U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16th, announced on Tuesday his formation of a panel to facilitate discussion between the congressman and business leaders in Kelly’s five-county district.

The Business & Economic Roundtable will include 17 members, according to a Tuesday news release, with Kelly saying it would help guide his economic policy.

Included in the roundtable are business leaders from myriad industries, such as the agriculture, grocery, health care, manufacturing and retail sectors. It will meet quarterly throughout 2022, according to Kelly.

The congressman said this roundtable brings together several advisory boards and other roundtables Kelly formed during his early years serving in the U.S. House of Representatives.

"This roundtable brings together some of the best and brightest business minds in Northwest Pennsylvania," Kelly said. "Whether it's soaring inflation or the struggle to find and retain employees, local businesses have been hit hard over the last year. By creating this roundtable, we hope to develop commonsense solutions that will help local companies and can shape our economic policy in Washington."

The roundtable will first meet Feb. 22 in Sharon, Mercer County.