Signature Events & Programs
Chamber programs address the organization's mission of informing and educating the business community on current and future business trends and challenges.
Annual Meeting allows The Chamber to reflect on the accomplishments of the previous year, announce goals for the remaining 11 months, and includes the official swearing-in of the incoming Board of Directors of The Chamber and The Chamber Foundation. It also features the presentation of the ATHENA Award, the Small Business Person of the Year Award, Donna D. Gority Servant Leadership Award, George Award, and the Joseph P. Rosenhamber Chamber Spirit Award.
BASICS is an acronym for Businesses and Schools Investing in Cooperative Solutions. This nationally recognized program brings the business and education communities closer together on issues that affect young people. To access the BASICS website, click here.
BASICS Subcommittee on Early Childhood Education was formed as part of an effort by The Chamber to address challenges and opportunities associated with the youngest members of Blair County's future workforce. The subcommittee focuses its efforts on helping to connect early-education providers with those families that are most in need of their services.
Blair County Home Garden & Healthy Living Show is a collaborative effort between The Chamber and the Blair-Bedford Builders Association. As the longest running home show in Central Pennsylvania, the Home Garden & Healthy Living Show offers a wide variety of products and services from more than 130 exhibitors. The show continues to draw more than 4,000 attendees each year.
Breakfast Club is a monthly opportunity to welcome new Chamber Members, network, and enjoy a brief educational and informative presentation on issues facing Blair County's business community.
Business After Hours continues to be The Chamber's premier networking event. Chamber Members host these monthly events at their businesses to encourage networking in an informal atmosphere complemented by food and beverages.
Business Before Hours was developed by The Chamber's Retail Roundtable. This Chamber program encourages early moring networking as members visit host companies to learn more about those companies and take advantage of special discounts.
Business Excellence Dinner is designed to call attention to the importance of outstanding achievement within the business community over an extended period of time.
Buy Here. Live Here. is The Chamber's county-wide effort to encourage local purchasing of products and services. The program is directed to both businesses and consumers and strives to create greater awareness of the benefits of keeping dollars circulating through avenues of local commerce.
Chamber Golf Classic is a day of networking for the serious and not-so-serious golfers. This event, held in May, offers a day of fun and competition on the links.
Committee of Non-Profit Businesses addresses the challenges and opportunities of non-profit organizations in the county. The committee also maintains subcommittees dealing with advocacy and marketing. The committee undertakes a strong advocacy role on behalf of non-profits and works to educate the community on the impact of those non-profits.
Farm-City Dinner is an annual event recognizing the vital role agribusinesses play in Blair County's economy. The dinner, held each fall, features the presentation of the Agricultural Community Excellence (ACE) Award.
Leadership Blair County Adult prepares members of the community to embrace the often-elusive aspect of “servant leadership.” The class is limited to 24 members annually.
LBC Adult Alumni is a program for graduates of the Chamber's Leadership Blair County (LBC) Adult program to continue their Servant Leadership journey through their support of Leadership Blair County Alumni projects, as well as, personally volunteering for boards and organizations that have touched their hearts.
Leadership Blair County Youth is specifically designed for the development of servant leadership in youth from eight Blair County schools. Like the Leadership Blair County Adult program, LBCY is limited to 24 members annually.
Lunch 'n' Learn allows the Chamber to offer educational programming at a time of day that accommodates business people whose work schedules free-up around the noon-time hour.
Presidents' Forum is The Chamber's formalized networking program for upper management executives who meet specific business qualifications. Forum groups consist of eight participants from diverse businesses who meet each month to discuss all factors that influence the ability to effectively do business.
Safety Programs are held monthly, focusing on regulatory compliance, disaster prevention, and, periodically, human-resource issues that involve health or safety.
WE-LEaD Spring Workshop is an educational workshop held annually in the spring by the WE-LEaD (Women Encouraging Leadership, Education, and Development) Committee. A nationally recognized speaker provides educational training to attendees who also have the opportunity to visit exhibits prior to the workshop and enjoy a networking luncheon at the conclusion.
Young Professionals of Blair County is an innovative program of The Chamber designed as a platform for young professionals. It provides networking, educational, recreational, and social activities focusing on professional and personal development. Members also participate in many community-service projects.
REGIONAL PROGRAMS
Regional Leadership is a collaborative effort by five chambers of commerce located within the Alleghenies region to identify challenges and opportunities associated with regional development. The basis for the effort is a full-day workshop involving the Leadership classes of the five chambers. The Blair County Chamber has participated in the program since its inception in 2004.
Regional BASICS is a collaborative effort by four chambers of commerce located within the Alleghenies region to identify ways that the business and education communities can better meet the needs of students as they undertake career exploration. BASICS — Businesses And Schools Investing in Cooperative Solutions — was started by the Blair County Chamber in 1994.
Tri-Agency Coalition is a coalition consisting of the Blair County Chamber, the Altoona-Blair County Development Corporation, and Explore Altoona with a goal of undertaking community-based projects that none of the three organizations could realistically accomplish alone.
Annual Meeting allows The Chamber to reflect on the accomplishments of the previous year, announce goals for the remaining 11 months, and includes the official swearing-in of the incoming Board of Directors of The Chamber and The Chamber Foundation. It also features the presentation of the ATHENA Award, the Small Business Person of the Year Award, Donna D. Gority Servant Leadership Award, George Award, and the Joseph P. Rosenhamber Chamber Spirit Award.
BASICS is an acronym for Businesses and Schools Investing in Cooperative Solutions. This nationally recognized program brings the business and education communities closer together on issues that affect young people. To access the BASICS website, click here.
BASICS Subcommittee on Early Childhood Education was formed as part of an effort by The Chamber to address challenges and opportunities associated with the youngest members of Blair County's future workforce. The subcommittee focuses its efforts on helping to connect early-education providers with those families that are most in need of their services.
Blair County Home Garden & Healthy Living Show is a collaborative effort between The Chamber and the Blair-Bedford Builders Association. As the longest running home show in Central Pennsylvania, the Home Garden & Healthy Living Show offers a wide variety of products and services from more than 130 exhibitors. The show continues to draw more than 4,000 attendees each year.
Breakfast Club is a monthly opportunity to welcome new Chamber Members, network, and enjoy a brief educational and informative presentation on issues facing Blair County's business community.
Business After Hours continues to be The Chamber's premier networking event. Chamber Members host these monthly events at their businesses to encourage networking in an informal atmosphere complemented by food and beverages.
Business Before Hours was developed by The Chamber's Retail Roundtable. This Chamber program encourages early moring networking as members visit host companies to learn more about those companies and take advantage of special discounts.
Business Excellence Dinner is designed to call attention to the importance of outstanding achievement within the business community over an extended period of time.
Buy Here. Live Here. is The Chamber's county-wide effort to encourage local purchasing of products and services. The program is directed to both businesses and consumers and strives to create greater awareness of the benefits of keeping dollars circulating through avenues of local commerce.
Chamber Golf Classic is a day of networking for the serious and not-so-serious golfers. This event, held in May, offers a day of fun and competition on the links.
Committee of Non-Profit Businesses addresses the challenges and opportunities of non-profit organizations in the county. The committee also maintains subcommittees dealing with advocacy and marketing. The committee undertakes a strong advocacy role on behalf of non-profits and works to educate the community on the impact of those non-profits.
Farm-City Dinner is an annual event recognizing the vital role agribusinesses play in Blair County's economy. The dinner, held each fall, features the presentation of the Agricultural Community Excellence (ACE) Award.
Leadership Blair County Adult prepares members of the community to embrace the often-elusive aspect of “servant leadership.” The class is limited to 24 members annually.
LBC Adult Alumni is a program for graduates of the Chamber's Leadership Blair County (LBC) Adult program to continue their Servant Leadership journey through their support of Leadership Blair County Alumni projects, as well as, personally volunteering for boards and organizations that have touched their hearts.
Leadership Blair County Youth is specifically designed for the development of servant leadership in youth from eight Blair County schools. Like the Leadership Blair County Adult program, LBCY is limited to 24 members annually.
Lunch 'n' Learn allows the Chamber to offer educational programming at a time of day that accommodates business people whose work schedules free-up around the noon-time hour.
Presidents' Forum is The Chamber's formalized networking program for upper management executives who meet specific business qualifications. Forum groups consist of eight participants from diverse businesses who meet each month to discuss all factors that influence the ability to effectively do business.
Safety Programs are held monthly, focusing on regulatory compliance, disaster prevention, and, periodically, human-resource issues that involve health or safety.
WE-LEaD Spring Workshop is an educational workshop held annually in the spring by the WE-LEaD (Women Encouraging Leadership, Education, and Development) Committee. A nationally recognized speaker provides educational training to attendees who also have the opportunity to visit exhibits prior to the workshop and enjoy a networking luncheon at the conclusion.
Young Professionals of Blair County is an innovative program of The Chamber designed as a platform for young professionals. It provides networking, educational, recreational, and social activities focusing on professional and personal development. Members also participate in many community-service projects.
REGIONAL PROGRAMS
Regional Leadership is a collaborative effort by five chambers of commerce located within the Alleghenies region to identify challenges and opportunities associated with regional development. The basis for the effort is a full-day workshop involving the Leadership classes of the five chambers. The Blair County Chamber has participated in the program since its inception in 2004.
Regional BASICS is a collaborative effort by four chambers of commerce located within the Alleghenies region to identify ways that the business and education communities can better meet the needs of students as they undertake career exploration. BASICS — Businesses And Schools Investing in Cooperative Solutions — was started by the Blair County Chamber in 1994.
Tri-Agency Coalition is a coalition consisting of the Blair County Chamber, the Altoona-Blair County Development Corporation, and Explore Altoona with a goal of undertaking community-based projects that none of the three organizations could realistically accomplish alone.
