Small businesses are the foundations of our local economy. Whether you’re just starting out or are already running your own business, the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce is to help.

We believe that healthy communities begin with healthy businesses. By focusing on key areas--community and economic development, advocacy, tourism promotion, and business engagement--we partner with municipal leaders, community groups, educational institutions, and local companies to present a unified voice of business for the improvement of our communities.

Our Chamber office at the Delaware County Business Center brings together many services, programs, and support to grow new and existing businesses in Delaware County, including:

Incubator Office Space

The U.S. Small Business Administration reports that 80% of all new businesses fail within the first year. By contrast, the National Business Incubation Association reports that 80% of the businesses that start in a business incubator are successful. The system of support, the opportunity to exchange ideas and get critical feedback, and other features of an incubator are geared to the needs of start-up businesses.

The Delaware County Business Center has small and large offices and conference rooms that make it easy for you to get started in a professional and supportive environment. All utilities are included in the rental fee. Offices come equipped with furniture, wireless or wired one-gig Internet access, telephone hook-ups, as well as shared printers and copiers. Our large conference rooms have cameras, microphones, and projectors for Zoom meetings or face-to-face meetings of twenty people.

Entreprepreneur Academy

Our Four Weeks to Launch program, conducted in partnership with DCMO BOCES and GrowthWheel International, walks you through the process from idea development to business plan. Examine the viability of your idea, discover what you need to operate effectively, learn to market your goods or services, explore financing options, utilize the advantages that come with technology, and build a network of support. Taught by professionals and certified business advisors, this program helps you create a business plan that puts you on a path to success. Your business ideas could become the next great success story.

Leaderful Delaware Emerging Leaders Program

Engaging our next generation of community leaders builds sustainable communities. . Our innovative curriculum is based on scientific theories of organizational and community leadership. Leaderful Delaware offers an alternative to the traditional model and calls on leaders to be concurrent, collective, collaborative, and compassionate. Strategies include effective facilitation, dialogue skills, intensive listening skills, managing conflict, intercultural competence, leadership styles, and peer coaching.

When you become a “leaderful” leader you help create the quality of life for your family and friends. When you are a leaderful leader in your business, your profitability improves, customer loyalty increases, and employees get excited about coming to work. This annual eight-month program provides a base of knowledge and experiences that will enable you to be a leader in your business and community.