Oct 14, 2010
Close to a year’s worth of discussions and planning have materialized into the Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Promotion Agency joining forces to operate as one entity. By the first of the year, plans were well underway to move the tourism agency from Castile to the same office suite as the Chamber of Commerce in the Wyoming County Business Services Center at 6470 Route 20A in Perry. Following an office rehab to accommodate for the tourism staff, the agency officially moved in April, 2010.
All the while, discussions were continuing on joining the two organizations, which were already so closely aligned in mission and services, into one highly efficient and effective agency here to best serve and promote business and community in Wyoming County. “It’s an exciting time for both the Chamber and TPA,“stated Chamber board chair, Rick Henry. “While we began talk of formally joining the two agencies back in late 2009, both agencies have spent countless hours over the past couple of months working out the details of bringing the two organizations together as one entity.”
To that end, on September 1, 2010 a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Board of Directors of both organizations formally effectuating the joining of forces. Moving forward, the tourism functions for Wyoming County will operate under the umbrella of the Chamber of Commerce. All previous tourism staff have remained on through the transition. According to Chamber President, Laura Lane, “While titles have altered slightly, the same quality of service and promotion of tourism businesses as well as Wyoming County remains intact. Operating as one, the Chamber and Tourism will be able to more effectively and efficiently serve the needs of our members and the County. We encourage the public to stop in to the office. We have a wealth of tourism information for the general public and assistance to provide Wyoming County businesses.”
Brian Fleischman, who had been hired on as the new Director of Tourism in July, 2009 will continue his role in this capacity as it relates to tourism promotion for Wyoming County. However, through this transition, Fleischman’s role now as Director of Tourism and Marketing will enhance his opportunities to work directly with all member businesses in customizing their marketing and communications needs. “I want to take this opportunity to remind Wyoming County tourism based entities of the Plan to Prosper program recently established in conjunction with the Wyoming County IDA and Business Center. This unique program provides customizable low interest loans for marketing purposes for tourism based business in the County.” stated Fleischman.
“This whole transition is about collaboration in its truest sense. Furthermore, we see this as a unique transition in that we took two extremely stable, well-established, already powerful organizations and combined them into one. Joining agencies with such strong pre-existing capacities can only lead to continued growth and positive impact for Wyoming County,†stated Lorraine Sturm, current Tourism Board Chair.
For more information or to become a member please call 585-237-0230 or visit the Chamber website at http://www.wycochamber.org and the Tourism website at http://www.GoWyomingCountyNY.com