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What You Need to Know for 2026
Several key changes take effect in 2026 that employers and businesses should plan for now. New York’s Paid Family Leave maximum weekly benefit increases to $1,228.53, reflecting a higher state average weekly wage, and the minimum wage rises to $16.00 upstate and $17.00 in NYC, Westchester, and Long Island. In addition, the ban on single-use plastic toiletry bottles expands to include lodging facilities with fewer than 50 rooms beginning January 1, 2026.
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Gov. Hochul Signs a Bill To Allow Certain Retailers To Buy and Resell Wine and Liquor
Gov. Kathy Hochul recently signed a bill to allow certain retailers to buy and resell wine and liquor. This bill signing makes a change to the state’s liquor laws that are some of the oldest in the country, not seeing many updates since the post-prohibition era. These changes could lead to significant financial saving for restaurants and businesses.
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Upcoming Chamber Events & Opportunities | | |
2026 Business After Hours Annual Pass
Chamber Members only.
Offer expires January 14, 2026.
Chamber Members save up to $60 on registration for the monthly Business After Hours events and support the Tompkins Chamber by paying in advance for all monthly BAH events, January through December 2026. Individual registration for each BAH is $10 in advance for Chamber members and $15 at the door. Annual Pass: $90 (Regularly $100-$150)
Change in 2026: This pass has become so popular, we are happily continuing the discount but will need passholders to register for each BAH event in 2026.
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Small Business Roundtable at Northside Wine & Spirits
Thursday, Jan. 8 | 9:30-11:00am
Small Business Roundtable is for organization leaders and business owners/managers with 50 or fewer employees to come together and discuss challenges and share successes in their work. Thank you to Northside Wine & Spirits for hosting us this quarter. Thank you to our Roundtable series sponsors: Borgwarner, M&T Bank, and Rasa Spa, and to our Small Business Roundtable sponsor: Sciarabba Walker & Co., LLP.
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Ribbon Cutting for Living Essence Massage Institute Opening
Tuesday, Jan. 13 | 2:30pm
Join us in celebrating the opening of Living Essence Massage Institute, bringing a full-time massage therapy education program back to the Ithaca area! With enrollment opportunities every ten weeks, our full-time program offers a holistic, integrative education that empowers to care for others while building a fulfilling, sustainable livelihood. Please join us for our ribbon cutting to explore our newly renovated school, enjoy some refreshments, and learn more about our public clinic that offers sessions every Tuesday evening.
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Coffee Talk at the Chamber: Tourism, Hospitality, & Agriculture
Friday, Jan. 23 | 9:30-10:30am
Join the Chamber Team and peers in your industry for fresh coffee & conversation. This month we invite professionals from the Tourism, Hospitality, & Agriculture industries to connect with friends & colleagues and expand your network in this casual environment. Thank you to Just Be Cause Center for sponsoring the series, and Gimme Coffee for providing the coffee and pastries!
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Unity in Shades Roundtable
Monday, Jan. 26 | 5-6:30pm
The Unity in Shades Roundtable is the perfect platform for Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and Asian professionals to cultivate relationships, explore topics relevant to their professional journeys, and advocate for representation in Tompkins County. During this session we will be networking focused, discussing successes and challenges in 2025, and goal setting for 2026.
Thank you to the Community Foundation of Tompkins County for supporting our Unity in Shades Roundtable; and to our Series Sponsors; BorgWarner, M&T Bank, and Rasa Spa.
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Community Conversations: Groton
Friday, Jan. 30 | 9-10:30am
Join your neighbors in Groton for hyper-local networking, conversation, and advocacy at the Groton Public Library. All business owners, non-profit leaders, and government officials are invited to attend. Registration is requested but the event is free and open to all; you do not need to be a Chamber member to participate.
Community Conversations is presented by: Visions Federal Credit Union with support from Centralus (Cayuga) Health.
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Host a Tompkins Chamber Event!
Why host an event with Tompkins Chamber? Visibility for your business, marketing to invited guests & attendees, expansion of your network, support of community, and to have fun!
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Request a Meeting or Support from SBDC Counselor Liam McMahon
Use the link below to fill out an intake for to request services or a meeting with Liam McMahon. We are excited to host SBDC Counseling three days a week, right in our office! Many thanks to our sponsor Tompkins Community Bank.
Request Services Here >
| | Job Postings & Relocation Support | | |
Live + Work in Ithaca relocation digital flipbook is available!
Your business always has access to a professionally designed digital relocation guide– for your recruiting needs, or to share with visitors who are chatting about relocating to the area. Access the guide at the link below.
Grab the digital version of the guide here >
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Our team is here for you:
Just call the Chamber at 607-273-7080, or email us at info@tompkinschamber.org. For specific need areas:
Peggy Coleman, President & CEO
Rob Montana, Vice President
Aleshia Akers, Event & Program Coordinator
Gina Cesari, Member Engagement Coordinator
Shelby Green, Administrative Assistant
Kay Gutierrez, Business Manager
Maria Telincho, Marketing & Communications Specialist
Carly Hansen, Director of Operations & HR
Diane Hemly, Office Manager & Bookkeeper
Carrie Bolton, ERN Success Coach
Mary Kay Marks, ERN Project Coordinator
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tompkinschamber.org
607.273.7080
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