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

Melody, Longstreth, Executive Director receiving the "Approved Chamber Status" from Pennsylvania Chamber Executives President, Rob Fulton

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 in 2004 and 2005.

• Maintains an Educational Scholarship Fund. An award of $1,500 is given yearly to a Greene County Student meeting certain criteria for consideration for the scholarship. In 2005, the amount was increased to $2,500 in honor of the 15th Annual Scholarship presentation.

• 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 Vo-Tech School, Waynesburg Central High School, Waynesburg University, Greene County Job Training Agency, California University of Pennsylvania and Carlow College 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 300 members since 2003.

• Acts as a brochure distribution point for the Greene County Tourist Promotion Agency. In 2001 the Chamber published 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 thousands 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 State Chamber.