Chamber Press Room

President’s Message: A Breakout Year? Elementary, My Dear Chamber One of the things I love about Sherlock Holmes is his uncanny ability to predict the future – not by some supernatural power or mystic charm, but by his acute observation of the reality around him and the deductions that he makes from careful interpretation of…

President’s Message: Members in a Holding Pattern on Tariffs   by Chris Berleth, President, Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce Last week, the Columbia Montour Chamber polled its members to aid federal officials in understanding the real-time impact of tariffs and trade policy on local businesses in Columbia and Montour Counties.  Below, you’ll find the results…

President’s Message: Travel with Your Chamber In our recent Chamber member survey, we asked, “What’s your favorite part of your Chamber membership?” The answer was overwhelmingly one-sided: respondents said, “Naisc ghnó”. Well, sort of. “Naisc ghnó” is the Irish-gaelic translation of the answer we got, which is “connections”, and now you’re probably wondering, “Chris, why…

Financial Literacy in the Susquehanna Valley: Empowering Students Through Real-World Learning The Foundation of the Columbia Montour Chamber is proud to partner with Journey Bank to launch Financial Literacy in the Susquehanna Valley, a new program designed to equip students with essential personal finance skills. This initiative reflects a shared commitment to preparing the next…

Strengthening Connections: Monthly Presence in Our Communities Chris often says, “If you have seen one chamber, you have seen one chamber.” That sentiment continues to inspire my approach to member engagement. When I joined the Chamber as Director of Member Engagement, I set out to truly see and understand our Chamber by personally meeting with…

President’s Message: Happy Philanthropy Day! Longtime Chamber member and Chair of the Community Giving Foundation Board, Harry Mathias has a friendly bone to pick with Waze, the GPS navigation system that regularly brings commuters to their desired destinations. (Truth be told, after hearing Harry speak about it at this morning’s Community Giving Foundation Annual Meeting,…

President’s Message: Empowering Your Community Through PA Tax Credit Programs At the Chamber, we take pride in helping members find great resources. We love it even more, though, when we can connect members to resources that help them grow their business AND help the community.  Today, I’m pleased to remind you about two powerful financial…

Columbia Montour Chamber Supports Permanent Extension of 2017 Tax Cuts The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce is joining business organizations across the country in advocating for the permanent extension of key provisions from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). The Chamber, aligning with nearly 500 business groups led by the U.S. Chamber of…

Organizations and Individuals Recognized at Annual Awards Ceremony Member businesses and individuals of The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce were recognized during the organization’s Annual Awards Ceremony, sponsored by PPL Electric Utilities, on Wednesday, February 27, 2025, at the Frosty Valley Resort in Danville. Approximately 250 guests attended the evening event, which celebrated outstanding member…

The 2025 Small Business Landscape Source: U.S. Chamber of Commerce In 2025, small businesses will face a mix of opportunities and challenges in the evolving economic landscape of the United States. While the economy continues to grow, inflation and regulatory uncertainty remain key concerns for business owners nationwide. In this CO— Small Business Update, Neil…