In many ways, the heart of our neighborhood is directly tied to the success of its businesses. During the COVID-19, businesses large and small have struggled. They have leaned on each other to make it through these difficult times. 

A number of businesses have pulled together to form the Cranberry Area Business Alliance (CABA), a resource for Cranberry businesses to promote sales and events and showcase retail businesses in our own backyard.  CABA is ready to start gearing up for the holiday season. Together we are stronger.

For additional information about CABA, including how to become a member, contact Stephanie Felmlee at Seneca Lanes 814-676-4618 or email sfelmlee@msn.com.

Associations—Partners in Advancing Business Interests

Our county has 31 municipalities, including two cities, twenty townships and nine boroughs. Our chamber services the entire county/all member businesses. Several towns have their own business association, such as CABA (see above), the Oil City Main Street Program, and the Franklin Retail & Business Association (see page 11). We work collaboratively with them on numerous initiatives—we are members of theirs and they of ours, and we enjoy a great relationship with each.

The shared members that we have love what the Chamber can do for their businesses on a larger scale and members often benefit from the more localized things their associations can do. We do our best not to be competitive or redundant, instead with a strategy of using our limited, yet unique, resources to cover all the bases.

Some small businesses may need to choose how to allocate funds and time. We encourage each business to support all of the organizations who benefit you, likely multiple. Especially as we approach the holiday season, we want to look for ways to work together, to most efficiently, affordably and effectively advance the business climate of our region.

This article was published in the Venango Chamber’s November 2020 VenangoWorks! Newsletter.