General Membership Meetings

 are held on the 4th Tuesday of the month.

Locations to be announced.

Refer to our website front page for locations.

• January 24th
• February 28th
• March 27th
• April 24th   

For me, a new year always means new beginnings and fresh starts! Our Chamber embraces the year ahead with the promise of a better economy and the hope that our community remains strong and healthy.

This year will start with our Health & Wellness Expo planned for April 12th. This successful event has a NEW, exciting change to it. The venue will be the Port Jefferson High School, allowing for better parking and a larger facility with dedicated break-out rooms for lectures, children's activities, screenings, and special sub-events. More information will follow.

The Board of Directors continues to support the entire Chamber's scheduled events, including the Easter Parade, Taste of Port Jefferson, Candlelight House Tour, and Santa Parade. They are popular and enhance our business district while supporting our member partners.

As the New Year begins, the Chamber Board and I want to thank all our member partners for their contributions throughout the year. Without your

Membership, our organization would not be able to help promote the economic prosperity of our beautiful Village and surrounding areas.

Wishing you all the very best for a prosperous and healthy New Year,

Suzanne Velazquez

President, Greater Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce

Governor Cuomo Announces $785 Million in Economic Development Funding Through Regional Councils.

Continuing the Governor's efforts to redesign the way state government works in order to drive economic growth and create jobs, the Village of Port Jefferson was awarded $100,000. This will finance public access improvements to the Harborwalk and Harborfront Park. The park, adjacent to the Port Jefferson/Bridgeport Ferry terminal, has become an established tourist destination on the North Shore and has revitalized Port Jefferson's adjacent downtown business district.

This grant allows for the completion of the boardwalk directly contiguous to Harborfront Park and Danfords Hotel and Marina, with the appropriate brush steel rail, thus connecting it to the Town of Brookhaven's newly finished boardwalk.

Suffolk County Industrial/Commercial Incentive Plan.

The Village is helping to create an 'Industrial Incentive Commercial Plan' (ICIP) to use as an economic development tool. This will be designed to allow Suffolk County to work with the Village to encourage economic development which is consistent with Village's master plan. The area that will be targeted is Upper Port Jefferson.

Any real property constructed, altered, installed or improved for the purpose of commercial, business or industry activity and which is contained within the designated geographic area (Upper Port) will be eligible for an exemption from taxation and ad valorem levies.

More information to follow of what specific types of businesses will be encouraged to be developed in Upper Port Jefferson.  

Suffolk County Kiosk Grant.

The Village and the Chamber working together have moved forward with the completion of the grant to produce 5 kiosks. They will be strategically placed throughout the Village, one right in front of the Chamber. These information mini-centers will be made of attractive, weather-resistant, 'recycled plastic' lumber. Virtually maintenance-free, each kiosk will have a 'grid' map locating businesses in the Village. In addition, each center will include a poster with ongoing quarterly events, with a special area for more current notices. Installation is planned for late spring so that they will be up and ready for public use for the beginning of the 2012 tourism season.  

Streamlining Solar Energy Systems.

The Village of Port Jefferson has moves ahead with the PJ Planning Board's recommendations to authorize the streamlining of the application process for residential rooftop solar electric and solar hot water energy systems in the Village. The fast track process will have a reduced permit fee of $50, a reduction of paperwork, and will speed up approvals. Homeowners will be eligible to receive a rebate from LIPA and up to a 30% federal tax credit, in addition to a NY State tax credit up to 25%, up to $5,000 of the cost of installation. Also on the state level, applicants may also receive a 15-year property tax exemption.