February 21, 2025

We're excited to announce we have confirmed the following Elected Officials to be in attendance:

A representative from Congressman John Joyce's Office

A representative from Senator John Fetterman's Office

Senator Judy Ward

Representative Rich Irvin

Representative Scott Barger

Huntingdon County Commissioners Scott Walls and Patrick Reeder

Please consider sponsoring this valuable event today!

Attention, food lovers! Get ready for Raystaurant Week, coming to Huntingdon County from Saturday, February 22 to March 1! Experience eight days of delicious, themed dining at some of your favorite local spots!

Don't miss out - scan the QR code at each participating restaurant for a chance to win exciting gift card prizes! Check out the full lineup and all the tasty details at raystown.org/raystaurant-week

The Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund Expands Its Service Area To Include Bedford County

State College - The Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund (BPF) will soon be expanding its service area to include Bedford County. As of March 3, 2025, individuals who have a current cancer diagnosis, for which they are receiving treatment, and reside in Bedford County may apply for financial assistance through BPF.

This exciting expansion has been made possible through the dedicated work of BPF board members, staff, and volunteers, including gifts from local donors, and the fundraising efforts led by Juls Bratton and the Girls Night Our Altoona committee. Generous donations made by Cove Cause for Cancer, Girls Night Out Altoona, and UPMC Altoona helped make this expansion a reality.

The Bob Perks Fund was founded in 2006 to honor the memory of Bob Perks, a State College native who lost his own battle with melanoma in 2005. The organization's mission is to ease the financial burden of local cancer patients so they can focus on their treatments and getting well. BPF helps to pay everyday living expenses, such as rent, utilities, food, gas, and more. Applicants who demonstrate that increased expenses and/or decreased income are directly related to their cancer diagnosis can apply for up to $1,000 in assistance every 90 days. Since its inception, Bob Perks Fun has raised and distributed over $3 million to pay for the basic expenses of thousands of cancer patients living in Blair, Centre, Clearfield, Huntingdon, Mifflin, and Juniata Counties. BPF is very pleased to now be able to offer financial support to Bedford County cancer patients.

If you or someone you know are currently struggling financially while battling cancer, and live in Bedford County or one of the other six counties in BPF's service area, please speak to your oncology team about Bob Perks Fund or contact BPF at apply@bobperksfund.org.

Bedford County cancer patients may also find support available by contacting the Pink Ribbon Fund or the Matt Baker Cancer Fund.

To read the entire press release, click here.

Proposed PA Minimum Wage Hike is Bitter Pill for Many Business Owners

Joe Napsha, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

February 18, 2025

Gov. Josh Shapiro's proposal to raise Pennsylvania's minimum wage by more than 100% - from $7.25 to $15 an hour - is being panned by area business owners. Most say they already pay workers more than the minimum wage, and the rate should be set by the market, not by the government. "It would change everything drastically," said Bobby Lynn Frye, owner of The Boulevard restaurant along Town Square Drive in Greensburg. Setting the minimum wage rate at an arbitrary rate is "insanity," she added. Business owners said they already are absorbing the rising costs of food, goods and services, and would likely be forced to pass any additional labor costs on to consumers. Tipped employees receive an hourly rate of $2.83, also unchanged since the minimum wage rate was set in 2009. Rather than helping workers, however, raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour would stifle job creation and put even more of a squeeze on small businesses, said Frank Gamrat, an economist and executive director of the Allegheny Institute on Public Policy. "This is another less business-friendly move. Pennsylvania certainly does not want to follw that path," Gamrat said.

To continue reading this article, click here.

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Contact Us

MacKenzie Huntsman

President/ CEO

mhuntsman@huntingdonchamber.com

Lorena LaGroue

Program Director

lorena@huntingdonchamber.com

500 Allegheny Street

Huntingdon, PA 16652

Phone: 814-643-1110

Fax: 814-643-1115

www.huntingdonchamber.com