Bradford Regional Strategy

is the process of hammering out a development plan for Bradford and the surrounding area. In addition to the 100 local residents involved on committees, the consultants invite public input via their web site.

So far, topics for discussion include Bradford’s strengths and weaknesses. Read the information directly from the researchers and consultants. You can read the minutes of each interview session as they talked to local students, township commissioners, realtors, and others. Voice your opinion. Give your two cents about the direction Bradford should take, or how to get where we need to go.

The web site has an in-depth analysis of economic data for McKean County and the 8 counties immediately surrounding it. The study compares local and regional data with national and state averages. It identifies what we have, what we’re short on, and what we’re totally missing to grow now and in the future.

The analysis itself is interesting, and breaks the economic picture into several views. Almost 50% of the region’s economic output is from manufacturing. In McKean County, Forest, wood, and wood related products provide 1,174 jobs. Healthcare and healthcare related industries provide 1,866 jobs in the county.

You can also read some ideas on the subject here.

From their “About Us” page:

The Master Planning Process:

1 - All three municipalities - The City of Bradford, Bradford Township and Foster Township - have agreed to participate in and support this effort.

2 - There are four main committees made up of nearly 100 involved residents:

- Steering Committee

- Downtown Strategy and Regional Business Subcommittee

- Zoning Subcommittee

- Economic Development Subcommittee

3 - There are plans to hold at least two Town Meetings during the process that will be open to the public. Ideas will be presented and input will be solicited from community members.

4 - The planning team will be meeting with government officials not specifically sitting on plan committees during the process to keep them informed.

5 - The planning team make-up:

MacLachlan, Cornelius & Filoni Architects - Albert Filoni, Kenneth Lee, Amy Maceyko

Impact Economics - Simon Tripp

Zoning/Planning - Roberta Sarraf, AICP

6 - Meeting minutes, reports and other documents will be posted to this website throughout the process for public consumption and comment over the course of the next year.

The Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce will hold a premier Business After Hours on Thursday, November 8th from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The event is sponsored by The Main Street Mercantile and will be held at The Main Street Mercantile at 96 Main Street.

Business After Hours gives the business community an opportunity to network, share current activities, new products, and to advertise in a relaxed, social setting. The Main Street Mercantile provides area businesses and merchants a place to display and collectively showcase their products and services.

The event is open to employees of area businesses and organizations. Refreshments and giveaways are included. Future Business After Hours programs will be held every other month. There is no charge to attend. The BACC membership committee is committed to present quality opportunities for regional business and service organizations. Business After Hours programs are offered by many chambers in the region and throughout the state with business owners finding value in their participation.

For more information contact:

Rebecca Plummer

Events Coordinator
Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce

814-368-7115 x 104

Celebrating 125 years of service to the Bradford area

Pennsylvania State Representative Martin Causer Joins in Fight to Pass a New Fair Share Act

There was a lot of fun, and a lot of good deals, at the Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2007 Auction, held at the Masonic Hall on South Avenue. According to Diane Sheely, the Chamber’s Executive Director, about 140 people attended the Tuesday evening event.

In addition to the traditional auction, there were silent auctions, and a balloon raffle. Auction items and prizes were donated by local businesses, giving bidders a chance to get some very unique items. A unique knife from W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery, and a unique lighter from Zippo that included the manufacturing die, so another one can never be made, were included.

The Chamber’s annual auction is not just a sale, but rather, an event. The buffet was stocked with dishes from several local caterers, and refreshments included a cash bar. While it was too early to provide an exact total of the proceeds, Sheely did say this year’s auction was the best in recent years.

The Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce offices will close Wednesday, October 24 to prepare for the 15th annual public auction. Normal business hours will resume Thursday, October 25 at 11:30 am.

The Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce annual public auction on October 24th is a well-known community event for local businesses, organizations, and the public to meet. The Masonic Center, located in Bradford at 625 South Avenue, off US 219 Owens Way exit, is hosting this year’s auction.

Over 400 donations are received from the more than 100 organizations, businesses, and individuals supporting the event. Regional merchants, retailers, service providers, and professionals have found the event an excellent way to promote or introduce their business to potential new customers. Attendees find several products and services, such as dinners, entertainment, tickets, clothing, beverages, personal products, house wares, gardening, pet products, weekend outings, artwork, and sporting goods to meet their needs. A silent auction of exciting yet affordable items, bucket drawings, and a door prize drawing occur before the closing bell.

New this year is the balloon bouquet. Fifty (50) balloons, each containing a number corresponding to a prize with a value between $10 and $100, will be sold for $10 each.

The auction, held in October, which is Pennsylvania’s designated Chamber of Commerce Month, is the Chamber’s primary fundraiser.

The doors open to the public at 5:00 pm, with the music of two local artists, “Jazzabilly”, starting off the evening. At 6:00 pm, honorary auctioneer and longtime community supporter, H.L. “Woody” Woodruff, gets the bidders rolling, with many other guest auctioneers to entertain the crowd all evening. The casual atmosphere, complimented by hearty hors d’oeuvres, decadent desserts, beverages, a cash bar, and community camaraderie keep the evening fun and relaxing.

Proceeds from this event and the two previous radio call-in auctions support the work of the Chamber in the promotion of tourism, community awareness, and businesses and services. Nominal admission fee includes door prize ticket. For more information, call 814.368.7115 or email info@bradfordchamber.com.

Does anyone remember Slick, ”the oil drop that won’t stop until Bradford’s on top.”?

Nic posted on TalkAboutBradford.com

Someone awhile ago was looking for this video. Well The Daily Show has posted the last 8 years of content and the slick video was one of them!

Mark your calendars. The Bradford Area Chamber Of Commerce will be holding its annual auction this year with a new twist. In addition to the regular public auction, they will also have an on-air auction, live, on WESB’s Morning Buzz with Scott Douglas. If you’ve never been to the Chamber’s public auction, it’s a lot of fun, and you’ll have the chance to get a great deal on some very unique local items.

Call In Auction - Friday October 19, 7am to 9:30am. Call 368-WESB to place your bid. - something for everyone!

• PACKAGE 1 - overnight stay for two at Mountain Laurel Inn, gift certificate for dinner at the Willows, two tickets to one performance in the 07-08 season Bradford Creative and Performing Arts.
• PACKAGE 2 - Family bowling passes, four tickets to Kiwanis Kapers, Farm Family Restaurant Gift Certificate, two cases soda.
• PACKAGE 3 - Overnight for two at Holiday Inn, Jamestown, Two tickets to Lipizzaner Stallions show, Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena, dinner for two at Robertos, Jamestown.
• PACKAGE 4 - Dinner for two at Glendorn.
• PACKAGE 5 - Two Buffalo Bills Tickets, 2007 Road Atlas.

• Doors open 5pm; bidding starts at 6pm
  Masonic Center, 625 South Avenue
• Featuring local and regional goods and services. Live music by Jazzabilly, Hearty hors-d’oeuvres, decadent desserts, Silent auctions, bucket drawings, balloon bouquet prizes (every balloon a winner). Cash bar available.
• $5.00 admission. Proceeds used to promote community awareness, businesses and services, and tourism by the Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce