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February Business After Hours
Co-hosted by Business Leaders of Colors and Tompkins County Government
Wednesday, February 10th | 5 - 6:30 p.m.
Business Leaders of Colors is a group of small business owners and community leaders committed to social justice and built for overlooked, underrepresented, business owners of colors. Recently joining Tompkins County Administration as the new Chief Equity and Diversity Officer, Deanna Carrithers will introduce herself to the Chamber community and discuss her newly developed role in Tompkins County.
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Networking @ Noon:
Retail Industry Insights
Thursday, February 18th | Noon - 1:15 p.m.
Join the Chamber and Gary Ferguson from the Downtown Ithaca Alliance, as well as Jan Rhodes Norman from Local First Ithaca, to discuss the state of our retail industry sector in Tompkins County. Retailers have been among the hardest hit industries throughout the pandemic and related economic fallout, but we'll invite some area retailers who've experienced success to lead our networking breakout sessions on the following topics:
- Technology & digital solutions
- Customer satisfaction, safety, accessibility
- Collaboration & partnerships that evolved during the last year to help businesses be successful
It's more important than ever to support local small businesses - especially in the retail sector - join us to explore why that is, and what you can to to help. Thanks to our series sponsors - Hilton Garden Inn, Bailey Place, Sciarabba Walker, and Sheldrake Point!
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The Tompkins Chamber Team bids a fond farewell to Ritza Francois this week, who has been offered an opportunity to join the 2021 Cohort for the Groundswell BIPOC Farmer training program. Congratulations, Ritza!
We're grateful to Ritza for all of her work supporting and engaging with our existing members as Member Relationship Manager over the last 2.5 years. Ritza helped onboard well over 150 new members in her time with the organization! If you want to send some well wishes to Ritza, email her here.
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Many Chamber businesses and organizations are asking what they can do to respond to systemic racism, workplace inequities, and exclusionary cultures in the current moment. To support Members' desire to build greater diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in their respective workplaces, a group of experienced facilitators and consultants will be conducting a six-part webinar series, led by Dr. Paula Ionide of Rise to Equity, in partnership with the Chamber. This series is presented by Cayuga Health System, with additional support from Community Foundation in Tompkins County and Tompkins Financial.
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Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Training Series, Session 1
Systemic Racism in Tompkins County
Thursday, February 25th | 9 - 11 a.m. SESSION FULL, Wait List Only
The first training will focus on Systemic Racism in Tompkins County. The concept of systemic or institutional racism and poverty is made tangible to workshop participants through an interactive workshop focused on housing and residential segregation in Tompkins County. Participants walk away with a personalized understanding of systemic racism that can be used to launch discussions about social responsibilities and remedies. Session 1 presented by Dr. Paula Ionide of Rise to Equity.
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Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Training Series, Session 2
Trauma-Informed, Mindful Leadership During Pandemics:
The Challenge for C-Suite and HR in Visionary Organizations
Wednesday, March 17th | 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Research supports that using a trauma-informed lens to support new and existing pathways to inclusion, mindful equity, and cultural competency is imperative, as we contemplate "pandemic upon pandemic" for our workforce and by extension, those neighbors, families, and communities impacted in the lives of our employees, teams, contractors, and vendors. Through an agreed-upon set of principles, values, and respectful dialogue around where our experiences both converge and diverge, this interactive workshop allows participants to develop a mindful trauma-informed framework for building inclusive, bias-free teams while recognizing the value of developing a growth (rather than fixed) mindset for equity that reduces stress, increases engagement, and sparks both creativity and innovation. Presented by: Michelle Courtney Berry, Courtney Consulting Enterprises, LLC
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Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Training Series, Session 3
Tips for Interrupting Bias, Bigotry, Stereotypes and Negative Assumptions at Work
Wednesday, March 31st | 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Bigoted comments, jokes, negative assumptions and stereotypes are challenging because they can provoke our emotions and make us reactive, scared, confused, uncertain, judgmental, and less able to access our intelligence and good thinking. This workshop will offer participants a number of tips, useful questions and boundary-setting statements that can help you to intervene or respond calmly in the presence of others. There will be time to brainstorm possible interventions and responses to examples for which people would like strategies. Presented by: Laura Branca, TFC Associates.
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A flexible, innovative, modified version of the Leadership Cortland & Leadership Tompkins programs for 2021 - begins February 12th.
Each month, Community Leaders from Cortland and Tompkins counties will pick a topic and tell us their LEMONADE story. Participants will get to ask questions & learn about leadership in action. Each month will also have a mini-leadership lesson.
Sessions will be virtual until it is safe to resume meeting in-person. The first program will include the mayors of both Ithaca & Cortland!
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Save the Date & Register Early!
Wednesday, March 24th | 9am - Noon
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The Tompkins Chamber and Ithaca Area Economic Development look forward to hosting you for a virtual economic summit, celebrating our resiliency and community efforts to navigate 2020 together, offering breakout sessions highlighting key challenges and opportunities, and sharing inspiration for our economic recovery in the years ahead. |
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Thanks to our sponsors and partners!
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Please Take Our 2021 Member Survey
The Tompkins Chamber Staff and Board of Directors seek your input regarding which services and programs you found most useful in the last year, which will support you moving forward, and how the Chamber can mobilize our members and resources to support our community's economic recovery goals. Additionally, as we look towards scheduling more hybrid or in-person events as the year progresses, we want to understand what the majority of our members are most comfortable with.
We look forward to hearing from you! Please try to take this survey no later than February 12th.
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Healthy Workforce Network On-the-Job Training Grant
This funding is intended to support people in recovery receiving educational and training supports, new job opportunities, and maintaining a recovery friendly employer base in Tompkins County and regionally.
Under this contract, training grants with a maximum payout of $2,000 will be available to businesses that are hiring a new employee or promoting an existing employee, and providing the training needed to be successful in their new role. The training grant will be used to provide the employee with the additional training needed in order to fulfill the job responsibilities.
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Interested in Discussing Partnerships with the Chamber for 2021?
We'd love to talk with you about our annual work program, opportunities for sponsorships and underwriting, and strategize how the Chamber can help you meet your business goals in 2021.
Thanks to all of our members who have met with us thus far - we're excited to collaborate on our 2021 programming & member services!
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Member Updates & Events, Development News
We provide a weekly roundup of member news. To have something included, email Jennifer.
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Hangar Theatre Announces Shirley Serotsky as Artistic Director
The Hangar Theatre is pleased to announce that Shirley Serotsky (she/her/hers) has been named Artistic Director! Serotsky served as the Hangar Theatre Associate Artistic Director and Education Director from September 2019 to October 2020, and as Interim Artistic Director from October 2020 to the present.
A native of Rochester, NY, Serotsky participated as an actor in the Hangar Theatre Lab Company during college. She states that her experience "truly opened my eyes to the kind of artistry, thought, innovation, and political and social relevance that is possible when creating theatre. It shifted my path from acting, and soon I was pursuing directing myself."
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Rosie Closes $10M in Series A Funding
Rosie, the leading ecommerce solution for independent grocers and wholesalers, has announced the completion of a $10 million round of Series A financing led by growth capital firm Avenue Growth Partners. Rosie will deploy the new capital in a number of ways, including: introducing new features and tools to enhance the shopper and retailer experience, launching new products to provide a seamless omnichannel journey for shoppers at home, in-store, or on-the-go, further investment in monetization opportunities to increase retailer profitability, and helping to connect Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) brands of all sizes to customers shopping online from their favorite local retailers.
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Local, Regional, State & Federal Funding Updates |
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Now Open to More Businesses, Including:
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*50* or fewer FTE employees with a maximum of $5 million in revenue
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Did not receive a PPP loan(s) of MORE THAN $500,000.
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Did not receive an EIDL loan of more than $150,000.
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SBA Save Our Stages
Area lenders are accepting PPP loan applications.
As always, check first with your existing financial institution. More information is available at the links below:
PPP Forgiveness Information
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COVID-19 Updates & Resources |
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Tompkins Chamber and CVB Property at East Shore Drive for Sale
Tompkins Chamber & CVB have announced that our property at East Shore Drive is listed for sale, after much consideration and decades of being headquartered at this iconic facility. We're excited to see what will come next for our organization, and for 904 E. Shore Drive. Click below for the listing information!
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February Meeting Schedule
Admin & Finance/Executive
Committee
Tuesday, February 16 | 8 - 9:30 a.m.
Board of Directors Meeting
Wednesday, February 24 | 8 - 9:30 a.m.
All meetings require advance registration & will be virtual until further notice. Register with Carly Hansen at chansen@tompkinschamber.org.
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Our team is here to help.
Note: Our East Shore Drive office is staffed most weekdays from 9-5 for pick up or delivery, and our entire team is available by appointment. Please call 607-273-7080 during normal business hours if you need to visit us.
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