Policy Breakfast

Thursday, Aug 28 | 8-11am

at Ithaca College Emerson Suites

Join the Tompkins Chamber for an intimate Policy Breakfast and Discussion with key local, state, and Federal elected officials.

Panel:

Josh Riley, US Congressman, 19th District

Lea Webb, NYS Senator, 52nd District

Dr. Anna R. Kelles, NYS Assemblymember, 125th District

Dan Klein, Tompkins County Legislative Chair, 7th District

Coffee Talk Housing, Real Estate, Design, Architecture, & Construction

Friday, Aug 22 | 9:30-10:30am

at Tompkins Chamber offices

Join the Chamber Team and peers in your industry for fresh coffee & conversation. This month we invite professionals from the Housing, Real Estate, Design, Architecture, & Construction industries to connect with friends & colleagues and expand your network in this casual environment.

Spots for this Coffee Talk have been filled! Join the waitlist and check out our events calendar for all upcoming events.

Thank you to Just Be Cause Center for sponsoring the series, and Gimme Coffee for providing the coffee and pastries!

Annual Tompkins Chamber Golf Tournament!

Tuesday, Sept 16 | 10 am shotgun start

Trumansburg Golf Club

Don't miss out on the Annual Tompkins Chamber Golf Tournament! This event is the perfect blend of networking, fun, and supporting our ongoing work. Get ready for a day of golf in a Captain's Crew/Best Ball format. Registration fee includes lunch, snacks, beverages, and a mouth-watering chicken BBQ dinner.

This year's tournament will be held at Trumansburg Golf Club and is presented by Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP! 

Ribbon Cutting - Challenge Work Force Relocation

Monday, Aug 25, 2025 | 2:00 PM-3:00 PM

Suite 98 at the South Hill Business Campus (950 Danby Road)

Join us as we celebrate Challenge Work Force's relocation change to South Hill Business Campus. Located in Ithaca, New York, Challenge Workforce Solutions is a non-profit organization that has been creating pathways to employment for people with disabilities and other barriers since 1968.

Help Expand Access to Meals for SNAP Recipients: Restaurant Enrollment Opportunity

The New York State Restaurant Meals Program (RMP), administered by the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA), allows eligible SNAP recipients who are elderly, disabled, or experiencing homelessness to use their benefits to purchase prepared meals at participating restaurants.

While the program is already active in several counties, participation in Tompkins and Cortland Counties is still extremely limited.

Why Join?

• Support vulnerable community members who may not have access to kitchens or the ability to prepare meals.
• Reach new customers using SNAP benefits in your restaurant.
• Promote inclusivity and equity in food access across the region.

What’s Required?

• Restaurants must derive at least 51% of their sales from prepared meals.
• Offer a 10% discount on all menu items for RMP participants.
• Be willing to complete a short application and onboarding process through OTDA.

If you'd like support or have questions about the process, OTDA is offering customized webinars and outreach support to help walk you through the steps. Contact Judi West, OTDA’s Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, at (518) 474-9516 or judi.west@otda.ny.gov.

Grant Writing Tips for Funding from Foundations

Registration is OPEN!

In collaboration with WE ACT, an environmental justice group from West Harlem, Sustainable Finger Lakes is excited to offer: “Grant Writing Tips for Funding from Foundations”, a FREE, in-person training designed for citizen-based nonprofits working in environmental and social justice across the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier.

With federal funding increasingly uncertain, it’s more important than ever to build a strong foundation in grant writing. This workshop is designed to cover the fundamentals of identifying prospective funders and crafting grant proposals through introductory-level guidance and strategies.

What you’ll learn:

– Finding state-level and private funding opportunities

– Identifying and connecting with potential donors

– Refining your organization’s elevator pitch

Check out Sustainable Finger Lakes website.

Better Business Bureau Accreditation opportunities available for Chamber Members!

Better Business Bureau of Upstate New York (BBB) helps Tompkins Chamber members build trust with customers by promoting ethical business practices and offering dispute resolution services. Becoming BBB accredited signals to the public that a business or nonprofit meets high standards of transparency and accountability. Businesses and nonprofits that are interested in accreditation can begin the process online at bbb.org/get-accredited. For more information contact our Membership Relations Coordinator - Gina Cesari at gcesari@tompkinschamber.org.