The last year has seen steady and rapid growth for the New Hartford Chamber of Commerce. Since revitalization began 19 months ago, membership is up over 300% and there is growing excitement in the town and business community.
Members are coming forward to help ensure that the Chamber continues to grow and serve a valuable purpose in our community. They are volunteering their time, talent and resources to help improve the business climate in New Hartford. While some are teaching business topics to members in free seminars, others are organizing important community events that promote keeping commerce in our community. The Chamber has long been a supporter of certain town and village events such as the Memorial Day Parade and the Holiday Stroll at the New Hartford Shopping Center. This past year, the Chamber brought back it’s Farmers Market and helped support a new food truck rodeo in Sherrill Brook Park. The Chamber celebrated and promoted our smaller members on Small Business Saturday and a “Where’s Waldo” scavenger hunt over the summer. The new dues structure adopted in 2017 has been successful in keeping membership fees very low for our small and locally-owned businesses while still keeping rates affordable for the larger retailers housed in New Hartford. Presently, membership rates range from $50 per year for small, locally owned shops up to $500 for large corporations located in town. Committees are growing in the chamber. The Training Committee consists of area business and economic development leaders and is working on a year-round calendar of timely topics designed to help our smaller members improve and grow their businesses. Seminars conducted thus far have covered various topics including changes to the tax laws, HR considerations, financial planning, office applications and marketing. The Buy Local Committee conducted two successful events this year aimed at raising awareness of the importance of keeping dollars in our local economy. This committee is growing fast and will be tasked with implementing a local shopping card and a map, both designed to drive more traffic to our member merchants, restaurants and service providers. The Farmers Market Committee did a great job in re-establishing the market at the New Hartford Shopping Center during the summer months this year. Opportunity abounds for this event to grow and evolve, especially with new options at Sherrill Brook Park including a new 100 foot-long pavilion built by the Town’s Parks Commision. The Marketing Committee has been looking for more ways to promote our members and their businesses and asks that all members submit updated logos, business descriptions, social media links and photos via email to the Chamber. These items will be used to update member’s profile pages on the Chamber website which will in turn, aide in driving more traffic back to the member’s website and social media pages. Furthermore, the Marketing Committee is asking members to submit a narrative or story about their business that can be featured in website articles, press releases, social media, email newsletters and our Town Crier page. Two new committees are just now being formed. The Membership Committee members are serving as ambassadors promoting chamber membership as they interact with local businesses during their regular day. The Events Committee will consist of experienced event planners and will help with Chamber Nights, our annual meeting, the Holiday Stroll and a new Village Tree Lighting Ceremony. Starting with practically a blank slate almost two years ago gives us the opportunity to be innovative with the future of our organization. Every member has the ability to find a way to have a positive impact on the community we serve and call home. Together, we can make the Chamber into a truly diversified business association that fulfills its mission of: Fostering Economic Vitality and Quality of Life in The Town of New Hartford Owners and managers of businesses located in New Hartford, and those located outside the town that support our mission are invited to join our membership and get involved with an existing committee, or help create a new one. The return on investment for your time, your unique talents and any lended resources will be realized not only in the future growth of your business or group, but also in greater prosperity for our entire community. The New Hartford Chamber welcomed new owners of the Village Basement to New Hartford on November 11th with a Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening celebration. The event commemorated the Village Basement changing hands after 19 years from former owner, Diane Evans.
The new ownership of the Village Basement is a story of two childhood friends who discovered the shop while in college, and have been regular customers ever since. Amanda Hanna of Barneveld and Kate Hoover of Newport form the new partnership and took over The Village Basement on October 1st. Their family members assisted with some updated aesthetics, but otherwise, the shop is still very much like it’s been for years. Women from across the area identify The Village Basement as a “well-kept secret” where they manage a robust consignment inventory of women’s clothing, accessories and home decor. Part of their ubiquity lies in the fact that the shop is actually housed in the basement of 70 Genesee Street, a village of New Hartford building that contains 6 other businesses. Their shop is located in the back where there is plenty of parking. Following the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, a spirited reception took place where attendees enjoyed the acoustic sounds of Nick Piccininni as they browsed the various racks and displays throughout the store. The Village Basement is open Tuesday thru Saturday from 9:30am to 5:30pm and until 7pm on Thursdays. The New Hartford Chamber is proud to have new members Kate and Amanda, along with their families and employees, a part of the village business community and the Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber encourages you to add them to your shopping plans, especially on Small Business Saturday coming up November 24th. The New Hartford Chamber of Commerce proudly welcomed the new One Genny Pizzeria & Restaurant to its membership and to the Village of New Hartford with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Wednesday October 24th. Chamber members, business leaders and local government officials came together to welcome co-owners Herb Inman and Mike Grande and congratulate them on their great success so far in this new joint-venture. One Genny features a variety of pizza styles along with a full menu and bar that features a great craft beer selection. The New Hartford Chamber of Commerce, along with business leaders and government officials, celebrated a new location for Gracious Home and Gifts in the Village of New Hartford on Wednesday October 24th. Business owner Wendy Moosavi opened her shop in 2015 in the Men’s Wearhouse Plaza on Commercial Drive. Now relocated to 54 Genesee Street, Gracious Home and Gifts has evolved into a boutique specializing in women’s fashion, jewelry and accessories.
The Chamber is pleased to have Wendy and her business in the Village of New Hartford. Gracious Home and Gifts is open on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10am til 6pm and on Saturdays from 10am til 5pm and anytime at gracioushomeandgifts.com Be sure to Shop Small with Wendy at her new location on Small Business Saturday, November 24th! The New Hartford Chamber of Commerce, along with area business leaders and government officials welcomed new member Jessica Moran and her business, Lola n Lulu to the Village of New Hartford with a reception and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Wednesday October 24th. While the company has thrived online for four years now, Jessica and her family wanted to bring her unique line directly to the public and found the perfect place in the New Hartford Village.
Lola n Lulu Boutique strives to bring high-quality clothing, toys, and decor that are ethically manufactured from hard to find brands. They carry their own in-house line, “LLO” and other high-end brands from around the world for Women and Children. The new Lola n Lulu Boutique is located at 70 Genesee Street and is open on Wednesdays from 3 til 7pm and Thursday thru Saturday from 11:00am until 6pm an online anytime at lolanlulu.com. September Chamber Night was hosted by Cunningham Custom Jewelry on Commercial Drive. Members and guests got tours of this fourth-generation business and learned how the company has evolved from first selling televisions and antennas in the 1940’s, to specializing in rare coins until ultimately adding state of the art custom jewelry.
We got to know 4th generation owner, Brian Cunningham and his father, Bob along with members of their family and staff. Attendees watched live demonstrations of 3D scanning, printing and jewelry production and got a tour of their casting room and machine finishing station. As the holidays approach, keep Cunningham’s in mind for creative and custom gift ideas! On Wednesday, August 29th, The New Hartford Chamber of Commerce welcomed AR Physical Therapy to its membership and the community with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
AR Physical Therapy joins Fitness Forum Physical Therapy as a fourth location adding to their existing facilities in Camden, Barneveld and Rome. AR Physical Therapy is located at 600 French Road in New Hartford, sharing the building with fellow chamber member, Turnbull Insurance. Fitness Forum Physical Therapy was founded in 1989. Now with four clinics in the Utica-Rome area, they provide comprehensive physical rehabilitation services. They understand the challenges of today’s healthcare environment and strive to help local residents recover quickly, safely, and affordably. |