Impact of Non-Profits Topic of Next “Breakfast Club”
“Issues” Program to Examine Hotel Growth in Blair County
Dry Creek Farm Hosting Thursday’s “Down on the Farm” Event
Small Business Partners to Hold “Bad Website Workshop”
Two “Business Before Hours” Scheduled For This Month
Business Hall of Fame Dinner Set for October 19th
Chamber Committee to Hold Mayoral Debate
Chamber Continues 2016 China Trip Registration
Young Professionals Invited to Join Contact List
Chamber’s “Five Rivers” Cruise Taking Final Reservations
Is Your Information Still Accurate?
Congratulations . . .
Blue Card Discounts
Impact of Non-Profits Topic of Next “Breakfast Club”
The quality of life in Blair County has been positively influenced by a number of key factors. One of those factors is the impact made by the county’s impressive array of non-profit businesses. Just exactly what is the gravity of that impact? At the next Chamber “Breakfast Club,” set for October 8th at 7:45 a.m. at The Casino at Lakemont Park, representatives from The Chamber’s Committee of Non-Profit Businesses will announce the results of a survey that will unquestionably grab your attention. Whether you’re a for-profit or a non-profit business, it’s important for you to attend this Breakfast Club as we explore the most effective path to economic vitality in our county through what many might consider an unlikely source. The cost to attend this Breakfast Club is $18 for both members and non-members. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
“Issues” Program to Examine Hotel Growth in Blair County
This Wednesday, the Blair County Chamber will tape an “Issues” program at the Altoona Public Access Studio entitled, “Blair County’s Hotel Dilemma: Too Many or Too Few?” The program will be a 45 minute panel discussion moderated by WTAJ’s Carolyn Donaldson. Panelists will be: Mark Ickes of Explore Altoona, Daniel Kroko of Mimosa Courtyard Inn Bed & Breakfast, Rachael Lenhart of Altoona Grand Hotel, Katie Millward of Courtyard by Marriott and Sue St. Martin of Holiday Inn Express. Sponsors of the “Issues” program are: Altoona-Blair County Airport, Altoona Mirror, Hampton Inn Altoona, Keller Engineers, Railroaders Memorial Museum and Horseshoe Curve, Super 8 Motel, and Yellow Cab & Transfer Company. Dates and times when the program is aired will be published in next week’s Business Bulletin.
Dry Creek Farm Hosting Thursday’s “Down on the Farm” Event
One of the Blair County Chamber’s best attended events each year is the Business After Hours “Down-on-the Farm.” It is the one event where business people are encouraged to bring young children along to enjoy the sights and sounds of a working farm, complete with the opportunity to interact with animals. Down-on-the Farm also features a pig roast with all the fixins’ courtesy of AgChoice Farm Credit. This year’s Down-on-the-Farm will be held at Dry Creek Farm in Martinsburg from 5-7 p.m. Doug and Veronica Smith have owned that farm since 2004 although it has been in the Smith family since 1937. The cost to attend Down-on-the-Farm is $5.00/person. Once again this year, Zupe will provide musical entertainment. To register to attend, contact The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online. (Directions to Dry Creek Farm: From Roaring Spring, take Rte. 164 to the traffic light in Martinsburg. Make a left onto Rte. 866. Dry Creek is the third farm on the left).
Small Business Partners to Hold “Bad Website Workshop”
The Chamber's Small Business Partners Committee will be hosting a Bad Website Workshop on Wednesday, October 14 from 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. The workshop will be held at the Devorris Center for Business Development, 3900 Industrial Park Drive, Altoona. Presenters for the workshop will be JMG Systems Web Team. Sponsor for the workshop is PSECU. Cost to attend is $10 for Chamber Members and $20 for Non-Members. To make a reservation, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
Two “Business Before Hours” Scheduled For This Month
The Chamber’s popular “Business Before Hours” will have two destinations during October. The first will be at CONTACT Altoona (2729 Eighth Avenue) on October 16th; the second at Honey Baked Ham (Pleasant Valley Shopping Center) on October 30th. Both events begin at 7:30 a.m. and conclude at 9:00 a.m. There is no cost to attend but registration is necessary. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or to register for the event at Contact Altoona, click here. To register for the one at Honey Baked Ham, click here.
Business Hall of Fame Dinner Set for October 19th
The Annual Blair County Business Hall of Fame Dinner will be held on Monday, October 19th beginning with a cocktail and hors d’oeuvres reception at 5:30 p.m. at the Blair County Convention Center. Dinner begins at 6:45 followed by the awards program. Four businesses – Garvey Manor Nursing Home, Lena’s Café, New Pig Corporation and The Village at Morrisons Cove – will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at the annual dinner, set for October 19th at the Blair County Convention Center. A former business, Alaskaland, will be inducted in the Heritage category. Recipients of the General Awards of Distinction are: Furniture Unfinished, Mamie’s Café and Bakery, and Peterman’s Flower Shop in the Excellence in Small Business category. HalenHardy, JMG Systems and Serviam Construction were identified as Young Emerging Businesses. Honorees for Technology are Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic High School, Blair Companies and Value Drug Company. Albemarle Corporation and American Eagle Paper Mills won Sustainability Awards and the Bavarian Aid Society will be recognized for Community Service. The Lower Trail will receive the Committee Choice Award. The cost to attend the Business Hall of Fame Dinner is $65/person. To register, contact The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
Chamber Committee to Hold Mayoral Debate
The Legislative Action Committee of the Blair County Chamber will hold a debate on October 20th beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Penn State Altoona Devorris Downtown Center. The debate will pit current Altoona Mayor Matt Pacifico against challenger Jason Imler for the opportunity of serving as mayor under the City’s new Home Rule Charter. Ashley Doerzbacher of WTAJ Your News Leader will serve as the debate’s moderator. Questions for the candidates will come from the Legislative Action Committee. Sponsors of the Mayoral debate are: Leonard S. Fiore, Inc.; National Property Inspections; Reliance Bank; S&T Bank; and WPS Office Solutions. There is no cost to attend the debate. The debate will be videotaped and aired prior to the election on the Altoona Public Access Station.
Chamber Continues 2016 China Trip Registration
Registration continues for the 2016 Chamber Trip to China. The nine-day excursion will take place from April 7-16, 2016 and will once again be conducted through Citslinc. The price remains incredible at $2199 (including flights, meals and all accommodations at 5-star hotels.) The only significant change from the three previous Chamber trips is that the flight originates at Dulles Airport instead of JFK – a real plus to local travelers. Travel to Dulles from Altoona and back is included as part of the trip. For more information, call The Chamber at (814) 943-8151.
Young Professionals Invited to Join Contact List
Now that the Young Professionals of Blair County has put together a Steering Committee to guide its fortunes for the immediate future, it is now hoping to assemble a list of 21-35 year olds to be part of the YP program. A list will be compiled of interested young professionals so that information about upcoming programs and events can be promoted. Anyone interested in joining that list should send contact information to Joe Hurd . Information can also be accessed on Facebook at Facebook.com/YoungProfessionalsBlairCounty.
Chamber’s “Five Rivers” Cruise Taking Final Reservations
The Blair County Chamber is heading to Europe in less than two months for its first-ever river cruise. The cruise is being done in cooperation with Heritage Travel. The special wine-themed “5-River European Cruise” will depart from the Chamber Office in the Devorris Center for Business Development on November 3rd, will fly from Dulles International Airport for an overnight flight to Prague and will return on November 13th from Paris. The trip will include one-night sightseeing stays at 5-star hotels in both Prague and Paris with the river cruise in-between. The Chamber trip will feature excursions on the Vistava, Main, Rhine, Moselle and Seine rivers via Avalon Waterways “Visionary,” considered the finest river vessel in Europe. The Visionary accommodates just 128 guests. Brochures on the 5-River European Cruise are available at the Chamber Office and at Heritage Travel. Call (814) 946-1600 for more information.
Is Your Information Still Accurate?
As The Chamber begins the process of compiling information for the 2016 Membership Directory, it’s important that members visit the Member Information section of the Chamber Website to make sure that all of their information is accurate. The Chamber Website is at www.blairchamber.com.
Congratulations . . .
. . . to Appvion, Inc. which recently introduced Triumph High-Speed Inkjet Papers to its array of products. The newly revised product will be manufactured at the Roaring Spring Mill and is available in treated and coated versions.
. . . to Saint Francis University, which has been named one of the “Best Regional Universities” in the North Region, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2016 Best Colleges Guide.
Blue Card Discounts
To see a complete listing of the Blue Card discounts available, please click here. To have an offer listed, contact The Chamber at 943-8151. There is no fee to offer and have a discount listed.
For more information, visit the website
To subscribe or unsubscribe please email us.
|
|
September 28, 2015
|
Upcoming Events
Register online
Down on the Farm
Thursday, October 1
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Drycreek Farm, Martinsburg
Register Here
Breakfast Club
Thursday, October 8
7:45 - 9:00 a.m.
The Casino at Lakemont Park
Register Here
SBP Bad Website Workshop
Wednesday, October 14
1:00 - 2:30 P.M.
Devorris Center
Register Here
Business BEFORE Hours
Friday, October 16
7:30 - 9:00 a.m.
Contact Altoona
Register Here
Business Hall of Fame
Monday, October 19
5:30 - Reception
6:45 - Dinner/Program
Blair County Convention Center
Register Here
Business After Hours
Thursday, October 22
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Hampton Inn Altoona
Register Here
WE-LEaD Networking
Monday, October 26
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Marzoni's
Register Here
Business BEFORE Hours
Friday, October 30
7:30 - 9:00 a.m.
Honey Baked Ham
Register Here
Farm-City Dinner
Thursday, November 5
6:30 - Reception
7:00 - Dinner/program
The Park at Morrisons Cove
Register Here
Upcoming Committee Meetings
Week of 9/28/2015
Retail Subcommittee
Wednesday, September 30, 8:15 a.m.
Devorris Center
Legislative Action Committee
Thursday, October 1, 8:00 a.m.
Devorris Center
BASICS Early Childhood Subcommittee
Thursday, October 1, 10:00 a.m.
Devorris Center
Follow The Chamber
on Facebook
Click here
|
|