In This June Issue...
  • Message from the President: A Successful SBAL!
  • Monday Minute: ECMC breaks ground on new ER
  • Ignite Buffalo: $$$$$ for your business!
  • Join us in the Tent at the Corporate Challenge!
  • Golf/Tennis anyone? It's for SUNY Erie scholarships!
  • Who wants Darien Lake Tickets?
  • Want us to send you a TEXT?
  • Ask the Expert: The difference between generic and brand-name drugs
Message from the President/CEO
If our Small Business Showcase and Awards Luncheon is any indication, small business is alive and well in WNY.
 
What a great vibe during our event a few weeks ago. Nearly 50 businesses set up shop at Samuel’s Grande Manor with a record number of attendees showing up to check out their products and join us for lunch.
 
We handed out awards to six standout local companies, highlighted in the Amherst Bee , but we see great value in all our member businesses.

Read on here .
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OUR MONDAY MINUTE WITH ECMC
A.J. Baynes goes one-on-one with ECMC President/CEO Thomas Quatroche in this month's edition of our First Monday Minute.

ECMC has broken ground on a new, $55 million dollar Trauma Center to serve patients all over WNY.

We'll feature a video interview each month on matters important to our members.
Thank you to Chamber member Nickel City Graphics for telling our story in videos that included Laura Zaepfel from investor Uniland Development and Jody Lomeo from investor Kaleida Health, and thanks to Chamber member Park Place Installations for allowing everyone at our Small Business Awards Luncheon to hear our story! Check out the videos here!
SMALL BUSINESSES MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR UP TO $100,000 IN GRANT MONEY THROUGH IGNITE BUFFALO , THANKS TO A PARTNERSHIP WITH M&T BANK , 43 NORTH & FACEBOOK!

Main Street Small Businesses:
Eligibility for the “Main Street” category is based on the following criteria:
  • Focus on serving local Western New York customers with a product or service
  • Most likely have an established storefront within Western New York or sell primarily to customers within Western New York via a website
  • General focus on driving traffic to storefront or services on company website
Scalable Small Businesses:
Eligibility for the “Scalable” category is based on these criteria:
  • Focus is on a product or service that has potential to grow to meet customer demand beyond Western New York
  • Generally at pre-seed/seed stage of development with minimal formal investment to date
  • Business is based in Western New York but growth is expected to attract customers beyond the Western New York community
  • Generally not a storefront or brick-and-mortar operation
All applicants must have:
  • Mailing address within one of the following 8 counties:Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, Wyoming
  • CEO, Founder, or Owner and more than 50% of company employees must reside within the region
  • Established as a registered business for 1 year
  • Must provide evidence of business traction. For example, an eligible business will have existing customers and/or revenue, and be able to provide references
  • Ability to attend the Community Boost Buffalo live events on July 9–11, 2018 and be prepared to give a live stage presentation if advanced to the final round
  • Available to be an active participant in mentorship & sustainability programming post-event for 12 months
  • MORE INFO: ignitebuffalo.org



NYISO is an investor in the Chamber that independently manages New York's power grid and energy markets. It just released its 2018 Power Trend Report. 
READ IT HERE .
Be "In The Know!"
Mark Your Calendar!

BRAINSTORMING WITH THE BRC!

Date: Thursday, June 7

Time: 8:30am-10:30am

Location:
Daemen College, Wick Campus Center
4380 Main Street, Amherst

The Eagle House!


Date: Friday, June 8

Time: 12pm-1pm

Location: 5578 Main Street, Williamsville

Check out the menu HERE and let us know if you're IN by registering HERE .
 
Rockin' On The Patio with a DJ and the T-Mobile Truck!
Date: Tuesday, June 19

Time: 5pm-7pm

Location: Buffalo Marriott Niagara , 1340 Millersport Highway, Williamsville

Party with the Chamber at the Corporate Challenge!
Join Us At The Tent!
The Chamber has set up a team to run/walk in the Corporate Challenge! Come join us for the after-party at the TENT! It will be fun!

Date: Thursday, June 14
Time: 7:30pm
Location: Delaware Park, Buffalo

TENT, T-SHIRTS, FOOD, DRINK! MORE INFO HERE!
To register for Golf/Tennis/Dinner/Sponsorships click here .
ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS! Donate gift cards to the Suny Erie Scholarship event. Contact organizers here!
GET YOUR DARIEN LAKE TICKETS... AT THE CHAMBER!
$65 a pair (includes $10 parking pass!)
Call us at 632-6905 or info@amherstchamber.org
DO YOU WANT TO RECEIVE CHAMBER TEXT MESSAGES???
If you would like us to send you text reminders of special events going on... OPT IN* ! Here's how:

TEXT " notify acc " to 313131 . That easy! To opt-out, TEXT " STOP "

* Text messaging rates may apply
Need Health Insurance? We Have You Covered!
The Amherst Chamber of Commerce operates a Health Insurance Agency within our organization with three licensed professionals on staff who can provide personal attention!

We offer plans from the local carriers at all price points. Our brokers will help you identify the coverage that meets your needs and be available to answer any questions that may arise. We offer health insurance for individuals, sole proprietors and small groups.   

If your small group health insurance is up for renewal, we can help! Just give us a call!

Contact Penny, Christine or Olivia at 632-6905 or email healthinsurance@amherst.org
“Ask the Expert” Corner – Martin Burruano, R.Ph., Vice President of Pharmacy Services at Independent Health
 
Q: Are generic drugs really the same as brand-name drugs?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) estimates that nearly 90 percent of all prescriptions filled in this country are generic versions of brand-name prescription medications. It is important to know that all manufacturers of generic and brand-name medications must adhere to strict manufacturing requirements from the FDA in order to earn approval to distribute and sell their products.
 
FDA regulations require that generic medications be made with the identical active ingredient and adhere to the same standards of purity, stability, strength, and quality as similar brand-name drugs. In addition to being pharmaceutically equivalent, a generic drug must also be “bioequivalent” to the brand-name drug, which means it will work in the body in the same way (same amount goes into the body within the same time frame) and be as safe and effective as the brand-name version. Essentially, generic drugs are the exact same products as brand-name drugs, but in different packaging.
 
However, generics do differ in one big way – cost. They typically are less expensive than brand-name drugs because generic drug companies do not have the same initial research and development costs, as well as advertising and marketing expenses, to pass on in their prices. In most cases, generics cost 30 to 80 percent less than brand-name versions.
Thank You to Our Investors
 Amherst Chamber of Commerce | (P) 716.632.6905 | (F) 716.632.0548 | www.amherst.org