March 13, 2026

Office Closed Today!

The Chamber office is closed this Friday the 13th as we host our Inaugural Women’s Conference!

We’re so excited to bring together incredible women to connect, inspire, and empower each other. This is more than an event—it’s a celebration of leadership, creativity, and the power of women lifting each other up.



Stay tuned for highlights and moments from this historic day!

LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER!

Budget Hearings Near Conclusion in Harrisburg

Patrick Cloonon, Indiana Gazette

March 8, 2026

Legislative committee hearings into the proposed 2026-27 Pennsylvania state budget are coming to an end. The Senate Appropriations Committee has concluded two weeks of public hearings on Gov. Josh Shapiro’s $53.26 billion proposal, which, if approved, would increase spending by $2.7 billion, or 5.4 percent. Meanwhile, the House Appropriations Committee will close out its budget hearings in the coming week with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, State Police, the state Department of Revenue, higher education institutions, and the Governor’s Office of the Budget. The remaining House Appropriations Committee hearings will focus on PennDOT Monday at 10 a.m., the state police Monday at 1 p.m., the Department of Revenue Tuesday at 10 a.m., the Department of Aging Tuesday at 1 p.m., state-related universities (Pitt, Penn State, et. al) Wednesday at 10 a.m., the State System including IUP Wednesday at 1 p.m., the governor’s Office of the Budget Thursday at 10 a.m. and, in a rescheduling from earlier in the committee process, the state departments of Health and of Drug of Alcohol Programs Thursday at 1 p.m.

To continue reading this article, please click here.

On Friday, March 6, the Chamber’s Youth Leadership students came together for their annual Youth Leadership Conference, and it was an incredible day!

Throughout the day, students explored their purpose, passion, and leadership potential while learning from inspiring community leaders. The conference kicked off with Jeremy Crouse and Madison Speck presenting “Creating Your Own Opportunities,” followed by a fantastic Business Leadership Panel featuring Amanda Jenkins (State Farm Agency), Heidi Leonard (Kish Bank), and Steve Brumbaugh (Brumbaugh Construction). Their insight and advice were invaluable for our young leaders!

After enjoying lunch from Cassville Country Store, students learned about the importance of networking and building connections, and wrapped up the day with a powerful conversation about putting their leadership into action for the love of CommUNITY.

By the end of the conference, students had already identified two needs within their communities — food insecurity and the cost of youth sporting equipment. They are now working on plans to help address these challenges, and we look forward to sharing more soon.

The Chamber is incredibly proud of this group of young leaders and grateful to the speakers and supporters who help make the Youth Leadership Program possible.



Stay tuned to see how these students will be making an impact in our communities!

Common Employee Benefits Compliance Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)



Employee benefits compliance is one of the most overlooked risk areas for employers. While most organizations focus on offering competitive benefits, many unintentionally expose themselves to penalties, audits, and employee disputes through avoidable compliance mistakes.

One of the most common errors is assuming carriers or brokers handle compliance automatically. While vendors may provide guidance, the legal responsibility ultimately rests with the employer. Missing required notices, outdated plan documents, or incorrect filings can trigger significant penalties even when coverage itself is strong.

Another frequent issue is incomplete or inaccurate plan documentation. Summary Plan Descriptions (SPDs) are often outdated, missing required language, or never distributed properly to employees. This becomes especially problematic during employee disputes or Department of Labor audits, where documentation gaps can quickly escalate liability.

Employers also underestimate the risk of ACA reporting errors. Incorrect employee classifications, late filings, or mismatched data between payroll and benefits systems can result in unexpected fines and IRS notices--often months or years after the mistake occurred.

Finally, many organizations fail to recognize their fiduciary responsibilities. Decisions around plan fees, vendor selection, and benefit changes must be documented and made in the best interest of employees. A lack of formal review processes can create fiduciary exposure, even when no wrongdoing is intended.

The good news is that most compliance issues are preventable. Regular compliance reviews, updated documentation, coordinated payroll and benefits data, and proactive advisor support can dramatically reduce risk. In today’s regulatory environment, compliance isn’t just an administrative task–it’s a critical component of responsible benefits management.

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.

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.

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