part of our Small Business Saturday project, we are helping to market small, locally owned stores that serve people right here in our own backyard. We encourage you to shop local. It really does make a difference!

Young professionals to be recognized by Chamber of Commerce

Two local women who have helped to spearhead Young Professional movements in Chautauqua County will be honored with this year’s Pam Lydic Coalition Builder Award from the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce. Monica Kemp-Simpson of Dunkirk and Simone Sellstrom of Jamestown will jointly receive the award during the Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting on Friday, Dec. 7 at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel. Ms. Kemp-Simpson is Incubator Program Manager at the Fredonia Technology Incubator. Ms. Sellstrom is an Assistant Professor and Director of Media, Visual, and Performing Arts; Communication Coordinator at Jamestown Community College. They have each worked diligently to organize young professionals to build networks and professional relationships to enhance their communities.

Guest speaker for the event will be David P. Hart, President and CEO of Hart Hotels. A privately owned company based in Buffalo, Hart Hotels has more than 30 years of experience developing, operating, and managing hotels and restaurants. Its Harbor Hotel Collection features a portfolio of award winning hotels in Portland, Maine; Watkins Glen New York; and Clayton, New York. The Inn at Diamond Cove is located on the historic site of Fort McKinley on Great Diamond Island in Portland, ME. Working with the Krog Group, Hart Hotels recently completed and opened the new $38-million Chautauqua Harbor Hotel in Celoron. This world-class destination hotel and conference facility is located on and pays tribute to the former Celoron Amusement Park, which closed decades ago leaving a vacant nine acre site on the lake shore. Mr. Hart will be talking about building successful partnerships, such as the Hart and Krog alliance for the Celoron project, as well as trends in the hospitality and tourism industry and the economic and environmental factors that go into consideration before a development.

This luncheon event will be held at noon on Dec. 7 and is sponsored by DFT Communications. Chamber members and non-members are invited to attend. The cost is $24 for members or $26 for non-members. Advance registration is required. You can sign up online at www.chautauquachamber.org or call the Chamber at 366-6200 or 484-1101.

Shoptauqua Chamber gift cards: the

perfect gift!

Even when you’re buying for someone who seems to have all they need, or someone with particular tastes, you can still give a gift that is meaningful and supports our local economy. The Shoptauqua Chamber Gift Card can be used at more than 120 merchants throughout Chautauqua County for just about anything! Our participating merchant list includes antique stores, clothing stores, grocery stores, sporting goods, hardware, attractions and movies, salons, wineries, and much more! Shoptauqua Gift Cards can be purchased for any amount up to $500. Call the Chamber for more information 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. Pre-orders are strongly encouraged.

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