April 10, 2026

Thank you to Mutual Benefit Group for hosting a fantastic Open House and inviting the Huntingdon County Chamber of Commerce to be part of the conversation!

We truly appreciate the opportunity to share how the Chamber supports local businesses through advocacy, promotion, networking, and leadership development—including programs that help prepare our future workforce.

We are grateful to have recently been honored to be invited to attend the important 2026 Stakeholder Breakfast at the Huntingdon Area School District, alongside so many incredible partners.

The morning highlighted the power of collaboration as they continue working together to strengthen career readiness opportunities for their students—connecting learning to real-world experiences and building pathways for future success. Events like this reinforce just how important the community partnerships are in preparing students for what’s next.

Photo credit: an outstanding Huntingdon Area High School student who attended the event.

Are you a local business, organization, or program interested in partnering with the school district to support career readiness? They would love to connect! Please reach out to Janet Shaffer at jshaff@huntsd.org to get involved.

PA House Passes Paid Leave Bill After 7 Years of Debate

Jaxson White, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

April 5, 2026

There’s a real chance Pennsylvania lawmakers could begin requiring employers to provide paid parental and medical leave, supporters say, though there are still critical disagreements on who should carry the cost. The Democratic-controlled state House passed a paid leave bill in late March, the first time such a policy has cleared a chamber after at least seven years of debate on the issue. There’s bipartisan support for the idea in the GOP-led state Senate, too. A key Republican committee chair sponsored a leave bill in 2024 and shepherded it through his own committee, though it never received a floor vote. That lawmaker, Devlin Robinson, R-Allegheny, told Spotlight PA that he remains “committed” to passing paid family and medical leave and has introduced his bill again this session. One of the key issues dividing lawmakers, largely along party lines, is whether they need to protect businesses from costs associated with leave.

To continue reading this article, please click here.

Deadline Approaching! Book tickets for the 2026 Tourism Summit

Join us for the 2026 "Excellence in Action" Tourism Summit on April 28. Alongside a lunch and cocktail hour, you'll enjoy a Huntingdon County state of tourism update, educational sessions, time to mix and mingle with fellow business owners and the presentation of the annual Destination Excellence Awards!



When

• April 28, 2026, from Noon-6 p.m. 
• Noon - Lunch
• 1 p.m. - Education sessions begin (Canva training, meta analytics, designing events that work and turning moments into marketing)
• 4 p.m. - Cocktail Hour
• 5 p.m. - Destination Excellence Awards Ceremony

Where

• Huntingdon County Arts Center (313 12th Street, Huntingdon, PA 16652)

Rate

• $60 per person for full day
• $35 per person for award ceremony
• $175 Award Sponsor (Only 6 available)*
• *Includes 2 all day tickets, 3 minutes to speak and present award and your logo/name in program.

Pennsylvania Unemployment Rate Down to 4.3 Percent

Colin Day, Altoona WTAJ

April 4, 2026

Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate was down one-tenth of a percentage point in January to 4.3 percent from December. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I), the PA rate matched the U.S. employment rate, which was also down one-tenth of a point from December. Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate was two-tenths of a point above its January 2025 level of 4.1 percent, while the U.S. rate was up three-tenths from last January. Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force, which is an estimated number of residents working or looking for work, was up 12,000 over the month to 6,583,000 in January. Employment was up 17,000 and unemployment declined by 5,000 from December. Pennsylvania’s total nonfarm jobs were up 17,900 over the month to a record high 6,201,900 in January. Jobs increased from December in five of the 11 industry supersectors. The largest volume gain was in education and health services, up 10,000 over the month to a record high.

To continue reading this article, please click here.

April 2026 PA Municipal & Nonprofit Leaders Funding and Resource Newsletter

The April 2026 PA Municipal & Nonprofit Leaders Funding and Resource Newsletter contains information on current funding opportunities that you may find useful. Here are a few noteworthy programs currently open for applications:

• Firehouse Subs- Opens April 7
• PPL Good Neighbor Fund- Closes April 9
• Children’s Mental Health Initiative- Closes April 20
• Value Added Producer Grant- Closes April 22
• Community Conservation Partnership Program- Closes April 30
• Automated School Bus Enforcement Grant Program- Closes April 30
• AARP Purpose Prize- Closes May 1
• Shooting Range Improvement Grant- Closes May 8
• Greenways Trails & Recreation- Closes May 31

For additional information on a particular funding program, links are provided in the newsletter. If you have any additional questions on these or other funding opportunities for your projects, please feel free to contact Michele Ivory in my Hollidaysburg Office (814-695-8386 or mivory@pasen.gov) or John Breneman in my Lewistown Office (717-210-5700 or jbreneman@pasen.gov).

Data Driven Benefits: How Mid-Sized Employers Can Boost ROI and Retention

For mid-sized companies, every benefits dollar counts. Yet too often, employers renew their insurance plans without fully understanding what is driving costs or which benefits employees truly value. By using data more strategically, these employers can design a benefit program that is both cost-efficient and personally meaningful.

A good place to start is by examining claims utilization, demographic trends, and participation rates across medical, dental and voluntary benefits. Patterns often reveal hidden inefficiencies, such as over-insured employees, low preventive care use, or underused wellness resources. And by pairing this information with anonymous employee surveys, company leaders can better understand worker priorities, such as flexibility, family support, or out of pocket predictability.

With the insights gained from this data, employers can shift from a “one-size-fits-all” model to a personalized benefits structure. For example, offering both a base plan and an HSA-compatible high-deductible option can accommodate diverse risk preferences. Adding voluntary benefits like accident, pet, or legal coverage can fill lifestyle gaps without increasing employer costs.

Digital engagement tools further enhance transparency and choice, helping employees see real-time costs and compare plan options. When workers feel informed and empowered, satisfaction rises…and so does retention.

In short, data isn’t just for large corporations. For a mid-sized company, it’s the key to unlocking smarter funding strategies, healthier employees, and a measurable return on investment.



The Huntingdon County Chamber of Commerce offers its members access to My Benefit Advisor as a solution for employee benefits, including voluntary offerings. For more information about My Benefit Advisor, visit our website at hccc.mybenefitadvisor.com or contact Craig Pritts at (800) 377-3539.

Showcase Your Investment in PA's Economic Future: Apply for the 2026 Greatest Places to Intern Awards!

Apply by April 30!

Does your business offer meaningful internship experiences that help set tomorrow’s leaders up for lifelong career success? If so, we encourage you to apply for the 2026 Greatest Places to Intern in PA Awards!

As the PA Chamber and our members work toward enacting a multi-tiered workforce development strategy, we know internships are critical to addressing Pennsylvania’s workforce challenges and helping individuals gain a foothold in their chosen career paths. Internships provide the hands-on experience, essential social development, and networking opportunities that set them up to achieve – and we want to celebrate the employers that invest in strong internship programs and are helping shape Pennsylvania’s future workforce!

Following the success of last year’s inaugural awards - which drew over 100 applicants and culminated in a Capitol news conference and PA Chamber luncheon recognizing interns from across the Commonwealth - the PA Chamber is proud to again recognize employers that are leading the way in talent development.

Why apply?

• Showcase your commitment to developing future talent
• Elevate your brand and gain statewide recognition
• Attract top interns and early-career professionals
• Celebrate your interns and workplace culture

The program aligns with National Intern Day, and winners will be announced on July 30, 2026.



Applications, supporting materials, and the application fee are due by April 30, 2026. Learn more and apply by visiting the Foundation section of our website at www.pachamber.org.

We look forward to recognizing the incredible companies that are investing in our future workforce and Pennsylvania’s up-and-coming business leaders!

Interested in advertising in our enews?

Contact MacKenzie at mhuntsman@huntingdonchamber.com.

The cost is $25.00; $10.00 for 501(3) organizations. Yearly rates are available.

If you are hiring, please send position information to mhuntsman@huntingdonchamber.com or login to the member section of our website to post your jobs.

Contact Us

MacKenzie Huntsman

President/ CEO

mhuntsman@huntingdonchamber.com

Trinity Smith

Program Director

trinity@huntingdonchamber.com

500 Allegheny Street

Huntingdon, PA 16652

Phone: 814-643-1110

Fax: 814-643-1115

www.huntingdonchamber.com