Chamber Preparing for Big Year in Massena in 2025

The St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce is making plans for an exciting year in Massena in 2025 as we pursue staffing and a new office, hosting of events, collaboration with local organizations, community promotion, tourism development and attraction, and support of its businesses.
 
The past year was one of tremendous evolution for the Chamber as we developed a new staff, grew our Board of Directors, delved into new tourism initiatives, and established new membership benefits. We also effected the four-party legal business merger of the Massena and St. Lawrence County (and Ogdensburg and Canton) Chambers – a process that has required patient and deliberate effort to implement logistically. We continue to seek the financial capacity to achieve our vision and goals of an Integrated Chamber of Commerce.
 
Through the changes and challenges, we worked to benefit the community. In tourism, Massena was well-represented in our nationwide and Canadian marketing. Recreational assets were featured in heavily trafficked digital platforms such as Discover Upstate NY, Thousand Islands Regional Tourism, and the Hearst Times Union. We helped the Town secure $10,000 in ARPA Tourism Promotion funds. We posted frequently on our Visit STLC: Massena NY Facebook page with nearly 5,000 followers and our Massena-specific webpage at www.visitstlc.com/massena-new-york/ receives excellent traffic. In business development, we hosted Business After Hours, spotlighted several businesses on Facebook, and hosted a recent ribbon cutting at North Country Liquor & Wine. Curran Renewable Energy was our Local Producer of the Year. Laura Pearson provided interim representation, operating in the Village on Mondays and Tuesdays and attending Rotary. We amplified digital marketing of the Fall Fest Pumpkinpalooza to thousands. Most importantly, we saw the initial benefits of an Integrated Chamber of Commerce, with our county-wide and community-focused efforts reinforcing each other to drive engagement and growth.
 
We have far loftier goals for 2025, as we work to achieve the financial capacity for a new office and permanent staff in Massena, and seek to:

• Drive engagement with businesses and organizations and connect them to development opportunities pertinent to their needs, promote them through digital and other marketing channels, and build awareness and utilization of the robust benefits of Chamber membership. We look forward to hosting Business After Hours (including May 27th at the Gristmill Brewery), our annual Tourism Dinner at the River Course at Louisville Landing on June 12th, more ribbon cuttings, and community-wide festivals to feature businesses and organizations holding thematically connected events and offerings and a Shop Local in Massena campaign. 
• Advance tourism promotion of Massena and surrounding communities, collaborating with municipalities, promotion partners, and local attractions. 
• And in keeping with our vision of an Integrated Chamber of Commerce, connect our work in business development, workforce development, advocacy, and tourism to our members, the businesses, and the communities we serve. 

In pursuit of these goals, the 16 Church Street property has been put up for sale on the Multiple Listing Service for sale. The large building exceeds our needs for an office and visitor center and can be put to a higher use by a different entity, becoming an active property for the community and contributing to the local economy. The sale proceeds, when combined with support from the Town of Massena, membership dues, and sponsorships, will hopefully provide the catalytic revenue for us to hire a permanent Massena Community Coordinator and staff a new office. Such presence is needed to drive the previously described activity. The Chamber holds a dedicated checking account solely for the revenues and expenses specific to our Massena operations and the sale revenues of the Church Street property will be deposited into that account.
 
As we turn the corner from a year of evolution in 2024, the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce casts its vision forward with enthusiasm to a year of beneficial impact and exciting activity in the Greater Massena community. We look forward to increasing collaboration and engagement with the businesses, organizations, and residents of the community and welcome your feedback and support as we work together to do great things in 2025.
 
Sincerely,
 
Benjamin Dixon
Executive Director
St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce