August 13, 2021

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.

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.

Utilizing a Student Loan Payment Program for Debt-Challenged Employees Increasingly, individuals comprising today’s workforce are straddled with significant levels of student loan debt. At the same time, these workers are often conflicted as to whether they should focus on paying off their debt or set aside funds to pay for retirement. As an employer, adding a student loan repayment program to your employee benefits portfolio not only helps them address this dilemma but also represents a tremendous opportunity to help attract and retain key talent.   To further benefit employers, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES ACT), passed in March of 2020, added a little-known provision regarding student loans. The provision allows an employer to make up to $5250 in student loan payments for an employee within a year. Regardless of whether the payments go directly to the employee or to the student loan servicing entity, the money is considered tax-free to the employee and the employer is excluded from paying payroll taxes on the funds. As of this writing, the provision, originally set to expire at the end of 2020 has been extended through December 2025. Click here to read the entire article.

L&I Helping Employers Comply With New Law to Expand Safety Committees Act 57 of 2021 will help encourage prescription drug addiction education and awareness within the workforce by utilizing certified safety committees. To help Pennsylvania employers comply with the law, the Department of Labor & Industry recently released new information to help employers maximize the benefit of this expanded program. Since 1994, employers have had the option to establish certified safety committees and qualify for a discount on their workers' compensation insurance rate. According to L&I, more than 11,500 Pennsylvania employers have already done so, saving over $645 million in insurance premiums. Click here to read the entire article.

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 Click here for the form.  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  Click here for the ATHENA Award nomination form.  Click here for the list of past Award recipients. Awards will be presented at our October 7 Annual Awards Gala.

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.

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? Contact Yvonne at  [email protected]  or 814.643.1110 Packages range from $125 to $1,000.

If you are hiring, please send position information to [email protected] or login to the member section of our website to post your jobs. We've begun promoting this on Facebook.

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Chamber Events

Annual Membership Luncheon Huntingdon Country Club August 19, 2021 11:45 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. Disc Golf Tournament Sunset Golf Club, LLC September 1, 2021 12:00 p.m. Check-in 1:00 p.m. Start 5:00 p.m. Dinner 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. 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

In Case You Missed It

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.

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.  For this $50,000 BIG IDEA Contest, we are looking for tech innovators located anywhere in our 32-county footprint in Pennsylvania (Northwest, Central, Southern Alleghenies, and South Central) who are developing new products, processes, or software applications.  APPLY: https://bigidea.benfranklin.org 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: Annie Hughes by phone at 717-948-4301 or by email at [email protected] Liz Wilson by phone at 814-898-6541 or by email at [email protected]

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.

Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC): Step by Step instructions with a CPA Click here for the On-Demand Video

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. Standing Stone Coffee Company Three Twelve Kitchen and Cocktails Stone Town Gallery and Cafe Cassville Country Store and Restaurant Hoss's Steak & Sea House Burger King McDonalds Pizza Hut/WingStreet

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.

U.S. Chamber Pandemic Relief Resources:   Updated Guide to Emergency Loans – They have updated their information guides for the pandemic grant and loan programs. They will continue to update these as more information is provided by the SBA and Dept. of the Treasury.  Click here to view the guide document.  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.

Resources from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce The U.S. Chamber continues to create, update, and evolve its various guides and resources. 10 Steps to Host a Vaccine Clinic  Public-Private Partnership Best Practices for Vaccine Distribution Generalized Overview of the Requirements to Host a Vaccine Clinic  The Best Ways for Employers to Promote COVID-19 Vaccines  Mask Guides: Recommendations for Wearing and Selecting  How to Select a Mask Graphic COVID Vaccines Digital Resources Center Guide to Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Loans COVID-19 Vaccines FAQ Federal Unemployment Assistance Proposals: State Impact Comparison Guide to PPP Loan Forgiveness Reopening Business Digital Resources Center Reopening Business Digital Resources Center Toolkit Small Business Reopening Playbook Main Street Lending Program Guide State-Specific Guidance Map Backgrounder on Health Coverage Options Backgrounder on Unemployment Insurance Under the CARES Act Independent Contractor's Guide to CARES Act Relief Coronavirus Emergency Loans Small Business Guide and Checklist Temporary Paid Leave and Family Medical Leave Guide Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program Guide Employee Retention Tax Credit Guide Coronavirus Small Business Guide Coronavirus Response Toolkit

Click here for access to timely resources.

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. Learn more

Contact Us Yvonne Martin President/ CEO [email protected] MacKenzie Huntsman Program Director [email protected] 500 Allegheny Street Huntingdon, PA 16652 Phone: 814-643-1110 Fax: 814-643-1115

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