The Greene County Chamber of Commerce has served the community since its inception in 1901. It was known as the Waynesburg Chamber of Commerce until 2017, when it was renamed to more accurately reflect the region. With a staff of three and a board of nine members, it functions as an accredited chamber through the Pennsylvania Association of Chamber Professionals.
The chamber focuses on assisting member businesses and individuals by promoting services, referrals, networking events, and member-only benefits. The chamber also works on behalf of its members to provide community service projects through programs such as annual scholarships to graduating high school seniors and classroom scholarships to assist teachers with projects that are financially out of reach. In its thirty-plus year history, the student scholarship program has awarded more than $50,000 to Greene County youth to help them continue their education in a two- or four-year college or technical trade program.
The annual Christmas Parade in downtown Waynesburg is the most visible and visible community service project. The parade has taken place on High Street since 1938, with the exception of two years during the pandemic when the state closed state roads to all manner of fairs, festivals, and parades statewide. However, the tradition continued in both years with a “reverse” parade held on the Greene County Fairgrounds. This long-running tradition will return to its original location on High Street in 2022.
The chamber is a member of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry and frequently lends its support to statewide legislative initiatives that will benefit businesses not only locally but also statewide. In September, Alex Halper, vice president of government affairs, attended a legislative breakfast hosted by the chamber, where he discussed current active legislation as well as some recent victories that will benefit business.
The University of Pittsburgh Small Business Development Center is now housed in the chamber office one day per week and staffed by Zach Patton, a management consultant who assists those looking to start a business or needing assistance with an existing business.
The year 2022 also marked a number of notable accomplishments for the chamber. The organization was named one of the top three finalists in the Observer-“Best Reporter’s of the Best” program. During their annual convention in Gettysburg, the Pennsylvania Association of Chamber Professionals honored the chamber’s director with a 30-year industry service award. And, at 16, the chamber remains on the list of the Pittsburgh Business Times’ largest chambers in the nine-county region. This is the 17th year that the chamber has made the list, and it is the highest ranking to date.
Ribbon-cutting ceremonies for new businesses, new or expanded locations, and special projects are frequently held by the chamber. Eleven ribbon cuttings were held in 2022 to celebrate new and expanding businesses.
Source : observer-reporter
