Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber temporarily lays off all staff members

WATERTOWN, N.Y. — The Greater Watertown-North Country (GWNC) Chamber of Commerce has “temporarily” laid off all of its employees, except Chamber President and CEO Kylie Peck, effective Monday.

Peck with the support of the chamber’s board of directors, will serve the area business community on a “limited basis” to continue daily operations and business support, per a chamber news release. It didn’t specify the number of people temporarily let go.

The GWNC Chamber says it operates on revenue generated from programming, events, and membership dues. The organization doesn’t receive funding from local municipalities.

The chamber says it financial difficulties stem from the COVID-19 restrictions and the “reality” that chambers of commerce and other organizations with 501(c)(6) nonprofit status aren’t eligible for funds available to nonprofit organizations and small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program.

In temporarily reducing staff, the chamber will continue to serve the business community “as an advocate and as a source of information and resources, while seeking opportunities for funding through this health and economic crisis,” the release stated.

“The organization will continue to inform and support businesses while adhering to the restrictions in place to the best of our ability. For over 100 years we have served our business community and we look forward to bringing our full staff back as quickly as we can,” Laurie Podvin, chairwoman of the board of directors of the GWNC Chamber of Commerce, said.