Kudos to the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities team and all their partners and sponsors who put together Retool ’22: a Climate Tech Conference for Manufacturers, held in Jamestown this past week. The presentations were informative and thought provoking. Topics included engineering and technical resources, supply chain opportunities, transportation innovations, economic development opportunities, training and workforce resources, financial resources, and more. Speakers came from across the country, with vendors from the US and Canada to demonstrate how they can assist businesses.
Keynote speaker Clint Wilder, a noted author on clean tech industries and trends, opened the conference with an overview of how quickly zero emissions technology is advancing. Dennis Elsenbeck, the head of Energy & Sustainability with Phillips Lytle, presented the closing session with a focus on economic development opportunities. While the conference was about new technologies, both addressed the age-old adage in business that you either move forward or you fall behind. In between these two speeches, attendees had a myriad of sessions and networking events where they learned about innovations regionally and nationally and made vital business connections.
While conference attendees were immersed in all of this, they were also learning about Chautauqua County and what we have to offer here: economically and recreationally. Many had never been here before, and some had been to the region but never explored what downtown Jamestown had to offer in attractions, shopping, and dining. So many conversations began with, “I didn’t know all of this was here,” and closed with “I will come back and bring my family.” There were rave reviews for hotel accommodations, restaurants, the National Comedy Center, and Northwest Arena where the event was held. There were also rave reviews for the people and the organization of the event.
The Gebbie Foundation, Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau, Jamestown Renaissance Corporation, and the Chamber of Commerce have had discussions in the past with Meeting Planners International about how best to attract conferences to the community. From the outset of the planning for this conference the intent was to hold it in downtown Jamestown. To do so there were hurdles to overcome that included questions about facilities, parking, lodging, and how to incorporate local businesses into the program. From our perspective, all these issues were managed beautifully from the thoughtful use of local businesses to providing parking permits and shuttles. There are certainly lessons to learn from this event, not just for Jamestown but for all communities in Chautauqua County that have the potential to attract larger-scale conventions or programs.
The conference was just one project from a three-year grant awarded to the BPU from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority for a major economic development initiative that has been dubbed RetoolWNY. Other initiatives are a regional manufacturing study that explored climate tech/clean tech manufacturing, an advanced building controls workforce development program scheduled to kick off at Jamestown Community College in the spring, and opportunities for up to ten in-depth analyzes for regional manufacturers considering product lines for the clean tech sector.
CHAMBER SEEKS COALITION BUILDER AWARD NOMINATIONS
Each year the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce recognizes the spirit of our first President with the Pam Lydic Coalition Builder Award. Pam was a countywide leader with a knack for bringing together people and organizations to further economic objectives for all. This award recognizes an individual in the region who has worked hard to bring groups of people together around a common goal or objective. It is presented to an individual who has helped move the region forward in a positive direction through collaboration and by building partnerships. The award is particularly focused on those who have done their work consistently and often in the background. A typical awardee may be an ‘unsung hero’ in the community. The Pam Lydic Coalition Builder Award includes a $500 stipend to a charity of the recipient’s choice. Our Board of Directors will accept nominations through November 4 and the award will be presented at the Chamber’s Annual Meeting to be held December 2. Email submissions including a short narrative about why you are nominating someone to [email protected] no later than November 4 .
JOIN THE CHAMBER FOR BUSINESS AFTER HOURS AT TWO UPCOMING EVENTS
The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce has two more networking opportunities coming up this fall: October 27 at 21 Brix Winery on West Main Road in Portland, and November 8 at Southern Tier Brewing Company in Lakewood.
Networking is crucial for businesspeople, no matter what their workplace. When you get to know others on a personal and professional level, you are enhancing opportunities for sales and potentially increasing your supply chain, workforce, and more. The Chamber’s Business After Hours events are purposely held at a variety of locations countywide and designed for businesspeople to pop in quickly following their workday from 5-6:30pm, meet some people and enjoy a quick beverage and snack, and then head to dinner or home afterwards. Chamber member businesses can send two people at no charge, and non-members or anyone above the first two pay just $10 per person. Admission includes appetizers, a cash bar, a chance for door prizes when you submit your business card, and great opportunities for networking with other local businesspeople.
Business After Hours at 21 Brix is sponsored by 21 Brix Winery, Brooks-TLC Hospital System, DFT Communications, Media One Radio Group, National Grid, OBSERVER, and The Post-Journal. Business After Hours at Southern Tier Brewing is sponsored by Southern Tier Brewing Company, Brooks-TLC Hospital System, DFT Communications, LaBella Associates, Media One Radio Group, National Grid, OBSERVER, and The Post-Journal. Space is limited at Southern Tier Brewing so there will be a cut-off for this event. We recommend that you register early. Learn more or register for either, or both, online through the Chamber’s web calendar at www.chautauquachamber.org.
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