Happy New Year

The Board of Directors and Staff would like to wish you a year full of happiness and prosperity!

FirstEnergy Power Systems Institute

The Power Systems Institute is a partnership for line and substation training programs between FirstEnergy, Penn Highlands Johnstown, and Edinboro University.

For more than a decade, they have teamed up with local community colleges to train the next generation of top-quality, well-educated line workers and substation electricians for the electric utility industry.

This program is a unique, two-year program that combines classroom learning with the hands-on training needed to open the door to opportunities in the electric industry. Students who successfully complete the program earn an associate degree.

For more information on this program, please click here.

Despite GOP's attempt to compromise, Wolf says he's not abandoning overtime plan

Katie Meyer, PA Post

Governor Tom Wolf says he's not backing off his plan to qualify more Pennsylvanians for overtime pay.

He wants to raise the salary cap on automatic overtime, so workers who make more can get time-and-a-half. A new federal rule that took effect this week is already increasing the salary cap on mandatory time-and-a-half pay from $23,600 a year, to $35,500. Wolf has proposed increasing it even more, to $45,000. Some Republicans had hoped to convince Wolf to stop the planned change by making a deal on one of this longtime priorities, a minimum wage increase. The commonwealth's minimum is $7.25 an hour, the lowest wage allowed under federal law. All the states that surround Pennsylvania have raised their wages. Toward the end of last year, the GOP-controlled Senate passed a modest wage increase from $7.25 to $9.50 an hour. Wolf, in return, halted the approval process for his overtime plan and appeared willing to abandon it. But now, he said, he's not confident the House will follow suit.

"I had some conversations but there's no commitments," he said. "I think there's a recognition that we've got to do something. $7.25 is inadequate. But it's a matter of whether there's a will to move forward." So, Wolf said he's going forward with his overtime plan. The Independent Regulatory Review Commission, which is controlled by Democrats, is slated to vote on the rule January 31st.

Lawmakers will be back in session next week. Republicans haven't said what they plan to do with the Senate's minimum wage bill.

Spring Jam

 

The 2020 Spring Jam will be on April 5 at the Huntingdon Country Club from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. We will be asking non-profits and restaurants for their participation in the upcoming weeks. Please keep an eye out for any information regarding the Spring Jam.

Committee Members Needed

The Membership & Marketing Committee, or as we like to call it, our M&M Committee, is responsible for member recruitment, retention, and marketing of the Chamber and of its members. The committee is also responsible for developing a package of member benefits. M&M meets once a month at noon. The next meeting is on Thursday, January 16 at 312 Kitchen and Cocktails at 312 Penn Street.

The Government Affairs Committee makes Chamber members aware of legislative initiatives and provides education regarding the impact. Additionally, the Committee serves as a liaison between Chamber members and the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry to advocate for initiatives and regulations that positively impact our member’s needs, or to oppose legislation and regulations that the Committee and Chamber members believe will have an adverse effect. Prior to taking action, the Committee will recommend positions on legislation to the Chamber Board of Directors, and to other Chamber committees as appropriate. The Committee is also responsible for developing educational programs regarding legislation, regulations and political issues important to members, and for working with legislators and other county organizations to identify and advocate for area project funding needs. This committee meets once a month at noon. The next meeting is Thursday, January 9 at Hoss’s Steak and Sea House.

Contact Yvonne at 814-643-1110 or [email protected] if you’d like to learn more about either the M&M or Government Affairs Committee. 

The Education Committee is responsible for the planning, development and organization of educational opportunities to serve the needs of Chamber members and the community. We also responsible for the Youth Leadership Huntingdon County Program and Leadership Huntingdon County.

Contact MacKenzie at [email protected] if you'd like to learn more about the Education Committee.

Welcome to the

Chamber Board

Late last year Morgan Sample joined the Chamber's Board of Directors. Morgan represents the Huntingdon Country Club on the Board. Just yesterday, the Chamber's Board of Directors approved adding Cory Focht to the team. Cory will be representing CBT Bank. We looking forward to working with our new team members.

GED Funds Needed

The Huntingdon County Chamber Foundation works with the Huntingdon County CareerLink to help fund GED testing for those that can't afford the test fee. we are currently in need of contributions to that fund. Since the Foundation is a 501 (c) 3, contributions are tax deductible. If you are interested in contributing to the fund, please send a check to the Huntingdon County Foundation, 500 Allegheny Street, Huntingdon PA 16652. Note on the check that it is for the GED Fund. Even small contributions will be helpful.

Featured Benefit

If you’d like to learn about saving money on your electricity or gas, contact Yvonne at [email protected] or 814-643-1110. If you are interested in saving money on your residential electric bill, please visit OnDemandEnergy.com and click the residential button. This program is not available to Valley Rural Electric Customers.

OnDemand Energy is part of the Kinect Energy, Inc. family which is a World Fuel Services company. This partnership increases buying power, leading to better prices for our members. World Fuel Services is a global energy leader and Fortune 100 company. 

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