Join us in welcoming our newest member!
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Annual "State of the Chamber" Membership Luncheon
Yesterday we held our 12th Annual "State of the Chamber" Membership Luncheon at the Huntingdon Country Club. They prepared a wonderful meal to match our Roaring 20s theme!
Congratulations to Keller Engineers, Inc. on being our Premier Member of the Year! Diana McClure accepted the award.
Attendees heard from our Board Chair, President/CEO, Education Committee, Events Committee, Executive Committee, Government Affairs Committee, Membership & Marketing Committee, Huntingdon County Foundation, and a representative from My Benefit Advisor. They learned of our accomplishments from the last year and our goals for the upcoming year.
This event would not be possible without the support of our sponsors, they are:
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U.S. Department of Labor Issues Updated Guidance on Protecting Unvaccinated and Other at-risk Workers from the Coronavirus
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today issued updated guidance to help employers protect workers from the coronavirus. The updated guidance reflects developments in science and data, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's updated COVID-19 guidance issued July 27.
The updated guidance expands information on appropriate measures for protecting workers in higher-risk workplaces with mixed-vaccination status workers, particularly for industries such as manufacturing; meat, seafood, and poultry processing; high volume retail and grocery; and agricultural processing, where there is often prolonged close contact with other workers and/or non-workers.
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Absolute Deadline: August 31
Please get your sponsorships and your team registration in as soon as possible. Shenecoy Sportsman would like to begin purchasing the shells.
We understand that shells are not easy to get at this time.
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August 31 Deadline: Help Us Recognize Deserving
Businesses and Individuals
Nominations are being sought for the following awards:
David K. Goodman Jr. Community Service Award - sponsored by Huntingdon Elks Lodge #976
Business of the Year Award - sponsored by Valley Rural Electric
Customer Service Award - sponsored by Bonney Forge Corp.
Educator of the Year Award - sponsored by Juniata College
Entrepreneurial Success Award - sponsored by Keller Engineers
Volunteer of the Year Award - sponsored by Arize Federal Credit Union
The ATHENA Leadership Award is sponsored by:
TEAM Chevrolet, Buick, GMC
Bumgardner & Flasher Oil, Inc.
Grier School
Lincoln Caverns, Inc. and Whisper Rocks
MJEM’s Photos
World Marketing of America, Inc.
MiCamp Solutions LLC
Hickes Associates, Inc.
Stern Insurance Agency
Awards will be presented at our October 7 Annual Awards Gala.
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Tax Credits Encourage Employers to Provide Vaccination Leave
The White House implemented changes to COVID-19 relief programs in July that may help Pennsylvania employers. Designed to encourage employees to get vaccinated, the Biden Administration announced a change to a tax credit that allows employers to be reimbursed for time taken by eligible employees when getting or recovering from a vaccine or caring for family members who have. Initially intended to blunt the effects of Coronavirus-related time off, the American Rescue Plan expanded the scope of the tax credit to apply to the time taken for an employee to receive a vaccination. Most recently, the administration issued guidance including employees' families as an eligible reason for an employer to claim the credit.
Under the revised guidance, in addition to the time taken after contracting coronavirus, employers can extend paid time off for employees to receive a coronavirus vaccination (and recover from any side effects) or to care for their family as they get vaccinated in the same way. More information on the credit, including details on eligibility and how to claim, is available at the IRS website.
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Waived and Suspended Licensing Regulations
Pursuant to the March 26, 2020 declaration of disaster emergency relating to COVID-19, the Department of State requested, and the Governor approved, nearly 100 regulatory suspensions and waivers. Many of those suspensions and waivers have already expired.
Act 21 of 2021 was signed into law on June 11, 2021. It provided for an extension of active suspensions through September 30, 2021, unless terminated sooner than September 30 by the agency that issued the suspension.
Licensees and other affected stakeholders are urged to return to compliance with all requirements without delay, but in any event, no later than the relevant expiration dates set forth below.
Please continue to monitor this webpage for updated guidance.
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Hold the Dates!
Sporting Clay Tournament - September 15 at 3:00 p.m.
Date Change! Budget & Legislation Luncheon - October 1 from 11:45 to 1:00 p.m.
Annual Awards Gala - October 7
Additional events and event details can be found later in this e-news.
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Partners In Excellence
Platinum
Fulton County Medical Center
Shafer Equipment Co.
Gold
Stern Insurance Agency
Silver
Mutual Benefit Group
Bronze
Bumgardner & Flasher Oil, Inc.
Orbisonia Hardware, Inc.
Royal
Bange's Masonary
MiCamp Solutions LLC
Culbertson Commercial Cleaning Service
FirstEnergy Corporation
Juniata College
Keller Engineers
Lincoln Caverns, Inc. and Whisper Rocks
McDonald's
Stiffler, McGraw and Associates, Inc.
Interested in learning about becoming a Partner in Excellence?
Packages range from $125 to $1,000.
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If you are hiring, please send position information to ymartin@huntingdonchamber.com or login to the member section of our website to post your jobs. We've begun promoting this on Facebook.
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Sporting Clay Tournament
Shenecoy Sportsmen Club
September 15, 2021
September 22, 2021 Rain Date
2:15 p.m. Registration
3:00 p.m. Shoot
Member Benefit Webinar: Save Money on Energy and Health Insurance
September 21, 2021
9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
Business After Hours
Arize Federal Credit Union
September 21, 2021
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Legislative Luncheon
Sunset Golf Club, LLC
October 1, 2021
11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
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Annual Awards Gala
Huntingdon Country Club
October 7, 2021
5:30 p.m. Reception
6:00 p.m. Dinner
Hold the Date:
Spring Jam
April 3, 2022
2022 Administrative Professionals Luncheon is Wednesday, April 27, 2022.
"Highway to Rock" Concert
featuring Live Wire
May 21, 2022
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COVID-19 Vaccines at Penn Highlands Healthcare
Vaccine sign up now available. Per the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Penn Highlands Healthcare is vaccinating any Pennsylvanian ages 12 and above. Please call the PHH Vaccine Information Line at 814-503-4735 to sign-up or by visiting www.phhealthcare.org/vaccine to schedule a vaccine. If have questions, please call the PHH Vaccine Information Line at 814-503-4735 Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
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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.
Show your membership pride and that you are a repitable business. Download the Chamber logo to use on your website. Click the logo for more information.
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DEADLINE SOON: Ben Franklin’s $50,000 BIG IDEA Contest
Ben Franklin Technology Partners, an award-winning, tech-based economic development program, is offering emerging entrepreneurs and small manufacturers the opportunity to participate in our fun, risk-free $50,000 BIG IDEA contest. In the past few years – maybe because of the popularity of the TV show, Shark Tank - there has been a growing interest in pitch competitions by the private sector, economic development professionals, and just regular folks who have an idea for an innovation that could turn into a business opportunity. So, why do most people enter Ben Franklin’s BIG IDEA Contest?
Because they want to win! Since the contest’s inception, nearly $2 million in cash prizes have been awarded throughout the program’s 32-county footprint in central and northern Pennsylvania. Winning up to $50,000 will go a long way in helping infuse a startup with much-needed cash. But, the pitch experience gained, the training offered, and the contacts made are worth every bit as much as the prize money.
If you have not received Ben Franklin funding, won a prize from either a previous contest or a TechCelerator Startup Boot Camp, and you currently do not have more than $500,000 in sales, you are eligible to apply!
But don’t wait! The deadline to apply is August 23, 2021 at 5 p.m.
For more Information, contact:
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Paid Leave Tax Credit Resources and Guidance
Click here to view the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Fact Sheet to learn more about the Paid Leave Tax Credit, how it works, and who is qualified to received it.
Click here to view the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)’s Fact Sheet to learn more about how to claim the tax credit during quarterly filings and additional resources for employers about the program.
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Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC):
Step by Step instructions with a CPA
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Member Restaurant Information
We are are providing the following to make it easier to support local restaurants. Click the restaurant name to view their menu. Those in bold are offering curbside pickup.
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Looking for more ways to promote your business?
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U.S. Chamber Pandemic Relief Resources:
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Pandemic Webinar Recordings - You can view the Chamber’s webinars explaining the new pandemic relief bills from late December and early January. They've uploaded the recording from this week here, plus the accompanying slides here, and you can find the recording from our December discussion here.
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Resources from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
The U.S. Chamber continues to create, update, and evolve its various guides and resources.
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Quick Connect Coaching Sessions
Weekly, Tuesdays at 8:30 am
Looking for a quick answer to a question related to disaster recovery, reopening, stabilizing, or projecting for growth? Then attend a "Quick Connect" session to get your questions answered. Each week a consultant will address answers related to a specific topic.
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Contact Us
Yvonne Martin
President/ CEO
MacKenzie Huntsman
Program Director
Phone: 814-643-1110
Fax: 814-643-1115
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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. |
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