February 17, 2023

State of the County Address

Huntingdon County Commissioners discussed accomplishments and goals at the State of the County Address held at the Huntingdon Country Club on Wednesday, February 15. Government Affairs Committee Chair, Diana McClure (Keller Engineers) emceed the event and posed questions developed by the Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee. The questions were not shared with the Commissioners prior to the event. This is a change from the previous couple of years and the new format provided a better flow to the event. Questions pertained to the budget, broadband, trail development, the jail and other items of interest. The event would not have been possible without the support of our sponsors: Keller Engineers, Westminster Woods, Upward Broadband, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College, and Arize Federal Credit Union.

As a Chamber member, you can use our bulk mailing permit to send your marketing materials out to your customers and prospects. The Chamber provides the stamp and instructions.

Permitting Reform Key to a More Prosperous Pennsylvania By Luke Bernstein In recent years, a leading manufacturing company headquartered in Pennsylvania was exploring locations for a $3 billion expansion that would support 900 jobs with an average salary in the six figures.   Many states competed for the proj­­­ect. Ultimately, Arkansas landed the investment due to its “combination of public and private support, logistics and energy supply, and workforce availability,” according to the company.   This raises the question: Why not Pennsylvania? After all, the Keystone State has world-class logistics, a prolific energy supply, and an abundant workforce.   Pennsylvania fell short of Arkansas – and continues to lag too many other states – because of our antiquated and uncompetitive regulatory structure.   As Asa Hutchinson, then Arkansas’s governor, said, the facility would be built in his state “before you could ever get a permit to even start construction in Pennsylvania.”   Click here to read the entire op-ed.

Platinum Fulton County Medical Center Shafer Equipment Co. Gold Stern Insurance Agency   Silver Mutual Benefit Group   Bronze Bumgardner & Flasher Oil, Inc. Community State Bank Grier School 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 MCS Bank 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.

Ben Franklin’s TechCelerator is offering local entrepreneurs, grad students, professors, and university researchers a 10-week business boot camp to help take the first step in launching your startup. APPLY HERE  CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

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

Sign Up for a 5 Part ESOP Course Today! The ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) Course, accessed for free through the PaCEO website, is a great way to learn more about the essentials of ESOPs and how they function! The course contains statistics, short videos, helpful information, and interviews with Ken Baker, the CEO of an employee-owned company called New Age Industries. To sign up for the course- sent through 5 emails over the span of 5 days- click the link below.  ESOP Course

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Elected Officials Reception Wednesday, April 12, 2023 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Gage Mansion Bed & Breakfast 2023 Golf Tournament July 26, 2023 Huntingdon County Club Huntingdon County Night at the Curve Saturday, August 26, 2023 Altoona Curve Sporting Clay Tournament September 13, 2023 September 20. 2023 (Storm date) Shenecoy Sportsman Annual Awards Gala Thursday, October 5, 2023 Trophy Mountain Lodge We are planning our 2023 events. If you are interested in hosting a Business Afer Hours or ribbon cutting please let Yvonne know. ymartin@untingdonchamber,com We are also in the process of planning our seminars. Please let us know if you have specific educational needs.

EDA Seeks Input on Tech Hubs   The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) welcomes public input and perspectives about the Tech Hubs program. The program will help U.S. regions build and evolve into centers of innovation and seeks to support key technologies and industries of the future, strengthen U.S. economic and national security, and ensure that industries of the future start, grow, and remain in the United States. Today, EDA published a Request for Information (RFI) on the Tech Hubs program in the Federal Register to solicit public input about the program design, structure, and evaluation. EDA welcomes all responses that stakeholders believe will support development of a strong Tech Hubs program. For more information on Tech Hubs and for instructions on how to submit your input, click the button below. More Information on Tech Hubs

Download our logo to use on your website. Click the logo for more information. Feel free to link the image on your website to our website, huntingdonchamber.com.

The CFPB Moves to Punish People Who Pay Their Credit Card Bills on Time The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recently proposed a rule that would mean higher costs and fewer benefits for existing credit card users who pay their bills on time and fewer options for those looking for a new credit card. ‌ Why it matters: 75% of credit card users pay their bills on time. These consumers have come to rely on low costs from their financial service providers and more choices in their banking. ‌ Be smart: If this rule goes into effect consumers – including small business owners – will have fewer credit card options and benefits. ‌ The rule will likely cause a reduction in popular perks such as cashback rewards, discounts on groceries and gas, and travel perks with airline and hotel partners. Bottom line: If the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau wants to protect consumers, it shouldn’t disincentivize on-time payments.

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If you are hiring, please send position information to [email protected] or login to the member section of our website to post your jobs.

DEP Small Business Advantage Grant The Small Business Advantage Grant provides reimbursement grants ranging from 50% to 80% of eligible project costs to Pennsylvania small businesses to improve energy efficiency or reduce pollution or waste by upgrading or replacing equipment or supplies; improving processes; or reducing runoff into affected waterways. Maximum grant award amounts will vary from up to $5,000 to up to $8,000, based on the environmental impact of the project and whether the project location is in an Environmental Justice Area in Pennsylvania. Click here for the map. Project work completed on or after July 1, 2022 will be considered for funding. The application period will close when funding is exhausted or on March 24, 2023, whichever occurs first. 2022 Small Business Advantage Grant Program Guidelines    Click here for more information.

UC Fraud and UC-1099G Tax Forms https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-treatment-of-unemployment-compensation Victim of unemployment fraud? Criminals using stolen identities filed claims for unemployment compensation in other people's names. Because unemployment compensation is taxable, state unemployment agencies submit Forms 1099-G to individuals in whose names and Social Security numbers the unemployment compensation was paid and to the IRS. Victims of fraud who receive Forms 1099-G with inaccurate amounts of unemployment compensation in Box 1 should notify the state agencies of the inaccuracies and request corrected Forms 1099-G. The Department of Labor details www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/UIIDtheft. Taxpayers should only report income they actually received on their tax returns. Do not report income you did not receive. The IRS offers tax guidance to victims at https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/identity-theft-and-unemployment-benefits. More Information IR-2021-71, IRS to recalculate taxes on unemployment benefits; refunds to start in May IR-2021-81, IRS reminds U.S. territory residents about U.S. income tax rules relating to pandemic unemployment compensation New Exclusion of up to $10,200 of Unemployment Compensation

The Chamber's Membership & Marketing Committee is looking for some people to join the committee and help develop more ways we can support our members. If you would like to learn more about the committee, please contact me at [email protected].

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. Download our 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 receive 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.

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.

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

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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. Learn more

Contact Us Yvonne Martin President/ CEO [email protected] Mathue Nissley 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.

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