To help highlight the new name of the Chenango County Chamber of Commerce, “Commerce Chenango,” The Evening Sun has put together a four-part series outlining the intentions, changes and benefits of the transformation. The principle reason for the name change is to bring all of the multiple functions of Commerce Chenango under one name and more importantly, under one phone number. Even under a new name, Commerce Chenango officials say they will continue to provide programs for their members, such as business networking, business development, health insurance, and programs for the business member and its employees to better serve the community. But unlike many Chambers throughout the country, Commerce Chenango has taken on the primary role for economic development and tourism for Chenango County.

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From now on, the Chenango County Chamber of Commerce will be known as “Commerce Chenango.”
Why the name change? Officials say the goal is to create a user-friendly, first-stop – and one-stop – destination for anyone invested, or interested in becoming invested, in the communities of Chenango County. Whether it’s prospective home buyers, large scale manufacturers, weekend tourists or lifelong area business owners, Commerce Chenango will be the one go-to agency when it comes to finding out how to maximize the diverse economic opportunities the county has to offer, President Sewain Conklin explained.
“If there are individuals who want to do business here,” Conklin said, “we want to make it as easy as possible for them to accomplish that goal.”
Conklin said Commerce Chenango – which has been in the works since 2005 – should eliminate any confusion that may have previously been associated with the chamber, its multitude of services, or branch organizations.
“Commerce Chenango will become the lead agency that provides policy and strategic direction, and will promote one external image for economic development, job creation, and overall business growth in Chenango County,” a Feb. 12 press release states, “while strengthening its existing businesses through the many programs and services that combined organizations can offer.”
Internally, Commerce Chenango will oversee four teams:
• The Chamber Advisory Council, which will administer all Commerce Chenango member-business related programs, initiatives and incentives.
• Development Chenango Corporation (a merger of the Greater Norwich Local Development Corporation and the Chenango Area Corporation), which will administer the Empire Zone Program and other general economic activities related to retaining and fostering local business.
• The Chenango County Industrial Development Agency, a public authority of New York State that has the power to authorize and administer economic policy incentives locally.
• The Chenango Foundation, a charitable organization that finds and administers funding for local projects.
According to Peter Chaplin, the president of the Area Corp, the restructuring under Commerce Chenango should free-up existing staff resources and make operations much more efficient – ultimately benefiting the local economic climate.
“The organizations together will be able to run much more efficiently and at a lower cost,” Chaplin said. “It will be great for the county – the whole area.”
Conklin agreed.
“It should prove to be very helpful,” he said. “It will help the decision making process.”
Officials said members have been contacted individually and are being informed about the change, adding that questions, concerns, and suggestions are welcomed.
Conklin explained that the official transformation into Commerce Chenango will take hold in the next several months, once regulatory approval for the mergers and name changes is handed down from the state Supreme Court.
The Commerce Chenango logo will be “Chenango: The Southern Hills of New York,” which has already been widely used for two years as the tourism trademark.
Conklin said the entire process has been careful and well-planned.
“A change of this magnitude takes some thoughtful time to get it done right,” he said.

Part II of this series in Tuesday’s Evening Sun will explain the improvements the Commerce Chenango transformation will have on membership and benefits in the organization.

e-mail: mmcguire@evesun.com