October 17, 2024

DCED Grant Program for PA Small Business Exporters Opens Applications


Patty Tascarella, Pittsburgh Business Times

October 16, 2024


Pennsylvania's Department of Community and Economic Development is accepting applications for funding through its $800,000 Global Access Program, aimed at helping eligible small businesses export their products. Applications will be accepted until the available funding is depleted, DCED said. The companies can use the funds for overseas and domestic trade show participation, foreign market sales trips, translation/interpreter fees and shipping sample products. Administered by the Pennsylvania Office of International Business Development, GAP provides up to $10,000 per award period to qualifying Pennsylvania companies to reimburse up to 75 percent of eligible expenses associated with specific export promotion activities. The program is funded in part through a federal grant with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Companies are eligible to apply for the funding if they are export-ready and in good standing according to SBA Standards. Small businesses can apply for GAP and get more information about the program online.


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Congratulations to our member, South Hills School of Business & Technology, on the opening of their new building located at 541 58th Street, Altoona, PA 16602!

Remote Work: A Complicated and Evolving Concept


Just as many workers have been getting comfortable enjoying the benefits that remote work brings, employees are increasingly feeling pressure to return to the office. Numerous companies are beginning to cut back on various aspects of the hybrid work environment, either eliminating it entirely or bringing employees back into the office on a more frequent basis.


There may be several factors serving as motivation behind the change. As recession fears mount, business owners have begun placing an increased emphasis on worker productivity and many feel that the in-office experience yields better results than the work-from-home model. Additionally, many believe that it's important to have employees face-to-face with management for improved results when mentoring and training both new and existing employees.


Adding to the push to return workers to the office is a growing awareness that innovation, creativity and collaboration are more apt to suffer when teams within their organization are apart. The general consensus among corporate management personnel is that in-person time helps build relationships and enable greater accomplishments. Some also point out that it is easier to build trust in-person and that those trusted relationships help teams work more effectively.


Although hybrid work arrangements are unlikely to entirely disappear, the degree to which employers allow workers to work from home in the future appears to be unclear.


The Huntingdon County Chamber of Commerce offs 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) 377-3536.

Deadline to donate an item is Wednesday, October 23rd!


Each year, Chamber staff attend the Pennsylvania Association of Chamber Professional's Conference for professional development. We've often utilized their scholarship program to attend in order to maintain financial responsibility and do our best in serving Huntingdon County. The scholarship funds we have had the privilege to take advantage of come a large gift basket raffle with baskets donated from Chambers in attendance.


We do our best to put together a basket each year so we can help raise the funds that assist our Chamber in important educational opportunities and we love to spotlight Huntingdon County.


We need your help making our basket something that displays the heartbeat of Huntingdon County - which is you, our amazing community! We're looking for donations that best represent our Chamber and Community. If you're interested in donating an item, please email MacKenzie at mhuntsman@huntingdonchamber.com.


Thank you to the following basket donors:

Huntingdon County Visitors Bureau

Community State Bank

John R. Wald Company

Penn Highlands Community College

Standing Stone Coffee Company

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.

First National Bank

Business After Hours

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Bricktown Events


PA Secretary of Transportation/Huntingdon County PennDot Luncheon

Thursday, October 24, 2024

Huntingdon Country Club


Small Games of Chance

Rules Seminar

Tuesday, October 15, 2024

6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Smithfield Fire Hall


Business After Hours

November 19, 2024

5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Huntingdon County Visitors Bureau

Budget & Legislation Coffee Connection

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Huntingdon Country Club


Small Business Saturday Celebration

Begins Saturday, November 30, 2024

Ends Friday, December 20, 2024


Annual Bonney Forge Corp. & HCCC Golf Tournament

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

1:00 p.m. Shotgun Start

5:30 p.m. Dinner

Huntingdon Country Club


Annual Membership Luncheon

Thursday, August 13, 2025

11:45 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.


Sporting Clay Tournament

Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Registration at 2:30 p.m.

Shooting at 3:00 p.m.

Shenecoy Sportsmen


MEMBERS ONLY: Download our logo to use on your website. Click the logo for more information. Feel free to link the image on your website to our website, huntingdonchamber.com.


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.

UC Fraud and UC-1099G Tax Forms


Victim of unemployment fraud?
Criminals using stolen identities filed claims for unemployment compensation in other people's names. Because unemployment compensation is taxable, state unemployment agencies submit Forms 1099-G to individuals in whose names and Social Security numbers the unemployment compensation was paid and to the IRS. Victims of fraud who receive Forms 1099-G with inaccurate amounts of unemployment compensation in Box 1 should notify the state agencies of the inaccuracies and request corrected Forms 1099-G. The Department of Labor details www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/UIIDtheft.

Taxpayers should only report income they actually received on their tax returns. Do not report income you did not receive. The IRS offers tax guidance to victims at https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/identity-theft-and-unemployment-benefits.

More Information
Did you know........

Small businesses represent the largest segment by number of most local chamber membership rolls. Results in the research study by The Shapiro Group, Inc. and Market Street indicate the impact of local chamber membership on small businesses is very powerful. If a consumer knows a small business is a member of its local chamber, the business enjoys a 44 percent increase in its consumer favorability rating, a 51 percent increase in consumer awareness, a 57 percent increase in its local reputation and a 63 percent increase in the likelihood that consumers will patronize the business in the future.

Research indicates that chamber membership stimulates business-to-business commerce in the local community. Other businesses in town are more likely to do business with you and your company if you are a member of the local chamber. Because a major part of a small business typically comes from business-to-business services, it is essential to maintain a positive standing within the local business community.

MEMBERS may download our logo to use on your website. Click the logo for more information.
Looking for more ways to promote your business?

Tag the Huntingdon County Chamber of Commerce in your Facebook posts and we will share them on the
Huntingdon, PA - Promotions & Activities page. This page is followed by more than 4,000 people and it is free advertising for you.

Contact Us


MacKenzie Huntsman

President/ CEO

mhuntsman@huntingdonchamber.com


Lorena LaGroue

Program Director

lorena@huntingdonchamber.com



500 Allegheny Street

Huntingdon, PA 16652


Phone: 814-643-1110

Fax: 814-643-1115


www.huntingdonchamber.com

    

Huntingdon, PA Promotions & Activities
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Looking to start an endowment or to support community efforts? Click the logo above to learn more about the Huntingdon County Foundation.