March 3, 2023

Senators Unveil Bills to Promote Economic Growth, Attract New Employers Senator Ryan Aument HARRISBURG – To make Pennsylvania more economically competitive and ensure it is an attractive place to live and work, Sens. Ryan Aument (R-36), Tracy Pennycuick (R-24), Greg Rothman (R-34) and Judy Ward (R-30) unveiled a pro-growth tax reform package of bills. The package of bills will: Accelerate the Corporate Net Income (CNI) tax reduction so it is more in line with a bill Aument sponsored in 2022, Increase the Net Operating Loss (NOL) carryover limitation, and Allow small employers to use the NOL deduction. Sponsored by Aument and Rothman, Senate Bill 345 quickens the reduction of the commonwealth’s CNI tax by immediately dropping it to 7.99% and then reducing it an additional point every January until it falls to 4.99%. As part of the 2022-23 state budget, Pennsylvania’s CNI tax rate began the transition from 9.99% to 4.99% over the course of nine years. “A more competitive business tax code offers far more benefits than simply improving the state’s business climate. Studies have shown that decreasing the CNI leads to better job opportunities, higher workers’ wages, and improved communities – all of which create family-sustaining jobs and attract and retain new talent,” the senators said.   Read More

Hiring? As a member, you can log in to the member section on huntingdonchamber.com and post your openings or let us do it for you. Email the position information to [email protected]. If you post the opening on Facebook and let us know, we will share it on Huntingdon, PA Promotions & Activities for you.

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.

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Five Group Benefits Employees Will Look For In 2023 Most small businesses are at a competitive disadvantage when trying to hire and retain employees compared to their larger firm counterparts. The smaller firms are typically more limited in their budgetary capabilities and unable to provide a high level of comprehensive benefit package. To attract their necessary workers, the focus for owners of small companies should be directed toward benefits that are most valued by the workforce they are looking to attract. Here are a few of the benefits most employees are looking for in 2023: Healthcare…with heightened health concerns stemming from the pandemic and quests for enhanced personal well-being, a comprehensive portfolio of healthcare benefits has been and remains one of the most sought-after benefits. Remote Work…the ability to work from home which became commonplace during the pandemic appears to have staying power. It remains to be seen whether the trend continues to grow or subsides to a lesser extent but for now, this is something most employees are seeking. Flexible Work Schedule…the ability to balance work responsibilities with personal obligations and the care of children and elderly parents has made a flexible work schedule a valued benefit in the post-pandemic world. Paid Family Leave…Citing the positive benefits on physical health, mental well-being, and stability for the entire family, workers are increasingly looking for companies that provide women with maternity leave and men with paternity leave. Paid Time Off…employees continue to seek additional time off from work to reduce stress and recharge to maintain health and well-being. This actually has the potential to benefit employers in addition to the employee as the relaxation and clear mind attained through time off often leads to a higher level of employee morale and increased productivity. The Huntingdon County Chamber of Commerce offers its members access to My Benefit Advisor as a solution for employee benefits, including voluntary offerings. For more information about My Benefit Advisor, visit our website at hccc.mybenefitadvisor.com or contact Craig Pritts at (800) 377-3539.

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.

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.

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2023 Symposium May 2 and 3 2023 - Blair County Convention Center The Business Continuity and Preparedness Coalition (BCPC) for South Central Mountains Regional Task Force (Bedford, Blair, Centre, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin, Snyder) provides information and opportunities for business and community partners to prepare for all types of hazards.   You are invited to attend an upcoming Homeland Security Symposium – Tuesday and Wednesday May 2 and 3, 2023 - at the Blair County Convention Center, Convention Center Drive, Altoona, PA. 16602   They have many strong sessions that provide important information to help us be prepared for a potential disaster, before, it happens! Lessons learned from real life events that have occurred in the region or nationally will be featured, to help us enhance our preparation for future events. This regional event might truly be a “life saver”.    It is offered at no cost to you.   Click here for the agenda for the 2023 Task Force Homeland Security Symposium, attached. A few sessions are still taking form and we are expecting an interesting and informative two-day event. You can attend one or both days as your schedule allows, just let us know so we can have an accurate meal count.   Registration is open at https://members.scmrtf.org/events/scmrtf-symposium/register but seats are limited, so register soon. If you have difficulty registering, please let me know.

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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.

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] Lorena LaGroue Program Director [email protected] 500 Allegheny Street Huntingdon, PA 16652 Phone: 814-643-1110 Fax: 814-643-1115 www.huntingdonchamber.com

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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