CALL TO ACTION: THIS IS IMPORTANT!
The other thing you are going to see and hear us talking about is workforce development. Many businesses and organizations are struggling to find the people they need to sustain and grow. The Chamber is working with the Cayuga Economic Development Agency and a number of community partners to do a workforce needs assessment so that we can help in creating and advocating for workforce solutions to meet our local needs. This comes in the form of a survey that will help us better understand what positions Cayuga County employers are having a hard time filling and providing training for. Please take the time to help in this effort by completing the survey here:
The more information our taskforce gets, the better the outcomes will be for all.
And now back to your regularly scheduled program…
Summer Fun
The Chamber certainly didn’t take a vacation this summer. Chamber staff and volunteers delivered nearly 400 bags full of goodies and information to Chamber members. We enjoy working with all of you, so this effort was a gesture of our appreciation for your ongoing support and participation. We hope you found something that made you smile in your bag! We also hosted an Educational Seminar about Successful Internship Programs. Two panels helped attendees learn about starting and managing internship programs, as well as what to expect to gain from and give for these programs. Notes from this seminar are available in the Members Only section of the Chamber website. Just click on the “Member Login” link at the top of the website. (If you need help with your username and password, please give us a call.) If you are interested in finding an intern, you can also fill out this Internship Interest Form: Then came the Clambake! We were at Yawgerbrook this year, and the food was fantastic! Thank you to everyone who came, our event sponsor Chemung Canal Trust Company, and to Finger Lakes Daily News (WAUB/Classic Hits 99.3/Mix 98.5) for live broadcasting the event. A great time was had by all, and we are already eagerly awaiting next year’s Clambake!
Looking Forward to Fall
While we all hope for a few more weeks of long, sunshiny days, Fall is just around the corner and there are all sorts of things to look forward to. The biggest thing is the Annual Dinner on October 18. This is the most anticipated event of the year and always has great attendance. I think this year’s theme aligns with what a lot of us seem to be feeling: Celebrate Cayuga! There has really been a lot of positivity in the air lately, and we are thrilled to be able to bring that to the Dinner. We’ll be seeking contributions for this year’s presentation, specifically pictures and descriptions of who/what/where/when/why/how you celebrate in and about our great County. Keep an eye out for instructions on how to submit your pictures!
In the meantime, we also have another Educational Seminar coming up on September 12 at 9am. This one will be about Succession Planning, and important topic for the vast majority of small businesses and non-profits.We’ll also have a Business at noon at Strawberry Fields on September 7 and a Business After Five at the Schweinfurth Art Center on September 14. We look forward to seeing you at any of these upcoming events, and as always, don’t hesitate to reach out if there is anything we can do for you!
Tracy Verrier
Executive Director, Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce