Chamber Office Closed Monday for President’s Day

The offices of the Blair County Chamber of Commerce will be closed on Monday, Feb. 21, in commemoration of President’s Day. The office will re-open on Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. To register for any Chamber programs or events, visit the Chamber website.    

Make your employees happy by saving them money on power

Last week's announcement that The Chamber's Electric Energy program was extending discounted rates on electricity to the residences of those employed by Chamber Members has created quite a buzz. Residential rates for this program are currently below Penelec's price to compare and can be locked-in for the remainder of 2011. With Penelec rates likely to increase each quarter of 2011, the Chamber program is a terrific deal. If you haven't alerted your employees about their good fortune yet, what are you waiting for?  Encourage them to lock-in the 6.99 cents/kwh before March 1. Otherwise, they may miss-out on that rate. And if you’re a Penelec customer, don't forget to lock-in the rate for your own residence. To access the link that allows you to register, click here.  

Sign up Your Business for Savings on Electricity.  Here’s How.

If your business still hasn't signed on with anyone to provide you with discounted electric rates or if you're unhappy with the company that you have signed on with, it's time to compare. The Chamber is offering two informational sessions on its Energy Program on Feb. 23 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Devorris Center.   Come and find out how you can be guaranteed a lower rate on electric power, just by being a member of The Chamber. There is no cost or obligation to attend and pre-registration is not required. Just show up.  

Has Your Business Picked-Up Its “Blue Cards” Yet?

Any Chamber Member business that hasn't yet picked-up its "Blue Cards," can do so by stopping at the Chamber Office, located in the Devorris Center. These laminated membership cards are to be distributed to your employees along with a list of discounted offers that they can access for their own use. It's an employee benefit that you're providing by being a member of the Blair County Chamber. To view all the Blue Card offers to date, visit the Chamber website. The Chamber Office is open Monday thru Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  

Nomination process begins for Business Excellence Award

The Chamber's prestigious "Lifetime Achievement Award for Business Excellence" will be presented at the Annual Business Excellence Dinner, to be held on Tuesday, June 7 at The Casino at Lakemont Park. The award recipient will once again be selected from nominations received from members of The Chamber. Click here to download a nomination form.  

Transportation committee to hear about partnerships

The Chamber's Transportation Committee will meet on Thursday at 8:15 a.m. at the Devorris Center. The focus of the meeting will be a presentation on public-private partnerships and how they can have an impact on transportation funding at a time when Pennsylvania faces considerable challenges in that arena. Making the presentation will be Greg Grasa, a staff person in the Harrisburg Office of State Representative Rick Geist. Anyone interested in hearing Mr. Grasa speak is welcome to attend even if you are not a member of the committee. No registration is required. 

Business After Hours set for Blair County Convention Center

The Blair County Convention Center is celebrating its 10th year in operation and that celebration is being done in cooperation with a Chamber "Business After Hours" to be held this Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Convention Center. It should be a terrific event so call the Chamber at 943-8151 or register online. The cost is just $5 for Chamber Members in advance and $6 at the door. Non-members can attend for $10 in advance and $12 at the door.   

Legislative priorities survey solicits Member priorities

The Chamber's Legislative Action Committee has created a survey to help the committee determine which legislative issues are most important to Chamber members. The survey results will serve as the basis for The Chamber's advocacy efforts for the next eighteen months. "It's extremely important that our members weigh-in on what issues affect them the most and also the least," acknowledged Legislative Action Committee Chair Thad Will of M&T Bank. "We look forward to representing their advocacy needs." The survey should take no more than five minutes to complete. To access the survey, click here.  

Local burglaries emphasize importance of data breach coverage

Recently, between 25 and 30 local businesses have reported some type of break-ins or acts of vandalism that have resulted in the theft of laptop computers and other items of technology containing sensitive information. The Chamber's InfoLaunch program through Immersion, Ltd.  protects businesses from data breaches associated with the loss of this type of information.  Protect your business in a way that is practical and inexpensive. Don’t take unnecessary risks. Call The Chamber at 943-8151 today!    

Recruiting continues for new Chamber Ambassadors

The Chamber Ambassadors play a key role in The Chamber's ability to recruit, retain and recognize new members. The Ambassadors are restructuring and are looking to add new committee members.  Interested? It's a great opportunity to make valuable business connections while helping The Chamber to meet its goals of serving the needs of the Blair County business community. If you're interested in applying to be a Chamber Ambassador, contact Joe Hurd at 943-8151to get details on how to get involved.    

China trip attracting plenty of local interest

Last week's informational meeting on The Chamber's first-ever trip to China was well attended and sign-ups for the Nov. 3-11 trip have begun. Due to the availability of seats on the flight, we are limited in the number of people that we can take. Past that number will result in people being offered another flight or having to travel on a different date. Don’t delay in locking-in your spot on this trip. It takes only a non-refundable payment of $200 (payable by cash, check or money order). Call The Chamber at 943-8151 or visit our office at the Devorris Center for Business Development. If you were unable to attend the informational meeting, we are planning to schedule a future meeting unless we are completely booked. We also have materials at the office for those who would like to secure some.

Safety program on importance of good health now March 8

The Chamber Safety Committee program on healthy lifestyles, which had been scheduled for last Friday, was postponed and has been rescheduled for Tuesday, March 8 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Hampton Inn Altoona. The program is entitled "Minding Your Health." Presentations will be by Terri Henry, licensed dietician at Altoona Regional Health System who will present, “Healthy Eating the Mediterranean Way” and by Andrea Young, a yoga instructor at Bloom Yoga & Wellness” who will present, “Breathing and Movement to Relieve Stress at Work.” The cost to attend is just $15 for Chamber Members and $25 for non-members. Price includes a continental breakfast. To register call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.  

Only a handful of booths remain for Home & Garden Show

The Blair County Home & Garden Show will be held from March 4-6 at The Jaffa Shrine and your opportunity to be an exhibitor at that event is nearly gone. As of last Friday, less than 10 booths were available. "I expect them to be completely gone by mid-week," predicted Stacy Hoover at The Chamber. "We always have people who wait until the last minute." Members of the Blair County Chamber and the Blair-Bedford Builders Association receive discounted rates on those booths. All sponsorships for the event have been sold. Contact Stacy as soon as possible at 943-8151 for booth information.

March Breakfast Club to focus on organized labor

Labor Unions failed to pass the Employee Free Choice Act, also know as Card Check. But now they’re attempting to get through regulation what they could not get by legislation. Come and hear how organized labor’s “Plan B” can impact your business and how you can fight back in 2011. The Chamber’s next Breakfast Club, to be held March 10 at 7:45 a.m. at The Casino at Lakemont Park will feature a presentation by Attorney Theodore Phlegar, Senior Counsel with the Workforce Freedom Initiative of the US Chamber of Commerce. The cost to attend the Breakfast Club is $16 for Chamber members and $30 for non-members. To register, contact The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online. This information is critical for businesses of all sizes. Register today!  

Congratulations . . .

. . . to McLanahan Corporation Agricultural Systems Division, which recently won an AE50 award from The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers for the development of the Self-Cleaning Sand Lane which processes flushed or otherwise diluted sand-laden dairy manure.

. . . to the Comfort Inn Hotel of Duncansville, which was a recent recipient of a 2010 Platinum Hospitality Award from Choice Hotels International.  The hotel is one of just seven in the state to receive “Platinum Award” status.