#StrongerTogether
Third Thursday: Chamber Connects with NYS Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli

Start your day with a productive and potentially profitable virtual learning opportunity! Stay current on what’s happening in Delaware County and the region, and learn how to effectively pivot toward a sustainable and thriving business model. 

Our FREE monthly Third Thursday : Chamber Connects interactive, virtual
Q & A webinar on April 15 from 8:30 - 9:30 a.m., is a terrific opportunity to participate in a leader-led conversation focused on building a better business and better business climate!

The featured speaker for this event is New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.

Elected in 2007 and again in 2010, 2014 and 2018, the Comptroller is the state's chief fiscal officer who ensures that state and local governments use taxpayer money effectively and efficiently to promote the common good.

The Comptroller's responsibilities include:
  • Serving as trustee of the $210.5 billion NYS Common Retirement Fund, one of the largest institutional investors in the world.
  • Administering the state and local retirement system for public employees, with more than one million members, retirees and beneficiaries and more than 3,000 employers.
  • Maintaining the state's accounting system and administering its $16.7 billion payroll.
  • Reporting on state finances.
  • Reviewing state contracts and auditing payments.
  • Conducting audits of state agencies and public benefit corporations.
  • Overseeing the fiscal affairs of local governments, including New York City.
  • Serving as custodian of more than $15 billion in unclaimed funds, restoring lost accounts to their rightful owners.
  • Conducting training and providing technical assistance to improve government operations at all levels, and more.

Delaware National Bank of Delhi is sponsoring this event. The Delaware National Bank of Delhi is truly a community minded bank, with customer service standards second to none. We gather our deposits locally and reinvest them back into the community. Our employees are very active in community affairs, realizing that the success of the community has a direct correlation to success of the bank. For more information, visit DNBD.Bank.

To register click here.
Country Cares for St. Jude Kids Radiothon
Thunder 104.5 and Bold Gold Media Group annual Radiothon to support St. Jude Children Hospital is approaching .

You can support this effort by becoming a Letter of the Day sponsor. The Letter of the day sponsorship includes Fifteen-Second Sponsor Billboard followed by the Letter of the Day Feature, Once an hour (24 Hours) on Sponsored Day. Packages include a Single Day Sponsorship (24 Features per sponsored day) for $200; Two Day Sponsorship (24 features per sponsored days, plus 40 sixty-second commercials) for $400; or a Three Day Sponsorship (24 features per sponsored days, plus 75 sixty-second commercials) for $600.

Contact Paul Ciliberto at pciliberto@BoldGoldMedia.com for more information about sponsorship and how you can be an active
First Friday : Networking @ Noon

We are all doing business in new ways and need to promote our businesses in new ways too! The Chamber is launching a new VIRTUAL member business networking event, First Friday : Networking @ Noon, on Friday, May 7, where members will have the opportunity to promote their businesses to other members in speed-dating style! Each business will have four minutes to talk about their business to promote sales, specials, or simply let other members know what type of business you operate. Referrals are the most effective and powerful way to grow your business! 

To register and claim your promotion slot, click here.
SBDC Advisors Bob Griffin & Maureen Riester will provide you with important information regarding the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. Among the key topics they will address: application eligibility, filing requirements, approved use of funds, and compliance issues.
 
Participants are strongly encouraged to submit any questions during the registration process. You can also submit questions, via email, to sbdc@binghamton.edu. There will also be a question and answer portion at the end of the presentation.
TUESDAY, APRIL 13th | NOON
SBA to Open Shuttered Venue Operators Grants
for Applications
The U.S. Small Business Administration will officially open the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) application portal on April 8 for operators of live venues, live performing arts organizations, museums and movie theatres, as well as live venue promoters, theatrical producers and talent representatives to apply for critical economic relief, as those eligible entities are some of the first that had to shutter their doors a year ago in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
“Concerts, plays, dance performances, movie premieres, museum exhibits – these are the lifeblood of culture and community, and often the anchor for travel, tourism and neighborhood food and retail stores. We know that for the stage and venue operators across the nation that help make this culture happen, the pandemic has been devastating. Too many have been forced to lower the final curtain on their businesses. Today, with more than $16.2 billion available through the Shuttered Venue Operators Grants, help is here,” said SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman. “The SBA is committed to moving as quickly as possible to deliver this vital funding effectively and equitably - ensuring relief goes to those venue operators whose revenues have been most impacted by the pandemic.” 
‘RAISE’ MARKET INTELLIGENCE TO GROW YOUR EXPORTS
Webinar for New York State Rural Businesses – Thursday, May 6, 2021
When looking to enter new international markets, insufficient research can result in faulty decisions regarding market selection, partner identification/vetting, pricing strategies, and more. 

Please join us for a complimentary webinar to learn about services offered through the U.S. Commercial Service for rural exporters, including Rural America’s Intelligence Service for Exporters (RAISE). RAISE market research reports can offer your company targeted intelligence to help maximize your export sales. 
 
In addition, learn how Empire State Development/Global NY can assist, including through grant funding to reimburse your company for using RAISE and other CS services, participating in trade events, and more.
 
Please join us on Thursday, May 6th at 10:00am EDT to learn how to:
 
  • Get customized country- and industry-specific research for your company
  • Identify and prioritize top markets for your products
  • Connect with new prospective partners overseas
  • Identify the top trade events/conferences to promote your products
  • Understand the competitive environment within different markets
  • Use federal STEP grant funds, administered through our state partner Global NY, to help offset the cost of international market research and marketing activities
 
There is no cost to attend this webinar. Register HERE.
Chamber to Launch Ambassador Program
Do you have a lively, engaging, and proactive personality? 

Do you have the confidence to make personal contact with any Chamber member? 

Do you project a positive image for your company and the Chamber? 

Do you have three to four hours a month to volunteer?

If this describes you, we want you to consider joining this new Chamber initiative.

Ambassadors perform several duties in the Chamber, but the primary function is to help promote the Chamber, welcome new members to the Chamber, and make Chamber events more successful and enjoyable for everyone. They are a special group of volunteers who help promote Delaware County business community and support Chamber functions.

As an Ambassador, you commit to participating in quarterly meetings, attend Chamber ribbon cuttings, grand openings and other events, greet new members, and encourage members to attend Chamber events, programs, and involvement opportunities.

The many benefits of being a Chamber Ambassador include opportunities to connect with new and existing members, meet business and community leaders, chance to promote business and community growth, potential media coverage, as well as personal and professional recognition. 

To apply contact Chamber president Ray Pucci at rpucci@delawarecounty.org for more information. 
Save The Date
Virtual Job Fair May 4

The Chamber is partnering with DCMO BOCES, ONC BOCES, Otsego County Chamber of Commerce and Commerce Chenango for a virtual job fair to be held May 4.

This will be a great opportunity to develop your workforce and hire candidates who are ready, willing and eager to work.
More information to come.
Save the date!
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is collecting feedback from the people of Appalachia to help set priorities for the 2022-2026 strategic plan. This survey will take around 10 minutes to complete, and will be open until April 30, 2021. You will have the opportunity to provide input on the economic opportunities and challenges in your community, and to reflect on which strategies are most important to your community’s prosperity.
FREE (Virtual) One-on-One Business Counseling Sessions

The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is offering FREE comprehensive programming to provide management and technical assistance to small businesses in Delaware County!

Specializing in direct one-to-one counseling, the SBDC offers assistance in the following business areas:

  • Start-up assistance
  • Business Plan Development
  • Accounting and Financial Projections
  • Sources of Financing
  • Marketing
  • Business Expansion
  • Relocation and Agribusiness

There is no cost for the counseling services of the SBDC.

Reservations are required for the one hour appointments. Schedule your appointment at by clicking HERE.
Chamber Online Learning Center
As part of the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce ongoing initiative to respond to member needs, an online learning center has been opened to help businesses meet their training needs in three key areas:

  • Leadership, Management, and Supervisory Skills
  • Sales and Customer Service Skills
  • Human Resource Compliance Skills

In a self-paced, online learning environment, your staff can learn and enhance various skills including how to create a productive working environment, effective delegation, conflict management, working in a remote environment, working post-COVID and much more.

Sales and customer service modules focus on handling client or customer attitudes and objections, negotiating styles and effective sales negotiation and the dos and don'ts of effective customer services.

Human resources modules include diversity and inclusion training, micro-inequities, process of stereotyping and methods of exclusion, among other topics.

Each module is priced at a reduced rate of $45 per person.

Annual Sexual Harassment Prevention Training
The Chamber has partnered with New Haven Consulting Group, Inc. to provide our members with an online “Preventing Sexual Harassment" workshop that meets the requirements of the new law.

This program is available at a Chamber-member reduced price of $20 per participant.

The Delaware County Chamber is a private, non-governmental, not-for-profit membership organization. We believe that healthy communities begin with healthy businesses. By focusing on key areas–community and economic development, advocacy, tourism promotion, and business engagement–we partner with municipal leaders, community organizations, and local companies to present a unified voice of business for the improvement of our communities.
5 1/2 Main Street
Delhi, New York 13753

Give Us A Call: 607.746.2281

DelawareCounty.org
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