Thank you to everyone who participated in this year's Open Fore Business Golf Tournament at Seven Springs Mountain Resort! We hope everyone involved had a great time and loads of fun. Visit our Facebook page for a photo gallery from the June 12 event. The Somerset County Chamber of Commerce and the Somerset County Economic Development Council would like to thank event volunteers Sharon Clapper, Emaline Diehl, Lladel Lichty and Tina Runk and especially our generous event and prize sponsors:

Major Event Sponsor:
Somerset County Commissioners

Host:
Seven Springs Mountain Resort

Dinner Sponsor:
Comcast Business Class

Refreshments Sponsors:
Snyder of Berlin
Stoner Quality Water, Inc.

Putting Contest Sponsor:
VCS Group Inc.

Hole-In-One Contest Sponsor:
Tri Star Somerset Ford Chrysler Dodge Jeep

Putting Green Sponsor:
Knepper Insurance

Cart Sponsor:
First Peoples Community Federal Credit Union

Hole Sponsors:
Ameriserv Financial
Berwind Natural Resources
CME Engineering
The EADS Group, Inc.
First National Bank
Hidden Valley Resort
Keller Engineers
OnDemand Energy Solutions
Penelec/First Energy
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College
Pine Grill
Sleek Trucking
Somerset Trust Company

Prize Sponsors:
1^st Summit Bank
Allegany College of Maryland
Ameriserv Financial
Angelitto’s Hair Co.
Beeghly & Keim Jewelers
Beer, Ream & Co., P.C.
Café Fratelli
The Chuckwagon
Crazy Alice’s Café
Ford Business Machines
Hidden Valley Resort
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield
Hoss’s Steak & Sea House
Indiana First Bank Lending Office
Johnstown Symphony Orchestra
Keller Engineers
Lamonica’s
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort
Pine Grill
Pittsburgh Botanical Gardens
PNC
Rey Azteca
Tina Runk
Somerset Country Club
Somerset County Chamber of Commerce
Somerset County Economic Development Council
Somerset Office Supply
Somerset REC
Southern Alleghenies Planning & Development Comission
Spice Up Your Life Herbery

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Join us as we celebrate the 2013 graduating class of Leadership Somerset County at noon June 19 at the Somerset Country Club. The event includes lunch, class group project presentations, awarding of certificates and the presentation "The Impact of Leadership Somerset County." For more information or to register, click here. RSVP to the Chamber by calling (814) 445-6431 or by emailing info@somersetcountychamber.com.

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Due to the popularity and success of marketing through the Chamber newsletter, we will begin limiting the number of flyers per newsletter to 15 starting with the July issue of Progress. Businesses wishing to place a flyer in the newsletter must call ahead and reserve a space at least one week prior to the newsletter being stuffed. Reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Flyers dropped off at the Chamber office without prior reservation will only be included in the newsletter is there is room. Call early to ensure your space is reserved. Flyers must be printed on 8.5 x 11" paper, unfolded, and dropped off at the Chamber office by the third Friday of the month to be included in the next month's newsletter. Please contact Sheena at (814) 445-6431 or sheenab@somersetcountychamber.com if you have any questions.

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Michele James, marketing manager at Snyder of Berlin, has joined the Somerset County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. James replaces Lori Perrin, Snyder's human resources manager, for the remainder of her board term. We wish Perrin all the best in her career path.

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The Laurel Highlands USBC will be hosting the 22nd Annual Pennsylvania State Bowling Association Mixed Championships for six weekends from June 15 through July 28 at Terrace Lanes Bowling Center, Somerset. An estimated 800 to 1,000 bowlers and their families from across the state will converge on Somerset during this time frame with the busiest weekends expected to be July 20-21 and July 27-28. During these weekends, these bowlers and their families will have ample time to spend in the region, pumping money into the local economy by staying in our hotels, eating in our restaurants and touring area attractions. This is a great opportunity to showcase America’s County as a prime place to visit and vacation now and again for future trips. We hope you will join us in welcoming these visitors to our area. The Chamber will be distributing welcome signs to local businesses. Download and print out your own signs by clicking here. For more information on this bowling tournament, contact Homer and Beth Sleek at Terrace Lanes at (814) 445-3539 or sleeks300@yahoo.com.

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The Somerset County Chamber of Commerce is creating a new map of Somerset County. In addition to serving as a traditional folded paper road map of the county, this new version will also highlight principle tourist locations in the area and will include maps of Somerset, Meyersdale and Rockwood boroughs. Approximately 20,000 copies will be printed and available, for free, to area residents and new residents at the Chamber office at any area advertising business. Don't miss this opportunity to showcase your business. Click here for information advertising opportunities.

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The Somerset County Chamber of Commerce is seeking volunteers to help with this year's Somerset Antique Show & Appraisal Fair Saturday, Aug. 10 on the streets of Uptown Somerset. Volunteers are needed to work the Chamber's information booth at the Courthouse, to help during the Appraisal Fair on East Main Street and to help with clean-up and tear-down after the show at 4 p.m. If you or your group are interested in volunteering, please contact the Chamber at (814) 445-6431 or sandyb@somersetcountychamber.com.

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Mark your calendars! The Sixth Annual Pittsburgh Zoo Safari is Aug. 13! Somerset County residents can get into the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium from 5-9 p.m. for free with a wristbands. Wristbands will be available AFTER JUNE 30 at the Somerset County Chamber of Commerce and at Somerset County branches of Somerset Trust Company. Free parking is available at the zoo. The Chamber and Somerset Trust are also providing shuttle buses for a fee for those who do not wish to drive. Click here for prices and details. For more information, call the Chamber at (814) 445-6431 or email info@somersetcountychamber.com.



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The Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau has nominated Fallingwater for the website virtualtourist.com “8^th Wonder of the World” contest and we need your votes. Voting is open through Sept. 30 at virtualtourist.com. Vote daily here: http://www.virtualtourist.com/8thwonder. The LHVB also launched a social media campaign promoting the contest. Encourage visitors to your websites to vote by placing this voting widget on your homepages: http://www.virtualtourist.com/widget/8thwonder/. If you have any issues using the widget tool, contact Kimberly@VirtualTourist.com or 310-658-5903. The winning landmark will be featured in a national TV segment and receive a major PR push from VirtualTourist, so please help us help Fallingwater win this prestigious award. The PR generated from this architectural masterpiece winning would be huge for the Laurel Highlands’ tourism industry.

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For everyone who registers for the Women of Faith 2013 "Believe God Can Do Anything" conference and uses the school code of scs15501, Women of Faith will donate $10 per registrant to Somerset Christian School. This is valid on any "Believe God Can Do Anything" tour, including the event in Pittsburgh Oct. 4-5. For more information, click here.

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With many bikers riding the Great Allegheny Passage and tourist-bus groups attending the shows, Rockwood Mill Shoppes and Opera House owner Judy Pletcher is interested in promoting locally made and American-made products. If you are a producer or homemaker, Pletcher will sell your products on consignment. Products should be non-perishable items such as jam, jelly, pickled vegetables, sauces, dried fruits, clothing and crafts. This is one opportunity to restore depth and variety back into our local systems of production and commerce while fostering collaboration among our community members. If you would like to become a consignee, please contact Pletcher at (814) 926-4546. For more information, visit her website here.

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Comcast Business Ethernet has now made its fiber optic service available in Somerset County. With this ethernet service, businesses can bypass the public Internet and exchange data safely and securely at up to 10Gbps. For more information, click here or contact local representative Alexis Kozak at (814) 242-0000 or alexis_kozak@cable.comcast.com.

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The Boys & Girls Club of Somerset County is offering a series of summer camps for kids with the theme "The Great American Road Trip." Camps are $10 per week or $30 for three weeks or more. Camps are held 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday. For more information, click here.

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JARI's Microloan Program has received additional funding through the U.S. Small Business Administration in the amount of $400,000 to assist small businesses that wish to plant their seeds in our area or grow their existing business. In addition, companies can receive technical assistance such as marketing, further financial assistance or financial statement preparation. The Microloan Program can lend up to $50,000 for equipment, furnishings and working capital to small businesses in Cambria and Somerset counties. For more information, contact Michele Clapper at (814) 262-8368 or mclapper@jari.com.

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