named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Alden Farmers Market
Seasonal market supporting local vendors and farmers, held at Alden Town Park with entertainment and community events
Business Solution Seminars
Workshops and informational sessions for small business owners on regulatory updates and best practices
Gift Certificate Program
Local gift certificates redeemable at participating Chamber member businesses to promote economic circulation within Alden
SCORE Consultation Sessions
Free one-on-one mentoring and business advice for entrepreneurs and small business owners through partnership with SCORE
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Business Community Advocacy 1 activity
- Advocacy and support for local businessesProvides advocacy, programs, events, and services to support local businesses and promote economic growth in the Alden area. This includes facilitating free 30-minute business consultations through chamber member organizations and posting employment opportunities for member businesses at no cost.
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Regional Economic Development Initiatives 1 activity
- Development and management of economic infrastructurePurchased and developed an Industrial Park to attract new businesses to the community and supported the establishment of medical services by recruiting doctors and initiating the development of the Alden Medical Center.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Operation of community events and seasonal programsContinues to sponsor community events including the Taste of Alden, Christmas in the Park, and the Farmers’ Market. Also hosts joint events with The Alden Car Cruise every Monday during the market season. Purchased the original Christmas decorations for the Village of Alden.
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Member Business Referral & Discount Programs 1 activity
- Operation of local gift certificate programOperates a gift certificate program that supports local businesses by enabling customers to redeem certificates at participating merchants. Issues gift certificates in $5 denominations available for purchase through the Chamber office or at Alden Pharmacy.
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Local Food Market Operation 1 activity
- Operation of the Alden Farmers MarketOperates the Alden Farmers Market in its 23rd season, located at Alden Town Park with fixed restrooms, a concession stand, and a covered pavilion for seating and entertainment.
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Nonprofit Investigative & Community Journalism 1 activity
- Publication of community newspaperOperates a weekly newspaper serving the Alden community since 1914.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$35K
Contributions & grants$00%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$4K11%
Other revenue$2K
expenses
Total expenses$35K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$27K
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$164K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$156K
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -18.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALYSSA COOPER | SECRETARY | 28 | $25K |
relationships · 15
Who they work with
- Alden Historical Society Partner — Collaborates on community historical information and local heritage initiatives.
- Alden Pharmacy Partner — Location where Chamber gift certificates can be purchased.
- Buffalo State College Small Business Development Center Partner — Collaborates with the SBDC to provide management and technical assistance services to small businesses.
- Erie County Industrial Development Agency Government — Collaborates with ECIDA to inform businesses about tax incentives, loan programs, and development financing.
- Erie County Workforce Development Consortium Partner — Partners with the workforce development consortium to connect businesses with job seekers and training resources.
- Facebook Partner — Platform used for social media engagement
- Facebook Partner — Uses Facebook as a platform for public engagement and communication with members and residents.
- Instagram Partner — Platform used for social media engagement
- Lancaster Office of Emergency Management Partner — Partners to provide emergency alert services to Alden residents.
- SCORE Partner — Partners with SCORE to offer free mentoring and business guidance to local entrepreneurs.
- The Alden Car Cruise Partner — Collaborates with The Alden Car Cruise to co-host joint events on Monday evenings during the market season.
- Town of Alden Government — Provides community information and maintains a list of town officials
- Town of Alden Government — Works with local government on community information and emergency notification outreach.
- Twitter Partner — Platform used for social media engagement
- Village of Alden Partner — Collaborates with the Village of Alden to post public employment opportunities.
strategies · 3
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.
- Local Economic Circulation via Member Networksmethodology: local-economic-circulationBy promoting the use of Chamber-member businesses through redeemable gift certificates and shared spending, the Chamber strengthens the local economy because keeping capital within the member network increases multiplier effects and sustains local employment.
- Member Support Network for Business Growthmethodology: member_support_networkBy providing advocacy, programs, events, and services, the Chamber creates opportunities for member businesses to grow and achieve economic success because integrated support increases visibility, networking, and access to resources that individual businesses lack on their own.
- Mentorship-Driven Entrepreneur Supportmethodology: mentorship_networkBy connecting entrepreneurs with volunteer business mentors, the Chamber provides free, confidential guidance that increases startup viability and business resilience because lived experience from successful operators builds practical capacity more effectively than generic advice.