The Orange County Chamber of Commerce is wrapping up a busy season and is settling into a new home to start the new year.
“We are so pleased to be finding a new home at the historic John Blake House in Maybrook. We will have our own building to welcome visitors which will also allow us to offer office space to our members who may need a place to work and run their business,” says Chamber President & CEO Heather Bell-Meyer.
Additionally, the Chamber is opening a satellite office in the City of Newburgh at 380 Broadway within the William A. Smith & Son, Inc. building. The office will be open on Mondays, and by appointment; it was donated by William A. Smith & Son, Inc., a long-time supporter of the chamber. “The Orange County Chamber has been an invaluable resource for our family business, which started in Newburgh in 1928. The Chamber has helped us to meet other business owners, grow our business, learn more about issues experienced by other business owners in our county, and stay involved,” says Jack Smith of William A. Smith & Son, Inc.
Like many businesses and nonprofits, the Orange County Chamber of Commerce is working to sustain business coming out of the pandemic. “We found a way to downsize our office footprint while remaining available to our membership and the community at large,” Bell-Meyer says. “A perfect solution to serving our members and future members was for us to move our main office location and add a new satellite office as well. A ribbon cutting is being planned for the Spring of 2022.”
Mixing It Up For Good
During its annual holiday mixer in December at Blu Pointe in Newburgh, the Chamber and its guests gathered four carloads of toys that will be donated to the Town of Wallkill Boys & Girls Club.
The chamber and its members are also gathering pajama donations in partnership with the nonprofit charitable organization Inspire. Through the months of December and January, pajama donations may be dropped off at the Chamber’s Maybrook location.
Chamber members are looking forward to the Orange County Chamber of Commerce’s annual Gala. The “Snow Ball Springs Ahead” is planned for March 26 at City Winery Hudson Valley in Montgomery. This event is the annual fundraiser for the nonprofit Chamber.
Business Advocacy
Under the leadership of Bell-Meyer, who will celebrate her first anniversary at the helm in January 2022, the Chamber works closely with other chambers of commerce within Orange County to support business in all areas. In November, the Chamber encouraged members to participate in Small Business Saturday promotions and special events, and assisted with spreading the word on these events to attract additional business to the area. We have received tremendous feedback on these efforts to work together for a mutual cause.
The Orange County Chamber of Commerce works to advocate for all businesses in the community—small, medium, and large. The Chamber works on local, state and federal levels as the voice of business for Orange County when important decisions and changes are being made. Additionally, it provides networking, direct introductions to business connections, affordable advertising, and inclusion in its business referral directory, among other benefits.
To learn more about membership with the Orange County Chamber of Commerce, call (845) 294-1700 or email [email protected].
