Not only does Lancaster County have a phenomenal supportive community from those who reside here; there are organizations built around these needs and missions.
On June 4, 2026, PA CareerLink® Lancaster County held an event based around networking, community, and an insightful panel from some of these organizations about how to get your start in Lancaster. The panelists were two leaders of local organizations whose missions are built around supporting Lancaster County businesses and providing support, resources, and community to get started. The two panelists who joined us were Heather Valudes, President of Lancaster Chamber, and Maian McCauley, CEO of ASSETS Lancaster.
Lancaster Chamber is a network of people, businesses, and organizations that value collaboration, growth, and strategic thinking to ensure Lancaster County business and community is thriving and successful. Through networking, advocacy, DEI, and the workforce; Lancaster Chamber has helped many local businesses and organizations continue to grow and obtain resources to help them be sustainable. They also have a goal that by 2035, Lancaster County will be the best place to live in Pennsylvania, be recognized as a business environment for innovation, success, and growth, and be a unified community where every person thrives.
ASSETS Lancaster also has a big role in the workforce within Lancaster County. ASSETS is a non-profit organization focused on transforming communities through business. ASSETS offers in-depth training and financing for entrepreneurs and works with established businesses to improve their social and environmental footprint while believing in harnessing the power of business to help build vibrant and sustainable communities. Through training and lending opportunities, ASSETS has been a resource that has helped many Lancaster County businesses get their footing and grow throughout the county.
Throughout the event, there was a lot of networking happening between local businesses and connections being made. There was also conversation around the panel discussion. Some of the key items that stood out to us were the topics of why Lancaster is a good space for businesses based on how the community is and how strong the bond with the community is around us to what does leadership means. The panelists were asked many questions and one message that everyone kept coming back to is, take a chance. The Lancaster community and these businesses will be routing you on to succeed, and if you take the chance, have the passion, and dedicate time and energy to putting the tools that you have in the right places, then that will lead you to success. The common theme of support showed up and was constantly reminded that you have support from these two organizations, and they will help you as much as they can to build your business or even grow your business. Outside of just support, they look at the data and the strategic plan that is set for Lancaster County’s workforce, and they help advance this in different ways other than filling jobs but creating them and that can mean entrepreneurship.
Lancaster County has a unique connection where it is based around supporting local businesses and a feeling of neighborhood connectivity not only amongst those who live here but also the different organizations that reside here. Many of the organizations dedicated to the Lancaster County workforce have a mission of making Lancaster the best it can be for many reasons; one of them being workforce and sustainability for our Lancastrians. This connection allows the area to be a great space to build a business while making connections to thrive.
If you are looking for a sign to start your business, this is it! Connect with Lancaster Chambers and ASSETS to see how they can support you and keep an eye out for future events such as this one at www.jobs4lancaster.com and make the connection that can change your career pathway.