November 5, 2021

Newest Member! Shirley Ayr Enterprises, LLC (814) 644-8210

Emergency Temporary Standards: Employer Vaccine Mandate Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Labor issued its Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) that requires businesses with at least 100 employees to ensure vaccination of their workers or, for those workers who are unvaccinated, masking policies and weekly testing. The Department of Labor has provided several fact sheets and FAQ’s, which can be found here. Click here for the fact sheet.   We've created a brief summary that can be found here.

Burkes Outlet Ribbon Cutting Welcome to Huntingdon County! It was our pleasure to work with you on this event.

We will be taking our photos and videos for our annual buy local social media promotions. Several of you are on our list from previous years. If you would like to be added to that list please email [email protected]

Holiday Preparedness Virtual Seminar for Retailers   The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security, together with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, FBI, U.S. Secret Service, Pennsylvania State Police, and Upper Merion Township Police Department will provide retail store managers and mall security personnel information on security and situational awareness during the upcoming holiday season.  Law enforcement will include a review of active shooter protocols, response to suspicious packages, counterfeit currency, retail payment fraud, reporting suspicious activity, and the public/private partnership with the PA Fusion Centers. This is a free presentation to make your store personnel and mall safe and secure! Please see the attached flyer and agenda. Registration is now open:  https://2021holidaypreparednessforretailerseminar.eventbrite.com

As you begin thinking about holiday shopping please consider purchasing Chamber Bucks gift certificates that can be redeemed at several local businesses. They can be purchased from the Chamber office at 500 Allegheny Street, Huntingdon in any denomination. Call ahead (814-643-1110) and we will have them ready for you to pick up. Click here for a list of our participants.

Thank you for being a member and supporting the work the Chamber does for businesses and the community. A renewal reminder has just been mailed to those of you who have not yet renewed. We realize that times are difficult, so please contact us at 814-643-1110 if you  would like to set up a payment schedule. If you do not plan to renew, please email [email protected] so that we don't call you about your renewal.

Interested in advertising in our enews? Contact Yvonne at [email protected]. The cost is $25.00; $10.00 for 501(3) organizations.

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.  Dirtbusters Cleaning Services 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.

Chamber Events

Using YouTube to Grow Your Business December 8, 2021 10:00 a.m. Graystone Court Villas Ribbon Cutting November 12, 2021 9:00 a.m. First Center Business After Hours November 18, 2021 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Hold the Dates: Spring Jam April 3, 2022  2022 Administrative Professionals Wednesday, April 27, 2022 "Highway to Rock" Concert featuring Live Wire May 21, 2022 Huntingdon County Night at the Curve August 6, 2022 8th Annual Sporting Clay Tournament September 14, 2022 September 21, 2022 (storm date) We are starting to plan our 2022 events. If you are interested in hosting a Business Afer Hours or ribbon cutting please let MacKenzie know. mhuntsman@untingdonchamber,com We are also in the process of planning our Dale Carnegie, Google, Human Resource, and other seminars. Please let us know if you have specific educational needs.

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.

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.

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.

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 Click here for additional 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.

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.