Live CHQ Event Benefits Chautauqua County Employers

Informational Luncheon Explains How Live CHQ Initiative Can Assist Local Hiring Efforts

An estimated 70 representatives from local employers were at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel in Celoron on Monday November 18 to learn how to apply the Live CHQ marketing initiative to their own hiring and retention efforts.

CELORON, NY – An estimated 70 people representing employers from across Chautauqua County were at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel in mid November to attend a luncheon focusing on the Live CHQ initiative. Hosted by representatives from the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) and the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG), the event provided local employers with additional information on Chautauqua County’s new branding initiative, including how it could help them with their efforts to recruit workers from outside of Chautauqua County to fill open positions.

Launched in April 2024, the Live CHQ talent attraction and retention initiative is intended to market Chautauqua County as an exceptional place to live, work, and do business by highlighting the benefits and positive aspects of being a resident. Those benefits include affordability, job opportunities, our cultural and entertainment attractions, and a wide variety of outdoor recreational options. Much of the campaign’s messaging can be found on the website LiveCHQ.org, with marketing on traditional and digital media platforms used to steer people to the website.

“While Live CHQ is primarily intended to market our county to people living outside of the Chautauqua Region, another focus is to encourage local employers to utilize and leverage the initiative for their own hiring efforts,” said Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and CCIDA CEO. “We want all employers, regardless of size, to be aware of the initiative and use it in their own hiring efforts – especially when it comes to recruiting from outside of the area.”

To help local businesses and organizations better understand the campaign and all the resources available, the CCIDA and CCPEG staff held the Live CHQ Workforce Development Luncheon on Nov. 18 – inviting many of the county’s largest employers as well as smaller professional businesses that often recruit from outside of the county. During the Luncheon, attendees learned about various features of the Live CHQ website, the recently rebranded Chautauqua County Relocation Guide, and the newly launched CCPEG Workforce Ambassador program. There were also provided with copies of the Relocation Guide and other marketing materials to assist them with recruitment efforts, including job fairs.

“Many of our local businesses and nonprofits need more skilled, talented, and experienced employees to fill vacant jobs. We are encouraging the business community to use Live CHQ to assist with their recruitment efforts, especially for talent located outside of the area who may be unfamiliar with what Chautauqua County has to offer,” explained Nate Aldrich, Chautauqua County Economic Development Coordinator and CCPEG Manager.

“Following the luncheon, we were pleased to hear several attendees say they found it very beneficial and they plan to implement Live CHQ with their current recruitment efforts,” Geise said. “We also want those who didn’t attend to know that we’d be happy to provide more details about Live CHQ and assist them with their recruitment efforts.”

Any employer that would like to learn more about the various resources available through the Live CHQ initiative can visit the Recruitment page at LiveCHQ.org, or contact the CCIDA office at 716-661-8900.

About Live CHQ – Live CHQ is a joint marketing campaign launched by the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency and the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth in 2024 to assist with talent attraction and retention efforts across Chautauqua County, NY. The overall goal of the campaign is to help raise awareness of Chautauqua County as a viable place for individuals and families to live by speaking to the sensibilities, desires, and expectations of people who are considering the county as their primary residence. For more information visit www.LiveCHQ.com.