Chamber of Commerce sharing digs once again
The Butler County Chamber of Commerce relocated and will share space inside the Community Development Corporation of Butler County office in Pullman Center Business Park.
It’s a “full circle” collaboration, said Stan Kosciuszko, chamber president. “When I was hired in 2002, the chamber moved in with the CDC on Woody Drive. We were there a year and a half before the CDC needed the space. Then, businessman Bill Morgan offered us the space at Morgan Center, which is now NexTier Center.”
The chamber loved having that Main Street presence, Kosciuszko said, but the new collaboration has its benefits also.
First, both Kosciuszko and CDC executive director Joe Saeler note the two agencies serve different aspects of the same audience — the Butler County business community.
“This is exciting and I’m looking forward to teaming up with the chamber on a lot of initiatives,” Saeler said.
Secondly, Kosciuszko notes the move by way of sharing resources will help the chamber remain in good financial status.
“Our operating revenue comes from events, seminars, training sessions and the two leadership programs,” Kosciuszko said. “Whenever you must cancel services, your budget suffers. This move will stabilize the chamber.”
Until further notice, Kosciuszko is working remotely. Having been hospitalized with COVID-19 for a couple of weeks, he has not yet been cleared to return to the workplace.
He does, however, confer daily with Jordan Grady, chamber executive director, who is at the new office.
Best known for generating in-person networking opportunities, the chamber is switching to a virtual platform for some events in the immediate future.
“It’s going to be a different chamber,” Kosciuszko said. “Everything will be different and the chamber is no exception.”
The group’s first digital gathering was the annual spring Legislative Breakfast, June 5, on Zoom.
“We will see how it looks going into the fall,” Grady said. “We may also hold our Women Shaping Our Region event virtually.”
Other events that do not lend themselves to virtual presentation have been postponed, Grady said. The annual golf outing at Lake Arthur Golf Club has moved to Aug. 27.
A Meet and Move networking event that had been scheduled for May 12 at Olde Stonewall Golf Club in Ellwood City is now set for Aug. 11.
Grady said he anticipates the chamber will continue to find new and innovative ways to partner and initiate activities in and for the business community.
“Butler County has always been resilient and our economic progress is among the top in the region and state,” Grady said. “I’m optimistic we will emerge out of this situation stronger than ever.”
