Join Us In Ireland, Congratulations Readers' Choice Winners, BF & HCCC Golf Tournament, New Overtime Rule & More!

May 3, 2024

Best Bed & Breakfast - The Inn at Solvang

Best Hotel/Motel - Fairfield Inn & Suites Huntingdon Route 22/Raystown Lake

Best Accounting Firm - CPA Associates

Best Legal Firm - BMZ Law

Best Auto Dealer - Stuckey Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

Best Employer over 25 Employees - Sheetz

Best Employer under 25 Employees - Colonial Florist & Gift Shop

Best Charter School - New Day Charter School

Best Local College - Juniata College

Best School - Juniata Valley School District

Best Bank - Community State Bank

Best Financial Planning - Kish Financial Solutions

Best Beer Distributor - Strickler's Ice, Bottled Water, Cold Beer

Best Cup of Coffee - The Roast Post

Best Steak - Brenneman's Meat Market

Best Water Company - Strickler's Ice, Bottled Water, Cold Beer

Best Chiropractic Center - Simone Family Chiropractic

Best Eye Care Center - Huntingdon Vision Center

Best Hospital/Medical Center/Clinic - Broad Top Health & Wellness

Best Senior/Retirement Facility - Graystone Manor, Huntingdon

Best Auto Insurance Services - The Paterson Agency LLC

Best Commercial Insurance Services - The Paterson Agency LLC

Best Home Insurance Services - The Paterson Agency LLC

Best Insurance Agency - The Paterson Agency LLC

Best Rental Insurance Services - The Paterson Agency LLC

Best Audiologist - Uhring's Hearing & Balance

Best Bank Lender - Linda Brenneman, Arize Federal Credit Union

Best Bank Teller - Tori Hess, First National Bank

Best Eye Care Physician - Dr. Kara Cook Ritchey, Huntingdon Vision Center

Best Insurance Agent - Charlie Paterson, The Paterson Agency LLC

Best Podiatrist - Tammy Carlson-Little, Raystown Podiatry

Best Public Servant/Politician - Sarah Snare, Huntingdon County Prothonotory/Clerk of Courts

Best Realtor - Alissa Brown, Re/MAX

Best Commercial Property - Raystown Realty

Best Real Estate Agency - Raystown Realty

Best Residential Property - Raystown Realty

Best Civic Club/Organization - Huntingdon B.P.O. Elks #976

Best Customer Service - Community State Bank

Best Fuel Oil Company - Bumgardner & Flasher Oil, Inc.

Best Plumbing - Jason Brenneman, Brenneman's Mechanicals

Best Screen Printing & Embroidery - WCS Signs & Awards

Best Boating Supply/Sales - Jim's Anchorage

Best Florist - Colonial Florist

Best Gas/Convenience Store - Cassville Country Store

Best Grocery Store - Brenneman's Meat Market

Best Hardware Store - Ace Fix-It Hardware

Best Pool/Hot Tub/Supplies - Cisney & O'Donnell Builders & Remodelers

Best Golf Course - Huntingdon Country Club

Best Tourist Attraction/Museum - The East Broad Top Railroad

The Huntingdon County Foundation is pleased to announce that Andy Cipar and John Franks, Jr. have joined their Board of Trustees. Welcome Andy and John!

Our Leadership Huntingdon County Class of 2024 completed their final field trip of the program! They began their day with Greg Anderson, Board President at the Huntingdon County Visitors Bureau. They then traveled to the East Broad Top Railroad and ended their day at Terrace Mountain Alpacas!

The class has one remaining session that will focus on law and criminal justice. Their Graduation is scheduled for June 13th at Sunset Golf Club.

Want to surprise your mom with this one of a kind gift? Contact us at 814-643-1110 or email us at lorena@huntingdonchamber.com.

New Overtime Rule Hurts Small Businesses

Final rule will increase the minimum salary threshold

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released a new overtime rule that will add burdensome requirements for small business owners. The final rule will raise the salary threshold for overtime pay eligibility.

Beginning July 1, salaried workers making less than $43,888 will become eligible for overtime pay, and on Jan. 1, 2025, eligibility extends to those making less than $58,656. Employees earning salaries below these thresholds will be paid at least time-and-a-half for working beyond 40 hours in a single workweek. The rule further states the eligibility threshold is subject to change every three years. NFIB opposed this rule and plans to join a legal challenge against it.

Part of the Fair Labor Standards Act, the new rule is a 65% increase from the current threshold of $35,568. Beth Milito, Executive Director of the NFIB Small Business Legal Center, explains the impact this significant change will have on small business owners:

"Main Street businesses do not have teams of lawyers or compliance officers on-site to help implement changes every time a new government standard is enacted. They also don't have the extra funds to arbitrarily increase wages when they are already doing everything in their power to provide the highest compensation and benefits they can for their employees."

"This rule is another costly hoop for small business owners to jump through. Small businesses will need to spend valuable time evaluating their workforce to properly adjust salaries or reclassify employees in accordance with this complicated mandate."

To continue reading, please click here.

House Advances Bill Requiring Employers to Post Discrimination Policies

Ed Gruver, Central Penn Business Journal

May 2, 2024

Legislation requiring employers to have written policies and procedures for preventing harassment, discrimination and retaliation against employees has passed the state House of Representatives. House Bill 2104 was authored by Rep. Maureen Madden, D-Monroe. The bill moves to the state Senate for consideration. The Pennsylvania Human Relations Act protects residents from discrimination in the workplace, including harassment and retaliation, but according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the commonwealth had the fifth-highest rate of workplace discrimination in the country in 2022. A complaint with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission can be filed by a person claiming a violation of their employer providing written policies and procedures. If the commission determines after investigation that an employer is in violation, the commission may seek compliance and issue a citation and fine of between $500 and $5,000. House bill 2104 would create the Human Relations Training Fund to ensure penalties collected under the act are used by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission for training, education and outreach.

To continue reading, please click here.

PA. Lawmaker's Bill would Let Counties Add 1% Sales Tax

Eric Schiccitano, Sunbury Daily Item

April 30, 2024

A Pennsylvania legislator envisions a one-percent add-on to the state sales tax as a potential revenue solution for cash-strapped communities with a high count of tax-exempt properties. The additional sales tax, approved either through local ordinance or ballot referendum, would generate approximately $2.45 billion by 2026 if enacted statewide, according to the prime sponsor of House Bill 678, Rep. Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster. The revenue would be split between a county and its municipalities based on the assessed value of tax-exempt properties within their borders, or on a pro-rated basis if the amount collected exceeds or falls below assessment. Sturla said property value assessments of tax-free buildings and grounds would be found through private sales of similar holdings. Municipal organizations including the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Municipal League and the Pennsylvania State Association of boroughs expressed support for the concept of Sturla's bill. The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry expressed opposition.

To continue reading, click here.

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Interested in advertising in our enews?

Contact MacKenzie at mhuntsman@huntingdonchamber.com.

The cost is $25.00; $10.00 for 501(3) organizations. Yearly rates are available.

Lunch & Learn

Unlock Savings: Tax Alternatives for Nonprofits (501C) and Government Entities

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Huntingdon County Career & Technology Center

Business After Hours w/ HCBI

Thursday, May 23, 2024

5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

ReKlaimed Vines Winery & Vineyard

Bonney Forge Corporation & Huntingdon County Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament

Wednesday, June 26, 2024

Huntingdon Country Club

Annual Membership Luncheon

Thursday, August 15, 2024

Westminster Woods

2nd Floor Dining Room of the Commons Building

Huntingdon County Night at the Altoona Curve

(To benefit Huntingdon County Humane Society)

Saturday, August 31, 2024

6:00 p.m.

Altoona Curve

Business After Hours

Thursday, September 12, 2024

5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

PA CareerLink - Huntingdon County

Sporting Clay Tournament

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

1:00 p.m. check-in

2:00 p.m. shoot

Shenecoy Sportsman Club

Annual Awards Gala

Thursday, October 3, 2024

Trophy Mountain Lodge

Small Business Saturday

Saturday, November 30, 2024

MEMBERS ONLY: Download our logo to use on your website. Click the logo for more information. Feel free to link the image on your website to our website, huntingdonchamber.com.

If you are hiring, please send position information to mhuntsman@huntingdonchamber.com 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

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.

MEMBERS may 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.