Legislative Breakfast Highlights Key Issues Impacting Happy Valley

The Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County (CBICC) hosted its annual Legislative Breakfast on March 20 at Toftrees Golf Resort, bringing together 150 business and community leaders for direct dialogue with elected officials. The event, part of CBICC’s Voice of Business series, focused on policy, economic development, and infrastructure priorities shaping Centre County.
Reimagining Rockview: A Turning Point for Centre County

With Rockview potentially closing as early as September, Centre County stands at a crossroads. The prison, which employs 658 people and sits on 5,700 acres of land, has been a key part of the local economy for decades. Now, as its closure looms, the big question is: What comes next?
Happy Valley’s role in the Alleghenies

By Jodie Dello Stritto In the state of Pennsylvania’s new tourism brand, the Great American Getaway, Happy Valley is featured prominently as a key destination in the Alleghenies region. The Alleghenies includes Centre, Cambria, Blair, Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, Bedford and Fulton Counties and is a prime stop for visitors seeking a blend of natural beauty, […]
What Geisinger’s acquisition by Kaiser Permanente’s Risant Health could mean for Happy Valley healthcare

By Nikki Ciecierski Photo: Geisinger Kaiser Foundation Hospitals has established Risant Health, a nonprofit organization that aims to broaden and accelerate the acceptance of value-based healthcare in diverse, community-based health systems with multiple payers and providers. According to a press release from Geisinger, upon regulatory approval, Geisinger becomes part of the new organization through acquisition. […]
The hybrid workplace: pandemic band-aid or enduring solution?

By David Rockower When the pandemic hit, there was no time to weigh the pros and cons, listen to employee opinions or create a balanced schedule; Covid-19 necessitated physical distancing and, as a result, many businesses made the switch to remote work. Soon, many employers started asking questions: Do we really need all that office […]
The Make Space of Centre County promotes self-sufficiency and creativity

By Stephanie Kalina-Metzger A Make Space member uses a table saw for a project. Photo: The Make Space of Centre County. As technology advances, creative individuals can, too — that is, if they’re provided with the resources to take their ideas from concept to reality. That’s the thought behind The Make Space of Centre County. […]
Local leaders on the current state and future of manufacturing in Happy Valley

By Timothy Kelly An article published by Bloomberg in July focused on the accelerating reshoring trend in manufacturing and noted that companies aren’t just talking about reshoring — they’re taking action. Some companies are moving their supply chains, including primary production facilities, out of China and relocating to the U.S. According to the article, the […]
Happy Valley ready for a health care renaissance

By Holly Swanson Credit: Provided by Geisinger When Wendy Oakes made the decision to return to State College from San Francisco, she knew what to expect. Her college years at Penn State and frequent return trips to Happy Valley gave her a taste of the year-round festivals, sporting events, music and art productions and plenty […]
Educating Happy Valley’s next generation of changemakers

By David Rockower Delta middle teacher, Paul McCormick, leads a whole-school community-building activity (Credit: David Rockower) It’s tough to have a conversation about State College without mentioning academics. Being near Penn State — one of the 20 largest universities in the country — education is everywhere. However, living under the blue and white umbrella […]