The Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce held what they're calling "chamber day" for the first time on Thursday. The goal was to connect local businesses in the Utica area to each other.
Audra Acey is the development manager at the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute in Utica, one of 32 businesses that participated in chamber day, which offered special discounts to its approximately 1,000 members. Acey said she was looking forward to Utica Chamber of Commerce members coming to downtown Utica.
“As we see, sort of a re-energizing of downtown if you will, obviously with the Utica Comets and Utica College hockey, there are a lot of people coming downtown so, it's just a really exciting time and it's a good thing to be working together on,” Acey said.
Some offerings were not your ordinary giveaways. There was a free chiropractic exam from, a free 95 gallon tote of shredding and a free resume review. Some of the businesses also expanded their discounts to anyone who came in.
“We hope that this day will continue to make an impact on our local commerce and that people will remember all throughout the year to support our local chamber members and local businesses,”said Meghan Fraser, the director of membership and events for the Utica Chamber of Commerce.
Chamber day concluded at the Saranac Brewery where members of the chamber poured drinks for anyone who came to the brewery's weekly Saranac Thursday event, which gives proceeds to benefit the United Way. Organizers are hoping to continue chamber days every year.
