We proudly announce that our Small Business Awards Luncheon and Showcase will take place on Thursday, July 18, at Salvatore's Italian Gardens. This event, a true celebration of our community, is a time when we come together to honor the small businesses that have set the gold standard for our community. It's a testament to the strength and resilience of our local business community, and we couldn't be more proud to host it. Last year, there was a record-setting attendance, with over 350 people in the room, when we honored Hartman's Distilling Company as our Business of the Year, along with several other businesses and individuals receiving recognition. What makes this event so unique is that it is the only event we host, where we have about 50 chamber member businesses in a single room with vendor tables set up to promote their business and network. We want to hear from our members and encourage all of you to nominate a business that deserves recognition. Please click to register for a showcase table, buy tickets, or learn more.

Tonight, we will have our rescheduled Business After Hours and ribbon cutting at The Establishment. If you still need to register, please do so by clicking here. Staying on the networking side, we recently hosted our Lunch Mob at Deep South Taco, which is always a great time whenever we can sit outdoors with colleagues. Lunch Mob is back in Amherst on Tuesday, June 4, at Amherst Pizza and Ale House at Crosspoint Parkway. Please register here.

Wegmans, who has long been a supporter of the Amherst Chamber, is hosting a learning session about changes coming to their corporate programming on Friday, May 17, at noon. If you use Wegmans for catering or want to learn more, please click here.

The Chamber LIFT (Leadership Inspiration For Trailblazers) Council has been working hard the past few months, planting the seeds for this women-only networking group READ MORE.

Registration is open for Spring programming:

Bank of America unveils FREE Online Educational Resources for Women  People Inc CEO highlights its recent community success

As a way to encourage exercise, recreation and transportation through bicycling, Independent Health and Shared Mobility, Inc. have partnered to launch the ninth season of the popular Reddy Bikeshare program. With more than 450 bikes at 110+ stations across Buffalo and Niagara Falls, we’re making it easy for Western New Yorkers to commute to work, ride to school, visit your favorite park or take a leisurely roll.

Since being rolled out in July 2016, Reddy Bikeshare has steadily grown in usage and membership. Over the first eight years, users have pedaled 569,000 miles across the region.

Along with standard pedal bicycles, a fleet of new Reddy+ e-bikes (pedal-assist electric bicycles) are now available for short-term, shared use at select locations. We are also offering a new discounted bikeshare pass for East Buffalo residents. Plus, Independent Health members are once again eligible for a 20 percent discount off an annual bikeshare membership.

Eligible riders must be 18 years of age or older. You can access a Reddy bike 24/7 by following these steps:

1.     Sign up – Download the Social Bicycles (SoBi) app on your mobile device or on the web at app.socialbicycles.com and choose your pass to get started. Ensure that your phone’s GPS is enabled to find bikes available nearby.

2.     Reserve/Unlock a bike – Use the app to reserve a bike or scan the QR code on the back of the bike using the SoBi app to unlock. Remember to ride safely and obey all traffic laws.

3.     Enjoy your time – The hold feature allows you to make multiple stops during your ride without a parking fee. Press the “HOLD” button on the bike or in the SoBi App and lock the bike to a rack.

4.     Lock – When you reach your destination, lock the bike and check your SoBi App to ensure your trip has ended.

To register for a Reddy Bikeshare membership and to view prices and a map of bike stations, please visit www.reddybikeshare.com.