January 9, 2026

We're beyond thrilled to announce our inaugural Women's Conference presented by Geisinger Health, Leading As You Are: Confidence in Leadership and Life, focused on encouraging authenticity, confidence, and courage in leadership.

The conference will take place on Friday, March 13, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Ellis Hall Ballroom at Juniata College. (We thank Juniata College for their partnership on this event!)

As we prepare for this exciting event, we are seeking businesses and organizations interested in investing in the professional development of women. This conference will bring together women from across our community for a full day of inspiration, learning, and meaningful connection - and your support can help make a lasting impact.

We would the opportunity to partner with you and highlight your commitment to leadership, growth, and community engagement. Sponsorship opportunities offer visibility, connection, and the chance to directly support women as they lead in business, organizations, and life.

Thank you for considering being part of this impactful event. We look forward to connecting with you.

Please click here for the full pdf version of the investment package.

We invite you to join us as we co-host for another year of Community Improvement Awards and to celebrate the accomplishments of the Huntingdon County Planning Commission during 2025.

The Annual Dinner Meeting of the Huntingdon County Planning Commission will be held Thursday, February 26, 2026 at Greenland's Lodge. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. for a networking reception and cash bar, followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. The menu includes: a salad bar, roast beef, turkey, mashed potatoes, beef gravy, gourmet vegetable blend, dessert bar, and beverages.

The Planning Commission will host the Annual Meeting at 7:30 p.m. with the presentation of their Annual Report, 2025 Community Improvement Awards presented in partnership with the Chamber and Kish Bank, and guest speaker, Bradley Esposito.

The cost is $35 per person.

Payment must be submitted prior to the event in the form of cash or check to:

The Huntingdon County Planning Department (HCPDD)

205 Penn Street, Suite 3

Huntingdon, PA 16652

RSVP by February 9, 2026 via email to planning@huntingdoncounty.net.

The Small Business Advantage Grant can be used by Pennsylvania small businesses to increase energy efficiency, reduce pollution, or protect the natural resources of Pennsylvania relating to their business operations, all while saving small business owners money!

A link to the online application system and to all the program documents, including Program Guidelines and a Grant Calculator, are available on the Small Business Advantage Grant Website.

Contact the Small Business Ombudsman Office if you have questions at RA-epAdvantageGrant@pa.gov. Huntingdon County Business and Industry is also available to assist you with the application process.

Huntingdon Area School District Name a Great Pennsylvania School

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HUNTINGDON, PA - The Huntingdon Area School District has been designated a Great Pennsylvania School (GPS), an honor recognizing districts across the Commonwealth for academic excellence, community engagement, financial stewardship, and organizational resilience.

The Great Pennsylvania Schools (GPS) designation recognizes public schools that provide students with access to rigorous programs, serve as a centerpiece in their community, demonstrate financial well-being, and demonstrate resilience in meeting the evolving needs of students and families.

"This designation is a meaningful affirmation of the work happening every day across our district," said Jennifer Mitchell, Superintendent of the Huntingdon Area School District. "It reflects the shared commitment of our students, staff, families, and community, as well as the thoughtful leadership and support of our Board of School Directors. Together, we continue to focus on innovation, sustainability, and providing meaningful opportunities for students at every level."

The district's work is grounded in its mission: The Huntingdon Area School District community engages all stakeholders to create a nurturing learning environment, focused on achievement and growth, social and emotional wellness, and preparation for varied career pathways. This mission guides decision-making, programming, and partnerships throughout the district.

To continue reading this press release, please click here.

Huntingdon County Launches #America250ActiveChallenge to Celebrate Nation's

250th Anniversary

HUNTINGDON, PA - In a new initiative to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American Independence, the Huntingdon County Active Transportation Committee and the Huntingdon County Visitors Bureau are proud to announce the #America250ActiveChallenge. This community-wide, self-paced challenge encourages residents and visitors to explore Huntingdon County's rich history and natural beauty through a variety of recreational activities, with a unifying goal of 250 units.

The #America250ActiveChallenge is a year-long program designed to get people moving while celebrating the nation's semiquincentennial in 2026. Participants are invited to choose one or more activities and complete 250 units of that activity, such as hiking 250 km, biking 250 miles, or successfully catching and releasing 250 fish.

The challenge provides and accessible way for people of all fitness levels to honor the past while building a healthier future.

"This challenge is a fantastic way to blend our celebration of American history with the promotion of an active lifestyle," said Huntingdon County Visitors Bureau Executive Director Matt Price. "It's an invitation to 'walk, ride, and paddle through history' on the same lands that shaped our nation, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose."

To continue reading this press release, please click here.

Pennsylvania Ranks Among Top States for New Business Survival

PennWatch

January 5, 2026

New data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that Pennsylvania ranks among the top states in the nation for five-year new business survival. According to the latest federal data, 56 percent of businesses started in Pennsylvania remain open after five years - the third highest percentage nationwide. The national average business survival rate is 51.6 percent, meaning nearly half of new businesses across the country fail within their first five years. The data tracks businesses that opened in a year ending in March 2019 and were still operating as of March 2024 - a period that includes the economic disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic and continued inflationary pressures. Research from the Center for American Entrepreneurship shows that businesses started in the Commonwealth are more likely to endure - a sign of long-term economic stability rather than short-term growth alone. The findings come as Pennsylvania continues to earn national recognition for its economic performance. A recent analysis by Moody's Analytics Chief Economist Mark Zandi found that Pennsylvania is the only state in the Northeast with a growing economy.

To to continue reading this article, please click here.

Don't miss your chance to join a wide variety of free virtual safety trainings in January - covering cold weather safety, hazard prevention, certified workplace safety committee training, and more; all designed to help keep your team protected year round. Click on the links below to view the training objectives and register.

Just to Highlight a Few!

6 Business Case for Safety 9:30-10:30 a.m.

8 Cold Weather Injuries 9:30-10:30 a.m.

13 Right to Know-Chemical 1:30-2:30 p.m.

21 Active Shooter Training 10:00-noon

28 Snow Shoveling Safety 9:30-10:30 a.m.

28 Driving in Inclement Weather 1:30-2:30 p.m.

29 Carbon Monoxide Poisoning 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Certified Workplace Safety Committee (CWSC) Training

8 Certified Workplace Safety Committee Training 1:30-2:30 p.m.

14 Certified Workplace Safety Committee Training 9:30-10:30 a.m.

20 Certified Workplace Safety Committee Training 1:30-2:30 p.m.

29 Certified Workplace Safety Committee Training 1:30-2:30 p.m.

PATHS is a statewide service providing employers and employees access to cost-effective health and safety resources. Services provided by PATHS enable participants in the workers' compensation system to create safer, incident-free workplaces.

Training is provided onsite by request, or you may register for virtual training on various safety topics through the PATHS Training Calendar. Visit their website, https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dli/resources/for-employers-and-educators/workers--compensation-for-employers/workers--compensation-compliance/health-and-safety-division, for other safety-related resources.

A Look Ahead: Pa.'s Outlook in 2026

Ed Gruver, Central Penn Business Journal

January 5, 2026

While the year that passed was a challenging one, the year ahead offers an opportunity for Pennsylvania to shape its future. York County Economic Alliance President/CEO Kevin Schreiber, Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC President/CEO Ryan Unger, and Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry President/CEO Luke Bernstein see 2026 as a year of opportunity for the state and for Central Pennsylvania. Bernstein believes 2026 will be a year that will shape Pennsylvania's future. "If 2025 was about proving we can compete, 2026 will be about proving we can lead," he said. "This will be one of the most important years for our state in a long time - not just politically, to improve and strengthen the commonwealth's competitiveness. He noted that Pennsylvania's corporate net income tax rate will drop to 7.49% and is on track to reach 4.99% by 2031. "Additionally, while net operating loss deduction limits increase to 50%, reaching 80% by 2029," said Bernstein. "These changes remove critical barriers from businesses of all sizes to invest, grow, and create jobs in the commonwealth."

To continue reading this article, please click here.

The Huntingdon County Visitors Bureau, Huntingdon County Chamber of Commerce, Huntingdon County Business and Industry and Huntingdon County Arts Council are working together to promote "Raystaurant Week," February 21-March 1, 2026. To participate, a restaurant, food truck or caterer need not be a member or partner of any of the organizations, but must agree to participate in at least one of the theme days. Participation does not necessarily mean offering discounts, but rather featuring daily special menu items or partnering with another entity to do cross-promotion that fit the day's theme, as well as providing a check-in incentive provided through the campaign to your customers when they come to your restaurant during the week.

HCVB will be featuring paid advertisements for Raystaurant Week in The Daily News, WTAJ-TV, and on Seven Mountains Media and Quick Rock radio stations that will drive customers to a landing page on Raystown.org featuring all of the week's participants. Several of the media outlets will also offer opportunities for each participating restaurant to purchase advertisements at a cooperative discount rate to feature their own establishment.

This is the second year coordinating a restaurant week promotion, and our target market is locals and travelers within 50-100 miles of Huntingdon County. We know some of these questions might involve other members of your staff, so the form is set-up so you can come back to it and edit as needed.

If you own or represent multiple restaurant locations, please complete one form for each.

Grants available to host entertainment and more

The Huntingdon County Visitors Bureau (HCVB) Winter Tourism Stimulus Grant is designed to encourage the development of new or enhanced visitor experiences, events and targeted marketing campaigns that specifically attract tourism activity and overnight stays during the non-peak season (defined as January 1st through March 31st).

The primary goal of this grant is to diversify the county's tourism offerings and increase wintertime occupancy and visitor spending, thereby strengthening the year-round economic resilience of the hospitality sector.

Questions?

Feel free to contact any of the following get your questions answered!

Matt Price, HCVB Executive Director

mprice@raystown.org

Lissy Kinder, HCVB Director of Marketing & Digital Engagement

lissy@raystown.org

Christa McGeary, HCBI Entrepreneur Coach

cmcgeary@hcbi.com

MacKenzie Huntsman, Huntingdon County Chamber of Commerce President & CEO

mhuntsman@huntingdonchamber.com

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