“Business After Hours” Re-Scheduled for September 13th
JJAN Financial to Host Friday’s “Business Before Hours”
Deadline for YEA! Applications is September 15th
Exhibitor Booths Nearly Gone for First-ever bizX Event
Moore to Offer Workshop on Working a Trade Show
Safety Workshop to Address Opioid Crisis
ACE Award Nomination Period Opens
Workplace Wellness Committee Seeking Success Stories
Chamber Foundation Funding Benefits Local Young People
Sustainability Certification Survey Can Be Completed Online
No Cost for Chamber Members to Get on “Buy Here Bucks” List
Informational Meeting Set for Chamber’s Trip to South Africa
Business After Hours Opportunity Available
Congratulations . . .
“Business After Hours” Re-Scheduled for September 13th
The next Blair County Chamber “Business After Hours,” which had been scheduled for August 23rd, has been rescheduled for September 13th. The change was made due to the recent rainfall that has slowed the completion of the host site – NatureWorks Park. The Park is expected to be completed in early September. To register for Business After Hours, contact the Chamber at 814-943-8151 or register online.
JJAN Financial to Host Friday’s “Business Before Hours”
The JJAN Financial Group will celebrate its 20th anniversary on August 17th by hosting a “Business Before Hours” that will also include a ribbon-cutting. That ribbon-cutting will officially mark the opening of the company’s new location at 3101 Beale Avenue, Suite 101 in Altoona. The Business Before Hours will be held from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. It will feature food and beverages as well as a tour of the building. The ribbon cutting will take place at 9:00. As part of the event JJAN Financial will be presenting donations to Family Services and to Shriners Hospital. There is no charge to Chamber members to attend Business Before Hours. Non-members can attend for $10. Registration is important. To register, contact the Chamber at (814) 943-8151 or register online.
Deadline for YEA! Applications is September 15th
The Blair County Chamber of Commerce is currently accepting applications for the YEA! 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 yeausa.org. Scholarships are available for students who meet eligibility requirements. Contact Royce Boyd, Program Manager for details at royceboyd@outlook.com. 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.
Exhibitor Booths Nearly Gone for First-ever bizX Event
The first-ever bizX Regional Trade Show will be held on September 26th from 11:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Blair County Convention Center in Altoona. The business-to-business event is being done as a partnership between the Blair County Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County. The bizX show begins with a luncheon from 11:30 to 1:00 featuring keynote speaker Steve Sheetz, chairman of Sheetz Family Council, whose presentation is entitled, “Risks and Opportunities of Growing a Business.” The cost of the luncheon is $25 for members of either chamber and $40 for non-members. The Exhibit Hall for bizX opens at 1:00 p.m. and will remain open until 7:00. More than 100 exhibitors are expected. The show will also include several educational seminars as well as a “Corridor Cuisine” which features food samples from ten regional restaurants. The event concludes with a “Business After Hours” from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. There is no cost to attend bizX although there is a cost of $10 to attend the Business After Hours. Exhibitor costs are $250 for businesses with up to 50 employees and $350 for businesses with 51-and-over. To reserve a booth, contact the Chamber at (814) 943-8151.
Moore to Offer Workshop on Working a Trade Show
John Moore of Moore Power Sales in Altoona will be conducting a workshop for the Blair County Chamber on September 12th from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Devorris Center for Business Development. Moore’s presentation will be entitled, “Nine Neglects That Kill Sales at Trade Shows.” The timing of the workshop is not coincidental, admits Stacy Hoover, the Chamber’s VP of Events and Technology. “With the bizX trade show just a few weeks later, this workshop is an ideal reminder to exhibitors of how to make the event work in their favor.” The cost to attend is $20 for Chamber Members and $25 for non-members. Lunch is included. To register, contact the Chamber at (814) 943-8151 or register online.
Safety Workshop to Address Opioid Crisis
The Safety Committee of the Blair County Chamber will hold an educational presentation on September 12th at 7:30 a.m. at Hoss’s Steak & Sea House in Duncansville. The title of the presentation is “Opioids in Today’s Workplace.” Keynote speaker will be Peter Kreckel, a pharmacist at Thompson Pharmacy and the Empower3 Clinic who is also a Pharmacology professor at Saint Francis University. The cost to attend is $20 for Chamber Members and $30 for non-members. A full breakfast buffet is included. To register, call the Chamber at (814) 943-8151 or register online.
ACE Award Nomination Period Opens
The Blair County Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for the Agricultural Community Excellence (ACE) Award. This award will be presented at the annual Farm-City Dinner held November 1st. Simply complete the nomination form. Deadline for nominations is Friday, August 24, 2018. You can also access a list of past honorees by clicking here.
Workplace Wellness Committee Seeking Success Stories
As the Blair County Chamber’s Workplace Wellness Committee looks for more effective ways to help local businesses create a healthier mindset among employees, the committee is asking any business that is already experiencing some level of success to share information with others. “We know that there are businesses locally that are accomplishing significant things from the health perspective,” acknowledged Coleen Heim, who chairs the Workplace Wellness Committee and also serves as Executive Director of Healthy Blair County Coalition. “We’re hoping that they’re willing to share what they’re doing and how it’s benefitting their workforce.” From the input, the Chamber will schedule a “Wake Up to Wellness” breakfast during the Fall that will focus on best practices. “We invite businesses to volunteer to be presenters,” Heim pointed out. Any businesses willing to be a presenter should contact Joe Hurd at (814) 943-8151 or email him at jhurd@blairchamber.com.
Chamber Foundation Funding Benefits Local Young People
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.
No Cost for Chamber Members to Get on “Buy Here Bucks” List
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
Informational Meeting Set for 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.
Business After Hours Opportunity Available
The Chamber has a few openings available for a member to host a Business After Hours. Those opportunities are for July 2019 and December of 2019. Anyone interested should contact Stacy Hoover at (814) 943-8151 or email her at shoover@blairchamber.com.
Congratulations . . .
. . . to Doing Better Business of Altoona, which was recently recognized by Virtulytix as a leader in managed print services.
. . . to Penn State Altoona, which was awarded a certificate of excellence by the health simulation company Kognito for outstanding leadership in executing its mental health and suicide prevention awareness program.
Power Card Offers: They’re Changing Every Day
For more information, visit the chamber website
To subscribe or unsubscribe please email us.
|
|
August 13, 2018
Upcoming Events
Business Before Hours
Friday, August 17
7:30 - 9:00 a.m.
JJAN Financial Services
Register Here
Non-Profit Best Practices
Friday, September 7
8:15 - 9:45 a.m.
Devorris Center
Register Here
Safety Workshop
Wednesday, September 12
7:30 - 9:00 a .m.
Hoss's Duncansville
Register Here
Lunch 'n' Learn
Wednesday, September 12
Noon - 1:30 p.m.
Devorris Center for Business Development
Register Here
Breakfast Club
Thursday, September 13
7:45 - 9:00 a.m.
The Casino at Lakemont Park
Register Here
Chamber Check-Up
Thursday, September 13
3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
The Chamber
Register Here
Business After Hours
Thursday, September 13
5:00 - 7 p.m.
NatureWorksPark
Register Here
bizX Kick-Off Luncheon
Wednesday, September 26
11:30 - 1:00 p.m.
Blair County Convention Center
Register Here
bizX Trending in Business Trade Show
Wednesday, September 26
1:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Blair County Convention Center
www.bizxpa.com
bizX Mixer
Wednesday, September 26
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Blair County Convention Center
Register Here
Upcoming Committee Meetings Week of 8/13/18
Chamber Ambassadors
Tuesday, August 14, 8:00 a.m.
Devorris Center
LBC ALumni
Wednesday, August 15. 7:30 a.m.
Reliance Bank, Lakemont
LBC Youth Committee
Wednesday, August 15, 3:30 p.m.
Devorris Center
Safety Committee
Thursday, August 16, 9:00 a.m.
The Chamber
Finance Committee
Thursday, August 16, 3:00 p.m.
The Chamber
Do you know the benefits of being a Chamber Member?
Click here for a list of benefits.
Follow The Chamber
on Facebook
|
|