Dear Chamber Members,

We’re New York’s Chamber of the Year!

Last week, the Business Council of New York State announced that the Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce has been named the 2026 recipient of the Chuck Steiner Memorial Chamber of the Year Award, recognizing the outstanding organization and leadership team making doing business in New York a better experience for its members. We’ll accept it in person on September 24, at the Business Council’s Annual Meeting at The Sagamore Resort in Bolton Landing.

Heather Mulligan, President and CEO of the Business Council, put it well: “Their ability to build strong partnerships, implement innovative programming, and create new opportunities have all been instrumental in allowing businesses to thrive, while also creating a dynamic and resilient economy.”

This award isn’t about one program or one event. It’s about what nearly 600 member businesses across the Mohawk Valley have built together: What’s Upstate and the Mohawk Valley Intern Experience for talent attraction, Experience LeadHERship growing into one of New York’s premier women’s leadership conferences, our National Civics Bee producing this year’s state champion, Catalyst Young Professionals showing up for so many of our businesses and non-profits through their meetups and volunteer efforts- and a stronger seat at the table for our members through Government Affairs and Economic Development Council.

Why this matters for Mohawk Valley Gives.

Here’s the part I want to make sure doesn’t get lost: when the Business Council listed the reasons for this award, they specifically called out the creation of the Greater Utica Chamber Foundation, the vehicle we built to expand leadership development, workforce initiatives, educational programming, and charitable community investment across our region.

That recognition is really a vote of confidence in something we’re still building. On September 18, Mohawk Valley Gives urges our community a chance to invest directly in that next chapter — the Foundation work that a statewide organization just told us is worth paying attention to.

If our region’s growth over this past year is something you want to see more of, this is the moment to back it:

👉 Give to the Greater Utica Chamber Foundation during Mohawk Valley Gives

More on the award: Business Council of New York State announcement

Kari