Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce finishes year on a high note

WARRENSBURG | The Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce (WBCOC) is wrapping up a successful 2025, and looking to 2026 as a year of new beginnings, new initiatives, and delivering the same consistent support to the Southern Adirondacks's small businesses it serves. At the chamber, it's all about collaboration, connection, and community. "We are membership-driven organization, it is our small businesses that dictates to us how and what we do," said WCC Executive Director Suzanne Tyler. "We are our community's ally in dealing with small business issues, whatever that looks like. Our chamber exists because our small businesses want us to exist, it is their membership and support that allows us to support them in return. And with the world changing and how we communicate with each other changing, we are adapting and growing right along with it." Established over a century ago, WBCOC is a non-profit organization made up of small business members in the Warrensburg area. Comprised of about 200 members, WBCOC's mission is to enhance and bolster its legion of small businesses in whatever form that means to them. It could be advocating with local governments, offering training programs, marketing and promotions, one on referrals, and help with social media. WBCOC also serves as the primary visitor information center for Warrensburg. WBCOC's recent office relocation to Town Hall at 3797 Main Street in Warrensburg has made the chamber more accessible to the local community and out-of-town visitors in search of something. More often than not, their natural first stop in their quest is Town Hall, and with WBCOC there on site, assistance is now easier than ever. "It has opened up a unique partnership and we are very thankful to the Town for allowing us there," noted WBCOC Board President Jack Bartlett. "We are the only outside organization that operates out of the Town government office." WBCOC's largest event and also their primary fundraiser is in itself monumental by nature- the World's Largest Garage Sale. What started 40 years ago and many board of directors back as a small table sale in a parking lot of basement and garage items has grown to an event that attracts thousands upon thousands to Warrensburg for a weekend every early October. A huge economic driver not only for Warrensburg but the entire Warren County, the event also marks the end of the tourist season. Consistent, sustainable, and always continuing to grow, this year's event saw marketing branch out past the general Tri-state areas drivable to Lake George. A larger radius of people made the pilgrimage in search of bargains, some as far away as Colorado. "We are very lucky that we have stumbled upon a winning event many boards ago, they really hit the nail on the head with this, and we are happy to continue the tradition," Tyler remarked. "In my opinion, this event is so successful because it is recession-proof; it is in the spirit of a garage sale and flea market, with minimal cost to get there and participate. You're going to find a deal, and everybody loves a deal." The garage sale is so successful that in spite of the overhead WBCOC is responsible for (bathroom facilities, marketing, advertising, and a copious amount of trash removal and street cleaning once the weekend has come to a close), funds raised are enough to support about half of the chamber's annual budget. "We see a 95% return rate on our vendors, which speaks to the success and longevity of the event," Tyler revealed. " Vendors automatically and immediately want to come back. As event organizers, that's great because it means vendors did well, which means we did well on the marketing and promotion end." At the beginning of the visitor season, WBCOC also had some special highlights that kicked off the summer months. Their Business & Citizen of the Year Awards returned in June after a post-COVID hiatus, and were held at Bandstand Brew Works, a local business that opened in 2024 (over Garage Sale Weekend that year, coincidentally). The sold-out event honored Tommy Guns Pizzeria (who opened a second restaurant up in Chestertown) as Business of the Year, and John Franchini was crowned Citizen of the Year. "John works with Warrensburg Beautification and highlighted initiatives he and his wife do in the town as far as making sure that Warrensburg is one of the most beautiful towns to travel through," Bartlett explained. "He also used that time to launch the campaign "Pick It Up Warrensburg" in which he is working with the local community and visitors to pick up trash and keep Warrensburg as beautiful as it is." WBCOC has been working with Franchini to launch other initiatives, with a handful of local businesses doing Adopt-A-Highway programs and adopting roadways within Warrensburg. "We are always looking to see what we can do for the community and how we can better support other nonprofit organizations and the community as a whole," Bartlett said. WBCOC's annual golf tournament, one of their smaller fundraisers, was held again this year at Cronin's Golf Resort. "The tournament is the kick-off to the summer season for the local community," Bartlett said, adding that many local business owners and community members turn out in support and to enjoy time on the course. WBCOC also hosts chamber mixers, though the schedule is dependent on members' preferences for frequency, as well as their schedules. "We cater to the needs and wants of our members in any given year," Tyler said. Before 2025 closes out, WBCOC will be offering its support for Christmas in Warrensburgh, as they do every year. Planning is already well underway for the 2026 Garage Sale, with dates set and promotions already started. Business & Citizen of the Year Awards have once again been committed to, with nominations being taken under consideration beginning this February. "We have committed to our annual Golf Classic, which is the first Sunday in June," Tyler said. "Additionally, we will consult with our membership to see what interest level is on mixers- our businesses get so busy in the summer, to draw them out for a cocktail party in June isn't easy as everyone is already crazy for the year." 2026 will also see a brand new initiative that WBCOC is particularly excited about, the "Friends of the Warrensburg Chamber." A separate 501(c)(3), the Friends will allow for the application of different forms of grant funding that the chamber -a 501(c)(6)- isn't eligible for. "We have seen nonprofits that have struggled and need support," Tyler said. "Just like businesses, we get letter after letter looking for support and sponsorships, but there is only so much money we receive from membership and fundraising to allow us to put that money back in. The new Friends will open more doors to help us support more community efforts in that charitable vein. We have always done it because we are community-minded, but this will take us to the next level, we will be able to help organizations and not just businesses." According to Bartlett, prior to COVID, there was a coalition of all the chambers of commerce in Warren County. Unfortunately, like a lot of organizations, some of the smaller chambers did not survive the pandemic, or if they did, have dropped down to a skeleton crew due to being able to afford only part-time help. "One of our goals for 2026 is to bring the smaller and larger chambers to the table and figure out how we can support each other," Bartlett said. "There is a lot of duplication of resources… We want to bring those players back to the table and better support their boards and organizations." As part of its advocacy for small businesses, WBCOC also is a resource for those who may be considering taking the leap into the small business world and are seeking professional advice on startups other than what can be found on the internet. "Sometimes you want to have a real conversation and a real consultation with feedback," Tyler recognized. "That is a benefit of membership; we will put our members in touch with real people to answer their questions and concerns. That goes beyond just a cocktail party where you may run into someone; we will actually get you to the person that will solve your issue or build your business." WBCOC is always seeking people and ideas to work in committees, and would love to expand their volunteer committees in the year ahead. For those interested in volunteer opportunities with the Chamber or for more information on membership, please call 518-623-2161, or email infoinfo@warrensburgchamber.com. Follow Warren County Chamber of Commerce on Facebook and Instagram, and visit their website at warrensburgchamber.com.

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Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce finishes year on a high note

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