pCARTHAGE — The Carthage Area Chamber of Commerce, which promotes businesses throughout four municipalities, is seeking to increase its membership./pp“Businesses should join the chamber to take advantage of the many marketing opportunities they get for their very reasonable membership dues and to be informed as to various events happening throughout the area through the email blasts, newsletter, website, among other avenues,” said Chamber Executive Director Lori A. Borland./ppThe chamber sponsors numerous programs to benefit its members and events to bring people to the Champion and Wilna area. Year-round, the chamber sponsors community events which include the Carthage Farmers Market, held each Friday from May to October; Winterfest, a celebration with sled races and winter fun in February; a fireworks celebration in July; a holiday parade in November; and the Memory Tree Ceremony in December./ppBusinesses or individuals who wish to support chamber events can be part of the sponsorship program at an annual rate with perks at each level. /ppSilver sponsorship, at a cost of $500, includes chamber membership, a plaque and recognition as a sponsor on advertising. At the $1,500 gold level, recognition is given as a main sponsor for one of the events, a sponsored table at the business awards dinner, prominent display of company logo at all events and all silver benefits. At the $2,500 platinum level, a business is recognized as a main sponsor for all the major chamber events and all event advertising and all the benefits of the gold sponsorship. /ppChamber board of directors member and treasurer Robert M. Sligar, who developed the sponsorship program, said it is a win-win for both the chamber and the businesses./pp“By having an annual sponsorship program, it guarantees funds for our events,” said Mr. Sligar. “The chamber is able to budget and grow current events for our community, as well as increase the overall marketing of the area the chamber serves.”/ppMr. Sligar said the program also allows businesses to budget for “a one-time donation instead of being asked before each event for sponsorship support.”/pp“The increase to our marketing is for the sole purpose of bringing additional traffic into the Carthage area, which is good for all of our businesses,” he added./ppSince inception of the sponsorship program, the chamber’s events as well as the chamber itself have become more financially stable and the organization has been able to better market the events, he said. /pp“We were able to grow our fireworks display for our community this past July,” said Mr. Sligar. “We have also provided our businesses that are supporting us through this program with benefits that they find value in.”/ppIncluded in the annual membership fee, businesses are offered a variety of services./ppBusinesses can have a free listing in the chamber directory, which is distributed to Fort Drum, schools, medical facilities and businesses. Free listings on the chamber website, www.carthageny.com, are available. Opportunities to advertise on the website, on a sign in downtown Carthage and in the directory are also available. In addition, chamber members can receive a reduction in postage costs for bulk mailings./ppPrograms which directly spotlight chamber members are the organization’s Business Awards Dinner and Business After Hours events. Each fall, member businesses, community organizations and individuals are awarded for their contributions to the area. Throughout the year, businesses host gatherings to inform the community about themselves and to allow members to network with one another./ppFor more information about the chamber or to join, call 493-3590./p
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