2009-2010 Committee Goals

Administration & Finance

FY ‘09 ‘10:

• Utilize staff to support continued growth within budget guidelines.
• Achieve a 5% increase in non-dues income to $105,134. (Based on EOY of $100,128)
• Grow membership by 5% to 384 (Based on EOY of 366)
• Increase dues income by 5% to $51,042 (Based on EOY of $48,611)
• Identify programs to generate $4000 in annual revenue and/or reduce annual expenses by a compensating amount.
• Evaluate the ability to add short-term disability insurance for full time employees.

FY ‘10 ‘11:

• Implement a procedure to audit HCCC financials annually.
• Define the role of staff within the established committee structures.
• Review the Profitability of all new and current activities to assess viability.
• Evaluate business opportunities with members to decrease expenses.

Business Development

Short- term:
FY ‘09’10:

• Work with local government, HCBI, and JCEL to promote redevelopment.  
• Investigate revenue generating opportunities.  
• Develop a business succession plan.
• Develop a Business Connection. 
• Reach out to the Broad Top and Mount Union Chambers of Commerce to invite to events and work together.
• Do further analysis of the recently completed survey.
• Investigate ways to assist businesses. 

 
FY ‘10’11:

• Partner with others to develop a program to identify and attract specialty businesses & shops.

Long –term:

• Promote new and existing business within the area served by the Huntingdon County Chamber of Commerce.
• Work cooperatively with other organizations in the county with complementary goals.
• Maintain the banner program.
• Network with other Chambers of Commerce.       
• Pursue development of other events
• Continue the regional Buy the Alleghenies partnership. 
• Work in partnership with JCEL, HCB&I and Boomtown on a plan for development of downtown Huntingdon and other communities. 
  
• Annually sponsor a Golf Tournament in cooperation with the Huntingdon County Golf Clubs.
  Assist with developing & transitioning businesses within Juniata College's business incubator.
• Continue partnership on Raystown Lake Region Home & Garden Show.
• Continue development of a marketing strategy for marketing Huntingdon county businesses and services to Raystown Lake visitors.

Main Street Program / Community Improvement

Short-term:
FY 09 – 10 and FY 10 - 11:

1. Manage a façade program in Downtown Huntingdon utilizing available state and federal grant funding. *
2. Cooperate with the Huntingdon County Planning Commission in conducting an annual community improvement award program.
3. Administer a sidewalk grant program in cooperation with Huntingdon Borough. *
4. Seek funding to complete the nomination of a National Register Historic District on Huntingdon Borough’s West End in cooperation with the Huntingdon County Historical Society.
5. Identify downtown properties which are appropriate for economic development and actively work for their improvement. 
6. Rehabilitate the 4th Street welcome sign and garden. 
7. Support development of an engineering feasibility study of the former Huntingdon and Broad Top RR trestle, evaluating its possible use for rail and/or trail. 
8. Investigate making Huntingdon a Preserve America community. 
9. Support the Huntingdon County Historical Society in completing the nomination of a National Register Historic District in Huntingdon Borough’s West End and Oneida Heights.
10. Promote proper methods of adaptive reuse and rehabilitation of historic buildings through distribution of literature, workshops and website.   

Long-term:

1. Support downtown Huntingdon as a Main Street Community, including implementation of the four Main Street principles of organization, economic restructuring, appearance, and promotion.
2. Coordinate the design and maintenance of welcome signs, wayfinding signs and gateway gardens with Huntingdon Borough. *
3. Encourage the implementation of sound land use principles through the development of attractive and sustainable communities. 
4. Support the implementation of the Huntingdon County Comprehensive Plan.
5. Support the development and maintenance of vital, safe and attractive neighborhoods. 
6. Seek funding to complete the nomination of a National Register Historic District for Alexandria Borough in cooperation with the Huntingdon County Historical Society. 
7. Support the planning and development of the Pittsburgh to Harrisburg Greenway.
8. Support the completion of the Smithfield – Huntingdon pedestrian walkway.
9. Cooperate with the Allegheny Ridge Heritage Area in promoting Huntingdon Borough as a Greenway hub. 
10. Support the development of a visitor center in Historic Huntingdon in cooperation with the Huntingdon County Historical Society, Huntingdon County Visitors Bureau and other partners. 

* These goals require significant Chamber staff support; others do not.

Education

Short- term:

FY ‘09’10:

1. Offer educational workshops from at least two of the following areas: personal development skills; group interactive skills; manager/supervisor skills; health awareness and technical skill opportunities.
2. Continue to affect and support the YOU Leadership program.
3. Educate members about information and resources available to help with workforce and workplace improvement efforts.
4. Cooperate with educational institutions, both profit and nonprofit, to support educational opportunities for youth and enhance lifelong learning.
5. Continue the BASICS (Businesses And Schools Investing in Cooperative Solutions) effort.
6. Increase Chamber awareness to students and the public.  
7. Enlarge committee representation by seeking new members from health care.
8. Continue to support the LHC program.
9. Continue to work with the Home & Garden Committee to provide workshops at the   annual H&G event.

FY ‘10’11:

Same as FY ‘09’10

Long-term:
                                   

1. Provide educational opportunities for Chamber members and the community.
2. Work with other committees and organizations on workforce development.
3. Educate members about information and resources available to help with workforce and workplace improvement efforts.
4. Continue efforts to connect education and business by having Chamber presence at local health care & manufacturing partnership meetings.

Government Affairs

Short- term:

FY ‘09’10:

1. Meet with Legislators at Federal, State, County and Borough level to discuss the needs of Chamber members.  
2. Team up with the Hospital to advocate for Health Care.
3. Communicate thru the Daily News Chamber government affairs information.
4. Create a Juniata College or JCEL alliance for local businesses or incubation.
5. Identify a business connection to forward a common goal of the Chamber.   

FY ‘10’11:

1. Do a survey to determine the Chamber Member’s needs.
2. Communicate thru the Daily News Chamber government affairs information.
3. Meet with Legislators at Federal, State, County and Borough level to discuss the needs of Chamber members. 
4. Identify a business connection to forward a common goal of the Chamber.   

Long –term:

1. Communications Process Development:
   a. Communicate legislative initiatives (Federal, State & Local) more effectively
       with Chamber members. 
   b. Serve as liaison between local Chamber members and Pennsylvania Chamber
       of Business & Industry initiatives and advocacy to address member’s needs.
   c. Create a Virtual Advisory Process that will provide feedback via e-mail to the
       Government Affairs Committee on legislation and positions.
   
   
2. Recommend to the appropriate committee, within the Chamber, development of programs about legislation and political issues important to members.

Huntingdon Area Promotions and Activities

Short-term:

FY 2009-2010:
1)  Conduct two public forums per year to keep business owners, managers, professionals and citizens informed of HAPAC activities.
2)  Encourage increased membership and active participation in the Chamber by at least eight (8) through personal targeting of new and existing businesses.
3)  Form a subcommittee to organize Christmas holiday events and promotions.
4)  Form a subcommittee to establish new “Hauntingdon” events and promotions.
5)  Develop a communications plan to stay in contact with all businesses.  (Phase I – Allegheny to Moore Street, from 2nd to 9th Streets)
6)  Begin sales of Huntingdon merchandise on Chamber’s website.

FY 2010-2011:
1)  Update and reprint the Huntingdon County Brochure & Map in conjunction with the Huntingdon County Visitors Bureau and Juniata College.
2)  Continue to develop a communications plan to stay in contact with all businesses.  (Phase II – Washington to Moore Street, from 9th Street to Juniata College)
3)  Examine ways to promote a more positive image in order to gain more active participation from members and non-members alike. 

Long-term:

1)  Conduct business forums in other areas of the county.
2)  Work cooperatively with the Huntingdon County Visitors Bureau to educate visitors and encourage visits to the Huntingdon area.
3)  Work cooperatively with Juniata College to encourage students, staff and visitors to visit the Huntingdon area.
4)  Coordinate efforts with the Boomtown Committee and other partners in the promotion of Huntingdon as a destination.
5)  Promote active business participation in the full calendar of existing community and special events, and assist in strengthening existing events and promotions in Huntingdon.

Loan & Grant Committee

Short- term:

•  Review applications, recommend programs to the Board and Borough, and administer loan and grant programs for the betterment of the downtown.

Membership Committee  

Short-term:

FY ’09 ’10:

• Increase membership by 5% by June 30, 2010, based on membership total as of June 30, 2009
• Reach agreement on appropriate member retention goal and begin to develop action plan to reach goal
• Conduct a study on membership satisfaction and needs with the assistance of a college intern; use results to develop an action plan for adding/enhancing member benefits
• Establish an annual membership luncheon to promote accomplishments/value of the Chamber and recognize leaders and members
• Increase non-dues revenue by 5% by June 30, 2010, based on non-dues revenue total as of June 30, 2009
• Enhance Holiday Party to increase non-dues revenue
• Develop Ambassador point system/rewards program that recognizes devotion to promoting the Chamber
• Recruit at least five new ambassadors
• Expand awareness of Chamber throughout Huntingdon County by researching member totals in various areas of the county and targeting particular communities/areas/business sectors to conduct programs such as Chamber 101. Consider developing a campaign to promote Chamber membership throughout the county.

 FY ’10 ’11:

• Increase membership by 5% by June 30, 2011, based on membership total as of June 30, 2010
• Increase non-dues revenue by 5% by June 30, 2011, based on non-dues revenue total as of June 30, 2010
• Implement specific steps from action plan to add/enhance member benefits
• Implement specific steps from action plan to retain members
• Assess effectiveness of efforts to increase countywide membership and adjust efforts as needed.

 Long-term:

• Increase Chamber membership
• Retain current members
• Increase contribution to non-dues revenue
• Maintain, evaluate and improve member services
• Promote the Chamber
• Target specific areas of the county to increase awareness of the Chamber and encourage a membership that is more representative of the county as a whole

Technology Committee

Short- term:

FY 09 -10:

• Update demographic data on www.huntingdoncounty.net.
• Recognize Chamber members on the website who link back to the Chamber. 
• Add one new member to the Technology Committee. 
• Promote the value of the online membership directory to Chamber Members through news articles and website information. 
• Create and promote a Huntingdon Linkedin Group. 
• Develop at least one program to present new technology information to Chamber Members. 
• Develop and publish a broadband connectivity map for Huntingdon County in cooperation with the Huntingdon County Mapping Department
• Request Chamber members’ link back to the Chamber web site.
• Modify the on-line Chamber Membership Directory to enable better searches via the Internet.  

FY ‘10’11:

• Offer members a web presence through the Chamber site and modify the website to facilitate enhanced business to business communication. 
• Deploy at least one RSS feed on the Chamber Website linking to business information.

Long –term:

• Promote the availability of broad-band technology and the rate of its deployment in the Huntingdon County in cooperation with the Huntingdon Area Information Partnership.
• Support efforts to market the Huntingdon area to technology firms through the Chamber and Chamber partners.  Facilitating the sharing of technology information at the community/local user level.
• Maintain and improve the use of www.huntingdonarea.info as a unified gateway to digital information about Huntingdon County, monitoring web statistics.  . 
• Maintain and improve the use of www. huntingdonchamber.com to promote the goals and activities of the Huntingdon County Chamber of Commerce.
• Request partners link to sections within www.huntingdonarea.info such as statistics, broadband map, and calendar.
• Broaden membership on the Technology Committee. 
• Market www.huntingdonchamber.com as the best place for Huntingdon area business and community information. 
• Encourage members to use the internet to promote and /or sale products and services.