A Massive Thank You to Our
Small Business Saturday Stars!
Small Business Saturday was a huge success—and it’s all thanks to YOU, our incredible local businesses and community supporters!
We are truly grateful for every business that donated, participated, and helped spread the word about our Small Business Saturday Giveaway. Your generosity and enthusiasm make all the difference in keeping our local economy strong and our community thriving.
Because of your support, we were able to celebrate the heart of our community—our small businesses—and remind shoppers just how special it is to shop local.
Please join us in recognizing the amazing businesses that made this event possible:
All American Pizza & Subs
Appleby's Drug Store
B. Fisher Creations
Brenneman's Meat Market
Bricktown Kickn' Chicken Carry Out
Cassville Country Store
Checker's Grill
Clark's Service LLC
Downtown Joe
Gardners Candies (Huntingdon)
Hometown Pub
Huntingdon Borough
Huntingdon County Arts Council
Huntingdon Holiday Bowl
Juniata Brewing Company
Keystone Engraving
Lake Rays' Nutrition
Lincoln Caverns, Inc.
MAXX Powersports
Memories Sports Bar & Grill
Midnights Bar & Grill
Mount Union Hardware
Nanas Treasures
Orbisonia Hardware
Pappy L’s Work Shop & Crafts
Rothrock Outfitters
Standing Stone Coffee Company
Stitches & Stuff
Strickler's Ice, Bottled Water, & Cold Beer
Swigart Museum
Tastes Of Home Bakery
The Beauty Bar By Monaka
The Market Place
The Meadows Frozen Custard, Huntingdon
Thompson's Candle Co.
Twice Upon A Time
Walker's Homestead Goods
Weaver the Florist
Wildflower Cafe & Goodnight Moon LLC
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Dec. 8, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Caroline Sliver
csliver@thembg.com
Mutual Benefit donate $100K+ to Huntingdon County United Way
Mutual Benefit Group (MBG) has demonstrated their commitment to Huntingdon County, contributing more than $100,851 to the Huntingdon County United Way over the past year through employee giving, corporate support and signature fundraising events.
MBG led the #1 workplace campaign in Huntingdon County, fueled by exceptional employee participation, a strong match program and innovative incentives that inspire generosity across the organization. Their involvement in the Charity Masters, the 2025 MBG Golf Classic, Beach Raffle, Night at the Races, BBQ Bonanza support and ongoing volunteer engagement helped strengthen services and stabilize vital programs across the county.
For the second year in a row, MBG is also offering a Paid Time Off (PTO) Day incentive for employees who donate $260 or more, in addition to matching contributions — a program that has proven to be both highly effective and widely celebrated among staff. Along with the PTO, the Company has agreed to match the donations of the employees.
MBG President/CEO Gary Willaims shared:
MBG is a mutual insurance company guided by integrity, dependability and community. I expect and encourage every employee to live out these values — and I want them to see that leadership does the same. Offering PTO in return for donations is a win-win for our employees, our community and what MBG stands for.
Huntingdon County United Way Executive Director Rachelle Hopsicker praised MBG’s leadership and its ripple effect across the community:
Mutual Benefit Group continues to set the standard for what corporate community leadership looks like. Their PTO-for-giving incentive doesn’t just motivate employees — it creates a culture of generosity that ripples across Huntingdon County. When one organization shows this kind of commitment, others take notice. Programs like this have a powerful impact on the United Way’s ability to meet rising community needs, and we hope other local businesses will join MBG in encouraging and celebrating philanthropy in their workplaces.
To continue reading this press release, 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.
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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.
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Pa. Unemployment Remains Below National Average
Ed Gruver, Central Penn Business Journal
December 11, 2025
Pennsylvania's unemployment rate was 4.1 percent in September, the 29th straight month at or below the national average. The commonwealth's total nonfarm jobs reached a 17th consecutive record high. The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) released its preliminary employment situation report Thursday for September 2025. The delay in data is the direct result of the federal government shutdown that began Oct. 1. Pennsylvania's unemployment rate rose one-tenth of a percentage point in September to 4.1%. The U.S. unemployment rate of 4.4 percent also increase one-tenth of a point over the same period. The commonwealth's unemployment rate was four-tenths of a percentage point above the September 2024 level of 3.7 percent, while the federal rate was up three-tenths of a point from last September. The commonwealth's civilian labor force increase by 1,000 to 6,531,000 in September. Employment declined 6,000 from August while unemployment rose by 7,000.
To continue reading this article, please click here.
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State Mandated Benefits
As the American workplace continues to evolve, so too does the legal and cultural expectation that employers support their employees during times of illness, injury, or family needs. One of the most significant shifts in employee benefits policy in recent years is the emergence and expansion of state-mandated-disability insurance and paid leave programs.
These mandates require businesses to offer income replacement benefits for employees who are unable to work due to non-work-related medical conditions, family caregiving responsibilities, or childbirth. The challenge for benefit consultants is to work with employers not only in maintaining compliance but also in managing the financial and administrative complexities that arise from these evolving laws.
As the legislative environment continues to shift, particularly with the possibly of future federal mandates, organizations must remain agile and informed. By working closely with their benefit consultants in order to coordinate efforts with insurance carriers and legal advisors, business owners can better navigate the complexity of disability and state-mandated benefits while delivering valuable support to their workforce.
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) 377-3536.
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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.
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W.I.S.H. (Where Is Santa Hiding?)
Saturday, December 6 - Saturday, December 13, 2025
Various Locations in Huntingdon County
Seminar: AI Fundamentals - AI Demystified: Understanding LLMs and Their Impact
Thursday, February 12, 2026
9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Location TBA
State of the County Address
Coffee Connection
Thursday, February 19, 2026
7:45 - 9:00 a.m.
Huntingdon Country Club
Seminar: Building with AI - From Ideas to Apps: Building with AI and Shakespeare
Thursday, February 26, 2026
9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Location TBA
Women's Conference
Friday, March 13, 2026
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Juniata College Ellis Ballroom
Talent Discovery Workshop
Thursday, March 19, 2026
9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Huntingdon County Career & Technology Center
Administrative Professionals Event
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
5:00 - 6:30 p.m.
Location TBA
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HCCC & Bonney Forge Corp. Annual Golf Tournament
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Registration - 12:00 noon
Shotgun Start - 1:00 p.m.
Dinner - 5:30 p.m.
Huntingdon Country Club
Business After Hours
Thursday, June 25, 2026
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Lincoln Caverns, Inc.
Annual Membership Luncheon
Thursday, August 13, 2026
11:45 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Location TBA
Huntingdon County Night at the Altoona Curve to benefit HC United Way
Saturday, August 15, 2026
6:00 p.m. w/ Fireworks After
Chamber Trip: Iceland
August 22-29, 2026
Annual Sporting Clay Tournament
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Shenecoy Sportsmen Club
Annual Awards Gala
Thursday, October 1, 2026
5:30 p.m. Reception
6:00 p.m. Dinner & Awards
Location TBA
Small Business Saturday
Saturday, November 28, 2026
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Looking for more ways to promote your business?
| | Huntingdon, PA Promotions & Activities | | Looking to start an endowment or to support community efforts? Click the logo above to learn more about the Huntingdon County Foundation. | | | | |
