Accomplishments

PACP Recognizes New Accredited Chamber

One of the most prestigious programs of the Pennsylvania Association of Chamber Professionals (PACP) is the PACP Accredited Chamber Program. The program sets standards of excellence for chambers in Pennsylvania. The program follows the U.S. Chamber model, and it shows that a chamber has gone through a detailed analysis of what and where they are as an organization.

The PACP Accredited Chamber Program is designed to establish a standard of organizational competency and an objective set of criteria for assessment. The achievement of standards by PACP members as determined by an examining committee will be awarded with Accreditation credentials.

The association recognized its first PACP Accredited Chamber at the Awards Ceremony of the 2018 PACP Chamber Professionals & Leadership Conference held October 18 at the Mountain Valley Banquet Venue in Barnesville, PA.

PACP was pleased to honor the Greene County Chamber of Commerce as the association’s first PACP Accredited Chamber.

Waynesburg Area Chamber of Commerce becomes the Greene County Chamber of Commerce

Chamber President, Jeff McCracken and Executive Director, Melody Longstreth display the new Greene County Chamber logo

After more than 75 years of serving its member businesses in Greene County, the Waynesburg Area Chamber of Commerce officially became the Greene County Chamber of Commerce on July 1, 2017. The new name better represents the Chamber’s longtime service area and its current membership base. The Chamber Board of Directors approved the change to the by–laws reflecting the new name of the organization at its April 2017 meeting.

“We have been serving the entire county for many years, and the new name will simply reflect what we currently do,” said Chamber Executive Director Melody Longstreth. “The idea has been discussed for quite some time and is expected to bring more growth to our organization, which in turn will enable us to offer additional valued-added services and benefits to our members and the county.”

As the Greene County Chamber of Commerce, the organization will continue to provide services and programs to increase the success of member businesses and organizations, enhancing the quality of life in Greene County. It will remain a politically neutral, enthusiastic resource to its members and the community at large. The goals of the organization are to:
– Represent member businesses, agricultural, professional, industrial, educational, and community interests that
enhance economic and civic wellbeing.
– Promote business development in conjunction with other appropriate entities through coordination, not
duplication, of efforts.
– Provide value-added programs and benefits to promote membership and to help members achieve success.
– Maintain a positive, productive alliance with other Chambers.

EQT partnered with the Chamber to design and create a new membership plaque featuring the new name and logo. The Chamber appreciates the support of its member businesses and organizations and is very excited for this change.The goal will be to continue to serve Greene County area businesses and communities just as it has in the past.

In an effort to make the Chamber office more easily accessible to it’s members and the community at large, the Chamber moved it’s offices to the Morrisville Plaza located at 3157 Mt. Morris Road, Suite #103 in Waynesburg at the end of August, 2017. The office is open daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Thank you to our grand opening celebration sponsors!

Hoy’s Construction
Xtreme Services
First National Bank of PA

October 2018 Chamber of Commerce Month

Greene County Commissioners present the Greene County Chamber of Commerce with a proclamation naming October as “Chamber Month” in Greene County.

L-R Commissioner Dave Coder, GCCC Membership Services Coordinator Michelle King, GCCC Executive Director Melody Longstreth, GCCC Board President Sheila Stewart, Greene County Commissioner Blair Zimmerman, GCCC Administrative Assistant Eleanor Chapman and Greene County Commissioner Archie Trader.

The Greene County Commissioners proclaimed the month of October 2018 as Chamber of Commerce Month.  The proclamation recognizes that local business is integral to the growth and longevity of a community.  The Chamber works to further its mission to continue to make Greene County a better place to live and work.

Greene County Chamber ranks 19th largest in the Pittsburgh Region

2017 Rankings from the Pittsburgh Business Times were released this week showing the Greene County Chamber of Commerce at the 19th position. The rankings are based on the number of members within a Chamber. Greene County came in at number 19 with a total of 356 members.

The Greene County Chamber debuted on the list for the first time in 2005 with 303 members and a 24th place ranking. The Chamber has remained on the top 25 list since that time.

The Greene County Chamber, founded in the early 1900’s is located at 3157 Mt. Morris Road. Its mission is to provide services and programs that will increase the success of member businesses and organizations and enhance the economy and quality of life in the Waynesburg Area. The Chamber will remain a politically unbiased and enthusiastic resource to our members and the community at large. The Chamber promotes members through referrals, advertising and web page listings and offers health care, commercial insurance, notary service and many other member benefits. Community project include the Distinguished Service Awards, Professional Administrative Assistant Day Luncheon, the Christmas Parade, the Women in Business Breakfast, Chamber After Hours Series, Educational Series, and the Educational Fund Scholarships and much more.

• Received the Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce Executives (PCCE) Approved Pennsylvania Chamber recognition by operating at quality standards set forth by PCCE.

In recognition of the Waynesburg Area Chamber of Commerce’s commitment to the chamber profession, its members and the local community the Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce Executives (PCCE) will be presenting the Waynesburg Chamber with their Approved Pennsylvania Chamber recognition at the Chamber’s Annual Membership Banquet on November 13th. PCCE is committed to building the Chamber of Commerce image throughout Pennsylvania. To that end, PCCE has adopted a set of quality standards for local Chambers of Commerce in Pennsylvania to meet in order to receive the designation of an “Approved Pennsylvania Chamber.”

The standards established to gain recognition as an “Approved Pennsylvania Chamber”
are organized in specific areas, and represent organizational requirements that will support the continuing development of the chamber of commerce profession. Chambers applying for approved status must complete an application and submit documentation in the following six (6) areas: Organization; Service Intent & Capacity; Professional Administration; Financial Management; Marketing/Public Relations and; Government Affairs.

Rob Fulton, President of PCCE, noted that across Pennsylvania local chambers represent no less than 250,000 businesses and individuals. He said, “Chambers provide local leadership to promote free enterprise and economic development. We want to take this opportunity to thank the Waynesburg Area Chamber for working with the local business community to make a difference.”

• Assisted in the creation of a tax abatement program for commercial and residential construction.

• Has ranked in the Top 25 Largest Chambers in Southwestern Penna., a nine-county region, by the Pittsburgh Business Times annually since 2004.

• Maintains an Educational Scholarship Fund. An award of $1,500 is given yearly to a Greene County Student meeting certain criteria for the scholarship.

• Founded “Waynesburg Prosperous and Beautiful, Inc.”, which began as the Downtown Revitalization Committee to develop a plan to strengthen the economic and historic aspects of the downtown area in conjunction with the National Main Street USA Program.

• Provides students from the Greene County Career and Technology Center, Waynesburg Central High School and Waynesburg University with a hands-on training program in-office procedures and public relations.

• Offers training and informational speakers on topics important to our members.

• Provides newcomers, tourists, and businesses researchers with valuable information, maps, demographics, referrals and brochures relating to the Waynesburg area and county-wide.

• Has maintained a membership of 350 or more members since 2003.

• Acts as a brochure distribution point for the Greene County Tourist Promotion Agency. Publishes a full color community profile of Waynesburg and the immediate surrounding area.

• Holds community events to foster good will and desire to build a better business climate and a better community in which to live such as the annual Downtown Waynesburg Christmas Parade.

• Performs as the “front door” to the community by answering hundreds of requests for information from our local population, as well as requests received throughout the county.

• In 1996 the Chamber held “A Day of Celebration” in honor the county’s Bicentennial Year. In 2002 the Chamber contributed towards the renovation of the original Log County Courthouse.

• Founded “Rain Day Scholarship, Inc.” to oversee the Miss Rain Day Scholarship Pageant. The pageant, which began in 1978, is open to young ladies age 14 to 18 that reside in Greene County. The contestants take part in many good will and charitable activities during June and July. The pageant provides a “talent revue” for the community, attracting spectators from Greene and surrounding counties.

• Received a 501 (c) (6) status from the Internal Revenue Service and received the “Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce Approved Chamber Status” in November of 2004 which indicates that a Chamber is operating within the guidelines expected by the Pennsylvania State Chamber of Commerce.