MASSENA -- The Massena Chamber of Commerce is temporarily closing their office and their staff has been laid off.

An email from the Massena chamber to its members says their funding from members is down due to mandated closures.

“Once the Board is able to determine a clear path of operations, beyond this pandemic, we will reopen our doors to support the community on a level you have been accustomed to,” the chamber’s April 14 email reads.

The email also cites a reduction of funding from the village in their 2020-21 budget and says they are not eligible for CARES Act stimulus money because they are a 501c6 non-profit entity. Chamber Director Nate Lashomb said they have also seen a reduction in funding from the town and canceled events.

An automatic email response from Lashomb says “volunteer board members are maintaining services.”

“The decisions we made are most difficult. Be assured, we are still committed to the mission we stand for and will continue to provide services at the best of our capacity. The Massena Chamber has always been a beacon of positivity and a cheerleader for the area. With the assistance of our volunteer board members, our website and social media will still be operating and providing local information to the public as it becomes available,” the April 14 email from the chamber to its members says.

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