Since the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce plans to move out of its headquarters at 91 S. Progress Ave., Pottsville, by year's end, the Pottsville Business Association will be looking for a new venue to holds its monthly meetings.
"We'll be able to hold our meeting here in November. In December, we traditionally hold a breakfast meeting at The Greystone. But we're not sure where we'll be holding our meeting in January," Deb Witmer, PBA president, said following PBA's October meeting Thursday morning.
The chamber will be moving to Union Station, 1 Progress Circle, either in late December or early January, Bob Carl Jr., the chamber's executive director, said at Thursday's meeting.
The chamber will be leasing space on the second floor of Union Station from the Schuylkill Economic Development Corp.
In September, SEDCO hired QEI Construction, Wyomissing, Berks County, as the general contractor on a project to turn the 6,004-square-foot space on the second floor into the offices of SEDCO and the chamber. It's an estimated "$350,000 to $400,000" project, SEDCO President Frank J. Zukas said previously.
Owned by the City of Pottsville, Union Station, a $16.1-million, three-story building in a C-3 commercial zone, was dedicated June 10, 2011. It was designed as the main terminal for Schuylkill Transportation System and home for the Schuylkill County Visitors Bureau. The building also houses a Pottsville police substation.
Carl said it's possible the PBA can hold its future meetings at the chamber's new headquarters, but the matter must be discussed with SEDCO, which is leasing the space from the city.
"We have to define the utilization of the building. We're not there yet. We have to determine functionality. It has to be mapped out. But I'm sure community groups, such as PBA, can utilize chamber space. And we might be able to accommodate PBA, but we can't promise that without having a detailed conversation with Frank," Carl said.
Mayor John D.W. Reiley suggested one possible location for future meetings might be the visitors bureau headquarters, and Regina Gargano, the bureau's executive director, said that's a possibility.
The PBA reminded the community of upcoming events, which include the following:
- The 12th annual Walk for Progress will be held from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 29. It starts at the chamber offices at 91 S. Progress Ave. The cost is $10 per person. Each participant will receive a souvenir T-shirt. To sign up, call the chamber at 570-628-1942.
The walk will proceed north on Centre Street to Laurel Boulevard. There, the walkers will turn around and walk south on Centre Street to the Ramada Ball Room, 101 S. Progress Ave.
"And I'm a little passionate about this because this is Chamber of Commerce Month, as declared annually by the governor," Carl said. "This shows unity of the business community. It will end at the Ramada, where there will be a social event, a 'Taste of Schuylkill' with 17 vendors."
- The Pottsville Lions Club annual Halloween Parade will be at 7 p.m. Oct. 30. The parade stages at 12th and West Market streets in Pottsville starting at 6 p.m. Organizations interested in being part of the march can call Leo Haley at 570-622-1917.
- The PBA's 10th annual Trick-Or-Treat will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 31. Police crossing guards will be on duty downtown as children in costume visit downtown businesses. Businesses interested in participating are encouraged to contact Amy S. Burkhart, executive director of the Pottsville Area Development Corporation, which manages the PBA, to sign up and pick up orange and black balloons. PADCO's phone number is 570-628-4647.