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Governor Shapiro Kicks Off Process of Developing First Statewide Economic Development Strategy in Nearly Two Decades

Posted on by Jeannine Lozier

Governor Josh Shapiro, Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger, and Ben Kirshner, Chief Transformation Officer, Office of Transformation and Opportunity, took the next step in creating the Commonwealth’s first comprehensive economic development strategy in nearly two decades during a visit to PennAir, a company that helps people in manufacturing and construction with pneumatics, hydraulics, and automation.

Since day one, Governor Shapiro and his Administration have been working to aggressively grow and reignite Pennsylvania’s economy – announcing nearly $1 billion in new private sector investment in the Commonwealth like EMD Electronics, Prysmian Group North America, and Re:Build Manufacturing creating over 1,400 new jobs and retaining over 5,300 existing jobs statewide in just nine months. In order to reinforce that commitment to economic competitiveness, the Shapiro Administration is developing an innovative and aggressive economic development strategy. The strategy will be an assessment of the Commonwealth’s areas of strength, a clear-eyed analysis of barriers to growth, and concrete goals and initiatives to guide policymaking and investment decisions for years to come.

Read Full Article Here

 

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.  

Why Serving Your Community Can Grow Your Business

Posted on by Jeannine Lozier

SUMMARY

  • Engaging in community service builds a positive reputation, encourages staff retention and loyalty, and amplifies core values.
  • Serving your community may help you hire and retain employees who are a better culture fit—younger generations of jobseekers want to find fulfillment in their work.
  • When picking partners for community engagement, choose those that align with your company’s core values and areas of expertise.
  • Businesses should be creative in their approach and enjoy participating in projects that get them excited.
  • ~ 645 words / 3.5 minute read

Running a small business requires dedication and time. But have you ever considered the benefits of community service? It may seem like one more thing to add, but research shows that helping your community can actually support your business goals. Serving your community helps boost your reputation, retain top talent, and create a more positive workplace. Keep reading to discover more about the power of giving back to your community.

Change How the Community Sees Your Business
Business owners start up because they want to solve a problem or fulfill a need in the community. However, once you’re up and running, making a profit often becomes the top priority. When this happens, members of the community may see you as someone who is just there to make a buck.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses and organizations stepped up to serve their community and live out their core values. Entrepreneur magazine reported that during the shutdown, After-School-All-Stars, a national nonprofit that runs after school programs, tuned into the needs of their local communities and started providing meals, distance learning, and mental health support for students and families.

You don’t need an economic crisis to show up for your community. You can demonstrate your company’s values by volunteering as a group or sponsoring an event you believe in. One study found that a whopping 78% of consumers want businesses to take the lead on social issues. In other words, when you invest your time or money into important service opportunities customers take notice. When you give back, people see you as part of the community and are more likely to use your business.

Hire and Retain Employees that Share Your Values
If your business’s number one goal is profit, you will attract employees who feel the same way. Their loyalty will be limited to the next paycheck, and for the most part, they won’t go above and beyond when you need it. However, when your company lives its core values within the community, retention rates will be higher, and you will attract skilled people who want to do more than simply show up.

This strategy is especially important if you hire younger employees. Forbes reported that 83% of millennials said they would be more loyal to a company that contributed to social and environmental issues. They also found that Gen Z, the newest group to enter the workforce, expect their employer to have a purpose beyond profit. Gen Z job candidates even showed they are more likely to read mission statements and value documents.

When you have a company culture that includes giving back, you can attract aspirational employees. These workers want to be connected to something bigger than themselves, and when your business gives them that opportunity, they find more than employment–they find fulfillment.

Pick the Right Partners
Of course, when you choose to do community outreach, it needs to fit with your organization’s core values and areas of expertise. To find opportunities that are right for you and your business, try some of the strategies listed below.

What problems exist in my community today? Whether it’s supporting local schools or animal shelters, find a cause that aligns with your values.
Encourage employees to volunteer during work hours. Maybe it’s just one hour a month, but when employees can give back during work hours they don’t have to choose between serving and time off.

Create a custom plan for volunteering based on what matters to your employees.
Share about the time and investment your employees give on social media or your website. People love feel-good stories and this will help boost the perception of your business.

The Bottom Line
Above all, be creative in your approach and choose projects that get you excited. Your enthusiasm will shine through and make your business memorable in the eyes of your community.

Do personal stories help or hurt your business? 

Posted on by Chamber of Business & Industry Centre County

SUMMARY

  • Telling personal stories is an effective way to engage customers and humanize your brand.
  • Make sure the story relates to your company’s values or mission. Use HubSpot’s guide to business storytelling as a resource when crafting stories.
  • Personal stories do not have to be about you—they can be about your customers too.
  • When done well, telling personal stories can help you become known for what makes your business special and attract ideal clients.
    ~ 665 words / 3.5 minute read

Telling a story is one of the oldest ways humans have of connecting with each other. When it comes to your business, how you share personal stories in public spaces such as social media matters. Recounting life lessons or turning points can inspire and uplift your audience. However, sharing your deepest or darkest experiences with an audience that encompasses long-time friends, employees, clients, and industry partners can negatively affect your business. So, how do you know which stories inspire trust and build your brand and which to avoid? Read on to learn more about how to ensure your personal brand aligns with your business.

Your Mission is Personal
A personal story is different from a ‘confessional’ story. And this distinction can help you separate what goes too far from what supports your business goals. For example, an inspiring story about overcoming an injury to win your college track competition is great, but if the focus is on your college awards or the fascinating details of your surgery it may come across as self-absorbed or out of touch. On the other hand, when you connect overcoming obstacles to your company’s values or even your reason-for-being, it works toward creating a positive image of your business and shines a spotlight on your company’s mission.

Social media is a busy place and most consumers are there for deals and entertainment. Ensuring your content connects sends a clear message to your customers: you can trust me with your time.

Hubspot’s guide to business storytelling is a great resource for telling more engaging stories. They advise keeping the following points in mind to keep your stories—even personal ones—on target.

  • Captivating stories keep the reader engaged and invested.
  • Plausible tales create a believable version of reality for the reader.
  • Educational pieces encourage curiosity and further knowledge.
  • Relatable content connects readers with familiar people and places.
  • Memorable stories use humor, inspiration, even shock.

Use Stories to Reveal Lessons
The best leaders share personal stories that inspire and reveal lessons about how they overcame obstacles and achieved success. Richard Branson does this well in his recent Master Class, where he describes his battle with dyslexia which effectively blocked his formal education. He turned this personal setback into a positive learning experience by sharing how his ability to collaborate, delegate, and see the world in a unique way helped build his business empire. The implied lesson to his audience is that your perceived weakness can become a strength, when you adapt a new mindset. Branson’s course is called “Disruptive Entrepreneurship,” which makes his personal story perfectly aligned. This connection is important because now his dyslexia is more than a confession but a source of inspiration.

Get Personal with Customer Stories
Not every story needs to be about yourself or even your team. Your customer’s lives are a great source of inspiration. Get strategic when you share stories that correspond to your customer avatars. Sometimes customers will voluntarily share their story with you, but expect to devote intentional time following up with customers. Use these tips, provided by Forbes’ contributor Stephanie Burns, to collect compelling testimonials and tell better success stories.

  1. Make sure to ask the right questions. Instead of ‘Would you recommend me to a friend or family,’ try asking ‘How is your life better now that we’ve worked together?’
  2. When a client sends an email telling you about their success or posts a rave review online, follow up. Set up a time to ask more questions and gather details for your story.
  3. Don’t wait until the end of the process. Let your audience experience what it’s like to work with you by chronicling the customer journey in real time.

The Takeaway
Telling personal stories can be a great way to humanize your brand and connect with your customers. When you ensure your stories support your business’s goals and connect with your audience, you’ll become known for what makes your business special and attract your ideal clients.