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Schuylkill Chamber Executive Vice President, Samantha M. Chivinski, IOM, named to prestigious ACCE “40 Under 40” List POTTSVILLE, PA – The Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce that Executive Vice President, Samantha ...

The Pennsylvania Association of Chamber Professionals (PACP) recognized their 2025 Chambers of the Year during their Chamber Professionals & Leadership Conference held this week at the Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Seven Springs, PA. 

Pottsville, PA - The Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce is pleased that, for the first time in Pennsylvania’s history, the Commonwealth has established a new, dedicated budget line item to support child care teacher recruitment and retention. With a $25 million investment included in the 2025–2026 state budget, Pennsylvania now joins 18 other states that are taking meaningful action to strengthen the early childhood education workforce.

• Why it matters: In a tight hiring market, top candidates disappear fast... sometimes within days. Small businesses can win by acting quickly and tapping into local networks.

• The advantage: Local employers can decide faster, offer flexibility, and connect with candidates on a personal level.

• How to do it: Post jobs where your community gathers, partner with schools, and reward employee referrals.

• Don’t stop at hiring: Recognize contributions, offer skill growth, and create a workplace people want to stay in.

• The bottom line: Speed + relationships = a strong, loyal team in any labor market.

Contact: Tony Merchlinsky

                570-622-1942

                amerchlinsky@schuylkillchamber.com

Welcome to our new chair, Savas Logothetides!

The Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce is proud to celebrate the Schuylkill Leadership Class of 2025, an inspiring group of professionals selected for their potential to shape the future of our region.

• Surface-level connections are easy; strategic alliances take intention and trust

• Real growth happens when relationships move beyond business card exchanges to shared outcomes.

• Leaders must invest time and purpose in building alliances that yield mutual value.

• Shift your networking mindset: think long-term, collaborate often, and build with integrity.

• Strategic alliances create doors, not just introductions.

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Many of our members have shared with us how the lack of accessible child care options in Schuylkill County impact talent recruitment, hiring efforts and ability to retain your work workforce. Parents who want to work are on waiting lists that range ...

SUMMARY

• Email marketing remains a crucial tool for businesses due to its direct reach to subscribers, bypassing algorithms of social platforms.
• Businesses should focus on nurturing relationships through emails by providing value-added content, including insider tips, trending news, and solutions to customer problems.
• Pairing email marketing with regular website content updates can increase traffic significantly. 

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On a bipartisan vote (113-90) in the PA House, a bill to recruit and retain child care teachers passed. The Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce is proud to stand with over 70 chambers of commerce and economic development organizations across ...

Local speakers will joined TRIP at a virtual news conference to highlight findings from a new report that examines pavement and bridge conditions, traffic safety and funding needs on Pennsylvania's system of local roads and bridges.

POTTSVILLE, PA – The Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce proudly celebrated the outstanding achievements of three local students who competed in the 2025 Pennsylvania State Finals of the National Civics Bee®, held Friday, June 13 at Penn State ...

No child care teachers, no work: PA must invest to stop economic bleeding Pennsylvania’s child care teachers are the workforce behind the workforce. When they are in the classroom, parents can go to work with confidence, knowing that their ...

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, Pa., May 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Local chambers of commerce from across Pennsylvania, including the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, submitted a letter to state lawmakers urging them to address Pennsylvania's historic child care ...

HERSHEY, PA – Since 2011, the Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children (PennAEYC) has honored individuals and organization whose work has impacted the quality of care for young children in diverse settings.

The 2025 event recognized four individuals and the Chamber for their work that has impacted the quality of care for young children in diverse settings. Its annual Voice for Children Celebration gala celebrated the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce as the VOICE for Children Vision awardee.

The Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce and its Board of Directors has issued a letter to Penn State University leadership, including the president, vp for commonwealth campuses & executive chancellor, senior vp & chief of staff, and interim executive vice president & provost. The letter expresses deep concern for the potential closure of Penn State Schuylkill, and urges strong consideration for the continuation of operations of Penn State Schuylkill. 

Customers expect businesses to prioritize their needs, and those that do see stronger loyalty and growth. A customer-first mindset doesn’t require big budgets—just smart, intentional strategies. Here’s how:

• Personalize Every Interaction – Use simple tools to track preferences and offer relevant experiences.

• Deliver Seamless, Empathetic Service – Make customer support easy, responsive, and thoughtful.

• Engage Proactively – Anticipate needs and check in before issues arise.

• Build Community & Relationships – Go beyond transactions by supporting local causes and fostering connections.

• Listen, Adapt & Improve – Gather feedback and refine offerings, just like top brands do.

Small steps make a big impact. Prioritizing customer experience helps businesses of any size outperform competitors. Ready to strengthen loyalty? Let’s dive in.

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SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, Pa. — Joseph Squillace, assistant teaching professor of cybersecurity at Penn State Schuylkill, has been named the 2024-25 Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) Statewide Faculty Member of the Year.

Hawk Mountain Council (HMC) announces an agreement to protect much of its undeveloped camp property by placing a conservation easement on its 670-acre property located in Schuylkill County.

HARRISBURG — The Center for Rural Pennsylvania Board of Directors, alongside the Pennsylvania Rural Population Revitalization Commission, held an inaugural press conference at the Erie Crossroads Conference Center at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg.

Fromm, a leading independent electrical distributor in the Mid-Atlantic region since 1923, announced the appointment of Chris Kline as General Manager of FrommConnect LLC, a subsidiary specializing in design, fabrication and labor-saving solutions and services for manufacturers and electrical contractors.

For the past 15 years, The White Pear has been a beacon of beauty, elegance, and creativity in Schuylkill Haven.

On Friday, January 24, 2025, the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce joined the Friendship Hose Company No. 1 (Orwigsburg Fire Department) in launching their $6 million capital campaign to fund a new fire station.

Guardian Bikes, founded by Brian Riley, is dedicated to enhancing children's bicycle safety through innovative braking systems

POTTSVILLE, PA - Today, the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Robert S. Carl, Jr. made the following statement regarding Governor Shapiro’s 2025-26 State Budget Proposal.

“On behalf of the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, and the 59 other local chambers and economic development organizations in our child care coalition, we are deeply grateful to Governor Shapiro for addressing the child care teacher crisis by including $55 million in the 2025-26 budget proposal to provide funds to licensed child care providers for teacher recruitment and retention. By addressing the teacher shortage, we can keep high-quality child care centers open, enable parents who want to work rejoin the workforce, and support employers in retaining their staff and building their talent pipelines.” 

The 2025 Pennsylvania Farm Show was a fantastic showcase of Schuylkill County’s agricultural excellence, with many Chamber members participating and earning top honors!

AI tools are revolutionizing small businesses by boosting efficiency, automating repetitive tasks, and enhancing customer engagement. Start by identifying bottlenecks in operations or customer experience, then explore AI tools tailored to your needs. Begin small with solutions like chatbots for customer support or AI-powered scheduling tools to save time and resources.

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The Growth Factor - Episode: 60 Strong YouTube - Episode - 60 Strong FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce Contact: Samantha Chivinski Phone: 570-622-1942 Email: schivinski@schuylkillchamber.com Growing coalition of 60 ...