Chamber starts ‘coffee and conversation’ to hear challenges faced by businesses

First meeting will be at Albion on Nov. 29 with more planned around county

ALBION – Orleans County Chamber of Commerce leaders want to hear about the challenges faced by businesses in the community, including some obstacles that may be specific to certain municipalities in the county.

The Chamber is launching “coffee and conversations” on Nov. 29 with Chamber officials available at 8 a.m. in the 2nd floor conference room at the Arnold Gregory Building, 243 South Main St. in Albion.

Local elected officials and business owners are welcome to attend and share their insights about ways to improve the business climate in the Albion community. The Barre Betterment Committee and Barre community members also are welcome to attend.

“We want to hear what the hurdles are,” said Darlene Hartway, Chamber executive director. “We want to listen.”

Hartway will be joined by Dave Gagne, Chamber president, in the meetings. More sessions are being planned in Holley, Carlton-Kendall, Lyndonville and Medina.

“It’s a starting point to get a good pulse on what each community faces,” Hartway said.

Locally owned businesses are still regrouping from Covid-19 pandemic, and many of the businesses face challenges with more chain stores coming into the area, Hartway said. The business environment could get tougher because the Small Business Administration is forecasting a recession, Hartway said.