Chamber Executive Committee Meets Tuesday
Young Entrepreneurs Academy Interviews to Begin in Early August
Signed-Up for bizX Yet? Don’t Miss Out on a Great Opportunity!
Farm-City Committee Schedules Next “Give Back Day”
Easier Than Ever to Donate to the Chamber Foundation
Sustainability Certification Survey Can Be Completed Online
No Cost for Chamber Members to Get on “Buy Here Bucks” List
Save the Date: Chamber’s Trip to South Africa
Congratulations . . .
Chamber Executive Committee Meets Tuesday
The Executive Committee of the Blair County Chamber’s Board of Directors will meet Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. at the Chamber Office. The Committee meets in July and August because the full Board doesn’t meet during those months. Any Chamber Member who would like to address the Executive Committee should contact Joe Hurd by noon Monday at (814) 943-8151.
Young Entrepreneurs Academy Interviews to Begin in Early August
The Blair County Chamber of Commerce is accepting applications for the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) for the 2018-19 class. YEA! is a 25 week program that guides middle and high school students through launching and running their own real businesses or social movements! YEA! is open to all Blair County students in grades 6-12. While in the Academy, students will receive all the necessary tools to launch their very own real, legal businesses. This includes access to valuable experts like attorneys, accountants, business mentors, and graphic designers; plus an audience with investors for real start-up cash! Students will also have the opportunity to win college scholarships. The YEA! application is available online at www.yeausa.org. Scholarships are available for students who meet eligibility requirements. Contact Royce Boyd, Program Manager for details at royceboyd@outlook.com. The selection process is competitive and applicants are urged to apply early. Interviews for the program will begin in early August. YEA! classes kick off on October 9, 2018 and will conclude in April 2019. Classes meet weekly at the Penn State Altoona Sheetz Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence in downtown Altoona during the school day. Transportation is provided by the school districts.
Signed-Up for bizX Yet? Don’t Miss Out on a Great Opportunity!
The bizX event is attracting interest from throughout Central Pennsylvania. The business showcase, that is a partnership between the Blair County Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County, is continuing to accept exhibitors and sponsors. The event is scheduled for September 26th at the Blair County Convention Center. Among the sponsorships that are available are the Seminar Sponsorship and several Supporting Sponsorships. To access information on those sponsorships, contact Jessie Covert. Booth sales have been brisk. The cost of a 10’x10’ foot booth is $250 for small businesses (50 employees and under) and $350 for large businesses (51 + employees). To reserve a booth, contact Stacy Hoover. More information on the specifics of the luncheon which precedes the trade show as well as the mixer that follows it will be released in the coming weeks.
Farm-City Committee Schedules Next “Give Back Day”
For the third consecutive year, the Blair County Chamber’s Farm-City Committee will partner with Allied Milk Producers to hold a Give Back Day – “Cones for a Cause” – on August 10th at Ritchey’s Dairy in Martinsburg. Ice-Cream cones will be sold that day for just $1.00 each, with the proceeds being used to buy milk for distribution by American Rescue Workers. The Give Back Day event will also include a performance by the Sharptones from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. as well as displays from the Blair County Dairy Princess and the Blair County 4-H Clubs – all at Ritchey’s Dairy. For more information on Give Back Day. Contact Stacy Hoover at 814-943-8151 or email her.
Easier Than Ever to Donate to the Chamber Foundation
The Blair County Chamber Foundation helps to fund many of the programs that positively impact the lives of Blair County’s young people as they look to gain greater insight into career opportunities. It’s now easier than ever before to make a donation to the Foundation. Simply go to the Chamber Website and under “About,” will have a drop-down list that will include the Foundation. Click on the Foundation to reveal the “Donation Location,” which will explain how to donate. Your support is important to so many young people in our county. Check it out today!
Sustainability Certification Survey Can Be Completed Online
Chamber-member businesses interested in assessing where they are from a sustainability standpoint will have the opportunity to complete a Sustainability Certification Survey. The survey can be completed online and the results will be compiled and the business notified of the results within a two-month period. One of the other benefits of completing the survey is that the committee will then assign a certification level – gold, silver or bronze – which businesses can then use for marketing purposes. While the committee is still working out the details of the certification process, it’s also looking to compile a Resource List to help businesses who will be looking for assistance in raising their scores. Any Chamber-member business interested in accessing the Sustainability Certification Survey should click here.
“Buy Here Bucks” a Win-Win for Buyers, Sellers
The Blair County Chamber’s new gift certificate program, known as “Buy Here Bucks,” is a way for local businesses to gain new customers and an even better way for people to give gift certificates with more than just a few places to redeem them. The larger the list of participating businesses, the greater the value of the certificates. For a business to register to be on that list (it costs Chamber Members nothing), contact Tori Liebal at (814) 943-8151 or email her. To purchase Buy Here Bucks, visit the Chamber Website. You can also get them at the Chamber Office, located in the Devorris Center for Business Development.
Save the Date: Chamber’s Trip to South Africa
The Blair County Chamber will be traveling to South Africa in 2019. The trip will take place from September 13-24, 2019. It will include four game drives as well as tours of Cape Town, Johannesburg and Victoria Falls. There will be an informational meeting held on August 21st at 6:00 p.m. at the Devorris Center for Business Development. There is no charge or obligation to attend but registration is encouraged. To register, call the Chamber at (814) 943-8151.
Congratulations . . .
. . . to the members of the Blair County Chamber that were recently honored as “Women Owned Businesses to Follow” by Pennsylvania Business Central magazine. They are: Image Signs of Altoona, StelTek Graphics of Bedford, Advantage Resource Group of Altoona, Benzel’s Bretzel Bakery of Altoona, Reclamere, Inc. of Tyrone, Doing Better Business of Altoona, Blair Insurance Services of Altoona, Seltzer Financial Strategies of Altoona, Ace Answering Service of State College, Bedford Candies of Altoona, The Greg and Cathy Griffith Family Foundation of Hollidaysburg, and Serviam Construction of Altoona.
. . . to Wessel & Company, which was recently honored by Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania with a 2018 Leadership Circle Award. The award recognizes organizations and individuals for their combined contributions of financial and in-kind support to help Junior Achievement.
Power Card Offers: They’re Changing Every Day
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July 23, 2018
Upcoming Events
Breakfast Club
Thursday, August 9
7:45 - 9:00 a.m.
The Casino at Lakemont Park
Register Here
Give Back Day - Cones for a Cause
Friday, August 10, 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
6:00 - 9:00 - music by the Sharptones
Ritchey's Dairy
$1.00 ice cream cones all day
Business Before Hours
Friday, August 17
7:30 - 9:00 a.m.
JJAN Financial Services
Register Here
Business After Hours
Thursday, August 23
5:00 - 7 p.m.
NatureWorksPark
Register Here
bizX Trending in Business Trade Show
Wednesday, September 26
1:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Blair County Convention Center
Upcoming Committee Meetings Week of 7/23/18
Chamber Executive Committee
Tuesday, July 24, 8:30 a.m.
The Chamber
Chamber Finance Commitee
Wednesday, July 25,, 3:00 p.m.
The Chamber
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