Small businesses in Montour County that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 crisis are again invited to apply for up to $20,000 in financial assistance. The Montour County Commissioners are providing a second round of grants with funds provided through the CARES Act. Applications will be accepted October 1 through October 14.
Businesses that did not receive a loan or grant through the Federal Paycheck Protection Program, the Economic Disaster Loan Program, or the first round of the Montour County grant program will be given priority, though all eligible businesses are encouraged to apply.
Eligibility:
-For-profit businesses or individuals operating businesses with a base location in Montour County.
-One owner per business may apply.
-Businesses that applied for and/or received grant funding through the first grant round in August are eligible to apply again in round two. Returning applicants must submit a new application for round two.
Approval requirements:
-Must be in business by March 1, 2019 and still in business on July 1, 2020
-Must intend to stay in business through, at least, July 1, 2021
-Total employees less than 100 OR an entity primarily engaged in the Tourism industry
-Business must be based in Montour County, PA
-Net profit in March 1-June 30, 2020 window must be less than net profit in March 1- June 30, 2019 window, OR, net profit in July 1-Sept. 30, 2020 window must be less than net profit in July 1- Sept. 30, 2019 window.
-Must not owe federal, state or local taxes-Must not be subject to criminal justice process as per the question in the application
Document requirements:
-Most recently filed federal tax return
-Entity documents including DBA or FBN certificate and proof of ownership
-Business license (if sole proprietor)
-Government-issued ID
-Evidence of fixed costs, including mortgage/rent/lease payments, utility costs, license fees, property tax bills, property and liability insurance bills, attest to any lost inventory
Grant applications must be completed and submitted through the Central Susquehanna Community Foundation’s website, www.csgiving.org.
The online application deadline is 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, October 14. For questions about the application, contact Christine Orlando, CSCF Senior Program Officer, corlando@csgiving.org, 570-752-3930, extension 2.
The Commissioners previously awarded a total of $384,868 to 31 small businesses in Montour County through the first round of the program. Ken Holdren, Chair of the Board of Commissioners, expressed his appreciation to the committee that developed the program guidelines and reviewed applications. The committee was chaired by Commissioner Trevor Finn and included representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau, Danville Business Alliance, DRIVE, and County Planning Commission.
A state grant program that helps companies increase export sales is funding new activities because of COVID-19 travel difficulties.
The Global Access Program (GAP) is now providing grants for e-commerce, digital marketing, marketing media design, and certain certifications based on how to use guest posts to rank your site.
SEDA-Council of Governments’ (SEDA-COG) Export Development program assists businesses with application development, submittal, reporting, and reimbursement, among other assistance.
Since the program began eight years ago, SEDA-COG has helped 63 companies to be awarded 103 grants totaling $371,525.
Noelle Long, director of SEDA-COG’s Export program, encouraged small- to mid-sized companies to apply for these funds.
“Businesses are having to adapt to the rapidly changing environment with the pandemic, and the GAP grant program has also adjusted to suit their needs since digital marketing is more important than ever. SEDA-COG is committed to continuing to empower businesses through this crisis and connect them with as many opportunities as possible,” Long said.
The reimbursable grants can be awarded up to $5,000. SEDA-COG’s GAP funds are available through next September.
Specifically, the grant now can be used for:
- E-commerce and digital marketing
- Design and development of website, with an international focus
- Oversight and maintenance and monitoring fees for search engine optimization
- Online market listing fees
- E-commerce platform fees, including hosting and/or maintenance fees
- Expenses to set up websites to accept international payments
- Payments for Design of Marketing Media
- Design of company digital international marketing, including social media and digital ads
- Translation of marketing media, including audio and video
- Google Analytics
- Certifications: CE, CEE, GDPR, UL Canada, ATEX Testing/Certification, Japan Haz/Loc Certification, IECex Testing/Certification
The program continues to offer grants for the following activities:
- Overseas trade mission participation (in person and virtual)
- Overseas trade show exhibition (in person and virtual)
- Domestic trade show exhibition (in person and virtual)
- Foreign market sales trip
- Subscription to U.S. Department of Commerce services
- Compliance testing
- Federal services that directly support exporting
GAP is administered by the Pennsylvania Office of International Business Development (OIBD). The program is funded in part through a grant with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). For more information, visit https://dced.pa.gov/programs/global-access-program-gap/.
SEDA-COG’s Export Development team serves the businesses and communities of central Pennsylvania by encouraging and facilitating economic development through growth in world trade. It is funded by the state Department of Community & Economic Development’s Office of International Business Development and Partnerships for Regional Economic Performance.
For more information about SEDA-COG’s Export Development Program, contact Noelle Long at export@seda-cog.org or 570-524-4491.
The U.S. Chamber and MetLife recently released the Q3 Small Business Index —a survey of 1,000 small businesses to take the temperature of the sector, see where small business owners are confident, and where they are experiencing challenges. The Q3 index in particular focused on how the state of the U.S. economy is influencing the attitudes of small business owners towards the upcoming election.
Among other insights, the Q3 Small Business Index finds that:
- 57% of small business owners rank the economy as the first or second most important issue influencing who they will vote for this November.
- 68% of small business owners agree that it is more important for political leaders to compromise than stick to their beliefs in order to get things done.
- 62% of small business owners are more interested in the 2020 election (including 40% who are “much” more interested) compared to 2016.
Click here to view the full index.
Free Laser Cataract Webinar
Join Eye Care Specialists as they will be presenting a Laser Cataract Webinar on September 24th from 6pm – 7pm. The webinar is a great opportunity for patients to learn more about cataract surgery, their options and choices, and to have all of their questions answered by our cataract surgeons during the Q&A portion of the webinar.
RSVP directly via this link: https://www.icarespecialists.com/cataract-webinar/
Free Cleaning Supplies to Stay Healthy from CSO
Central Susquehanna Opportunities (CSO) knows how important it is for you and your family to stay healthy and would like to help by providing cleaning supplies. Limited supplies, first come first served.
- Tuesday, September 29th from 10 a.m.- noon at PA State Rep. David Millard Market St. Plaza 1000 Market St., Bloomsburg, PA
- Wednesday, September 30th from 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. at LCBC Church 2421 Columbia Blvd. Central Rd & Rt. 11, Bloomsburg, PA.
NEPIRC to Host Free Virtual Manufacturing Day
The Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center (NEPIRC) will host its annual Manufacturing Day event on Friday, October 2nd, 2020. This year’s Manufacturing Day is free to all manufacturers and will be streamed virtually thanks to our partner, Coal Creative. When registering, attendees will have the option to select from a number of different sessions, each of which addresses a specific manufacturing best practice or technology.
NEPIRC’s event will feature David Beurle, CEO of Future iQ, as the keynote speaker. Mr. Beurle, a worldrenowned strategist, researcher and practitioner, pioneers and applies innovative tools and approaches that assist countries, cities, organizations, regions, tourism destinations and industries to shape their economic and community development futures. As the keynote speaker at NEPIRC’s 2019 Manufacturing Day, Mr. Beurle captivated the audience, and so NEPIRC looks forward to hosting him again in 2020.
In addition to Mr. Beurle, NEPIRC’s Manufacturing Day agenda includes the following presentations: Talent Succession Planning, presented by Leo Gilroy, Director of Strategy & Innovation, NEPIRC; Do Your Part #BECYBERSMART, presented by Marc Gonzalez, Site2; Problem Solving, presented by Gerry Giza, Director of Lean & Continuous Improvement, NEPIRC; Industry 4.0, presented by Brian Matyjevich, Lean Enterprise Consultant, NEPIRC; and ISO 9001:2015 Overview, presented by Brian Matyjevich and Ray Kryeski, Mechanical Engineer, NEPIRC. For presentation descriptions or to register, please visit the Training and Events tab on NEPIRC’s website by visiting www.nepirc.com or by calling 570.704.0018.
Each year, Manufacturing Day is recognized nationally on the first Friday of October with events taking place all month to celebrate the manufacturing industry and is contributions to local, regional and national economies. Additionally, Manufacturing Day serves to bring awareness of the industry to students, parents and educators to help bolster interest in manufacturing jobs.
More than 420 businesses and organizations belong to the Chamber to receive benefits and support efforts to strengthen their businesses and the region. Increased membership allows the Chamber to offer additional programs and benefits, have a stronger voice in advocacy and be involved in more activities and initiatives. The Chamber welcomes Mission Autism Clinics.
Mission Autism Clinics (MAC) provides evidence-based ABA therapy to children and young adults (ages 2-18 years) diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Through the implementation of safe, effective, and scientific approaches, they can ameliorate the symptoms of ASD through increased communication and social skills and improvements in behavior. At MAC, they recognize how parent involvement leads to the overall success of a child and delivers family-oriented therapy with the primary goal of creating more opportunities for their clients to lead independent, happy, and fulfilling lives.
Mission Autism Clinics will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony and offer tours of their new Bloomsburg facility on Friday, September 25th. Members from the community are invited to stop by, meet with staff, and learn about the services that are offered.
Learn more about Mission Autism Clinics by visiting its website, or Facebook page.
The Montour County Commissioners have awarded a total $135,450 in financial assistance to 21 non-profit organizations that serve the county and were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. The grants, which were capped at $15,000 per agency, were available with Block Grant funds provided through the CARES Act to reimburse organizations for program expenses. Among the recipients were the Chamber’s Foundation.
The Columbia County Commissioners are expected to announce grant awards for non-profits in early October.
Downtown Bloomsburg Inc. is now accepting sealed proposals for the Miller Avenue Streetscape Improvement Project. The project consists of the construction of streetscape improvements along Miller Ave. between Main Street and the municipal parking lot. The improvements include converting the alley into a pedestrian walkway and gathering area including new paving, the placement of tables and seating and relocation of overhead utilities.
Bidding documents, sets of construction drawings, and the project manual are available at http://bidplans.larsondesigngroup.com. Contact Larson Design Group, 1000 Commerce Park Drive, Suite 201, Williamsport, PA 17701; 570-323-6603 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, with any questions pertaining to access and use of the website.
The deadline for submissions will be Monday, October 26 at 3:30 p.m. at which time the bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at Town Hall Council Chambers. The project will be completed in the first half of 2021 with funding provided by the Town’s Community Development Block Grant allocation, DBI, and the Renaissance Jamboree Committee.
From PA Chamber of Business & Industry
Last week, coalitions of statewide employer and nonprofit associations and local chambers of commerce sent letters to the Pennsylvania General Assembly urging immediate passage of targeted, temporary safe harbor protections from unwarranted lawsuits during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce signed on to one of those letters organized by the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business & Industry.
Currently, employers and others are vulnerable to COVID-19 related lawsuits that are being increasingly filed by plaintiffs’ attorneys hoping to cash in on the crisis. In some cases, suits are being filed against employers who have been tasked with self-enforcing the mask-wearing policies set by the Wolf administration.
The coalition of business and community groups stressed that employers who are making the investments to follow applicable health and safety guidelines should be able to operate with confidence that they will not be targeted with frivolous legislation; while there should be robust enforcement against those who are acting irresponsibly and not abiding by the guidelines.
The local chamber letter focused on the reality that so many businesses are facing at this time: drained savings, fewer customers, additional costly regulations and other uncertainties arising from COVID-19. “We are grateful for the public support provided to employers thus far; however, the pandemic’s economic impact has been relentless and so must be the public response. We urge you to support temporary, targeted legal safe harbor for those employers and healthcare providers operating in good faith and complying with relevant requirements,” the coalition of chambers wrote.
A key component of the PA Chamber’s “Bringing PA Back” initiative has been working to enact legislation at the state and federal level that provides the safe harbor protections businesses, nonprofits, medical professionals and others need right now. To that end, the organization has advocated strenuously for elected officials to support liability protections that will help put an end to this unscrupulous pandemic profiteering. The Columbia Montour Chamber has also expressed support for these protections at the state and federal levels.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health will be opening a free COVID-19 testing site at the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds for one week beginning this Friday, September 25th. The site was announced in response to a significant rise in cases in Columbia County at the start of Bloomsburg University’s Fall semester. Since September 10th, the number of new cases reported in any one day in the county has not exceeded six.
There will be walk-in testing in the Industrial Arts building with vehicles to enter through the Main St. gate and drive through testing at the west end of the parking lot.
Up to 500 registered patients can be tested per day. Testing is on a first come, first serve basis and is at no cost to those being tested. Patients are not required to show symptoms of COVID-19 in order to be tested. No appointment is necessary, but a photo-ID or insurance card is required. Registration will also be completed on-site.
The schedule is 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM on:
- Friday, September 25;
- Saturday, September 26;
- Tuesday, September 29;
- Wednesday, September 30;
- Thursday, October 1;
- Friday, October 2; And
- Saturday, October 3.
Individuals who are tested should self-isolate while they await test results. For those individuals who live with other people, they should self-isolate in a private room and use a private bathroom if possible. Whoever else lives in the home with the individual awaiting test results should also stay at home. The department has additional instructions for individuals waiting for a COVID-19 test result.
For the latest information for individuals, families, businesses and schools, visit “Responding to COVID-19” on pa.gov.
From U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Congress and the administration deserve credit for their swift action early on to support American businesses and workers amid the coronavirus pandemic, but a lot is still riding on the passage of a Phase 4 economic relief package.
Lawmakers must get this done to give our economy a boost and businesses the support they need. The cost of inaction is too great.
Here are 7 industries and groups of people that desperately need Congress to help them bridge these uncertain times.
1. Airlines: Without immediate Congressional aid and action, the airline industry faces unprecedented challenges. Airlines have had to cut flights to smaller cities and may be forced to furlough 75,000 workers.
2. Restaurants: With an employee base of 15.6 million, the restaurant industry faces detrimental losses as government aid runs out. If Congress does not take swift action to assist these businesses, the restaurant industry could lose over $240 billion by the end of the year.
3. Retailers: America’s retailers need further government aid to keep their doors open. Consumer spending is often closely tied to government stimulus, and without new aid, many retailers will feel the brunt of government inaction.
4. School-related closures: Coronavirus related school closures could have a ripple effect on the economy. Remote learning — which means no cafeterias, no garbage pickup, etc. — could cost the economy $700 billion in lost revenue and productivity.
5. Working parents: A lack of childcare has led 13% of working parents to cut their hours or lose their jobs. As roughly a third of the U.S. workforce is composed of working parents, Congress must act now to ensure that parents can continue to work and that they have a safe childcare option.
6. Small business owners: According to a July survey from Goldman Sachs, an estimated four million small businesses—13% of America’s 31 million smallest employers—have now exhausted their PPP funds. Furthermore, only 7% of small businesses are very confident they will be able to maintain payroll if no further government help is provided. The only way struggling small businesses can receive additional PPP assistance is if Congress and the administration come together and pass a relief package — soon.
7. Unemployed: For laid-off workers, the crisis is as acute today and it was in March. By failing to act, Congress is putting unemployment insurance benefits for 27 million people at risk.
Lawmakers’ willingness to reach across the aisle and find compromise on Phase 4 will help determine the strength and speed of our recovery. They need to muster a stronger sense of urgency, purpose, and determination to support those still on the brink. The time to act is now, without further delay.