The Venango Area Chamber of Commerce officially launched its Be Here Initiative at an event on Thursday, January 26, at Karma Coffee Co in Oil City.

Be Here was created to attract and retain people and create an overall positive attitude of the area. People often have the perception that there are no jobs and nothing to do, and Be Here will promote the opportunities that do exist right HERE in the Venango Area.

The Be Here Launch Party included hors d’oeuvres, beer from Blue Canoe Brewery, and raffle prizes donated by local businesses. Ashley Cowles, program manager for Be Here, spoke about the initiative and the impact the Chamber hopes to have on the Venango Area. “We know we have something special right here,” Ashley said. “We have a sense of community, low cost of living, outdoor recreation, community events, and so much more. Our goal is to make people aware that you can thrive in the Venango Area.”

The Chamber then launched the new website for Be Here, which includes testimonials from community members and information about living, working, playing, and being connected here. The website can be found at www.beherevenango.org.

Community members and businesses are encouraged to share their stories for the testimonials page, provide information about any open job positions at their organizations, and contribute articles, facts, and photos for the website.

Moving forward, the Chamber will continue to promote the opportunities in the area and work with the community to identify the challenges that do exist and create possible solutions. “This is not the end, rather than the beginning of the continued efforts of the Be Here initiative,” Ashley said.