March 6, 2026

Office Closed Today - We're Investing in the Future!

The Chamber office will be closed today as our team hosts our Youth Leadership Conference - and we couldn't be more excited!

We're proud to officially have our Youth Leadership program back up and running after COVID-19, and today we're spending time with an impressive group of local high school students who are already showing incredible potential to become the next generation of leaders in Huntingdon County.

It's inspiring to see their passion, ideas, and drive - and we can't wait to share highlights from the day with you!

If you need assistance while we're out of the office:

Email mhuntsman@huntingdonchamber.com for MacKenzie

Email trinity@huntingdonchamber.com for Trinity

OR call and leave a voicemail - we'll return your message as soon as possible.

Thank you for your support as we pour into the future leaders of our community!

Shapiro Administration Invests over $4M to Expand Career Pathways

Ed Gruver, Central Penn Business Journal

March 4, 2026

The Shapiro Administration is investing $4.1 million to expand Schools-to-Work and Pre-Apprenticeship pathways across Pennsylvania, including Central Pa. The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) announced the investment in grant awards supporting 17 projects statewide designed to prepare high school students for a career and ensure they have a clear path to employment upon graduation. "Schools-to-Work is about making sure students don't just graduate with a diploma, but with direction," L&I Secretary Nancy Walker said in a statement. "Under Governor Shapiro's leadership, we have made workforce development for young Pennsylvanians a priority because we know early exposure to real careers changes lives. These investments connect students to hands-on experience, industry credentials, and employers, while strengthening the pipeline Pennsylvania businesses depend on to grow." The Schools-to-Work funding has since January 2023, supported 52 statewide programs and 2,295 students with hands-on training, classroom instruction, mentorship, and direct connections to employment and apprenticeship opportunities.

To continue reading this article, please click here.

LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER!

We are incredibly proud and excited about how our Inaugural Women’s Conference is coming together. On Friday, March 13th, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., we invite you to join us for an inspiring and empowering day in the Ellis Ballroom at Juniata College.

This special event will feature an outstanding lineup of dynamic and inspiring speakers, including three powerful Keynote sessions and a Keynote Lunch Panel focused on Leadership and Personal Development. Each session is designed to provide meaningful insights, motivation, and practical takeaways that attendees can apply both professionally and personally.

In addition to an engaging program, every attendee will receive a gift bag filled with great items, and there will be additional prizes and giveaways throughout the day, making the experience even more memorable.

We’ve been highlighting our incredible speakers and sponsors on our Facebook event page, where you can also find more details about the day’s agenda. Registration information and the full agenda are available here, and we encourage you to secure your spot and be part of this exciting new tradition celebrating leadership, growth, and connection.

SAVE THE DATE!

Mutual Benefit Group is excited to open their doors and celebrate the businesses that make Huntingdon County thrive. Join them this April for the Huntingdon Business Appreciation Open House, an evening dedicated to connection, community and local impact.

Business owners and community members are invited to stop by, enjoy light hors d'oeuvres and drinks, and hear brief remarks from local government leaders, business resource organizations and community partners.

A big thank you to the groups and individuals helping make this event possible:

Huntingdon County Chamber of Commerce

Huntingdon County Business & Industry

Borough of Huntingdon

PA State Rep. Rich Irvin

Huntingdon County Commissioners

Huntingdon County United Way

Questions? Reach out to Caroline:

814-506-2261

csliver@thembg.com

Sen. McCormick Introduces Bill to Streamline Infrastructure Approvals, Meet Demand for Electricity

Tracy Rozens, Pennsylvania Business Report

March 4, 2026

U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA) recently introduced bipartisan legislations to meet the nation's growing demand for electricity by speeding up the permitting process and accelerating the deployment of innovative grid technologies. "Electricity demand in Pennsylvania and across America is rising rapidly and that requires innovative solutions to strengthen our electric grid and cut through the bureaucracy that is holding us back," said McCormick. Electricity demand is expected to increase by nearly 6 percent by 2030. According to the Department of Energy's 2024 National Transmission Planning Study, the United States needs to build roughly 5,000 miles of new high-capacity transmission per year to ensure grid reliability, support economic growth, and deliver low-cost power to customers. Toward that goal, McCormick has introduced the Reconductoring Existing Wires for Infrastructure Reliability and Expansion (REWIRE) Act of 2026, S. 3947. The bill would reduce permitting delays, incentivize transmission upgrades, strengthen state grid planning, and accelerate the deployment of innovative grid technologies to both lower costs and improve grid reliability.

To continue reading this article, please click here.

March 2026 PA Municipal & Nonprofit Leaders

Funding & Resource Newsletter

In an effort to keep local governments and non-profits informed about potential funding resources, below you'll find the March 2026 PA Municipal & Nonprofit Leaders Funding and Resource Newsletter containing information on current funding opportunities that you may find useful. Here are a few noteworthy programs currently open for applications: 

Keystone Historic Planning and Construction Grants - Closes March 2

Public School Facility Grant - Closes March 13

Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds - LOI's due March 20

Walkworks - Closes March 21

Targeted School Safety for Nonpublic School - Closes March 30

Green Light Go - Closes March 31

Community Conservation Partnership Program - Closes April 30

For additional information on a particular funding program, links are provided in the newsletter. If you have 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). 

For the March 2026 PA Municipal & Nonprofit Leaders Funding & Resource Newsletter, click here. 

PA House Committee Advances Data Center Bills

Justin Sweitzer, City & State PA

March 2, 2026

Lawmakers on the Pennsylvania House Energy Committee on Monday approved two bills aimed at addressing the growing number of data centers across the commonwealth, including one that requires data centers to submit annual reports to the state detailing their water and electricity use. The Democratic-controlled committee passed the first bill, House Bill 2150, with a party-line vote. That legislation, sponsored by state Rep. Kyle Mullins of Lackawanna County, requires data centers to submit yearly reports to the state Department of Environmental Protection that outline each center's total energy and water consumption for the previous calendar year, as well as any measures undertaken in the previous calendar year to improve energy or water efficiency and reduce consumption. The committee votes 14-12 to advance legislation from Democratic state Rep. Kyle Donahue that would direct the state Department of Community & Economic Development to develop a model zoning ordinance to assist municipalities in regulating date centers in their communities.

To continue reading this article, please click here.

Excellence in Action

Join the Huntingdon County Visitors Bureau for lunch and the Huntingdon County state of the tourism update, educational sessions and the presentation of the annual Destination Excellence Awards.

Date and Time

• Tuesday, April 28 from Noon until 6 p.m.
• Huntingdon County Arts Center (313 12th Street, Huntingdon, PA 16652)

Agenda

• Noon: Lunch
• 1 p.m.: Education Sessions (More information to come soon!)
• 4 p.m.: Cocktail hour
• 5 p.m.: Destination Excellence Awards Ceremony

Tickets are $60 per person for the full day or $35 for the award ceremony. You can also purchase Award Sponsor Tickets for $175 while supplies last.

Pennsylvania Lawmakers Debate Mass Transit Funding

Dennis Owens, Harrisburg ABC 27

March 2, 2026

It's the second week of appropriations hearings in the State House and Senate, and the seat got a bit hot on Monday for the PennDOT Secretary on the issue of mass transit. Mass transit is the ultimate source of tension in the legislature, as rural Republicans whose constituents don't and never will use mass transit but heads with Democratic urban and suburban lawmakers whose constituents rely on it. Mass transit dominated the first hour of the Senate appropriations hearing on Monday. Lawmakers debated over whether SEPTA, which is in the Philadelphia region, really has the financial crisis that they have repeatedly suggested. Senators insisted SEPTA and Pittsburgh's system are sitting on a pot of money that they could be using but aren't, while also sounding alarms and threatening service cuts. Republican Senators also noted that Pennsylvania is fourth in the nation in mass transit funding behind New York, California, and Massachusetts.

To continue reading this article, please click here.

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