Highlights from the 40th PA Chamber Annual Dinner, boosting civic engagement among new generations through the National Civics Bee, and the widespread success of the “Coolest Thing Made in PA” contest were all on the docket during the latest episode of PA Newsmakers.
PA Chamber President and CEO Luke Bernstein joined program host Gene Barr – the former PA Chamber president, who was filling in for regular program host Terry Madonna. Bernstein reflected on the Chamber Dinner held earlier that week and the event’s headline speaker, Serena Williams. When asked about the PA Chamber’s involvement in the U.S. Chamber-led National Civics Bee, Bernstein expressed our pride in leading an effort through our PA Chamber Foundation to encourage young people to develop a passion for civics and improving their communities. He also discussed our popular “Coolest Thing Made in PA” contest, which is held each spring to showcase Pennsylvania’s most beloved brands in a friendly, bracket-style social media contest for recognition and bragging rights. This year’s contest garnered more than 30,000 votes, hundreds of thousands of dollars in free earned media for participating companies, and one million social media impressions.
On the policy front, Bernstein discussed various tax reform victories in 2024 that are making Pennsylvania more competitive – including the continued phase-down of the Corporate Net Income Tax and the improved treatment of Net Operating Losses to help start-up and cyclical businesses in lean operating times (you can learn more about both of these reforms here).
Lastly, Bernstein discussed Pennsylvania’s undeniable role as the key battleground state in the upcoming General Election and the important races that are on the ballot – including for president, U.S. Senate, Attorney General, Auditor General, Treasurer, Congress, and state Senate, and state House. The PA Chamber continues to support state candidates for public office that have demonstrated – either through their voting record or their answers to candidate questionnaires – that they prioritize jobs and pro-growth public policy. Bernstein encouraged every citizen of the Commonwealth who is eligible to vote to do so, either by mail-in or in-person on Tuesday, November 5.
The full episode of PA Newsmakers is available here.