<![CDATA[Delaware County Chamber of Commerce - The Biz Brief]]>

<![CDATA[Delaware County Chamber of Commerce - The Biz Brief]]>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:45:22 -0700EditMySite<![CDATA[Economic Impact of Rising Gas Prices:]]>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:41:46 GMThttps://www.delcochamber.org/bizbuzz/economic-impact-of-rising-gas-pricesU.S. gas prices surpassed $4 per gallon for the first time since 2022 on Tuesday. The AAA national average reached $4.02, more than a dollar higher than when the conflict in Iran started on February 28. Both Brent crude, the global standard, and benchmark U.S. crude are trading above $100 per barrel, up from $70 before the conflict. Experts warn that higher prices will impact more than just gas stations. As transportation costs go up, businesses might raise prices on non-oil goods too. For example, the U.S. Postal Service has asked for a temporary 8% surcharge on certain products, including priority mail, to cover increased gas costs.
As oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz– where one-fifth of the world’s crude oil usually passes— remain halted, emergency oil reserves have been released to help relieve pressure, including reserves from the International Energy Agency and the U.S. Some foreign reliance is necessary even though the U.S. is a net oil exporter because its light crude oil is different from the heavy crude its refineries are built to process. A recent AP-NORC poll found that 45% of American adults are “very” or “extremely” concerned about affording gas, up from 30% in 2024.

]]><![CDATA[Amex Shop Small Grants Program]]>Mon, 08 Dec 2025 15:01:58 GMThttps://www.delcochamber.org/bizbuzz/amex-shop-small-grants-programTo help small businesses grow, innovate, and support their local communities, American Express is teaming up with Main Street America this Small Business Saturday® to launch the Amex Shop Small Grants Program. The Program will provide an initial $5 million to fund 250 grants of $20,000 each to eligible small business owners across the U.S. Plus, every time an American Express Card Member shops with their eligible Card at a qualifying U.S. small business on November 29, 2025, American Express will donate an additional $1 to fund additional grants.1

The Amex Shop Small Grants Program reflects the shared commitment of American Express and Main Street America to champion small businesses that strengthen communities and help local economies thrive. Applications will be open from Small Business Saturday, November 29, 2025, to Friday, January 16, 2026 at 11:59 CT.

About Small Business Saturday
Small Business Saturday is a day dedicated to supporting small businesses and communities across the country and is part of the larger Shop Small Movement. Founded by American Express in 2010, this day is celebrated each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving in the U.S. Since its launch in 2010, U.S. consumers have reported spending an estimated $223 billion at small businesses on Small Business Saturday.2

Applications are open from Small Business Saturday, November 29, 2025, to Friday, January 16, 2026 at 11:59 CT.
Recipients will have a 6‑month period in which to complete their projects, so applicants are encouraged to prepare a “ready-to-execute” project plan and a detailed, itemized budget. During that period, Main Street America will provide opportunities for grant recipients to connect and network with each other, complete self-guided e‑learning courses, and share the story of their business and their Amex Shop Small Grants Program project journey with a variety of audiences.

]]><![CDATA[JOINT OP-ED FROM REGIONAL CHAMBER LEADERS: Female Chamber Leaders Applaud Budget Compromise, Urge Continued Collaboration for Pennsylvania’s Future]]>Tue, 11 Nov 2025 08:00:00 GMThttps://www.delcochamber.org/bizbuzz/joint-op-ed-from-regional-chamber-leaders-female-chamber-leaders-applaud-budget-compromise-urge-continued-collaboration-for-pennsylvanias-futureAs presidents of four of Pennsylvania’s leading chambers of commerce—the Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry, the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce, and the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia—we share a deep commitment to advancing opportunity and prosperity in our communities. Our chambers collectively represent tens of thousands of businesses, nonprofits, and employees across the region, and we see firsthand the real impact Harrisburg’s decisions have on everyday Pennsylvanians.

Today, we are encouraged to see that Pennsylvania’s leaders have come together to deliver a long-awaited state budget. While the process has not been easy, the result demonstrates that compromise is possible, and that when our elected officials put people over politics, the Commonwealth moves forward.

This budget agreement means schools can continue to educate, counties and municipalities can plan for the future, and the nonprofit organizations that care for our most vulnerable residents can resume their work with certainty. Businesses, already navigating a complex economy, can move ahead with renewed confidence, knowing that our state’s leaders have worked together to provide the clarity and stability our economy needs.

We want to thank the members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly and the Administration for putting aside partisan divides and demonstrating the kind of leadership that strengthens our economy and communities. Compromise is not a weakness. It is the very essence of governing. This moment is proof that progress is possible when we listen, collaborate, and prioritize the needs of the people we serve.

As women leaders representing diverse counties across Southeastern and Central Pennsylvania, we know firsthand the power of partnership. The challenges facing Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, and Philadelphia do not stop at county lines, and neither should our solutions. A strong Pennsylvania depends on a unified Pennsylvania.

However, as we applaud this moment, we also urge our leaders to remember the lessons of this moment. The work of compromise must not begin only after deadlines pass: it should define the process from the start. Let this budget serve as a reminder that collaboration and communication must continue year-round so that when June 30, 2026, arrives, Pennsylvania’s next budget can be passed on time.

A healthy economy depends on partnership; when policymakers, businesses, and communities move in step, Pennsylvania prospers. Today’s budget deal is a victory not for one party or region, but for every Pennsylvanian who depends on stability, good governance, and a growing economy. Let’s carry this spirit forward. Pennsylvania’s future depends on it.

Laura Manion
President and CEO, Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry

Trish McFarland
President and CEO, Delaware County Chamber of Commerce

Chellie Cameron
President and CEO, Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia

Heather Valudes
Lancaster Chamber of Commerce

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