Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce Participates in Annual Chamber Day
With businesses across the Commonwealth continuing to struggle as the economy re-opens, more than 35 local chambers from across the state joined with the PA Chamber for the 2021 Chamber Day. The annual event, which is co-hosted by the PA Chamber of Business and Industry and the Pennsylvania Association of Chamber Professionals, provides a forum for constructive dialogue between local chamber officials and state policymakers on issues important to the state’s business community.
“State government has never had more of an impact on business operations than over the past fifteen months,” said Fred Gaffney, Chamber President and chair of the Chamber Day Committee. “We were glad to provide members the opportunity to hear from legislators and the Governor about the issues we’re working on. Clearly, Governor Wolf needs to hear directly from the business community about the challenges employers are facing.”
In a departure from past Chamber Days, this year’s event was held virtually. Over the course of two days, participants met with several state elected officials, including: Governor Tom Wolf; Senate Majority Whip John Gordner, R-Columbia; House Majority Whip Donna Oberlander, R-Clarion; Senate Majority Caucus Secretary and Prioritize PA leader Sen. Ryan Aument, R-Lancaster; House Majority Caucus Chair George Dunbar, R-Westmoreland; House Democratic Transportation Committee Chair Mike Carroll, D-Luzerne; Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Chair Gene Yaw, R-Bradford; House Economic Recovery Task Force Leader Rep. Aaron Kaufer, R-Luzerne; and Rep. Pam Snyder, D-Greene. Panel discussions also included representatives from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Pennsylvania’s Independent Fiscal Office and the Associated Pennsylvania Constructors.
The event featured policy discussions on a variety of critical topics, including: the upcoming 2021-22 state budget; Pennsylvania’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic; transportation funding and energy policy on both the state and federal level.