If you are 22 or older and ready to pursue further education despite life’s challenges, the Aspire to Rise Scholarship from The Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC) can help.

This TFEC scholarship supports those who have experienced setbacks such as caregiving responsibilities, financial hardship or other obstacles that delayed attending college, trade school or completing a GED.

“We want individuals to know that it’s never too late to continue your education,” said Wendy Ellenberger, program officer for educational opportunities at TFEC. “Whether you need to earn your GED, start a trade program or enroll in a four-year degree, this scholarship can help open doors you never thought possible.”

Why Apply for the Aspire to Rise Scholarship

The Aspire to Rise Scholarship offers flexible pathways by supporting various educational goals, from preparing for a GED to attending two-year or four-year degree programs. Awards vary and can help cover tuition or other essential expenses, allowing recipients to focus on their coursework. Schedules are flexible to accommodate students attending part-time or full-time so they can balance school with work or family commitments.

Extra consideration is given to those who have not completed a post-secondary degree, creating second chances for individuals ready to pursue new opportunities.

Who Should Apply

The scholarship supports nontraditional students who are 22 or older and have faced circumstances such as homelessness, substance abuse recovery, health issues, criminal justice involvement or military service. Applicants must live in Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lebanon or Perry counties or in Dillsburg (York County), giving them access to local colleges, trade schools and certificate programs. It also covers related expenses for GED seekers who are preparing or planning to take the exam.

How to Apply

Visit tfec.org/scholarships/aspiretorise to review the criteria, gather the required documents and complete the application.

Submit your application, essay and supplemental files by Wednesday, December 31.

“We are excited to offer this scholarship to individuals who haven’t had an easy road,” said Caitlin Cluck, director of community investment at TFEC. “We believe everyone deserves the chance to invest in their future and positively impact our community.”

TFEC manages 195 scholarship funds and, in 2024 alone, awarded more than $2 million to nearly 500 students, making higher education more attainable for aspiring learners in south central Pennsylvania. With opportunities spanning a wide range of academic paths, TFEC offers support for diverse interests and backgrounds. To explore all available scholarships, visit tfec.org/scholarships.

Would you like to support the TFEC Aspire to Rise Scholarship Fund? You can donate directly to this fund, helping it grow and continue providing essential educational resources to students in our community. Visit tfec.org to contribute or email info@tfec.org with any questions.

The Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC) has opened applications for its latest grant opportunities, providing five funding options for nonprofit organizations serving Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lebanon and Perry Counties, as well as the Dillsburg area of York County.

Applications will be accepted through Sept. 1.

“These grants represent the power of community-driven philanthropy,” said Jennifer Doyle, TFEC president and CEO. “They are made possible by individuals and organizations who established charitable funds at TFEC, turning ideas into lasting change.”

Available grants include:

• Greater Harrisburg Community Foundation: Benjamin Franklin Trust Fund, funding projects to improve knowledge, quality of life and community outcomes.
• Greater Harrisburg Community Foundation: Upstream, supporting innovative programs that tackle social issues at the root.
• Madden Family Fund, promoting equitable access to education and essential resources.
• Martin M. Sacks Memorial Fund, supporting youth and family-oriented programs.
• Please Live Fund (new in 2025), providing funding for mental wellness education and suicide prevention, with priority given to programs benefiting K–12 students.

In 2024, TFEC awarded more than $650,000 through these grant programs, supporting 109 local projects.

“This work happens through collaboration,” said Caitlin Cluck, director of community investment at TFEC. “By partnering with nonprofits who understand the unique needs of our communities, we amplify local impact and create opportunities for meaningful change.”

To learn more about available grants or how to support a fund, visit www.tfec.org.

No business can stand the test of time unless its operations are running smoothly and efficiently. And as a small business owner, you must also be able to attract customers and build your online presence. This means knowing about the different services that can help streamline your operations, expand your online reach, and keep your customers happy. Today, we take a closer look at some of the most popular free and paid services to help you do just that.

 

Adobe Acrobat’s PDF Signature Tool

 

Business owners should embrace e-signing for contracts, which offers convenience and efficiency in the modern business landscape. Adobe Acrobat provides a user-friendly tool that enables you to sign and fill out PDF forms online, eliminating the need for physical document printing. This not only saves time and resources but also promotes environmental sustainability. E-signatures through tools like Adobe Acrobat are legally recognized, secure, and provide a seamless way to manage contracts while reducing paperwork. This approach not only streamlines operations but also enhances overall productivity and document management for businesses. Click for info about this game-changing tool.

 

Marketing Automation Tools

 

A marketing automation platform can be invaluable for marketing and sales teams, allowing them to automate mundane tasks and free up time for more critical work. With such a platform, you can:

 

• Segment your customers into different categories;

• Customize campaigns based on new segments;

• Track emails and web visits in real-time;

• Optimize customer profiles with detailed data collection;

• Conduct A/B testing of your campaigns and emails;

• And gain insight into your customer base.

 

By leveraging the power of the right automation platform with digital marketing software, your team can streamline its processes while improving overall efficiency.

 

Social Media Management Tools 

 

It’s critical to build a robust online presence, and social media management is a key element of doing that. Fortunately, there are many tools that allow you to post updates across multiple social media platforms simultaneously, giving you more time to focus on the other aspects of your business. Popular free options include Hootsuite and Buffer, while Sprout Social and Sendible are some of the best-paid options. Take time to research the range of social media management tools that will let you set goals and objectives for your campaigns, create content calendars, utilize analytics, and integrate other marketing channels.

 

Project Management Software 

 

If you want to manage projects from start to finish more effectively, find a software solution that facilitates it! The right platform will let you track progress, assign tasks, manage deadlines, and organize communication among team members (both internal and external). Trello and Asana are excellent free platforms, but Basecamp and monday.com can prove well worth the investment.

 

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software

 

CRM software helps businesses better understand their customer base by collecting data such as purchase history, contact information, customer service inquiries, and more. You can then use this information for your marketing campaigns or sales initiatives. Look into free platforms like HubSpot CRM as well as paid options like Salesforce CRM and Zoho CRM.

 

When using CRM software, gather and leverage information to segment customers into different categories and customize your marketing messages based on their interests. Then, track customer activity over time to send personalized emails at the perfect time. You’ll also want to adjust your CRM settings regularly according to shifting customer preferences and market trends to keep your campaigns relevant and effective.

 

Website Builders

 

If you don’t have the resources or budget for custom website development, website builders can help you get a professional-looking website up quickly without any coding knowledge or experience. Wix and Weebly are reputable website builders with free plans, while Squarespace and Shopify Plus are some of the most popular paid solutions.

 

Off-the-shelf solutions can provide a quick and easy way to launch your website. Custom services offer the opportunity to tailor your site precisely to your unique needs.

 

Consider factors such as cost, scalability, user experience, compatibility, and support when making your decision. Don’t forget to take into account any special requirements like accessibility or performance.

Streamlining your small business operations has never been more feasible with the wealth of technologies and services available today. The key is to research all your options and evaluate your budget to determine how much you can spend on marketing automation, social media management, website building, and other business areas. You’ll likely discover that using a combination of free and paid services is ideal. Just be strategic in creating the right mix to get the customer satisfaction, online presence, and operations you’re looking for!

Join the Cumberland Valley Business Alliance to get the resources you need to build a winning business in our community!

Paper’s out, people.

 

Award-winning comedian, writer, and producer Hasan Minhaj has partnered with Adobe Acrobat to celebrate 30 years of PDFs and to promote the power of paperless creativity and collaboration in today's digital age. The partnership highlights the importance of using digital tools to streamline workflows and enhance productivity, especially in the current work-from-home era.

 

As part of the partnership, Minhaj is featured in a series of videos showcasing how Adobe Acrobat can help professionals across industries to create, edit, and share documents seamlessly — no paper needed. The videos also provide tips and tricks for using Acrobat's features to improve collaboration and communication among team members.

 

Adobe Acrobat is a leading software solution that enables professionals to create, edit, and sign PDF documents securely and easily. The platform offers a range of features, including the ability to convert documents to PDF format, edit text and images, and add comments and annotations. It also integrates with other Adobe tools, such as Creative Cloud, to provide a seamless workflow for creative professionals.

 

The partnership between Hasan Minhaj and Adobe Acrobat kicked off with a range of digital and social media activations. Paper’s out, people, so stay tuned for more updates on how Acrobat is empowering creativity and collaboration in today's digital landscape.

 

Whatever PDF tool you need to streamline workflows, Acrobat’s got it. Learn more here.

Adobe Acrobat is a versatile software suite that offers a wide range of benefits for small and local businesses. From document management to collaboration and security features, Acrobat is an indispensable tool for organizations of all sizes for many reasons:

 

Efficient Document Management: Acrobat provides robust document management capabilities, allowing businesses to create, edit, organize, and archive documents seamlessly. With features like merging, splitting, and indexing PDFs, businesses can streamline their document workflow and reduce paperwork clutter.

 

Cost Savings: Acrobat offers cost-effective solutions that eliminate the need for expensive printed materials, courier services, and physical storage space. By going digital with PDF documents, businesses save on printing and shipping costs, reduce paper waste, and lower their overall operational expenses.

 

Enhanced Collaboration: Collaboration is key in today's business landscape, and Acrobat facilitates this through features like commenting, annotation, and real-time co-editing. Small businesses can collaborate with remote team members, clients, or suppliers, allowing for seamless communication and feedback on documents. This collaborative approach can significantly improve productivity and the speed of decision making.

 

Professional-Looking Documents: For small and local businesses trying to make a mark in a competitive market, the presentation of documents matters. Acrobat offers a wide range of formatting and styling options to create professional-looking documents. From customizing fonts and colors to adding watermarks and headers, businesses can enhance their brand identity and create visually-appealing materials.

 

Secure Document Handling: Acrobat provides robust security features, including password protection, encryption, and digital signatures. Small and local businesses can ensure the confidentiality and integrity of their documents, especially when handling sensitive information like customer data and financial information.

 

Mobile Accessibility: In today's fast-paced business world, being able to work on the go is crucial. Acrobat offers mobile apps that allow small businesses and local businesses to access, edit, and share documents from their smartphones or tablets. This mobility ensures that critical tasks can be addressed promptly, even when employees are not in the office.

 

Compliance and Legal Benefits: Acrobat helps businesses maintain compliance by providing tools for digital signatures and document tracking. This is especially valuable for businesses that need to meet stringent regulatory standards, like healthcare and financial institutions.

 

Streamlined Workflows: Acrobat integrates seamlessly with other popular software applications, including Microsoft Office and various cloud storage services. This integration streamlines workflows, making it easier to convert documents to PDF format, collaborate on documents, and access files stored in the cloud. Small and local businesses can save time and reduce errors by using these integrations.

 

Electronic Forms: Acrobat allows businesses to create interactive electronic forms that can be filled out online, reducing the need for paper forms and manual data entry. This simplifies the customer experience and ensures accurate data collection.

 

Just take a look at how Acrobat revolutionized the way The J. Morey Company runs its business. As an insurance agency, J. Morey handles a lot of paperwork — all of which was physical documentation until 2015, when president Joshua Morey digitized the firm’s paperwork with Acrobat. Because they no longer rely on wet signatures that have to be scanned into the computer system or sent via snail mail, the process of signing, password protecting, and sending signed documents takes only a minute instead of 20 minutes, freeing up as much as 10 hours a month per employee.

 

Acrobat’s features and tools allow The J. Morey Company and more than 500,000 other organizations worldwide to reduce costs while scaling their businesses. In fact, when Joshua took over the company in 2015, it had four offices with a total of 18 employees. After just three years of implementing Acrobat into its workflows, the company grew to 150 employees across 11 offices.

 

Acrobat offers a wide array of benefits for small and local businesses. From efficient document management and cost savings to enhanced collaboration and security, Acrobat empowers these businesses to operate more effectively and competitively in today's digital age. Its user-friendly features and mobile accessibility make it a valuable tool for businesses looking to streamline their operations, improve productivity, and deliver professional-quality documents to their clients and customers. Learn more about how Adobe Acrobat can help your business here.

In a world dominated by industry giants, small businesses often find themselves struggling to carve out a niche and make their mark. But what if the key to outshining these titans lies in cleverly crafted strategies that leverage your unique strengths and local presence? From boosting your brand’s visibility through community engagement to adopting cutting-edge technologies, the path to leveling the playing field is at your fingertips. Imagine your brand becoming a beloved staple in your community, capturing the hearts of conscious consumers, and staying ahead by predicting market trends with precision.

Amplify Your Brand with Community Involvement and Sponsorships

Engaging in local events and sponsorships can significantly enhance your brand’s visibility within the community. By participating in activities such as sponsoring local sports teams or funding community projects, your brand gets showcased to a wider audience, creating positive associations and memorable interactions. For instance, participating in local sports events can lead to a noticeable increase in weekend sales. Furthermore, aligning your brand with local causes or events demonstrates your commitment to social responsibility, fostering loyalty and a stronger emotional connection with your audience. 

Organize Efficiently with Streamlined Document Management

Maintaining your business documents in an organized manner is crucial for operational efficiency. Implementing a systematic filing system, such as sorting by name or date, facilitates quick access and reduces time spent searching for documents. Furthermore, this may help: saving documents as PDFs offers unparalleled advantages, such as preserving formatting across devices and enhancing information security. You can effortlessly convert various file types to PDF by using user-friendly online drag-and-drop tools.

Crafting Magnetic Content to Outshine Big Competitors

To effectively compete with industry giants, you must prioritize developing engaging content marketing strategies. Begin by deeply understanding your audience to ensure your content resonates with their needs and interests. Utilize a mix of evergreen, topical content and personalized material, which can drive consistent engagement and build brand loyalty. Leveraging analytics to refine your strategy continuously allows you to improve over time, ensuring your content remains relevant and impactful. By implementing these strategies, you create a strong, competitive presence in the market, distinguishing your brand from larger competitors.

Win Over Conscious Consumers with Sustainability and Ethics

By prioritizing sustainable and ethical sourcing, you can significantly attract the growing segment of environmentally and socially aware consumers. Ethical sourcing practices not only help protect human rights and promote community development but also enhance your brand image, making your products more appealing to modern buyers. Many consumers regard a sustainable lifestyle as important and prioritize purchases from companies that demonstrate ethical sourcing. Moreover, research shows that businesses adopting these practices can see revenue increases and enjoy a boost in brand value. 

Boost Email Engagement with Visual and Interactive Elements

When you’re aiming to compete with industry giants, incorporating visual content and interactive elements in your email campaigns can significantly boost engagement. Using videos, GIFs, and image carousels not only makes your emails more dynamic but also more appealing to your audience. However, remember to balance these elements to ensure quick load times and smooth user experiences. Additionally, advanced features like interactive quizzes or real-time data updates through AMP technology can make your emails more engaging and personalized. 

Create Buzz with Exclusive Offers and Influencer Partnerships

By providing influencers with exclusive offers or early product access, you can foster genuine and enthusiastic promotion of your brand. When influencers receive early access to your products, it allows them to explore and create content that resonates authentically with their audience, which ultimately builds trust and credibility. Furthermore, exclusive offers, such as discount codes, incentivize influencers’ followers to take immediate action, thereby increasing conversions and serving as a tangible measure of the influencer’s impact. This strategy not only engages the influencer but also drives a sense of urgency and exclusivity among their audience.

Outpace Rivals with Predictive Analytics for Inventory Mastery

By leveraging predictive analytics, you can forecast demand trends and optimize your inventory management, effectively competing with industry giants. Predictive analytics employs sophisticated techniques such as data mining, statistics, and machine learning to analyze historical and current data, providing deep insights into customer demand. Companies implementing these methodologies have reported significant reductions in non-performing inventory and declines in inventory holding costs, freeing up valuable working capital. This strategy not only ensures you have the right products in stock but also improves operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.

 

By embracing these strategies, your small business can turn challenges into opportunities and overcome obstacles. Engaging locally and leveraging technology fosters resilience and innovation. Your size is an advantage, offering agility and a personal touch that larger companies may lack. Incorporate these insights into your operations to not only compete but thrive in the industry. Each strategic move will guide your business from small to mighty, paving the way for lasting success.

Discover the many different resources and connections you need to grow your business with the Cumberland Valley Business Alliance!

Xfinity Mobile “Personalized Savings Calculator” shows customers how much they can save compared to their current mobile plans
 
Key Takeaways:

• Consumers say high wireless prices are their biggest pain point.
• Majority of consumers believe they would only save $100, not $1,000 or more.
• 42 percent of consumers looking to switch mobile providers want a better priced wireless plan.
• Consumers are looking to spend the money they could save on summer travel.

 
PHILADELPHIA, PA – July 16, 2025 – Today, Comcast announced new survey data in partnership with Morning Consult, found that one in four Americans is looking for a new mobile provider with cost being the biggest factor (42 percent). When it came to premium perks that customers are looking for, advanced spam protection (52 percent) and the ability to upgrade their phone anytime to make sure they had the latest handset (47 percent) topped the list – all features which are available with Xfinity Mobile’s new Premium Unlimited Plan.
 
Savings Drives Decisions
Consumers say their biggest reason for considering a switch in their mobile provider is their high phone bill. 42 percent of people looking to switch in the next 12 months are looking for a better deal. Yet, more than half of consumers (59 percent) are underestimating just how much they could save with a new provider. Most people surveyed (23 percent) thought they would only save $100, but Xfinity Internet customers who add Xfinity Mobile can actually save up to 10 times that in their first year.
 
The Xfinity Mobile Personalized Savings Calculator makes it easy to do the math and see exactly how much customers can save by switching. Xfinity Mobile prices are clear from the start – meaning no hidden fees and no unwelcome surprises.
 
“This new survey shows that Xfinity Mobile delivers on what’s most important to our customers – saving money, keeping connected, and staying protected,” said Kohposh Kuda, Senior Vice President, Xfinity Mobile, Comcast. “Xfinity Mobile is designed for the way customers use their phone today – with 90 percent of data traveling over WiFi. That’s why we’ve invested in our network, delivering up to gig speeds when our customers connect to millions of WiFi hotspots this summer.”
 
Nearly half of all Americans (47 percent) say they’re looking for the fastest speeds when it comes to their wireless provider. With Xfinity Mobile, all customers get WiFi PowerBoost, delivering speeds of up to 1 gigabit when connected to our WiFi hotspots or an Xfinity gateway at home. Thanks to WiFi PowerBoost, Xfinity Mobile customers’ speeds have increased by 150 percent in the past year, earning Xfinity Mobile’s the title of fastest mobile provider in Comcast areas.*
 
 
 
 
Travel with Xfinity Mobile
60 percent of Americans say they are looking to travel this summer both domestically and internationally. Of those surveyed, 41 percent of people say they would take the money they saved by switching to Xfinity Mobile and use it on travel.
 
No matter where customers are headed this summer, Xfinity Mobile has them covered. For those traveling to Canada and Mexico, unlimited talk, text, and data to are included in Xfinity Mobile’s Unlimited and Premium Unlimited plans. Those looking to travel internationally can stay connected with Xfinity Mobile’s Global Travel Pass. For $10 a day, customers can get 5 GB of daily high-speed data in more than 215 countries and destinations.
 
Xfinity Mobile keeps customers connected to the nation’s most reliable 5G network with more than 23 million hotspots across the United States.**
 
Help Loved Ones Break Free From The Big Three
This year marks the fifth annual “Break Free from the Big Three Day,” designed to help consumers ditch their overpriced wireless plans. 42 percent of Americans say they would give a free line of mobile to a family member. Xfinity Internet customers can receive an Unlimited Xfinity Mobile line included with their Internet for twelve months. For those still stuck in a contract, new Xfinity Mobile customers can get up to $500 per line – up to five lines – to break out of their contract with their wireless provider.
 
Xfinity customers also have the opportunity to earn up to $500 through the Xfinity Refer-a-Friend program. When an existing customer refers a friend who signs up for Xfinity Internet or adds Xfinity Mobile, both the referring customer and the new subscriber will receive a reward, reinforcing Xfinity’s commitment to rewarding loyalty and expanding its community.
 
Whether its savings, speed, reliability, or the best deals on the best devices, Xfinity Mobile delivers an unmatched wireless experience at a better price. To break free from the big three, visit https://www.xfinity.com/mobile/.
 
Nationwide survey conducted in partnership with Morning Consult, June 2025.
 
* Based on consumer testing of mobile WiFi and cellular data performance from Ookla® Speedtest Intelligence® data in Q3-Q4 2024 for Comcast service areas, including its WiFi footprint, verified by Ookla for Comcast’s analysis.
** Xfinity Mobile utilizes the network with the highest RootMetrics® 5G reliability rankings in 2H ‘24. WiFi not tested. Results may vary. Not an endorsement.

Ready to fill those empty seats and make your commute more rewarding? Join the Commute PA July Carpool Challenge!



It’s easy to participate – just log at least 4 shared rides during the month here, https://my.commutepa.org/.



You could be one of 3 randomly selected carpooling commuters to win a $50 Tango Gift Card!



Commute PA offers a free and confidential ridematch program that can help you discover new carpool buddies to fill your seats. Plus, easily record your carpool trips to see the positive difference you're making. Begin logging your carpool days to experience the benefits and get rewarded!



Share the fun with your carpooling friends! Refer them for a chance to win. Keep an eye on our social media for carpooling tips during the month and winner announcements in early August.



Let's get those seats filled!