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February 26, 2023

Our workforce drives our businesses | News, Sports, Jobs

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President and CEO of the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce

It is a basic system, actually. People today drive company. Regardless of whether your company is a sole proprietorship, a little restaurant or business, or a more substantial maker, it is the folks undertaking the do the job that make issues materialize. Our workforce offer goods and companies – irrespective of whether they are placing foods on the table, running money stream, assembling components, or any a single of hundreds of other responsibilities that will need to be done.

For a few many years now we have been listening to about workforce shortages. In a county like ours the place we have witnessed a inhabitants drop, it is ever more difficult to find personnel. As individuals retire in our area it is tougher to change them. We have listened to that continuously from dining places to suppliers to development businesses and all the things in in between. Not all positions can be automated, so we have to have to function more durable to create back our workforce in the course of the area.

Thankfully, Chautauqua County is having ways to support beat both equally the population drop and the workforce drop. Even though our county has extensive been a tourism desired destination, now numerous of those people same assets that attract tourists are getting touted as causes for folks to are living in this article year-round. The Chautauqua County Partnership for Financial Growth is focused on business and local community development, as perfectly as workforce recruitment and advancement, with a large emphasis on the good quality of lifestyle in our communities.

The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce, the Chautauqua County Site visitors Bureau, and the Small Business enterprise Progress Center are focusing on these challenges in a couple of discussion boards coming up in March. The Chamber will hold a a single-hour panel dialogue on Workforce Recruitment and Retention as aspect of our Tuesday Talks webinar sequence on Tuesday, March 21. The CCVB will hold a early morning-long session on guidelines and equipment for hiring and preserving a seasonal workforce for a variety of tourism-similar firms on Thursday, March 23. The SBDC is partnering on each of these events and they are currently being cross-promoted by all a few organizations. We hope your small business will get portion in a person or the two of these plans to find out what resources are readily available and how you can consider gain of them. You can indicator up or discover extra by way of the Chamber’s on line calendar at www.chautauquachamber.org or via the Visitors Bureau web site at www.tourchautauqua.com.

TUESDAY TALKS: WORKFORCE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION IS MARCH 21

The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce and the Small Business Advancement Heart are delighted to open this year’s sequence of Tuesday Talks panel discussions with a forum centered on growing and retaining a strong workforce. In an environment where by fantastic staff may possibly be tricky to obtain and harder to maintain onto, the educational panel dialogue will emphasis on regional initiatives and methods.

Our visitor panelists are Nate Aldrich, Financial Advancement Coordinator, Chautauqua County Katie Geise, Workforce Investment Board/Chautauqua Will work Brian Lebarron, Jamestown Group College or university Workforce Advancement and Julie Website page, Jamestown Neighborhood School Job Companies

Tuesday Talks is a one-hour, on-line-only discussion board to supply suggestions and steering for local businesspeople. These situations are conveniently held by using Zoom, so you can go to from the ease and comfort of your personal desk chair and so they will not get a fantastic deal of time out of your workday. All attendees have to sign-up by means of the Chamber’s web calendar at www.chautauquachamber.org to get the Zoom connection.

Organization Soon after Hours AT THE Inexperienced Doorway TAVERN MARCH 16

The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce will keep its very first Small business After Hrs occasion for 2023 on Thursday, March 16 at The Environmentally friendly Door Tavern, Route 430, Bemus Place. Company Just after Hours is a Chamber networking function that operates from 5-6:30pm. It’s intended to enable neighborhood businesspeople satisfy in a snug placing, get pleasure from some appetizers and a hard cash bar, and offer a small info about their enterprise or firm.

Every single Chamber member business can ship two people at no expense to every single Company Right after Hours. Any employees previously mentioned the two-man or woman restrict, or non-customers, are welcome at $10 each individual. Advanced registration is not essential but is requested for our preparing uses. You can indication up now through the Chamber’s internet calendar at www.chautauquachamber.org.

This Business Following Hours event is sponsored by The Inexperienced Door Tavern, Media One Radio Group, The Post-Journal, and OBSERVER. Additional Company Following Hrs activities will be introduced all over the year.

CHAMBER Point out LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST IS

APRIL 28

The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce has scheduled its once-a-year State Legislative Breakfast for Friday, April 28 at Chautauqua Suites in Mayville. Condition Senator George Borrello and Assemblyman Andrew Goodell will be our friends for a discussion session with moderator John D’Agostino from the OBSERVER. We urge you to appear organized with inquiries for our condition elected reps.

Advanced registration is necessary and is open up now on the Chamber’s web calendar at www.chautauquachamber.org. This occasion is sponsored by Chautauqua Suites Meeting & Expo Middle, Media One particular Radio Team, OBSERVER, The Article-Journal, and the Compact Organization Improvement Heart.

Test-in will start at 8:00am with a buffet breakfast prepared, and the program will start off promptly at 8:30am. We talk to that all attendees stop by the buffet line prior to the application begins. The cost is $22 for Chamber users or $26 for non-associates. Signal up now or conserve the date and observe our calendar as we validate venues and dates for numerous other occasions in the yr ahead!

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February 18, 2023

Orange County man sentenced to prison, used $5 million in PPP loans to buy luxury sports cars

An Orange County man was sentenced to federal jail on Friday for applying tens of millions in fraudulent COVID-reduction financial loans to purchase luxurious sporting activities cars and trucks.

Mustafa Qadiri, 42, from Irvine, was sentenced to 4-and-a-fifty percent years in prison, fined $20,000 and requested to pay out $2,861,050 in restitution, in accordance to the U.S. Attorney’s Business.

Authorities say Qadiri fraudulently “obtained $5 million in COVID-aid financial loans for his sham enterprises, then made use of the dollars on himself, like getting Ferrari, Bentley and Lamborghini cars and trucks.”

The financial loans were being also utilized to fund lavish holidays and other private expenditures, officers reported.

Luxurious motor vehicle seized from Mustafa Qadiri’s possession that authorities say was obtained using fake PPP financial loans. (U.S. Attorney’s Place of work)
This picture presented by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement reveals a particular agent with HSI Los Angeles’s El Camino Genuine Economical Crimes Undertaking Drive seize a Ferrari from Orange County businessman Mustafa Qadiri on April 7, 2021, in Santa Ana, Calif. (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement by way of AP)
Luxury car seized from Mustafa Qadiri’s possession that authorities say was ordered making use of pretend PPP financial loans. (U.S. Attorney’s Office)
Luxurious car or truck seized from Mustafa Qadiri’s possession that authorities say was bought using faux PPP financial loans. (U.S. Attorney’s Place of work)

“Federal brokers seized the Ferrari, Bentley and Lamborghini vehicles that Qadiri ordered with the fraudulently acquired PPP loans, alongside with $2 million in ill-gotten gains from his financial institution account,” courtroom paperwork state.

Qadiri pleaded responsible in July 2021 to a person count of lender fraud, just one count of aggravated id theft and a single depend of cash laundering.

In May well and June of 2020, authorities say Qadiri submitted bogus Paycheck Protection Plan personal loan apps to 3 banking companies on behalf of four nonexistent Newport Seaside-dependent firms.

The programs incorporated altered financial institution information, sham tax returns and phony information about staff and their wages, according to courtroom paperwork.

Qadiri also made use of anyone else’s title, Social Safety number and signature to implement for just one of the financial loans, prosecutors explained.

PPP financial loans were being designed to give money guidance to having difficulties businesses all through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Homeland Protection Investigations, the Little Small business Administration Workplace of Inspector Typical, the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the circumstance as portion of the El Camino Serious Economic Crimes Undertaking Power.

Any person with details about tried fraud involving COVID-19 can report it to the Office of Justice’s Nationwide Centre for Catastrophe Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or on-line.

December 27, 2022

Setbacks define year in business | News, Sports, Jobs

Valvo’s in Silver Creek closed in 2022.

General, it was a depressing calendar year on the community small business scene.

Victories, these types of as the opening of the Americold chilly storage facility in the city of Dunkirk, had been overshadowed by setbacks. Most notably, important layoffs at the close by Wells ice cream and huge improvements at Athenex’s buildout harm personnel in the north county.

Amid more compact enterprises, a longtime Silver Creek institution closed — but a shuttered Fredonia icon is acquiring revived.

WELLS SCALES Back again

The corporation announced July 21 that it would “scale again functions … in 2023 to 5 production lines” at its Dunkirk plant.

The Wells ice product plant in Dunkirk declared layoffs of hundreds of staff.

Wells was acquired in early December by the Ferrero Group. Dunkirk Mayor Wilfred Rosas reported he experienced “received assurances there will not be additional reductions.”

Nevertheless, individuals reductions were devastating. In September, by means of the point out Labor Department, Wells announced 319 work would melt away by Jan. 1. Right before the announcement, that plant experienced in between 650 and 700 employees.

ATHENEX PULLS OUT

The troubled pharmaceutical organization sold a lease holding curiosity in its new city of Dunkirk plant to ImmunityBio.

That organization proceeded to shed additional than $308 million via September and declared all around 40 layoffs at the Dunkirk plant in October. ImmunityBio also mentioned the plant wants comprehensive renovation, which could acquire up to a year and a 50 percent, in buy to meet its pharmaceutical production requirements.

: The White Inn was marketed to two business owners who are reviving the Fredonia establishment.

: The Wells ice cream plant in Dunkirk declared layoffs of hundreds of workers.

: Valvo’s in Silver Creek closed in 2022.

The White Inn was offered to two business people who are reviving the Fredonia establishment.

VALVO’S CLOSES

Right after 103 decades, Valvo’s Candies and Present Store shut for good on Sept. 12.

Owner Elizabeth Valvo mentioned the home would eventually get put up for sale. “I would like to thank our amazing prospects, pals and relatives who served us alongside the way,” she said.

“I’m just so grateful for all people who helped help us.”

She additional, “My husband and I would perform until eventually two in the morning at the candy manufacturing facility and from time to time we’d hear a knock on the door. People from the community would just occur in and aid.”

WHITE INN Offered

Neighborhood businessman Steve St. George partnered with restauranteur Devin Jones to purchase the historic creating, shut due to the fact 2017, for an undisclosed quantity.

The duo plans to return the construction to its primary splendor as a hotel, cafe, bar and functions area. State grants, which includes a person issued just previous week, are aiding in the work.

“We have been working guiding the scenes for the better aspect of for decades to help catalyze a positive final result for the inn,” claimed Mark Geise, who heads up Chautauqua County’s business growth endeavours, when the sale was declared. “After several stalled makes an attempt by other interested parties, I sense self-assured that Mr. St. George’s endeavours will establish prosperous. Steve doesn’t do anything midway.”

“I’m excited for the chance to give again to Fredonia,” St. George said.

NURSING Residence FINED

In March, the point out Office of Health and fitness fined Dunkirk Rehabilitation and Nursing Heart $10,000 for failing to execute CPR on a resident who was unresponsive, and afterwards died.

According to the state’s citation, a licensed realistic nurse who discovered the patient did not do CPR, did not activate a Code Blue for inside emergency help, and didn’t phone 911 for support from outdoors the building.

The LPN rather contacted the nursing director, who was out sick. The state’s report stated the facility did not effectively timetable sign up nurses, and also didn’t designate a total time nursing director when the unique a single was on ill depart.

Corrective action was taken by the nursing household, including a system to assure registered nurse protection at expected occasions and designation of an interim nursing director when the frequent a person is out.

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November 27, 2022

Today is Small Business Saturday | News, Sports, Jobs

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Purchasers, which includes numerous who hit the major box merchants in an early morning frenzy Friday, are inspired to shell out right now examining out the distinctive items available by our community’s compact shops.

In Fort Dodge, lots of of people compact retailers are downtown. And those coming downtown these days to do some business can also be part of some functions to get the holiday period commenced.

Nationwide, currently is recognized as Small Business enterprise Saturday. It’s a lengthy-standing hard work to motivate folks to spend some of their Xmas-browsing dollars with compact retailers. Little enterprises employ about 50 p.c of people people doing the job in non-public sector work opportunities. And it is compact corporations, not significant on the internet stores, who sponsor our kids’ sports groups and add to nearby charities. And let us not fail to remember that people compact retailers have a ton of awesome things awaiting potential buyers. So obviously, little firms are deserving of our aid nowadays and every working day

Key Road Fort Dodge and some other essential sponsors are developing on the Small Company Saturday theme with a unique local occasion referred to as Merry on Major Street.

For all those who get downtown early adequate, there will be a form of hard cash giveaway. No a person will be handing out United States currency, but there will be $20 in what organizers phone Merry Money very good for buys with taking part downtown shops. To get their $20 share of the Merry Revenue, buyers need to get to Environmentally friendly Condition Credit rating Union, 1207 Central Ave. involving 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. The 1st 50 individuals to check in there will get the Merry Money.

The neighborhood observance of Compact Organization Saturday is sponsored by Most important Road Fort Dodge, Inexperienced Condition Credit Union and the Fort Dodge Convention & Website visitors Bureau.

As the browsing winds down afterwards these days, a specific visitor from the North Pole will get there to basically gentle up the city.

Santa Claus and Mayor Matt Bemrich will satisfy on the Town Square at 4:30 p.m. to transform on the vacation lights there.

Then at 5 p.m. they will head down to Veterans Park at Central Avenue and 12th Street to light-weight the towering Christmas tree there.

Santa will then move to The Dariette, 17 S. 12th St., in which he will greet folks at the generate-through window until 7 p.m.

The lights situations are sponsored by Most important Street Fort Dodge, The Dariette and the Fort Dodge Convention & Website visitors Bureau.

We inspire absolutely everyone come downtown, do some shopping and get pleasure from the starting of the Xmas time.

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August 21, 2022

Truck repair business opens in Golden Spike Park | News, Sports, Jobs

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Matt Ertman is pictured at still left in entrance of the new facility which properties Ertman Truck Fix. It is located in the Golden Spike Business enterprise Park.

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Adhering to in the footsteps of numerous of the county’s up-and-coming business owners, Matt Ertman is striving to turn into a accurate Renaissance gentleman.

Ertman entered the globe of small business ownership with the purchase of a solitary semi truck. Now, nearly 20 a long time later on, his fledgling trucking enterprise has expanded to a total fleet.

Ertman did not cease there. Around the previous several years, he has applied his small business acumen to new ventures, which contain a truck repair organization, and, extra unexpectedly, a comprehensive bar in Mankato which Ertman dubs ‘an grownup child entertaining household.’

How has he completed it?

According to Ertman, the response is straightforward.

“I started doing the job, and created myself up from there,” he states.

Ertman recognized his initially business, Ertman Trucking, in 2004. The business enterprise supplies livestock hauling expert services.

“We’re proper close to 100,000 pigs a 7 days,” Ertman estimates. “We have 24 vehicles managing day-to-day on the road.”

In the meantime, Ertman’s 2nd business, Ertman Truck Restore, came about as a pure extension of Ertman Trucking.

By now a veteran in the trucking neighborhood, Ertman quickly noticed there was a apparent want for truck restore expert services in the space.

“Every time you took a semi someplace, it seemed like shoddy do the job,” Ertman recollects. “In 2015, I started employing mechanics to function on my own things. In 2019, I opened up to the community.”

“I know it’s harder in this spot to get a excellent excellent of assistance,” he adds.

Ertman Truck Maintenance was originally positioned on 450th Avenue, around Freeway 109. Ertman was not significantly contented with the location, which was six miles outside the house of Blue Earth and a sizeable detour off of the Interstate.

As such, Ertman made the decision to relocate. Now, Ertman Truck Mend will formally open at its new place at 108 Faribault Travel, in the Golden Spike Company Park, on Monday, Aug. 22.

Ertman is energized about the alternatives the new spot – just a quick jaunt off of I-90 - will bring for the company.

“Currently, together the I-90 corridor, there is no provider center,” Ertman notes. “We want a comprehensive shop to rebuild transmissions, differentials, and various stuff like that.”

Ertman Truck Mend specializes in Cummins Diesel Engines, featuring full rebuilds of any engine, as very well as transmission alternative, clutches and driveline replacements.

“Anything that a semi tractor or trailer requirements, we can do it,” Ertman summarizes. “Fabricating brackets, welding aluminum – It’s sort of a one particular-stop shop.”

He provides that even though not every single repair shop can accomplish a Department of Transportation (DOT)-qualified inspection, all Ertman Truck Repair’s staff are DOT-qualified.

Subsequent Ertman Truck Repair’s relocation, Ertman strategies to extend the business’s expert services to the sale of sections, as nicely.

Having said that, Ertman admits that, between the numerous problems the pandemic has brought for truckers, it has created pieces more durable to uncover.

“Some of the sections are out a week to 10 days,” Ertman states. “There are also cost will increase.”

The pandemic has also left quite a few businesses brief on labor. Nonetheless, Ertman is content to report he at this time has four full-time mechanics, and is capable to hold his shop open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. He may extend his several hours at a later date to accommodate a lot more customers.

Ertman suggests trucks be serviced every 5,000 miles.

“You’d imagine which is a ton of miles, but when you’re driving each and every day, it’s not,” he states. “It appears to be like there is constantly a thing damaged.”

Ertman himself will be reserving lots of miles on his private vehicle around the months to appear. His latest business, JD’s Hideaway, has recently opened in Mankato.

Immediately after years in the trucking company, a single could possibly speculate why Ertman made a decision to open a bar. On the other hand, Ertman maintains, “Everybody’s bought to have a little something distinctive to get into in lifetime. You really do not want to keep all your eggs in a person basket.”

A brand name-new business enterprise, JD’s Hideaway opened in Mankato’s downtown place on Aug. 4.

The ‘adult child enjoyable house’ provides pool tables, darts and axe throwing, together with meals and drink.

“There is absolutely nothing like it in Mankato, and I needed to be the first,” Ertman says. “I just like that space. It is received a superior populace, and it is a university town.”

While Ertman will definitely be scheduling some business hours in Mankato around the coming weeks, the Faribault County indigenous keeps his heart at household.

“I’ve lived all over here my complete lifetime,” he suggests, adding he grew up in Winnebago. “I like the local community, and I like the place.”

His loved ones has in fact established down roots in the county. Ertman’s wife, Lisa, has recently accomplished her education to be a nurse practitioner.

Meanwhile, Ertman suggests his sons, Drake, age nine, and Gage, age six, have by now expressed curiosity in using above his company sometime, to his delight.

“My in general target is to make some thing for my young children down the line,” Ertman points out, concluding, “I came from nothing and labored my way up to what I am now. I’m incredibly fortunate.”

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June 4, 2022

How organized networking helps your business | News, Sports, Jobs

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Organized networking has been all-around for several years, and though it has altered in quite a few means the premise continues to be the same: placing individuals in the exact same area with each other is just very good for business and for vocation-making.

The Chamber of Commerce has lengthy been in the organization of generating alternatives for businesspeople to community with just one yet another. The type of networking we aid is mainly enterprise-to-small business, but it also makes client interactions when a single enterprise may possibly find a further business enterprise that could probably buy their solutions.

Basically stated, networking signifies developing connections. These connections can help expand your business enterprise in a wide variety of ways: producing referrals, attaining publicity for your items or products and services, and boosting your general enterprise profile. On a private level, networking can strengthen your skilled skillsets and confidence.

On a modern sunny and nice evening in Lakewood, the Chamber of Commerce was delighted to existing a networking celebration at Group Ther-Happy wherever friends loved unique appetizers and a funds bar and mingled with a person another in a casual soon after-operate environment. Thatás the entire concept at the rear of our Business Immediately after Hrs activities. We enable just about every business to current a minimal a little something about who they are and what they do, and we are constantly joyful to aid make introductions between the businesspeople existing.

Thereás a further Chamber networking event coming up this 7 days as we current the Enterprise Soon after Several hours Beach Bash. Held at the Sunset Bay Seaside Club in Irving, this function will consist of appetizers, joyful hour bar pricing, stay new music, and 1 of the most remarkable views of Lake Erie in Chautauqua County. We hope youáll be a part of us for this networking prospect on the seashore, Thursday, June 9. Deliver your small business cards and seize the possibility to master about other local organizations though also selling your have.

Chamber member businesses can send two persons to each individual Company Soon after Hours celebration at no cost. The selling price is just $10 for non-customers or for extra member attendees over the 1st two. Be confident to convey company cards and come organized to give a speedy overview about your business enterprise so other individuals can get to know you.

The Small business Soon after Hours Beach front Bash is sponsored by Brooks-TLC Clinic Process, AW Farrell & Son, LaBella Associates, M & T Financial institution, R. Mackowiak Funeral Household, Media One Radio Team, OBSERVER, and The Publish-Journal. Sign up on line now via the Chamberás events calendar.

To sign up for the Chamberás Business Just after Several hours Beach front Bash visit our internet calendar on line at www.chautauquachamber.org.

NOMINATIONS FOR Yearly AWARDS ARE NOW Open up

Each year the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce provides its Financial Advancement Award and Human being of the 12 months Award during our Yearly Awards Banquet held in Oct. Around the two many years that these awards have been specified they have gone to a variety of enterprises, organizations, and people today from all elements of Chautauqua County.

The Financial Development Award is introduced to a business or corporation that has contributed most to the financial improvement, excellent of life and steadiness of our location. This represents a person award for the complete location.

The Person of the Calendar year award is offered to an individual who meets the subsequent criteria: identified by the overall area for his/her exceptional achievements and contributions both in just the past year or during their total existence. This is a exclusive particular person who obviously âstands-outã and would be quickly regarded by the location as a leader. Their contribution can be through their endeavours in company, neighborhood provider, political management, charitable company or other parts of interest.

You do not have to be a Chamber member to nominate for both of these awards. Nomination varieties are offered on the web now as a result of the Chamberás Once-a-year Awards Banquet calendar merchandise, on our world-wide-web calendar for October 6. Obtain the fillable kinds, enter the info required, and then return the done sort to Carrie Swanson at the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce at cswanson@chautauquachamber.org.

If an specific or corporation is nominated but not selected, the Chamberás Board of Directors will hold people programs for reconsideration in subsequent decades.

And conserve the date now Oct 6 for the Chamberás Annual Awards Banquet. Itás normally a terrific party!

GET Prepared TO Golfing WITH THE CHAMBER AUGUST 18

The yearly Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament is scheduled for August 18 at Peekán Peak. Early hen pricing features a $10 discount for each player when you signal up by July 15.

The Chamber Golfing Tournament is a great prospect to entertain consumers, reward personnel, community with fellow golfers, and delight in a round of golfing on a stunning pro-amount course.

The Chamberás 2022 Golf Tournament is sponsored by AES/Empire Solar, Chautauqua Patrons Insurance policies Enterprise, Neighborhood Bank, Dahlstrom Roll Variety, Lake Shore Cost savings Financial institution, Jamestown Container Corporation, Jamestown Mattress Company, LaBella Associates, Lawley Insurance policies, and Shults Automobile Team.

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