More than 430 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 Weis Markets #192- Bloomsburg. Weis Markets is a grocery retailer that was founded in 1912. Currently, they employ approximately 19,000 associates throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, and West Virginia in their stores, distribution centers, corporate office, and manufacturing facilities. Their corporate office is located in Sunbury, PA. The company has a long-standing history with local communities, growers, and food banks. To learn more about Weis Markets visit their website.
More than 430 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 Tyler Bloom Consulting.
Tyler Bloom Consulting is a local, privately owned workforce and leadership consulting firm, that is focused on aligning business strategy with talent strategy for the long term. They design, diagnose, hire, and inspire high performing teams. Some of their focus areas include: Leadership and Managerial Training, Apprenticeship Program Services, Assistant and Staff Recruiting Services, Career Development and Marketing Strategy, Member and Customer Relations, Social Media Training, and Communication Training.
To learn more about their services, visit their website, or Facebook page.
Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education held a workforce summit in November of 2019, where over 80 CEOs and Chief Human Resource Officers met to align on definitions and competencies needed to build a talent pipeline. The State System then heard from national funders about their interest in learning more about the Commonwealth’s regional differences both in-and-across six high demand industries of advanced manufacturing, healthcare, finance, energy, information technology, and agri-business.
The next step is to develop and hold Pennsylvania’s Regional Workforce Assemblies in September 2020. The four assemblies have the following objectives and are designed to benefit the Commonwealth by building synergies and partnerships across various job sectors and areas of expertise:
1) to understand the regional differences across the Commonwealth both within and across six high demand industry clusters;
2) to develop competency maps with an embedded quality assurance framework wrap around that then become useful tools for curriculum and skills development;
3) to pilot the competency curriculum through the upskilling and reskilling of adult learners;
4) to create a competency model that could be scaled Statewide
Prior to the first meeting, employers in these industry sectors are being asked to provide updated input via a survey by August 7th. The survey will only take 10-15 minutes to complete and is available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Prepared4PA
Across the six industries and four regions in Pennsylvania, the objectives of the survey are to:
- Validate the top in-demand occupations that were collected from traditional labor market information, real-time labor market information, O*Net industry clusters, and feedback gathered from the Pennsylvania Prepares Workforce Summit,
- Gain insight into the relationships and partnerships between industry and higher education, and
- Understand talent pipeline challenges
The results will be used during the Regional Workforce Assemblies to articulate regional workforce demands across Pennsylvania and inform competencies to skills mapping needed for successful transitions in the workforce. Recognizing the importance of addressing the impacts on our workforce of both COVID -19 and a focus on inclusivity and diversity, facilitated sessions at the Workforce Assemblies will be dedicated to these issues.
Businesses in Columbia and Montour counties can apply for financial assistance through several programs. Application deadlines are on various dates in the month of August.
The Commissioners in each county have allocated dollars from the CARES Act to provide financial assistance in the form of grants for up to five months of fixed costs for small and tourism-oriented businesses.
Businesses that received funds through either the Paycheck Protection Program or Economic Injury Disaster Loan program are eligible for funding through these county programs. Businesses that did not receive funds through either of these programs are eligible for an additional 5%.
Columbia County businesses can receive up to $100,000 and the application deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Monday, August 10th.
Montour County businesses can receive up to $15,000 and the application deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, August 18th.
Additional details and the applications are available through the Central Susquehanna Community Foundation’s website.
For questions about the grant application, contact Christine Orlando, CSCF Senior Program Officer, corlando@csgiving.org, 570-752-3930, ext. 2.
Programs for non-profit organizations in the two counties will be announced later in August.
The COVID-19 Relief Pennsylvania Statewide Small Business Assistance program provides grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000. The second application window will open at 9:00 a.m. on August 10th and will remain open for 15 business days closing at 11:59 p.m. on August 28th.
If you applied during the first application window, you do not need to reapply. Qualified applications will be automatically rolled over into the next funding round for consideration.
In order to get funds to businesses in need as quickly as possible, the second application window will be the final opportunity to apply for the program. The grant awards for businesses in the second application window will be made in two decision rounds for funding.
Click here for additional details about the program.
Columbia County businesses should apply at reinvestment.com.
Montour County businesses should apply at impactservices.org.
Businesses can also apply for loans of at least $10,000 with an interest rate of 3.25% through SEDA-COG. Funds can be used for working capital and can be disbursed based on past working capital expenses. No payments are due in the first six months. The U.S. Economic Development Administration recently awarded an additional $6.3 million for this program.
There is a $500 underwriting fee and a $100 filing fee.
For more information, visit https://seda-cog.org/covid-19/ or contact SEDA-COG’s Business Finance Department at cwca@seda-cog.org.
The Federal PPP program is also open until August 8th, though it is anticipated that the next Federal relief package will provide additional funding.
Bloomsburg University’s Zeigler College of Business is offering free consulting services to help area small businesses recover from the COVID-19 crisis and be successful for the long term. The Small Business Recovery Program assists businesses with planning, marketing, e-commerce, tax planning, and evaluating financing options. The Chamber is partnering with the College of Business to talk about the program and offer some tips for businesses to consider during a free webinar to be held at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 11th. Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions.
Dr. Todd Shawver, Dean of the Zeigler College of Business, will present the webinar. Members can register online or by calling the Chamber at 570-784-2522. Zoom meeting info will be provided upon registration. Businesses can request assistance through the Program at any time by filling out the online form.
Talen Energy to Test Siren System
Talen Energy will be sounding their siren systems within a 10 mile radius of the Susquehanna nuclear power plant near Berwick on Thursday, August 20th at 11 am, as part of an annual test of the system. No public action is required. The sirens will sound with a steady signal lasting three minutes. This is only a test. If you have any questions, or for more information, please call the Talen Energy, Susquehanna Energy Information Center at 1-866-832-4474.
The Bloomsburg Children’s Museum Birthday Bash
On August 15th, come join The Children’s Museum in Bloomsburg for fun, food, and entertainment for their 35th Birthday Bash! There will be free admission from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and let’s not forget the birthday cake! Without the support of the community, they would not be where they are today. So come join as we celebrate 35 years of fun and learning! Also, please consider donating to help fund further programs.
ArtFest 2020 Postponed Until 2021
With the good health of the people in our community as by far the most important factor, The Exchange, Downtown Bloomsburg Inc. (DBI), and the Town of Bloomsburg have decided that ArtFest should not take place in 2020. The boards of the two non-profits and Town Council agree that the COVID-19 pandemic makes an event of ArtFest’s size unwise, even outdoors. In addition, making ArtFest a success would mean trying to draw enough attendees that it would bump up against if not exceed the number, 250, that the Governor of Pennsylvania has determined as the limit on gatherings.
ArtFest would have taken place on Saturday, August 22nd, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. surrounding the fountain on the Square and up Market Street in downtown Bloomsburg, with more than thirty art and craft vendors, five food vendors, and live music by local performers all day. We now look forward to the 2021 event, tentatively scheduled for Saturday, August 21st.
Internet Service for Students and Teachers
Even though students will soon be preparing to return to school, there are many uncertainties and some may need to again rely on an eLearning environment. As a result, Service Electric Cablevision (SECV) will again offer 90 days free Internet service to students and teachers who do not already subscribe to SECV Internet. This offer includes the 40M x 4M tier of Internet service, along with a free cable modem rental. It applies only to persons who are not currently subscribed to SECV Internet service. Those persons who may have participated in the SECV spring Student offer and recently disconnected because the free offer period ended may once again participate in this fall offer. Other restrictions may apply including needing to resolve an unpaid balance for services previously provided. As before, Self-installation is required with the assistance of a technician outside the residence to ensure the safety of our employees. All new customers must provide written proof of their child’s current enrollment at a local school in SECV’s service area. All teachers must reside in SECV’s service area and provide evidence of current employment status with a school district. For more information or to enroll in the eLearning offer, please have students or teachers call us at 877.955.7328.
Service 1st Donates Personal Protective Equipment to Two Local Hospitals
(l-r): Kendra Aucker, President/CEO, Evangelical Community Hospital; Michael Howe, Facilities & Maintenance Specialist, Service 1st; Jay Reed, Chief Information Officer, Service 1st; Jennifer Daddario, Regional Vice President, Service 1st; and Bill Lavage, President/CEO, Service 1st.
Service 1st Federal Credit Union donated personal protective equipment (PPE) to two local hospitals to help replenish supplies used since the initial response to the Coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic.
A combined donation of 2,000 gowns were recently provided to Evangelical Community Hospital, located in Lewisburg and Geisinger Medical Center, located in Danville.
“Everyone is feeling the challenge of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, including our local hospitals,” said Bill Lavage, President/CEO, Service 1st. “We are pleased to be able to provide the front-line health care workers at these hospitals with the necessary protection to perform their important work.”
(l-r): Dave Shope, Assistant Vice President Business Development, Service 1st; Linda Brown, Chief Administrative Officer, Service 1st; Bill Lavage, President/CEO, Service 1st; Joseph Goyne, Senior Director of Logistics, Geisinger Medical Center; Tom Sokola, Chief Administrative Officer; Geisinger Medical Center; and Angela Brouse, Regional Director of the Geisinger Health Foundation.
Credit unions are member-owned and share the fundamental belief of ‘people helping people’. Service 1st was proud to be among 17 regional credit unions and credit union partners that worked together to support healthcare facilities throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Combined, their efforts provided over 30,000 medical gowns.
From PA Chamber of Business & Industry
A few months after the Democratic-led U.S. House passed a $3 trillion COVID-19 pandemic federal relief package, the U.S. Senate released a plan of their own last week that would spend $1 trillion in an effort to help struggling businesses and individuals in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and contains important liability protections for employers complying with health and safety guidelines.
The Health, Economic Assistance, Liability Protection and Schools (HEALS) Act would also extend federal unemployment compensation benefits but reduce from $600 to $200 the additional amount claimants would receive on top of regular state benefits. Ultimately, states would have the option to transition from the fixed federal enhancement to an individualized formula that provides workers 70 percent of their previous wages, though state officials have expressed skepticism that Pennsylvania’s antiquated unemployment compensation system could accommodate a percentage-based approach.
The bill would also provide a second round of stimulus checks to taxpayers, an expansion of the Paycheck Protection Program that was originally included in the March CARES Act, and new tax credits for employers who purchase personal protective equipment for workers and customers.
The Chamber helped welcome one of its newest members to the area on Friday afternoon, July 31st, with a ribbon cutting at Helping Hands Home Health, located at 589 East 7th Street, Suite #3D, Bloomsburg. Attendees had the opportunity to check out the facility, enjoy refreshments, and learn about the services offered.
Helping Hands Home Health is a privately owned home-health business that offers in-home care services that can help prolong independent living. Services include: hygiene, mobility assistance, nutrition, companionship, meal preparation, light housekeeping, errand running, transportation to/from appointments, and medication reminders. They have been in business for three years in Williamsport, and the new Bloomsburg facility is the second location. To learn more about Helping Hands Home Health, visit their website, and their Facebook page.
The Columbia Montour Chamber’s Visionary Member Spotlight highlights Geisinger. For over 100 years, Geisinger has been one of the nation’s most innovative health services organizations, which includes 13 hospital campuses, a nearly 600,000-member health plan, two research centers, and the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. Geisinger takes pride in being a physician-led organization, with approximately 32,000 employees and more than 1,800 employed physicians, while leveraging a positive impact on the Pennsylvania and New Jersey economies.
The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce enjoys a strong working relationship with Geisinger, and their long-standing commitment to patient care, medical education, research, and community service. The organization has been a proud sponsor and participant of Chamber events such as the Leadercast Women event, Annual Meeting, and seminars held throughout the year. Geisinger is highly engaged in a number of initiatives to strengthen the workforce and enhance the communities in our region.
The Chamber looks forward to partnering with Geisinger on new initiatives to make our area even more attractive for people to live and work. For more information on Geisinger, visit their website, or connect with them on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
Chamber members had the chance to spend a summer afternoon catching up with business connections at the Chamber’s Business After Hours, at the Quality Inn Bloomsburg on July 29th. Attendees were able to take a tour and see the new exercise room and the newly remodeled guest rooms while enjoying some delicious food from fellow Chamber member, Quaker Steak and Lube, along with beer, wine, and other beverages. At the end of the event, there was a raffle for gift baskets, and all attendees received gift bags.
Business After Hours provides regular opportunities to build business relationships while learning about the services offered by other Chamber members. Visit the Chamber’s Event Calendar to view upcoming Business After Hours events.