Your CCCBI Weekly Newsletter!

WHAT'S NEW AT THE CHAMBER

Welcome New Members!

Summer Solstice Celebration

Thank you to all who attended the 2022 CCCBI Foundation's Summer Solstice Celebration at Inn at Grace Winery!

Guests enjoyed sipping wine and signature cocktail, The Foundation Fizz, while overlooking the beautiful grounds of Grace Winery. Guests also enjoyed the sweet sounds of The Lenape Brass Band, incredible silent auction items, and a special winery tasting. This event was a spectacular kick off to summer and a chance for business partners and the community to come together and reconnect with friends old and new.

The event supported the Foundation Youth Leadership Program. Chester County Youth Leadership Program is a cornerstone of the Foundation’s work. This program focuses on creating business educational opportunities for Junior and Senior Chester County High School students. Through a series of educational sessions, activities and group participation, students receive first-hand knowledge of local and national issues influencing the world around them. Thomas Padula, President of Padula Media, and prior YLP participant, spoke about his positive experience in the program.

It was spectacular event to welcome summer and all come together over good wine, good food, and great company. We'd like to thank our sponsors for their generous support!

Meet the Chamber's New Director of Events!

Julie Fox comes to the Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry with nine years of event planning experience. She previously served as the Director of Meetings and Events at AccessLex Institute, a non-profit, mission-driven organization. Her focus included strategy, management and execution of all company events and sponsorships.

Julie graduated from James Madison University in 2013 with a degree in Sports and Recreation Management. Her internship with Special Olympics Virginia, where she assisted with the planning and execution of athletic events, inspired her love of event planning and propelled her career to where it is now.

Julie resides in the borough of West Chester with her fiancé and yellow lab. She is a volunteer at Friends of Everhart Park and works as a bartender at Sterling Pig Public House, a local West Chester brewery, in her free time. When not working, you can often find her around town exploring new local breweries and restaurants.

She is excited to bring her skills and expertise to the Chamber as the new Director of Events.

Summer Internship Opportunity

The Chamber is seeking a summer intern! If you or anyone you know would like to apply, email your resume to Todd@chescochamber.org.

Internship Responsibilities Include:

Composing advocacy posts on political issues which affect the business environment in Pennsylvania
Assisting in the creation of the Chamber’s weekly newsletter, which goes out to thousands of members of the business community across the region
Briefing staff and CEO on meetings with business leaders and government officials, including Fortune 500 CEOs and members of Congress
Researching and tracking legislation on the local, state, and federal levels and detailing its importance to the Chamber and the businesses it serves
Preparing remarks for the President and CEO’s speaking engagements at a variety of events and board meetings
Other tasks assigned by CEO and staff

Qualifications:

Superior attention to detail
Positive attitude and willingness to learn
Ability to work independently and collaboratively
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Proficient in G Suite and Microsoft Office Suite
Experience in Constant Contact is a plus!

This is a wonderful learning and networking opportunity in Chester County! Pay is $10/hour.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Pennsylvania jobless rate fell, labor force grew in May - still work to be done.

Pennsylvania’s workforce grew again in May, with the state’s unemployment rate reaching its post-pandemic low. The labor force grew by 30,000, placing the total number of employed Pennsylvanians at over 6.1 million, while the number of unemployed fell below 300,000.

Pennsylvania has also regained more than 80% of the 1.1 million jobs lost in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While this is great news for our economy, and for our state, there is still work to be done. Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate fell to 4.6% from April’s 4.8%, which still lags behind the national unemployment rate of 3.6%.

To keep pace with the rest of the nation, Pennsylvania lawmakers must use this upcoming session to #CutTheCNI to keep jobs in our state. Lawmakers in Harrisburg should also look to loosen stringent regulations and simplify our state’s permitting process, making it easier for businesses to thrive.

How does a lower CNI help you? The burden of the corporate tax is unevenly split among three parties: businesses that lose profits, customers who pay higher prices, and workers who lose wages and income. Studies show that cutting corporate tax rates bumps up employment and wages. A win-win for employers and workers alike!

We’ve come a long way, but there is still work to be done.

Read the Proposed Legislation

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Pennsylvania American Water

With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 6,400 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and regulated-like drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people in 24 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to help keep their lives flowing. Pennsylvania American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and wastewater services to approximately 2.3 million people. For more information, visit www.pennsylvaniaamwater.com and follow Pennsylvania American Water on Twitter and Facebook.

The Chester County Chamber greatly appreciates Pennsylvania America Water's commitment to our community and for their membership and involvement with the Chamber.

LOCAL SPOTLIGHT: East Pikeland Township receives $10,000 environmental grant from Pennsylvania American Water

East Pikeland Township, Chester County has received a $10,000 grant from Pennsylvania American Water for its Hidden River Park & Preserve Riparian Corridor Revitalization project. This funding, which was granted as part of the company’s 2022 Environmental Grant Program, will go toward a riparian revitalization project with native shrubs, trees, and 95 acres of meadow grasses to reduce erosion and restore the native habitat.

In the fall of 2021, East Pikeland Township broke ground on the Hidden River Park and Preserve Riparian Corridor Revitalization project located on Spring City Road. A riparian corridor is a unique habitat that exists along a body of water like a river, stream or lake. The project includes installation of native trees and shrub species, plant protection and invasive tree removal.

“The East Pikeland board of supervisors have long supported parkland expansion and open space preservation in the township,” said Ron Graham, Chairman of the East Pikeland Board of Supervisors. “We are grateful to Pennsylvania American Water for awarding us this grant. Funding like this allows us to continue our mission for all area residents to enjoy.”

This year, 13 watershed-related projects across the Commonwealth received grant funds totaling nearly $75,000 through the company’s annual Environmental Grant Program for community-based projects that improve, restore, or protect watersheds.

Pennsylvania American Water initiated its Environmental Grant Program in 2005 to support projects that protect or restore drinking water sources and surrounding watersheds. Since then, American Water has expanded the annual program to many of its state subsidiaries across the nation. To date, Pennsylvania American Water has donated more than $650,000 to fund more than 135 projects.

East Pikeland Township officials met with representatives of Pennsylvania American Water at the Hidden River Park and Preserve for a tour of the property. Pictured (left to right) is Ron Graham, Kim Morietti, and Emily Gorge of East Pikeland Township, with Ed Baetzel, Brandi Railing and Jim Gable of Pennsylvania American Water.