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Category: Economic Development

The Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County has signed onto the US Chamber’s Coalition letter directed to President Biden

Posted on by Jeannine Lozier

This letter discusses the ongoing labor negotiations between the United Auto Workers (UAW) and the Detroit Three: General Motors, Stellantis, and Ford Motor Company. By lending our voice, we aim to contribute to a balanced and equitable resolution that benefits all. Read the full letter below. 

Dear Mr. President:

The undersigned organizations are concerned by the growing possibility of a strike by the United Auto Workers (UAW) in their negotiations for a new labor contract with General Motors, Stellantis, and Ford Motor Company (Detroit Three). A UAW strike would impose significant hardship on American families and the economy so we, therefore, urge you and your Administration to provide the support necessary to help the parties reach a new agreement by the September 14 deadline.

The Detroit Three are critical to our economy. They produced 4.8 million vehicles in the U.S. in 2022, alongside 3.5 million engines, and 5.6 million transmissions.[1] A 2020 report[2] shows that the Detroit Three are supported by 238,000 employees at 260 assembly plants, manufacturing facilities, research labs, distribution centers, and other facilities across 31 states. They work with nearly 9,700 dealerships, which employ nearly 660,000 U.S. workers. Additionally, every vehicle that rolls off the assembly line of a Detroit Three automaker contains anywhere from 8,000 to 12,000 different components manufactured by over 5,600 U.S. suppliers. Over 690,000 supplier jobs are estimated to be tied to the Detroit Three, which accounts for anywhere from 20% to 70% of their business. This means a strike will quickly impact large segments of the economy, leading to layoffs and potentially even bankruptcies of U.S. businesses. While UAW’s 40-day strike on General Motors in 2019 forced suppliers to temporarily lay off approximately 75,000 workers, every indication is that a strike today would be significantly more severe for many businesses. Indeed, one analysis estimates a 10-day UAW strike could result in economic losses of more than $5 billion.[3]

No one should want a strike. The Administration has already employed its formal and informal convening power in the past year to help parties reach agreements in the freight railroad, West Coast port terminal, and UPS-Teamster contract negotiations. We urge you to lend similar help here and work with the parties to help reach an agreement by September 14.

Sincerely,

National

American Composite Manufacturers Association

American Foundry Society

Armenian American Chamber of Commerce

Auto Care Association

Business Roundtable

MEMA, The Vehicle Suppliers Association

National Association of Manufacturers

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Alabama

Automotive Aftermarket Association Southeast

Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce

Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce

Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Information

SouthWest Mobile County Chamber of Commerce

Arizona

Apache Junction Area Chamber of Commerce

Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Buckeye Valley Chamber of Commerce

Chandler Chamber of Commerce

Gilbert Chamber of Commerce

Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce

Greater Phoenix Chamber

Mesa Chamber of Commerce

Nogales-Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce

Peoria Chamber of Commerce

Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce

Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Tucson Metro Chamber

Arkansas

Little Rock Regional Chamber

California

Antelope Valley Chamber of Commerce

Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce

Dana Point Chamber of Commerce

Danville Area Chamber of Commerce

Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce

Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce

Modesto Chamber of Commerce

Norwalk Chamber of Commerce

Palm Desert Area Chamber of Commerce

Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commerce

Pasadena Chamber of Commerce

Rancho Cordova Area Chamber of Commerce

Redding Chamber of Commerce

San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership

Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce

San Jose Chamber of Commerce

Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce

Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce

Vista Chamber of Commerce

West Ventura County Business Alliance

Florida

Stuart/Martin County Chamber of Commerce

Georgia

Dade County Chamber of Commerce

Georgia Chamber of Commerce

Greater Pooler Area Chamber of Commerce

Habersham County Chamber of Commerce

Murray County Chamber of Commerce

Newton Chamber of Commerce

Taylor County Chamber of Commerce

Idaho

Boise Metro Chamber

Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce

Illinois

Bolingbrook Area Chamber of Commerce

Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce

Cook County Black Chamber

Dixon Chamber of Commerce & Main Street

GLMV Chamber of Commerce

Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce

Grundy County Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Illinois Chamber of Commerce

Illinois State Black Chamber of Commerce

Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce

RiverBend Growth Association

Streator Chamber of Commerce

Indiana

Indiana Chamber of Commerce

Kendallville Area Chamber of Commerce

LaGrange County Chamber of Commerce

South Bend Regional Chamber

Tipton County Chamber of Commerce

Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce

Iowa

Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce

Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI)

Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce

Kentucky

Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce

Kentucky Chamber of Commerce

Union County Chamber of Commerce

Louisiana

Central LA Regional Chamber of Commerce

Maryland

Talbot County Chamber of Commerce

Massachusetts

Metro South Chamber of Commerce

Michigan

Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce

Cadillac Area Chamber of Commerce

Clare Area Chamber of Commerce

Detroit Regional Chamber

Flint & Genesee Chamber

Grand Rapids Chamber

Greater Niles Chamber of Commerce

Lansing Regional Chamber

Macomb County Chamber of Commerce

Michigan Chamber of Commerce

Michigan West Coast Chamber of Commerce

Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce

Minnesota

Delano Area Chamber of Commerce

Laurentian Chamber of Commerce

Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce

White Bear Area Chamber of Commerce

Mississippi

Cleveland-Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce

Montana

Montana Chamber of Commerce

Nebraska

Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce

Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce

Washington County Chamber of Commerce

Nevada

Carson City Chamber of Commerce

Reno + Sparks Chamber of Commerce

Vegas Chamber

New Hampshire

Business & Industry Association (BIA) of NH

New Jersey

African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey

GWACC Chamber of Commerce

NJ State Chamber of Commerce

New York

Buffalo Niagara Partnership

Business Council of NYS, Inc.

North Carolina

Caldwell Chamber

Moore County Chamber of Commerce

NC Chamber

North Dakota

Chamber Grand Forks / East Grand Forks

Bismarck Mandan Chamber EDC

Ohio

Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce

Greater Springfield Partnership

Hilliard Area Chamber of Commerce

Lima Allen County Chamber of Commerce

Marion Area Chamber of Commerce

Ohio Chamber of Commerce

Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

Oklahoma

Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce

State Chamber of Oklahoma

Tulsa Regional Chamber

Oregon

Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce

North Clackamas Chamber of Commerce

Oregon Business & Industry

Pennsylvania

Alle Kiski Strong Chamber

Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County

Greater Latrobe-Laurel Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce

Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce

Mercer Area Chamber of Commerce

Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry

Pittsburgh Airport Area Chamber of Commerce

Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce

Rhode Island

East Greenwich Chamber of Commerce

South Carolina

South Carolina Chamber of Commerce

South Dakota

Belle Fourche Chamber of Commerce

Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce

Tennessee

Kingsport Chamber

Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce

Tennessee Chamber of Commerce

White House Area Chamber of Commerce

Texas

East Parker County Chamber of Commerce

Fulshear Katy Area Chamber of Commerce

Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce

Longview Chamber of Commerce

Sherman Chamber of Commerce

Virginia

Blackstone Chamber of Commerce

Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce

Hampton Roads Chamber

Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce

Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance

Washington

Burlington Chamber of Commerce

Greater Lake Stevens Chamber of Commerce

Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce

Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce

Puyallup Sumner Chamber of Commerce

West Virginia

West Virginia Chamber of Commerce

Wisconsin

Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce

Wyoming

Campbell County Chamber of Commerce

Stuckey Automotive Purchases Price Motor Sales Dealership

Posted on by Jeannine Lozier

Matt Stuckey, President of Stuckey Automotive, has announced the acquisition of Price Motor Sales, located at 288 Water Street in Cassville, PA.  Price Motor Sales, a Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealer first established in 1943, is owned and operated by Fred and Susan Price.  The dealership will be known as Stuckey Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram effective September 18, 2023. 

The all-new Stuckey Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram will mark the sixth dealership under the Stuckey Automotive group of companies.  Stuckey Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram joins Stuckey Ford and Stuckey Subaru, both in Hollidaysburg, Stuckey GMC in Altoona, Stuckey Ford of Bellefonte, and the newly renovated Stuckey Mitsubishi Super Centre in State College.

The buy/sell transpired when the Price family phoned Matt Stuckey.  Mr. Fred Price stated, “We’ve been dreaming about the next chapter of our lives for a while now.  Before we could act on anything, we had to consider the future of our dealership.  We wanted to find someone who would respect and care for our employees, our community, and our family’s legacy as much as we do.  It turns out we didn’t have to look too far.  We found that someone in Matt Stuckey.” 

Matt Stuckey, President of Stuckey Automotive, replied, “It’s been a lot of fun working with a multigenerational family-owned business, like ours, to bring this deal to fruition.  We are grateful for the opportunity that’s been bestowed upon us.  Stuckey Automotive is now positioned to sell Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram products and service those vehicles to a new market here in Central PA.”

Price Motor Sales employs seven sales and service professionals.  “Buying a dealership is one thing.  Retaining a dealership’s talent is quite another.  Fortunately for us, the Price sales and service teams have accepted our offer to join the Stuckey Automotive organization.  This will certainly help to advance our recruiting efforts in the Huntingdon area,” added Samantha Longenecker, Director of Human Resources at Stuckey Automotive.  The Price family will continue to own and operate the Price Motor Collision Repair Center in Cassville. 

Stuckey Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram will host a Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting ceremony in the Spring of 2024, at which time the company will announce plans to move the dealership to a new permanent location in Huntingdon.  For more information about Stuckey Automotive, please contact Karen Beauchamp, Marketing Director, at 814.693.4866 or Karen@StuckeyAuto.com.  

About Stuckey Automotive:

Stuckey Automotive, established in 1959 with the founding of Stuckey Ford in Hollidaysburg, is a Duncansville-based dealership that proudly serves the communities in Blair and Centre counties and throughout central Pennsylvania. Collectively, the Stuckey Automotive dealerships serve the Ford, Subaru, GMC, Mitsubishi, commercial vehicle, and used vehicle markets.  A solution for all automotive needs, each dealership offers a complementary service and parts center and access to the Stuckey Automotive Collision Center.  For more information, visit StuckeyAutomotive.com.  

Mount Nittany Health’s Physician Group Establishes Tuition Reimbursement Program with the Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology

Posted on by Chamber of Business & Industry Centre County

Partnership will cover tuition for full-time and part-time LPN and CMA students

Mount Nittany Health is pleased to announce a partnership with the Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology (CPI) to provide tuition assistance to students enrolled full-time or part-time in the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and Certified Medical Assistants (CMA) programs. As part of the program, students will receive employment agreements to work at Mount Nittany Physician Group upon graduation, if they meet the eligibility requirements.

“Mount Nittany Physician Group is looking to the future,” said Kathleen Rhine, President and CEO of Mount Nittany Health. “As we continue in our mission of ‘Healthier People, Stronger Community,’ it is a priority for us to increase our clinical staff to continue providing high-quality care to our patients. This partnership with CPI will help create a pipeline of LPNs and CMAs as we continue to innovate ways to serve the local community.”

The program will cover full tuition for eligible and selected full-time and part time students of the LPN program and the CMA program offered by CPI.

“We’re excited to provide this educational opportunity to the local community,” said Amy Trithart, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, SHRM-SCP, Chief Human Resources and Ancillary Services Officer, Mount Nittany Health. “As an employer of choice in the area, Mount Nittany Physician Group is an important part of Mount Nittany Health which has over 2,400 employees at our 19 locations in the Centre region. This partnership is an innovative way to continue to attract top talent to our healthcare system.”

“We are very pleased to expand our long-standing partnership with Mount Nittany Physician Group” stated Todd Taylor, Vice President, Post-Secondary Education for CPI. “In addition to outstanding career opportunities available at Mount Nittany Physician Group at graduation, participating CPI students will now have tuition sponsorship funding available to them to focus on their studies and graduate with little to no student debt. It really is a great time to be thinking about a career in the medical field. CPI looks forward to working closely with Mount Nittany Health as we grow our campus and expand our health-related degree programs.” said Taylor.

If you are interested in learning more about the program, please contact please contact Megan McKalips, Manager, Talent Acquisition, Mount Nittany Health at Megan.McKalips@mountnittany.org. More information about the program is also available at cpi.edu/practical-nursing.

Geisinger’s new Addiction Medicine Program welcoming applicants

Posted on by Chamber of Business & Industry Centre County

Training is for physician assistants and nurse practitioners to provide addiction care in primary care settings

 

Geisinger’s Addiction Medicine Program has received a $2.5 million federal grant to support an  Addiction Medicine Advanced Practitioner Training Program for physician assistants (PA-Cs) and certified registered nurse practitioners (CRNPs).

The goal is to train advanced practitioners to identify and care for patients with substance use disorder and opioid use disorder — especially people living in rural areas where other options for care are limited.

The first training class will launch in January, with new classes beginning each July and January over the course of the five-year grant. Applicants must be board certified and maintain an active Pennsylvania advanced practitioner license. 

“Studies have shown that Pennsylvania communities — particularly those in rural areas — struggle with access to substance use disorder treatment options, putting more strain on our hospitals,” said Margaret Jarvis, M.D., chief, addiction services for Geisinger Addiction Medicine and the Geisinger Neuroscience Institute. “Putting well trained advanced practitioners in primary care sites will provide a stable environment for long-term treatment of addicted patients. Because they’re treated in their communities, it’s easier to help them stay on course.”

The 12-month program includes lectures and in-clinic training. It will focus on mental health and substance use and opioid use disorder services, including the use of medications to treat opioid use disorder.

To receive an application, visit go.geisinger.edu/apaddictiontraining.

Keller Engineers, Inc. Hires in Transportation and Survey Division

Posted on by Jeannine Lozier

Keller Engineers, Inc., with locations in Hollidaysburg, State College, Gettysburg, PA and Haddonfield, NJ is a full-service engineering firm providing client-focused civil and structural engineering, and surveying services.

Keller Engineers, Inc. is proud to announce the hiring of Martin Biesinger, PLS, in the Survey Division and Nathan Cunningham in the Transportation Division.

Martin is a Professional Land Surveyor with over 30 years of surveying and land planning experience, including but not limited to: Boundary, ALTA, Deformation/Monitoring, AsBuilt, Geodetic, and Hydrographic surveys. He also has prior experience in the construction industry, overseeing daily operations at work sites and coordinating with subcontractors to ensure project completion in an efficient manner. Martin holds an Associate Degree in Surveying Technology from The Pennsylvania State University. In addition to his varied work experience and educational background, he is a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving from 1986-1994 as a Boatswains mate on the U.S.S. W.S. Sims (FF1059).

Nathan is a current student at the Pennsylvania College of Technology pursuing an Associate Degree in IT Network & User Support. He joins our Transportation Division with an extensive background in IT and technology. He has experience with numerous network and security programs, as well as advanced programming. Nathan is also a recipient of the Jersey Shore Steel Scholarship which is available to students at Pennsylvania College of Technology who maintain at least a 2.5 minimum GPA and is a family member of a current or former employee at Jersey Shore Steel. He is a 2021 graduate of Altoona Area High School and previously worked in the retail, restaurant, and delivery service industry prior to joining us at Keller Engineers.