named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Business Connections
Monthly early-morning networking events held at member businesses to foster connections and referrals
Chamber Mixers
Regular informal gatherings for members to network and build relationships in a casual setting
Jammin on the River
Annual summer event featuring live music, food, drinks, and games to promote community and business engagement
Ribbon Cutting
Service providing ceremonial support for new or expanding member businesses, including publicity and dignitary invitations
Visitor's Guide
Annual publication highlighting local events, businesses, and attractions to promote tourism in the Tonawandas
activities · 10 groups
What they do
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Business Community Advocacy 1 activity
- Advocate for local business-friendly public policyEngages in advocacy efforts to support public policies that promote the retention and growth of local businesses by collaborating proactively with government, education, and community leaders to improve the regional business climate.
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Professional Association Capacity Building 1 activity
- Deliver business education and speaker programsHosts expert-led events and educational programs on business growth topics throughout the year to support professional development and business success among members.
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Professional Networking Events 1 activity
- Host and facilitate business networking eventsOrganizes regular networking events for local businesses and professionals, including monthly Business Connections meetings, early-morning networking groups, mixers, and rotating-host events at member businesses to generate referrals and strengthen business relationships.
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Industry and Community Recognition Awards 1 activity
- Host annual recognition and fundraising eventsOrganizes signature annual events such as the 87th Annual Installation Dinner and the Annual Golf Tournament to recognize members and sponsors, award achievements, and foster community and business engagement.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Host public and cultural community eventsPlans and promotes seasonal and annual public events including Dyngus Day, Canal Fest, Artisan Night, weekly summer concerts, Food Trucks, and the Annual Jammin on the River Summer Bash to support tourism, cultural heritage, and community engagement.
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Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Support 1 activity
- Organize ribbon-cutting ceremonies for local businessesConducts ribbon-cutting events to celebrate new business openings, expansions, relocations, and other milestones, promoting member visibility and community engagement.
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Visitor & Business Guide Distribution 1 activity
- Produce and distribute local business and visitor resourcesCreates and distributes printed materials such as an annual membership directory and community guide with a circulation of 10,000 copies, along with brochures, maps, calendars, and travel information to promote local businesses and support tourism in the Tonawandas.
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Business Member Promotion Services 1 activity
- Promote local businesses through marketing and outreachProvides marketing assistance to local businesses by promoting member events via social media (reaching over 2,600 followers), distributing E-News blasts, and developing self-guided tours highlighting local history, arts, food, and attractions to boost visibility and tourism.
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Startup Acceleration & Business Growth Support 1 activity
- Provide business support and resource connection servicesOffers direct assistance to businesses by connecting them with office space, equipment, bookkeepers, CPAs, HR information, health insurance options through partnerships, and team-building support to enhance operational capacity.
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Community Capacity Building & Leadership Networks 1 activity
- Support community organizations and special initiativesProvides resources and support to local community groups such as the Twin Cities Elks Lodge 860 for reactivation and service efforts, and engages sponsors and photographers in Chamber events to sustain programming.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$95K
Contributions & grants$71K75%
Program service revenue$6K7%
Investment income$4560%
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$120K
Program expenses85%
Admin / overhead15%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$64K
Grants paid out—
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$25K
Cash$67K
Investments$0
Liabilities$2K
Net assets$24K
Liquid reserves6.7 mo
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +8.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JEFF ROSS | Executive Dir. | 0 | $48K |
board members · 10
- ARTHUR PAPPAS — Director
- BEVERLY LOXTERMAN — Director
- DEBORAH JAEGER — Director
- DONNA BRAUN — Director
- DOUGLAS TAYLOR — Director
- JOE MARRANCA JR — Director
- JOSEPH CASSATA — Director
- LISA PERRY — Director
- LISA YUHNKE — Director
- MICHELLE MENDIOLA — Director
relationships · 30
Who they work with
- Camp Spirit Partner — Host site for the Chamber's monthly Business Connections event on August 5, 2026.
- Catalyst Fitness Partner — Bronze sponsor of the Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas in 2026.
- Chamber Board Members Partner — Invites Chamber Board Members to attend ribbon cutting events.
- Community leaders in the Tonawandas, NY area Partner — Works with community leaders to support local businesses and enhance quality of life.
- Cooper Sign Company Partner — Member business that gains community awareness and networking through Chamber membership.
- Director@the-tonawandas.com Partner — Point of contact for hosting Chamber mixer events.
- Dun & Bradstreet Partner — Directs businesses to obtain DUNS Numbers through Dun & Bradstreet.
- Education leaders in the Tonawandas, NY area Partner — Engages with education leaders to align workforce development and economic growth initiatives.
- Equitable Advisors Partner — Bronze sponsor of the Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas in 2026.
- Gateway Harbor Park Partner — Collaborates on event programming and visitor services at a shared waterfront park between Tonawanda and North Tonawanda.
- Government leaders in the Tonawandas, NY area Partner — Collaborates with government leaders to improve the business climate and promote economic development.
- Heather Bellini Photography, LLC Partner — Serves as sponsor and official photographer for Chamber events.
- Kenmore Mercy Hospital Partner — Gold sponsor of the Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas in 2026.
- Local Colleges Partner — Shares information about workshops and classes offered by local colleges with members
- Milton CAT Partner — Partner organization featured in chamber event photos, indicating collaboration or sponsorship.
- SAM.gov Government — Provides information and referral to SAM.gov for U.S. government business registration.
- SCORE Partner — Shares information about workshops and classes offered by SCORE with members
- Small Business Association Partner — Shares information about workshops and classes offered by the Small Business Association with members
- Spring Collaborative Partner — Partner organization providing additional information through the Chamber's platform
- St. Peter Roman Catholic Parish Partner — Member organization that connects to the local community through Chamber membership.
- The Spring Collaborative Partner — Collaborates with the Chamber to provide health insurance options for individuals and companies.
- Tonawanda Island Launch Club Partner — Host site for the Chamber's monthly Business Connections event on July 15, 2026 and listed as a new member.
- Twin Cities Ambulance Partner — Silver sponsor of the Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas in 2026.
- Twin Cities Elks Lodge 860 Partner — Gold sponsor and community service organization reactivating in partnership with the Chamber.
- Valerie Cronin Partner — Chamber representative available for inquiries about hosting events.
- Wurlitzer Events Center Partner — Venue for the YWCA of the Niagara Frontier Empowering Women Luncheon hosted in partnership with the Chamber.
- community leaders Partner — Collaborates with community leaders to support business and economic development.
- education leaders Partner — Collaborates with education leaders to strengthen the local business environment.
- government leaders Partner — Collaborates with government leaders to improve the business climate.
- local dignitaries Partner — Invites local dignitaries to attend ribbon cutting events.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Business Networking as Economic Catalystmethodology: business-networkingBy facilitating structured and casual networking events, the chamber fosters business growth because direct peer-to-peer connections generate referrals, lead sharing, and collaborative opportunities that individual businesses cannot achieve alone.
- Cross-Sector Advocacy for Business Climate Improvementmethodology: stakeholder_engagementBy proactively engaging government, education, and community leaders, the chamber drives improvement in the local business climate because coordinated cross-sector collaboration enables systemic policy and program changes that benefit economic development.
- Membership-Based Ecosystem Strengtheningmethodology: membership_modelBy organizing a membership-based model, the chamber strengthens the local business ecosystem because shared investment fosters sustained engagement, collective advocacy, and mutual support among businesses.
- Place-Based Economic Developmentmethodology: location-based_economic_developmentBy leveraging the Tonawandas’ geographic centrality and historical significance, the chamber attracts investment and tourism because unique location-based assets serve as competitive advantages in regional economic positioning.