'Tis the Season...

​In the spirit of the season, we’ve been counting our blessings.

First off, 2017 has been a banner year for Upper Bucks Chamber of Commerce. We believe 2018 holds promise to be an even bigger and better year for the Upper Bucks communities we serve.

In this season of giving, we’d like to share some of the things we’ve received as the area’s professional business community organization.

“I’m grateful to our members for the growth in participating in the Just One campaign,” said UBCC Board President Jason Wehrung. Wehrung said new ideas have been shared, which help guide the chamber’s direction and success.

“I’m also grateful for the many friends and business associates I have met and used (for professional support) this past year,” Wehrung said.

We’re grateful for involvement - of time, talent and treasure- by the scores of members who regularly and consistently carry our mission forward.

In this season of wonder, we’re grateful you believe in us.

From those business owners who host chamber mixers to the volunteers who sit on committees – all on their own time – to those involved with growing our membership, a humble and heartfelt thank you. We’re grateful for your support.

Our 2018 focused Upper Bucks County business directory and community profile is set to deliver fresh off the presses in mid-January. It promises to be our best directory ever! The directory sets sail with cover art from Quakertown’s own Fine Artist and 2017 member Jim Lukens, and we hit a record advertising revenue marker that can only grow. Thanks to our advertisers and supporters - we couldn’t do this good work without you.

Partnering with the business community is our stock-in-trade, and we want to listen.

“Tell us your business challenges. Help us gain insights into your needs, so we can better serve you. We want to know your stories,” said Tara King, UBCC Executive Director.

When area manufacturers and skilled trades employers came to the chamber earlier this year with concerns about a hiring shortage, we responded.

What began with those casual conversations is now an Upper Bucks Skilled Workforce Initiative partnership between the chamber, Bucks County Community College and Upper Bucks County Technical School.

Coupled with newly launched training programs available at the technical school, we’re poised to energize area manufacturing by attracting and retaining the next wave of qualified workers.

We’re grateful for partnerships - large and small, formal and informal - because relationships build partnerships. “We’re grateful when a member tells someone new, and that new person becomes a member,” King said, a hallmark of the Just One campaign.

New in 2017, the Just One initiative’s ambitious goal is to grow UBCC to 1,000 members, while maintaining our close-knit “everyone knows your name” mission.

“There is strength in numbers, and there is clout. We can connect with bigger agencies, for advocacy and for change. As a bigger voice, we can get better buying power for our members – for health care and other essentials our businesses need,” King said.

And with a larger voice, UBCC can attract even bigger players – from Fortune 200 companies to state and federal legislators like Bob Casey Jr. and Brian Fitzpatrick (both were 2017 legislative breakfast speakers) to come to the table and lend their support to all our businesses – large and small – with a 2018 goal of smart, stable growth and meaningful success.