Started in June of 2005, the Regional Purchasing Consortium is comprised of the Chambers of Commerce from Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Huntingdon and Somerset counties. The objectives are:

• To assess the purchasing habits of businesses in the region
• To determine the number of purchasing dollars that are being spent outside the region
• To evaluate the impact that dollars leaving the region has on the economy of the region, including job creation and retention
• To create ways to encourage businesses within the region to allocate at least a reasonable percentage of their purchasing to local buying
• To help new businesses to open or existing businesses to expand to meet the needs of those businesses willing to direct their purchasing to local vendors
• To set-up a system of measurement to better evaluate progress made in retaining purchasing dollars
• To ultimately expand the purchasing program to consumers outside the realm of business

Much of our effort has been based on information supplied through a project called "Buy Greater Lehigh Valley" in which multiple Chambers of Commerce in that area undertook an effort to retain business dollars. The Greater Lehigh Valley project began with a survey conducted by Lafayette College in which businesses indicated, among other things, the amount of purchasing that they did outside the region. The survey yielded valuable information that spearheaded a marketing plan aimed at encouraging local purchasing.

The intention of our Consortium is to begin our “Buy the Alleghenies” campaign which promotes local business and help to keep spending local.  Clearly a project of this kind can have far-reaching effects within a region like The Alleghenies. The economic development upside that can be realized by a greater emphasis on local buying cannot be minimized. As Chambers, we are anxious to take a significant role in making this happen.