Public Policy
Spending Reductions Critical to Curbing Inflation
Spending Reductions Critical to Curbing Inflation While critical of the spending levels in several recent packages passed in Washington, Congressman Dan Meuser believes there are solutions to strengthen the U.S. economy and begin to reduce debt. Meuser (PA-9) discussed the factors contributing to inflation in a breakfast meeting with members of the Columbia Montour Chamber…
Read MoreWebinar: Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association to Host PA Minimum Wage Act Updates
Webinar: Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association to Host PA Minimum Wage Act Updates On Wednesday, September 7, 2022 from 11:00am to noon, the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association will host experts from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry for a webinar on the updated Minimum Wage Act regulations that went into effect on August…
Read MoreMain Street Act Supports Employee Ownership
From PA Center for Employee Ownership (PaCEO) Note: The Columbia Montour Chamber, in partnership with the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber, the Bucknell SBDC, and PA CareerLink Columbia/Montour Counties, will present a free breakfast seminar on Tuesday, April 30, from 8-9 a.m. about the benefits of and converting to employee ownership. In August of last year,…
Read MoreDeadline Alert for Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance in Pennsylvania for Flooding
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) encourages businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters to apply for a disaster loan for physical damage before the Feb. 11 deadline. Anyone in the declared counties in Pennsylvania with damages caused by flooding on Aug. 10-15, 2018 should apply for the SBA disaster loan assistance.…
Read MoreBerwick Businesses Asked for Input on Signage
The committee for Berwick, The Next Step continues to meet twice a month to enhance the downtown for the benefit of the entire community. The committee is working on a number of recommendations in the Building a Better Berwick report, which is available online. One of the recommendations is updating the Borough’s signage ordinance, to allow…
Read MorePA Chamber Ready to Hit the Ground Running as 2019-20 Legislative Session Gets Underway
From PA Chamber of Business & Industry The New Year has begun and with it, a new legislative session. On Jan. 1, the entire House and Senate took the oath of office, marking the official start of the 2019-20 legislative session. The rest of the month will be dominated by the necessary legislative housekeeping measures required to…
Read MoreState Legislators Discuss Business Issues with Chamber Committee
Elected officials representing Columbia and Montour counties discussed issues of interest to the business community with members of the Chamber and Visitors Bureau recently. Senator John Gordner, Representative David Millard, and Harold Hurst with Representative Kurt Masser’s office met with the Joint Government Affairs Committee in early January. Topics included tourism funding, energy policy, group…
Read MoreReference-Based Pricing: A Unique Self-Insured Option for Employers
From ChamberChoice and Smart Business Pittsburgh It’s no secret that health care pricing varies widely and has a direct impact to the bottom line for employers of all types and sizes. As health care costs continue to increase, employers have sought innovative and creative strategies to lower expenses. One strategy, which has gained momentum, is referenced-based pricing (RBP).…
Read MoreInsurance Department Approves Workers’ Comp Filings That Reflect Protz Fix, Previous Data Error
From PA Chamber of Business & Industry The state Insurance Department recently announced its approval of “loss cost” filings that may result in workers’ compensation savings to Pennsylvania employers, effective Jan. 1, 2019. The first of these filings from the PA Compensation Rating Bureau reflects the enactment of Act 111 of 2018, in which the…
Read MoreAre You an Applicable Large Employer?
From ChamberChoice An employer who employed an average of at least 50 full-time employees per month during the prior calendar year is an applicable large employer (ALE) for Affordable Care Act (ACA) purposes. ALE status must be determined each year, and ALEs are subject to the ACA employer shared responsibility and information reporting provisions for offers of minimum…
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