Courtesy ARCC
By Tricia Rogers
It’s a new year full of opportunities and possibilities. As an organization that supports our business community, the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce (ARCC) is excited for what 2023 will bring.
But reflecting on 2022, we realized that there is much to be grateful for, and even more to celebrate.
In 2022 the ARCC saw some growth in our membership, welcoming 116 new members. We finished 2022 strong at a total of 759 members. Even more impressive, the organization saw a retention rate of 93.5 percent. This is something to be celebrated as it reflects the strength of our business community. More than ever businesses are investing in themselves and their communities.
Advocacy is a part of the ARCC’s mission to support our business community. In 2022 the ARCC took stances and wrote 15 letters of support to help businesses in our region. From addressing child-care concerns, to supporting our farms, the ARCC is listening and ready to address challenges our businesses are facing.
Continuing education is important to the ARCC, as we are always looking for resources to share with our businesses. Institutions such as SUNY Adirondack, SUNY Plattsburgh at Queensbury, WSWHE BOCES, and University at Albany School of Business are in regular contact with the ARCC and providing information on programs and courses. We are grateful for these partnerships, and hope our communities take advantage of these opportunities.
Through the power of collaboration, the ARCC has fostered the missions of several special interest councils and committees, including our Veterans Business Network, Women’s Business Council, Nonprofit Business Council, and Health & Wellness Council. Our Veterans Business Network (VBN) hosted a successful walk, in downtown Glens Falls, to raise awareness on Veteran suicide.
They also organized a month-long food and necessities drive that benefited two organizations that focus on supporting Veterans in need. The Women’s Business Council (WBC) stayed strong and built excellent programming in their monthly meetings.
In addition, the WBC also hosted their second annual Succession Summit, featuring a panel of business owners speaking on their succession plans. The Adirondack Nonprofit Business Council (ANBC) brought together nonprofits to share organizational updates and address challenges in the nonprofit community. This group of passionate organizations also hosted a panel discussion on how to successfully tell your organization’s story. And lastly, the Health & Wellness Council developed an event on mental health awareness and wellness that will continue to occur annually. This council also partnered with the Glens Falls Collaborative to host Fit Fest in downtown Glens Falls. These groups have been hard at work providing resources and opportunities for our business community and the ARCC is proud to be their hub.
Last year saw an increase in the need to get out, network, and connect. The ARCC was thrilled to be able to provide these opportunities to our business community. We hosted 70 events and meetings in 2022, with almost 1,800 people in attendance.
We hosted 30 ribbon cuttings in 2022, with some celebrating milestone anniversaries, opening new locations, and celebrating expansions & renovations. A 2022 event that sticks out in my mind is the annual Business Expo, which was held in October at the Queensbury Hotel in Glens Falls. We saw incredible attendance at this business-to-business event! For some, it was the first time they had gone out to represent their business in years.
For others, it was an excellent opportunity to reconnect with old friends and make new ones. Whatever their reason for attending, we were excited to offer the opportunity. The 2022 Business Expo was a memorable one!
As we kick off another amazing year we want to thank our members, our community partners, and greater business community for their support of the ARCC.