From MyBenefitAdvisor

Until recently, self-funding has only been a realistic option for larger groups. Now, however, with the advent of “level funded” programs, small groups can obtain the advantages of traditional self-funding with the benefit of stable monthly costs.

Level funding is worth considering for employers with 25 or more employees if the insured population is generally healthy.

With level funding, the employer pays a fixed monthly cost to cover the amounts necessary for administration of the plan, stop loss coverage and claims funding. A third-party administrator pays the claims. Generally speaking, if at the end of the year, claim costs come in lower than expected, the administrator refunds the difference. If at the end of the year, claims come in higher than expected, the employer will reimburse the administrator for the difference.

Protection for the employer comes in the form of stop-loss insurance. Specific stop-loss limits the employer’s financial exposure when health claims for a particular covered individual exceed a specified dollar level, such as $25,000 or $50,000. Aggregate stop-loss insurance limits the employer’s financial liability when the total claims incurred by their group exceed a specified level, such as 120% or 125% of expected claims.

The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce offers its members access to My Benefit Advisor as a solution for employee benefits, including voluntary offerings. For more information about My Benefit Advisor, visit our website at cmcc.mybenefitadvisor.com or contact Tanya Ruiz at (800) 377-3539.

Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Secretary Jennifer Berrier announced that the department’s partnership with virtual identity verification vendor ID.me has been extended to provide identity verification for all new Unemployment Compensation (UC) claims.

L&I first announced a partnership with ID.me in September after a surge of fraudulent claims were detected in the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, which is a special program created by the federal government to provide unemployment benefits to individuals who lost their job due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are not typically eligible for UC. The fraudulent claims are not caused by a data leak or breach at L&I – they are being filed by fraudsters using identities stolen from data leaks that occurred outside of state government. ID.me adds a layer of security to L&I’s already robust antifraud measures by requiring individuals filing a new claim to verify their identity.

While fraudsters initially targeted the PUA program, recently L&I has noticed an uptick in fraudulent UC claims. The majority of fraudulent UC claims are stopped before payment occurs through other antifraud tactics. ID.me will catch many fraudulent claims when they are first submitted, allowing L&I staff to direct attention to other issues and preventing the individuals whose identities were stolen and their employers from needing to take any action. The use of ID.me also deters fraudsters from attempting to file fraudulent claims, as demonstrated by a reduction in fraud attempts shortly after ID.me was put in place for the PUA program.

The Department is interested in getting feedback from employers on their experiences since ID.me was added to the application process. Feedback can be sent to Fred Gaffney at the Chamber at fgaffney@columbiamontourchamber.com. 

The identity verification step through ID.me has been integrated into the process to file an initial application and takes just a few minutes. As individuals log into benefits.uc.pa.gov for the first time, they will be walked through the steps of verifying their identity through ID.me.

L&I encourages individuals to remain vigilant about guarding their personal and confidential information and to monitor for signs that their information is being used fraudulently. Signs of fraud include:

• Individuals receiving unrequested unemployment paperwork from L&I’s Office of Unemployment Compensation.
• Individuals receiving unemployment benefit payments they did not apply for from the Pennsylvania Treasury.
• Employers receiving notice that a claim has been opened for a current employee who is actively working, or an unknown person.

Report Fraud

Online:

• Individuals can report suspected unemployment fraud by visiting the UC Benefits Website and clicking “Report Fraud” at the bottom of the page to complete and submit the Identity Theft Form. Do not log in.
• Employers should indicate the claim is fraudulent in their response to the Notice of Claim Filed.
• To report identity theft fraud related to the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, please click here.

Phone:

Call the PA Fraud Hotline at 1-800-692-7469.

Police:

File a police report with the municipality you resided in at the time the unemployment benefits in question were paid. A copy of the police report must be provided to the Office of Unemployment Compensation.

Other:

The U.S. Department of Labor recommends that victims of ID theft should also report their information to the National Center for Disaster Fraud.
Victims should also consider starting a recovery plan with the Federal Trade Commission.

The Columbia County Commissioners are providing $100,000 to reimburse private businesses for purchases of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to address safety issues due to Covid-19. Eligible businesses must be private, for-profit businesses and must be physically located within Columbia County.

Private businesses may apply for reimbursement by submitting the following information to the county:

On a single sheet, list the following:

• Name of the business
• Address if the business (include street, city, zip)
• Address to where a check may be mailed
• Business EIN
• A one-paragraph narrative describing the PPE and its purpose
• Amount requested

Additionally, the business must attach copies of receipts to confirm the purchases. Purchases are to have occurred between March 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021.

The grant window will be open from August 1-August 14. All grants will be considered. If the eligible requests exceed the available grant amount, businesses will receive a pro rata share of the available $100,000 fund.

Applications and attached receipts are to be emailed to: grants@columbiapa.org.

Trivium Packaging Expanding Columbia County Operations

Trivium Packaging, a metal packaging manufacturer, is expanding its manufacturing operations with upgrades to an existing production line, the installation of an interior sunken dock pit, and a building expansion for receiving steel coil shipments to accommodate new business, investing over $7 million into the upgrades, retaining 76 jobs at its South Centre Township, Columbia County site and creating 48 new, full-time jobs.

Trivium Packaging offers a variety of sustainable metal packaging with innovative shaping, decoration, embossing, debossing, and opening solutions to more than 1,300 customers. The company also has a location in Pittsburgh and has been at its facility in Columbia County since 2000.

“We are extremely excited to see the upcoming developments and upgrades that this new project will bring to our Bloomsburg plant and overall operations,” said Trivium President of the Americas Jens Irion. “The investments also illustrate the importance that manufacturing still plays for our society, so being able to retain 76 jobs and add an additional 48 makes us extremely proud, as these jobs will provide good living wages and benefits to individuals and their communities. We thank the Governor’s Office for providing us with this opportunity.”

The company received a funding proposal from the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for a $144,000 Pennsylvania First grant, a $400,000 Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) loan and was encouraged to apply for the department’s Manufacturing Tax Credit (MTC) program. The company has committed to investing $7.17 million into the project and creating at least 48 new jobs over the next three years.

The project was coordinated by the Governor’s Action Team, an experienced group of economic development professionals who report directly to the governor and work with businesses that are considering locating or expanding in Pennsylvania.

National Night Out Activities Planned in Bloomsburg and Danville

National Night Out is an annual event for the public to meet local law enforcement, fire department, and emergency services personnel in an informal gathering and learn about essential services such as substance abuse programs. The date of this year’s National Night Out is Tuesday, August 3rd. Activities will be held in Bloomsburg from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds and Liberty Hall near the Free Stage. In Danville, activities will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Washie’s Playground. Both events are free to attend and there will be free hot dogs.

Exchange Seeking Memories of 2011 Flood for Exhibit

“Watermark: A Community Album of the 2011 Flood” solicits artwork in any medium, as well as newspaper clippings, artifacts, and other memorabilia from anyone and everyone who lived through the event, anywhere in the Bloomsburg area. Everything will be displayed in the Exchange Gallery in downtown Bloomsburg as a tribute to the resilience of our community and the people in it.

You may bring your piece(s) to the Gallery during the week of July 26th to 31st — 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.

“Watermark” will run at the Exchange Gallery from August 2nd through September 10th, 2021 — ten years and a day after the crest.

A reception will be held in the Gallery on Friday September 10th — the tenth anniversary (plus one day) of the crest of the flood.

Children’s Museum Announces August Programs

The Bloomsburg Children’s Museum, 2 W. 7th Street, Bloomsburg, is pleased to announce its August programs which includes some free opportunities.

Dog Days of Summer
August 4: Under the Sea, 11:00 am-1:00 pm
Beat the heat and come to the Bloomsburg Children’s Museum. Enjoy a special summer-themed craft every other Wednesday with free adult admission.

Touch-A-Truck
Saturday, August 14 @ Rohrbach’s Farm, 10:00 am-2:00 pm
Join us at Rohrbach’s Farm Market for a fun-filled day with trucks of all kinds. Get an up-close, hands-on look at loaders, campers, tractors, fire engines, and more! Free admission.

For a complete listing of all programs, visit the-childrens-museum.org.

Wesley UMC to Host Choral Concert

A new choral/music educational ensemble will be holding its first concert for the community this Saturday, July 31st at 7:00 p.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church on Market Street in Bloomsburg. The new group will include 3-4 vocal ensembles for children and adults of all backgrounds, skill levels, and musical interests. More information is available at facebook.com/TheBloomsburgSingers.

The inaugural edition of the Pennsylvania: Work Smart, Live Happy magazine is out and now available online. This annual print and digital magazine is a new tool to help economic developers, corporate real estate agents, communities, and employers attract top talent and promote business growth in the Keystone State.

The digital content is easy to share and showcases Pennsylvania’s quality of life as an ideal home for entrepreneurs, remote workers, families, and businesses of all sizes.

The publication features articles on Pennsylvania’s top industries, innovation, career opportunities, quality schools and higher-ed institutions, abundant outdoor attractions, and diverse cultural offerings. The nine-county central PA region which includes Columbia and Montour counties is featured. 

The American Red Cross Ready Rating program is a free, self-guided program designed to help businesses, organizations and schools become better prepared for emergencies. Members complete a ReadyGo or ReadyAdvance assessment and have access to tools, tips and best practices to help improve their level of preparedness.

A free webinar will be held September 13th at noon to review how to improve your small businesses’ level of emergency preparedness.

Topics will include:

• Online and self-paced, free membership program – readyrating.org
• Self-Assessments uniquely quantify an organization’s level of preparedness.
• Customized reports with feedback help members plan improvement.
• Create basic or detailed Emergency Action Plans.
• Resource Center with 60+ tools help members implement their emergency preparedness program

Presenter: Erika Wolfe, Disaster Program Manager, PA Rivers Chapter, American Red Cross

Click here for more information and to register. 

Scott Edwards started his floral business at the age of 17 in the basement of his parents’ rural farmhouse. Since then, he has traveled to Europe, Japan and Hong Kong to study with master designers and teach floral design classes. Today, Edwards, his wife, Judy, and their daughters, Holly Edwards Hoffman and Heather Edwards Marks own and operate Scott’s Floral, Gift & Greenhouse on Rt. 11 in Danville.

Scott is an accredited professional floral commentator, a certified FTD judge and has represented the United States in the World Teleflora Designer of the Year competition in Tokyo. He is also a member of the American Academy of Florists, American Institute of Floral Designers and past president of the PA Florist Association.

Scott was selected as a member of the elite design team that created floral decorations for the Statue of Liberty Centennial Celebration in New York and the presidential inaugurations of George Bush and Bill Clinton.

Scott and his special event design team from Scott’s Floral provided all the floral decorations for the US Senior Golf Open in Allentown. These talented designers provide floral decorations for weddings and special events from Maine to Washington D.C., Philadelphia to Oklahoma, and everywhere in between.

Visit Scott’s Floral, Gift & Greenhouse’s website at scottsfloral.com for more information about their products and services.

Scott’s Floral joins over 400 members of The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce to receive benefits and support the Chamber’s efforts to enhance the region. 

The Columbia County Board of Commissioners is holding a public meeting for all residents, businesses, and municipal officials to learn more about the Fishing Creek Watershed and West End Flood Mitigation studies.

There will be two meetings on July 29, 2021 at the Columbia County Office at the Sawmill Road Complex, 702 Sawmill Road, Bloomsburg, PA 17815 in the large meeting room. Entrance for the large meeting room is in the rear of the building. The County will live stream both sessions for those who cannot make it or have COVID concerns on the Columbia County Resiliency YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/3kFzXiG

The meeting schedule is as follows:

6:00-7:00pm – West End Flood Mitigation Study, presented by Borton-Lawson
7:00-7:30pm – Break/Social Opportunity
7:30-8:30pm – Fishing Creek Flood Mitigation Study – presented by HRG, Inc.

Reservations can be accepted online at https://bit.ly/2Urvt43 or by calling Flood Resiliency Program Analyst Geralee Zeigler, SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) at 570-522-7218. Individuals who are interested in attending may register for the 6:00pm session or the 7:30pm session independently or for both sessions. SEDA-COG is assisting the County in the grant administration of the studies.

From PA Chamber of Business and Industry

Responding to skyrocketing claims of Unemployment Insurance Fraud, the PA Department of Labor and Industry has provided employers with helpful tips for reporting fraudulent claims. When responding to a Notice of Claim Filed that you believe to be fraudulent, keep the following tips in mind:

• L&I does not need any of the person’s actual employment information for identity theft situations. The fields on the response form do not need to be completed unless the system requires it (e.g., start date, end date, termination date).
• The “Reason for Separation” field is always required. For identity theft claims, you should enter the reason as “Still working full-time.”
• For employers using the new benefits system, a step-by-step guide is available here.
• For employers not yet able to log into the new system but enrolled in SIDES, a guide is available here.
• Employers who have hired a Third-Party Administrator (TPA) for unemployment matters can disregard any Notices of Application as the administrator should handle this matter.

The Department also wants to remind employers:

• Appealing the financial determination is not the appropriate way to report a fraudulent claim. As the employer, you should respond to the claim notices but should not file a fraud report.
• Ultimately, you will not be charged for benefits paid to fraudulent, identity theft-related claims. Once benefits are denied, your account will be credited.

The Department also noted they are implementing additional verification processes for the UC claims process. Earlier this year, L&I announced that it was expanding a partnership with ID.me, an identity verification vendor, to dissuade fraudsters targeting the UC system.

On July 22, The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce co-signed a letter with other chambers from across the state calling for immediate action to address the UC fraud that has become rampant. The letter was sent to Pennsylvania’s Attorney General, Auditor General, Treasurer, Secretary of Labor & Industry, and Secretary of Revenue. 

Pandemic shutdowns significantly affected restaurant owners and operators last year. Because of these shutdowns, the industry needed financial relief. In this free educational session hosted by the National Restaurant Association, Randy Crabtree, CPA, Co-Partner of Tri-Merit Specialty Tax Professionals will help restaurants navigate the nuances of how to claim the Employee Retention Tax Credit, provide real life examples of what to expect, and share additional ways to get money back through other tax credits and incentives.

Please note that this webinar will be offering one (1) CPE credit to attendees who acknowledge they’d like to receive it through the registration form.

Key Takeaways:

How to identify if your restaurant is eligible for Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC)
What to expect from the application process
How to maximize your tax credits & incentives

Click here to register.