November 15, 2024

Are you a small business operating in Huntingdon County? We encourage to participate in our Small Business Saturday shopping event in which we will give away a gift basket to one lucky shopper who visited at least one participating business on November 30th.


New this year, we're also kicking-off a Shop Local Campaign! We've created a passport that shoppers will use to collect stamps at participating small businesses. They will then turn their passport into the Chamber and we will enter them in a drawing to win one of the great gift cards we're giving away! This campaign begins on November 30th and ends on December 20th!


The best part? There's barely any work in it for you (just hand customers an entry slip or stamp their passport) and we promote your business on our social media, in our enews, email blasts, on our website, in press releases and any other marketing we do.


Please contact us immediately if you're interested in participating.

Thursday afternoon, we had the honor of attending the Ribbon Cutting and Open House for the the newly renovated Tuscarora Intermediate Unit 11 building. Congratulations on your gorgeous facility!

The Perfect Christmas Gift: A Trip to Ireland!


Looking for a unique and unforgettable gift this holiday season? Give the gift of adventure with our upcoming Ireland Trip!


But hurry - the deadline to reserve your spot is December 15th. Treat someone special (that includes yourself!) to an incredible journey filled with stunning landscapes, rich culture, and memories that will last a lifetime.


Find more information below or by clicking here.

Earlier this week, the Huntingdon County Chamber of Commerce received thanks for advocating for child care in the 2024-25 PA Budget. Our Chamber, along with over 50 other chambers of commerce and economic development agencies signed a letter which was sent to state lawmakers urging them to address Pennsylvania's continuous child care crisis.


Together, we were calling for a state investment that directly helps child care providers to recruit and retain their teachers. The letter explained that alleviating the child care workforce shortage, means classrooms can remain open or reopen, increasing the availability of child care for the tens of thousands of families that need it to remain in the workforce and contribute to Pennsylvania's overall economy. We're currently facing a historic teacher shortage reducing the availability of child care and impacting employers in nearly every other sector across the state due to low-wages within the child care sector.


A new report from the nonprofit ReadyNation surveyed more than 300 PA working mothers and estimated an annual economic cost of $2.4 billion in lost earnings, productivity, and tax revenue due to gaps in Pennsylvania's child care system.


According to the report, the vast majority of child care responsibility still falls on mothers - therefore, work disruptions, career barriers and financial burdens caused by inadequate child care are greater for working moms as a percentage of earning than all working parents. The annual economic cost of both working mothers and fathers dealing with gaps in PA's child care system is estimated at $6.65 billion annually.


This child care crisis has two sides - a demand side (working families affording care) and a supply side (working families finding care). While there has been progress on the demand side in helping working families who are struggling to afford child care there has not been progress on the supply side. We will continue to fight this crisis with the families of Huntingdon County in mind.

Workers Consider Wellness Programs a Top Priority


As companies are increasingly requiring their employees to return to the office, company leaders and human resource department personnel are hearing their workers and future talent prospects ask for programs and services that go beyond traditional benefits. Specifically, individuals are looking for those with a greater focus on benefits that will allow them to maintain and enhance their personal health and well-being.


For many workers, wellness programs offer practical solutions to modern challenges, such as managing chronic conditions, coping with mental health issues, or achieving a better work-life balance. Benefits like gym memberships, increased access to mental health resources, flexible work hours, the ability to work at least part-time from a remote location, increased PTO, ergonomic support, nutritional advice, a robust health care program and even on-site physical amenities like gyms are all benefits that can improve wellness and boost employee well-being.


Companies that prioritize wellness signal to employees that their well-being is valued, contributing to stronger loyalty and morale. Moreover, wellness programs help employees manage stress and avoid burnout, which has become especially relevant in the post-pandemic world.


In a competitive job market, wellness programs are often viewed as a deciding factor when choosing an employer. As employees increasingly seek a holistic approach to health and well-being, these programs have become essential for attracting and retaining top talent while fostering a positive and supportive workplace culture.


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.

We're excited to be partnering with the Huntingdon County Planning Commission to present the Community Improvement Awards for projects completed in 2024. The Awards will be presented at the Planning Commission's Annual Dinner in February 2025.


Community Improvement Award nominations are being accepted in the categories of New Construction, Community Spirit, Special Merit and Preservation: Historic & Reuse of existing building or lot. Nominations are due December 6th by 4:00 p.m. Once nominations are submitted, applications will be sent to the nominees.


Click here for the guidelines.

Click here for the nomination form.

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.

Business After Hours

November 19, 2024

5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Huntingdon County Visitors Bureau


Budget & Legislation Coffee Connection

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Huntingdon Country Club


Small Business Saturday Celebration

Begins Saturday, November 30, 2024

Ends Friday, December 20, 2024

Annual Bonney Forge Corp. & HCCC Golf Tournament

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

1:00 p.m. Shotgun Start

5:30 p.m. Dinner

Huntingdon Country Club


Annual Membership Luncheon

Thursday, August 13, 2025

11:45 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.

Westminster Woods


Sporting Clay Tournament

Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Registration at 2:30 p.m.

Shooting at 3:00 p.m.

Shenecoy Sportsmen


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.


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.

UC Fraud and UC-1099G Tax Forms


Victim of unemployment fraud?
Criminals using stolen identities filed claims for unemployment compensation in other people's names. Because unemployment compensation is taxable, state unemployment agencies submit Forms 1099-G to individuals in whose names and Social Security numbers the unemployment compensation was paid and to the IRS. Victims of fraud who receive Forms 1099-G with inaccurate amounts of unemployment compensation in Box 1 should notify the state agencies of the inaccuracies and request corrected Forms 1099-G. The Department of Labor details www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/UIIDtheft.

Taxpayers should only report income they actually received on their tax returns. Do not report income you did not receive. The IRS offers tax guidance to victims at https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/identity-theft-and-unemployment-benefits.

More Information
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.
Looking for more ways to promote your business?

Tag the Huntingdon County Chamber of Commerce in your Facebook posts and we will share them on the
Huntingdon, PA - Promotions & Activities page. This page is followed by more than 4,000 people and it is free advertising for you.

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

    

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Looking to start an endowment or to support community efforts? Click the logo above to learn more about the Huntingdon County Foundation.