In This Issue
Upcoming Events

China Adventure Information Session
J.C. Blair Education Center
February 28, 2018
5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Winter Blues
Huntingdon Country Club
March 4, 2018
5:00 - 8:00 p.m. 

Welcome M.A.T.
AristaCare @ Huntingdon Park 
March 15, 2018
4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Business After Hours
AristaCare @ Huntingdon Park
March 15, 2018
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Small Games of Chance Seminar
April 3, 2018
Smithfield Fire Hall
6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Elected Officials Reception
Gage Mansion Bed & Breakfast
April 5, 2018
5:00 - 7:00 p.m. 

Business After Hours
Cricket Wireless at One-Stop
April 19, 2017
5:00 - 7:00 p.m. 

Huntingdon County Expo
Huntingdon County Fairgrounds
May 4, 2018 2:00-7:00 p.m.
May 5, 2018 9:00 a.m.-5 p.m.

J.C. Blair Health System 
Coffee Connection
Huntingdon Country Club
May 16, 2018
7:45-9:00 a.m.

Huntingdon County Night at the Altoona Curve
June 8, 2018
7:00 p.m.

Annual Golf Tournament
Huntingdon Country Club
June 20, 2018
Registration at 11:30 a.m.

Business After Hours
Cisney & O'Donnell/Love It/Price Motor Sales Pre-Owned Outlet/The Colonial Florist 
June 26, 2018
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Huntingdon County Night at the State College Spikes
July 21, 2018
7:05 p.m.

Annual "State of the Chamber" Luncheon
Westminster Woods
August 16, 2018

Sporting Clay Tournament
Shenecoy Sportsman
September 12, 2018

"State of Education" 
Coffee Connection
Huntingdon County Career
& Technology Center
September 25, 2018
7:45 - 9:00 a.m.

Annual Awards Gala
Huntingdon Country Club
October 4, 2018

Partners In Excellence

Platinum
Team Home Health a Service of Fulton County Medical Center

Silver
Mutual Benefit Group

Bronze
Bumgardner & Flasher Oil, Inc.  

Royal
BottomLine Pros LLC
FirstEnergy Corporation
Juniata College
Lincoln Caverns, Inc. and Whisper Rocks
MDB Drafting & Design
Nationwide Insurance
Stiffler, McGraw and Associates, Inc. 
Contact Us

Yvonne Martin
President/ CEO

ymartin@huntingdonchamber.com


MacKenzie Locke
Program Director
mlocke@huntingdonchamber.com


500 Allegheny Street
Huntingdon, PA 16652

Phone: 814-643-1110

Fax: 814-643-1115
Links:

Constant Contact

Click here to register. 

After your free trial period expires you qualify for a special discount because you are a member of the Huntingdon County Chamber of Commerce. If you prepay for six months, you receive a 20% discount. Prepay for a year and save 25%! There's no better time to try email marketing. 
February 27, 2018

Welcome

We would like to welcome our newest members: Altoona Curve, Big Belly Deli and Wm Brian Miller Auctioneering! 

Free Enterprise Week Features
Mount Union Student

This month's Student Spotlight in the Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Newsletter features Katrina Bliss, a young woman from Huntingdon County who credits PFEW with igniting a passion and forming a pathway for her future. 

"Coming to PFEW, I had no interest in a business career, had little knowledge of what the Free Enterprise System even was, and was asking myself what ever made me want to sign  up for a business camp. All those hesitations quickly faded, though, when I met my awesome company, H1. From rallying together to try to be the most "hype" company at sessions, to taking in every word that each inspiring speaker said, and learning from our amazing CA, John Lafferty, we formed bonds that are indescribable. We went from strangers to family over the course of one week - wracking our brains over stock simulations and killing it on the volleyball courts. 

"I knot only gained a wealth of knowledge of the business world, but I left with confidence and a newfound love of business, not to mention a new career goal and memories to last a lifetime. For any junior looking for an opportunity to meet new people, set yourself apart from your peers, and to learn more about life in general - sign up for PFEW. After the first day, you will be so glad you did. I know PFEW was one of the highlights of my entire year, and it truly changes lives. I am so honored to have been given the opportunity to serve as my company's CEO, and I know that I, along with every other PFEW graduate, am immensely grateful for this opportunity."

-Katrina Bliss, Mount Union Area JSHS


For more information about PFEW, visit www.pfew.org. 


Event Recap

On February 14, we hosted our annual "State of the County" Coffee Connection presented by the Huntingdon County Commissioners. Commissioners Mark Sather, Jeff Thomas and Scott Walls gave an update on the accomplishments of last year and their goals for the upcoming year. 


On February 15, we partnered with the Huntingdon County CareerLink to host a Labor Law & Unemployment Compensation Breakfast & Seminar. Randy Liddle, Administrative Officer, Bureau of Labor Law Compliance, Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry presented on State Labor Law Compliance. Jane E'del, Community Outreach Specialist for the United States Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division presented on Federal Law Compliance. Nancy Smithbauer, Workforce Development Representative for Unemployment Compensation from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry presented on Unemployment Compensation. 


On February 23, we hosted a Social Media and Cyber Safety Seminar. Leonard Chernisky, Health and Training Specialist from the PA Department of Labor and Industry presented on Social Media Safety. Jigar Patel from the Tuscarora Intermediate Unit 11 presented on Cyber Safety. 


China Adventure Information Session



For more information on this trip, please click here! We will be holding an orientation on Wednesday, February 28, 2018 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the J.C. Blair Health System, Education Center. Please contact Yvonne for details or to RSVP at (814) 643-1110 or ymartin@huntingdonchamber.com. 

Winter Blues Tickets



Join us on Sunday, March 4, 2018 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Huntingdon Country Club as we Shake Off the Winter Blues. Popular Blair County band Flight 19 will once again entertain guests. Former radio personality from Rocky 104.9, Jay Randyll will emcee the event. 

Non-profits will have tables to showcase their cause. Purchase raffle tickets from them for an iPad. Tickets are $1.00 each and proceeds benefit the non-profits. 

Join us at the "Taste of Huntingdon County" and vote for your favorite taste. A cash bar will be available. Tickets are $25 each and are available at the Chamber office at 500 Allegheny Street, Huntingdon. 

Sponsors confirmed at the time are:
Valley Rural Electric - Event Sponsor
Juniata College - Prize Sponsor
Mutual Benefit Group - Marketing Sponsor
John R. Wald Company - Cocktail Sponsor
Containment Solutions; Fairfield Inn & Suites - Entertainment Sponsors
Bumgardner & Flasher Oil - Decoration Sponsor
Huntingdon County Career & Technology Center; Orbisonia Hardware; A Stitch In Time - Patron Sponsors

Register now to participate 

If you are interested in participating in the "Taste of Huntingdon County" please click here for the link. You must be a member of the Huntingdon County Chamber of Commerce to participate. 


Huntingdon County Foundation


The Trustees of the Huntingdon County Foundation would really LIKE it, if you could take a moment to "Like" our new Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Huntingdon-County-Foundation-938790982951270/

Help spread the word by asking your friends to "Like" us, too. We are making slow but steady progress on our new webpage, too. Watch for updates in this space. And visit our table at the Winter Blues! 

Longaberger Basket & Vera 
Bradley Tote Bingdo


Welcome Bags 

Do you have promotional items that you would like to get out to new residents and others in the community? Consider putting them in the Chamber's Welcome Bags.  Email MacKenzie at mlocke@huntingdonchamber.com or call 814-643-1110 for more information. 




Reminders:
Huntingdon County Expo






On The Job Training Program

Advantages To Using The OTJ Training:
  • Cuts the cost of wages for employers by a minimum of 50% during the training time.
  • Reduces the employer's costs for advertising and recruitment.
  • Allows employers to make all hiring and firing decisions.
  • Guarantees a quick referral process.
  • Requires minimal paperwork.
  • May involve a single placement, a number of people for one type of job, or a variety of jobs. 

How It Works:
An employer meets with the Business Services Representative to develop a job order indicating what type of people the employer desires and the screening method preferred to evaluate potential candidates (resumes, applications, interviews, etc.)
  • Post the job on the CareerLink system.
  • A search is then conducted of the eligible applicant pool for people who match the characteristics set by the employer. The employer is then provided the information about potential candidates in the manner in which they have requested. 
  • The employer decides whom they want to hire and a possible start date. The Business Services staff is notified about the circumstances of the hire. 
  • The employer and the Business Services Representative negotiate a contract, which includes a training plan, length of training and costs to be reimbursed to the employer for providing the training. It is important to note that this contract MUST be in place BEFORE an eligible client begins working or the opportunity to secure funding will be lost. 

To continue reading, please click here.  
Free  E-mail Blast
The Chamber offers FREE e-mail blast to our members who are offering free workshops or hosting events that donate all money raised to a charity.

Disclaimer: The Chamber has the right to refuse blasting information if the Chamber staff decides the information does not meet the proper criteria. 
FREE Bulk Mailing Permit Use!

The Chamber is now offering use of our Bulk Mail Permit for FREE to our members. Bulk Mail Permits cost $250.00 per year. If you are interested in using the Bulk Mailing Stamp, we will walk you through the process to make it easy for you. You will still have to pay postage. 
Let the Chamber Help You Save Money

If you are interested in saving money on your electric bill, please contact ymartin@huntingdonchamber.com or 814-643-1110 to get connected with the program endorsed by 120 chambers of commerce in PA and 80 Harrisburg based associations. OnDemand Energy manages 6 billion kWh in PA. There is no cost or obligation involved with seeing how much money your business or organization can save. In many cases it has been quite a significant savings. OnDemand Energy can also review your gas savings options with you. 
E-Newsletter Advertising Opportunities

You are now able to be the exclusive sponsor of our weekly e-newsletter. The cost is $200 a quarter and includes your name in the email heading as the sponsor and an ad (2 in. wide and 3 in. tall) at the top of the left column of the newsletter. 

If you only want to have an ad (2 in. wide and 2 1/2 in. tall) in the left column, the cost is $100 per quarter or $300 per year. Please continue to share your events and special news and we will include that information for free. Contact mlocke@huntingdonchamber.com if you would like to include your ad in our e-newsletter or be the exclusive sponsor. 
E-mail Blast Special Rates

Many of you have been asking about more opportunities to send email blasts to our database of nearly 1,000. Currently individual blasts are $50 for for-profit businesses and $25 for non-profits. You can now purchase one blast a week for a quarter for $200 or one blast a week for a year for $500. Non-profits pay $100 for the quarter or $250 for the year. Contact mlocke@huntingdonchamber.com if you are interested in taking advantage of this special opportunity. 
HCCC Member to Member 
Facebook Group

This group is being brought to you at the request of HCCC members during the most recent survey. The HCCC Member to Member group is a closed group for Chamber members only to post questions and important information that other members will find valuable. Please invite other Chamber members to join our group and share in discussions. 
Want to be Featured in the Next Chamber News? 

If you have any business news and updates, achievements, awards or recognitions that you would like to be included, it can be done for FREE! If you have an event that is free or all the proceeds are being donated to a non-profit as a fundraiser, we'll include it for FREE! If you'd like to include a promotion or a money making event or non-profit fundraiser where proceeds will benefit the organization's operations, we charge a small fee. (Profit - $25 and Non-Profit - $10) Contact MacKenzie Locke at 814-643-1110 or mlocke@huntingdonchamber.com if you're interested in including an article. 
Huntingdon County Chamber of Commerce | (814) 643-1110 |mail@huntingdonchamber.com | http://www.huntingdonchamber.com
500 Allegheny Street
Huntingdon, PA 16652