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The Blair County Alliance for Business and Economic Growth will be born Jan. 1.
"We are forming a new 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization with two affiliate organizations -- the Blair County Chamber of Commerce and Altoona Blair County Development Corp.," ABCD President/CEO Stephen McKnight said Thursday at the Chamber Breakfast Club at The Casino at Lakemont Park. "It is basically two nonprofits coming together."
Earlier this year, ABCD Corp. and the chamber boards announced the two organizations had initiated formal merger discussions. The move represents a national trend of chambers and economic development organizations coming to provide a single point of contact for business development services with a single marketing and communication platform, McKnight said.
Chamber President/CEO Joe Hurd said he had suggested such a merger when he became chamber executive director 27 years ago.
"My predecessor John Schraff asked me what I wanted to accomplish. I said I would like to see the Blair County Chamber of Commerce and ABCD Corp. merge into one organization. It seemed like a logical thing to do. Both boards said it was not a good idea," Hurd said.
Hurd said a few months ago, he told the executive committee he was going to retire in 2024. "Their response was 'let's merge.' So we are," Hurd said jokingly.
"We're extremely excited about what this merger will mean to the business community, not only in Blair County but throughout our region," Hurd said. "Both the chamber and ABCD are strong and well positioned for future success."
McKnight said the time is right due in part to the chamber leadership change and marketing conditions.
"Marketing conditions are changing, both organizations are on strong footing, which makes this more viable. Marketing conditions are pushing economic development and chambers together across the country," McKnight said.
The Alliance board will be made up of one 32-member governance board and meet quarterly. A nine-member executive committee will meet monthly and will include five chamber board members at founding. "We will create a 21-member chamber advocacy and operations board," McKnight said.
Ron McConnell will be the first chairman of the Alliance board and serve for two years.
"We are not done yet, this is just the beginning of the process," McKnight said. Next year will be for gathering chamber member input and new ideas wsith 2025 targeting implementation of the new approaches
McKnight announced that when Hurd retires at the end of August, Jennifer Fleck, current chamber events coordinator, will become chamber director of operations.
"Joe has built and led a solid organization and is active in the business community. Joe has encouraged me to continue the things he has valued while in his role as president/CEO including being involved with our state organization, investing in professional development opportunities for myself and staff and to continue the work with the chamber's committees, programs and events that serve our business community," Fleck said.
Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.