Write a commentSOLO; Shop Oswego Live Oswego, not yet a year old small business association is sponsoring a Small Business Summit on Tuesday January 26 from 6:30-8PM in The Beacon Hotel located on W Bridge and 5th Streets.
Above and beyond the collaborative efforts SOLO was established on and continues to be its main focus it finds increasing the need to have a collective voice and advocating for the success of small locally owned and operated businesses is becoming paramount. Short, mid-range and long term visions and goals will be presented at the summit.
The summit will feature a panel of experts in their represented fields including: Tom Schneider, Pathfinder Bank President; Shane Stepien, Step One Creative; Justin Rudgick, Oswego City Community Development Director; Linda Tyrell, Owner Harbor Towne Gifts & Souvenirs and Victoria Usherwood Gailinas, Founder of iHeartOswego.com. Steven Phillips, Co-Founder of The Oswego Renaissance Association and SOLO, will act as Moderator. Audience participation will be encouraged.
The summit’s objective is to bring local “small business” stakeholders together in an open and honest discussion about the business climate in Oswego and what can be done to improve it.
“After doing much research on cities similar to Oswego that are experiencing success in revitalizing their small business communities and/or their downtowns, we have found that there are some simple common elements that Oswego has but is not taking advantage of.” said Steven Phillips, summit originator. “Building on what has been learned from the success of The Oswego Renaissance Association over the past 2 years, I believe it is possible to use a page or two out of their playbook to help the small business community in Oswego.”
Attendance to the summit is free, pre-registration is required. Space is limited and available on a first come basis and is open to any local small business owner. You can register online at by going to the SOLO FaceBook Page and finding a link under “events” or directly at; https://www.eventbrite.com/e/oswego-small-business-summit-tickets-19851189442.
“This is going to require, ‘thinking outside the box’." Phillips said. “It is not going to be about what is wrong with Oswego but rather what is right, recognizing Oswego’s strengths as they relate to the local business community and how can we build on those strengths.”
To date SOLO has over 20 local businesses as partners including; Port City Co-Op, J.P. Jewelers, Mother Earth Baby, Harbor Towne Gifts, Midnight Sun, Oswego State Downtown Downtown, A Touch of Grace, The Picture Connection, Sensibility Outfitters, Taste the World Coffee, Maida’s Floral Shop, The Bistrol 197, Lake Ontario Antiques, Mary Jean’s Sew What!, The Polka Dot Monkey, DuFores Jewelers, iHeartOswego.com, Just Push Play Productions, Master Pryor’s Taekwondo, and Anthony Pauldine General Contractor.
For additional information on SOLO or the summit go to the SOLO website; www.ShopOswegoLiveOswego.com
