(WNY News Now) In order to introduce potential residents to local ambassadors and highlight the county’s thriving living and employment options, the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) and CCIDA have started a new program.
As part of the Live CHQ effort, the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) and Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) are launching a new program to assist educate new and potential residents to everything the county has to offer.
Participants in the Live CHQ Workforce Ambassador Program are Chautauqua County residents and employees who are dedicated to promoting the advantages of living and working in the county. They come from a variety of backgrounds and have different interests. Through the initiative, new or potential residents are paired with an ambassador who shares their interests. In order to demonstrate why the county is a desirable area to live, work, and play, they will spend time there together.
According to Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development, CCIDA CEO, and Co-Chair of the CCPEG Advisory Board, this is an excellent resource and recruitment tool for local employers who wish to assist a new or potential employee in learning more about living in Chautauqua County, including our attractions, local groups and organizations, amenities, and recreational opportunities. It’s also excellent for anyone who has recently moved to the county and is searching for new networking possibilities or simply seeking activities outside of work that align with their interests and background.
We understand that not everyone who has relocated or intends to do so for work has access to all the information needed to take advantage of the first-rate advantages that come with living in our county. According to Nate Aldrich, Economic Development Manager for the CCIDA and CCPEG, “We hope that through this program, they can make the necessary connections to ensure they can make the most out of living here and being part of our community, in addition to enjoying being a resident of the county.”
With its emphasis on attracting and retaining talent for Chautauqua County, the recently launched Live CHQ project is meant to be enhanced by the Live CHQ Workforce Ambassador Program. During a special Live CHQ Workforce Development luncheon with local employers in November, the ambassador program’s details were revealed to enable them learn about all the recruitment options the initiative offers.
There are currently 17 ambassadors in the program, each with a distinct and varied set of interests and backgrounds, who live and work around the county. All of the ambassadors take pride in being from Chautauqua County and wish to convey their good views on living here, even though some are natives and others moved here.
All of the ambassadors’ biographical information is available online at LiveCHQ.org, along with meeting scheduling guidelines. To help them connect with an ambassador, companies or people who wish to participate in the program will be requested to complete a brief inquiry form. After establishing a relationship, the ambassador and the person will discuss the specifics of organizing a meeting in the county.
In Chautauqua County, meetings can be held at any location, including a local restaurant or coffee shop, an outdoor performance, a local club meeting or networking event, or one of the many parks or trails in the area. Monica Simpson, one of the 16 ambassadors and the CCPEG Partnership Engagement Coordinator, stated that the opportunities are limitless. The best thing is that all new and potential residents of Chautauqua County can participate in the program for free, with CCPEG assisting to defray any associated costs.
Visit the official website atChooseCHQ.com/live-chq/workforceambassadors/ for additional details, including the ambassador profiles and the inquiry form.