FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:
November 5, 2015
Northeast Berks Chamber of Commerce
610-683-8860 Office
November Northeast Berks Chamber Breakfast sponsored by K’Town Pub
features Main Street Programs in Kutztown, Hamburg
Kutztown, PA…The Northeast Berks Chamber of Commerce, 110 West Main Street, Kutztown, has announced its November 20, 2015 Breakfast Program, which will be held at Keystone Villa at Fleetwood, 501 Hoch Road, Blandon. Online registration is open now. K’Town Pub, Kutztown, is this month’s breakfast sponsor.
In November, Nancy Brooks, Executive Director, Kutztown Community Partnership, and Deena Kershner, Executive Director, Our Town Foundation, Hamburg, will present information on their respective programs. Kutztown Community Partnership joined the Chamber 12 years ago, and Our Town Foundation joined in 2008.
Four times a year, the Chamber hosts a student recognition program, and November is one of those months. Katherine Metrick, Superintendent, Kutztown Area School District, in cooperation with four other school district administrators, will conduct a student recognition program prior to the keynotes presentations. Recognition of a junior from each school district within the Chamber’s service area who excels in business courses at BCTC, business courses in the school district, or in a leadership position in FBLA will be presented. Students will represent Kutztown, Brandywine Heights, Fleetwood, Hamburg, and Oley Valley. The Kutztown University Foundation and Kutztown University sponsor student awards and breakfasts for the program held four times each year.
Nonprofit partners are invited to share information about their organization several times a year. This month, Lori Schermerhorn, President and CEO, Vision Resource Center of Berks County, a new Chamber member, has accepted the Chamber’s invitation.
The Kutztown Community Partnership has documented a long list of accomplishments since its inception. Receiving national main street recognition in 2015; becoming the fiscal sponsor for Kutztown Strong, a coalition working toward the prevention of drug abuse in the community, and for the 2015 Kutztown Bicentennial; receiving the Community Service Award for a Community Leadership Institution for support of Kutztown Strong from the Caron Foundation in Reading; and receiving the 2015 Advocate Award during the Northeast Berks Chamber’s Shining Star Event are some examples. Executive Director Nancy Brooks will explore the evolution of KCP, as it’s commonly known.
Our Town Foundation has also led countless initiatives in Hamburg, including the process to designate the Borough of Hamburg was designated as an FHL Bank Pittsburgh’s Blueprint Community. Through this initiative, Deena Kershner led efforts to secure grants from FHLBank for two important affordable housing projects – the Knitting Mill on Peach Alley and the foundation’s current project, Hamburg Housing Rehabilitation. The following year, the Our Town Foundation formed the Hamburg Area Arts Alliance. Hamburg was designated as a National Historic District in 2010, and the Borough initiated an Elm Street Neighborhood Revitalization Program in 2011. In 2013, the Foundation purchased the Hamburg Strand Theater and was successful in converting to a digital format to save the theater from closing.
Doors open at 7:30 a.m. at Keystone Villa at Fleetwood, 501 Hoch Road, Blandon. Advance $15 reservations are preferred; $20 admission is collected at the door and for non-members. Secure online payment processing is available chamber programs at www.northeastberkschamber.com.
The mission of Northeast Berks Chamber of Commerce is to be a resource and a voice for its members (and those who are not yet members) in Northeast Berks County. Now operating in its 26th year, the chamber welcomes new members year-round. For membership information or marketing opportunities, call our office at 610-683-8860.
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