Danville Heritage Festival

As part of the Celebrate Danville festivities, The Danville Heritage Festival organizers have been working to create videos, essays, and other content to celebrate our community’s history and are excited to announce the planned 2020 Danville Heritage Festival scheduled all throughout the week of July 13-19. The content can be viewed on the Heritage Festival Facebook page.

Celebrate Danville this Weekend

Celebrate Danville “going green” on Saturday, July 18, 2020. Downtown Danville will be extending its storefronts onto the sidewalks of Mill Street for some safe, socially-distanced dining and shopping.

Stores and restaurants will be offering sales, discounts, and specials in celebration of the opportunity to once again be open and serving customers.

Musical entertainment – sponsored by the Danville Area Arts – will be scattered up and down Mill Street for your listening pleasure. Don’t forget to show your appreciation to these talented individuals!

Get your “greens” with a visit to the Ferry Street Growers’ Market between 8 a.m. and noon.

Children are invited to participate in a contact-less Treasure Hunt all weekend long (July 18 & 19). Stayed tuned for more details on the Danville Business Alliance – and other participating stores – Facebook pages.

Bring your family for a quick bite to eat and shop or enjoy a quiet night out with your significant other at one of the delicious downtown dining establishments. Don’t forget to stick around for the fireworks to be set off at dusk!

Please keep checking the Danville Business Alliance website at www.visitdanvillepa.org and Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DanvilleBusinessAlliance/ for more information.

Thank you to Geisinger for sponsoring this event.

Return to rabbittransit         

As much of Pennsylvania reopens for business, rabbittransit invites you to return to ride with us!  Ride safely on our Shared Ride service by following these three guidelines:

Keep Your Hands Clean: Our vehicles are frequently sanitized for your protection, but experts say keeping your hands clean is still the best way to prevent spreading the coronavirus and other illnesses. Take advantage of the hand sanitizer available for your use on the vehicles. When possible, use the hand sanitizer upon entering and exiting the vehicle.

Wear a Mask: Wearing a nose/mouth covering reduces the spread of the virus significantly. If you need a mask, please contact customer service at 1-800-632-9063 or email info@rabbittransit.org. Reusable cloth masks are available at no cost to riders.

Maintain Social Distance & Use Contactless Payment: Plastic barriers have been installed in all vehicles to maintain social distance between the driver and riders. Riders should sit as far apart as they are able. To further reduce contact, we recommend pre-paying for your trip on rabbittransit.org.  You can also prepay by calling customer service at 1-800-632-9063.

rabbittransit’s Shared Ride service is available to seniors 65 years of age and older. This door-to-door service provides rides that are grouped together between multiple customers. There are no restrictions on the reason you may ride, so you can use the Shared Ride Program for all kinds of trips, including; medical appointments, grocery shopping, beauty salons, banking, recreation, physical therapy, visiting friends, adult day care, and more! There may be a co-pay each time you board the vehicle. The cost depends on many different factors.

There is a required application process for new riders to use Shared Ride, so call 1-800-632-9063 today to speak with a customer service representative to get started today!

More than 435 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 Helping Hands Home Health.

Helping Hands Home Health is a privately owned home-health business, that offers in-home care services that can help prolong independent living. They have been in business for 3 years in Williamsport, and the new Bloomsburg facility will be their second location.  

Services that are offered include: hygiene, mobility assistance, nutrition, companionship, meal preparation, light housekeeping, errand running,  transportation to/from appointments, and medication reminders. 

To learn more about Helping Hands Home Health, visit their website, and their Facebook page.  

Governor Tom Wolf announced that $10 million is now available for Pennsylvania businesses that have worked to maintain access to fresh, healthy food throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Pennsylvania’s food retailers stepped up to the plate to protect those putting food on the shelf, to think outside of the box to protect the most vulnerable, and to make investments to support those using assistance programs such as SNAP and WIC to support their families,” said Gov. Wolf. “I will be forever grateful to those who have worked hard to ensure food is always accessible through this pandemic; our frontline workers in grocery stores and farmers markets are among Pennsylvania’s heroes.”

The Fresh Food Financing Initiative COVID-19 Relief Fund — funded through the CARES Act — is available to for-profit, nonprofit, or cooperative entities impacted by COVID-19, including grocery stores, corner stores, convenience stores, neighborhood markets, bodegas, food hubs, mobile markets, farmers markets, on-farm markets, urban farms, and food aggregation centers with a direct connection to direct-to-consumer retail outlets.

To be eligible, more than 50 percent of sales must be from staple and perishable foods to consumers and the retailer must serve customers that live in a low-to-moderate income area. Applicants must also provide access to affordable, high-quality fresh produce, meat and dairy products and other healthy grocery items for low-to-moderate income shoppers, and must accept SNAP and WIC to the maximum extent possible.

In recognition of the disproportionate impacts of both COVID-19 and food apartheid on communities made up of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), and especially Black and African American communities, prioritization will be given to businesses owned by minorities and serving low-income BIPOC communities. Additional prioritization criteria include businesses located in or serving a USDA-designated food desert; businesses sourcing and selling Pennsylvania grown or processed products to the extent practicable; and applicants with supplier diversity and offering increased business opportunities for Minority Business Enterprises, Women Business Enterprises, Service-Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises, Veteran Business Enterprises, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Business Enterprises; and Disability-Owned Business Enterprises.

“This pandemic has revealed many things, one of the most prevalent has been about where our food comes from – how it gets from the farm to those who need it. This relief fund is about strengthening the local food system and improving food security and nutrition,” said Sec. Redding. “We need to stimulate local economies, increase market opportunities for Pennsylvania farmers, create jobs, and contribute to better health by improving access to fresh, local foods – we need to feed Pennsylvania, now and in the years to come. And that is all a part of this initiative.”

The program is administered by the Department of Agriculture in partnership with the Department of Community and Economic Development. Applications will be accepted through August 14, 2020. Grant funds will be distributed to eligible applicants for impacts related to COVID-19 that have been incurred between March 1, 2020 and November 30, 2020, such as:

• Higher operating costs related to cleaning and social distancing requirements, including costs related to outside contracting associated with managing social distancing, limited occupancy, and cleaning;
• Infrastructure improvements including renovation, new construction, or adaptive reuse directly related to COVID-19;
• Equipment purchases that improve the availability of quality fresh food, such as additional refrigeration to manage volume, or personal protective equipment such as plexiglass dividers;
• Inventory (higher cost of goods, higher transportation or delivery costs, or procuring Pennsylvania-grown produce, meat, and dairy products, or loss of product);
• Innovative food access technology such as mobile or pop-up markets, or mobile EBT reader technology;
• Costs to expand access to Pennsylvania grown or processed produce, dairy and meat products or provide stable market access for Pennsylvania farmers that have lost or limited markets; and
• Other one-time or increased expenses incurred related to COVID-19.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the individuals and businesses that stepped up to protect and provide for their communities over the past several months, by supplying critical goods and services,” said Sec. Davin. “Little is as life sustaining as providing access to fresh, healthy food, especially in food-insecure areas. This funding will help alleviate the financial burdens placed on Pennsylvania’s food system during the pandemic and will ensure continued access to nutritional foods as we work toward greater recovery.”

“A very big part of staying healthy is having access to healthy food. The effects of this pandemic are challenging communities across this commonwealth where access to fresh food is limited, particularly urban communities,” said state Representative Austin Davis (D-Allegheny). “This innovative program will help food retailers to maintain access to healthy, fresh food for people who depend on it.”

“During these unprecedented times, it is critical that we provide support to the communities and organizations that need them most. The COVID-19 pandemic has illuminated the vulnerability of so many people who are struggling with food insecurity, especially how food deserts disproportionately impact communities of color,” said state Senator Tim Kearney (D-Chester, Delaware). “The Fresh Food Financing Initiative is an important step in putting food on the tables of individuals and families in need. Now more than ever, this initiative is essential to fighting hunger and ensuring access to healthy food for those hit hardest by this crisis.”

“Like so many things, food insecurity across the commonwealth — and especially in our urban areas — has been exacerbated by the current pandemic,” said state Representative Stephen Kinsey (D-Philadelphia). “Ensuring communities of color have access to fresh, perishable, and affordable foods to feed their families has never been more important and this program invests in the grocers and food providers who have struggled to ensure access through this crisis.”

“Like many businesses across our commonwealth, supermarkets that have utilized the Fresh Food Financing Initiative to locate in food deserts are incurring additional expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These grocers need assistance to safely remain open and to continue providing fresh and healthy food to these underserved communities, which far too often are communities of color,” said state Senator Pam Iovino (D-Allegheny, Washington). “As Pennsylvania pursues a holistic response to the pandemic, this funding will serve to support local economies and community health, particularly for some of those hardest hit.”

For full details on Fresh Food Financing Initiative COVID-19 Relief Fund eligibility, award amounts, additional prioritizations, and criteria visit agriculture.pa.gov/foodsecurity.

From PA Chamber of Business & Industry

PA Chamber of Business and Industry President and CEO Gene Barr issued the following statement after Gov. Tom Wolf signed S.B. 637, legislation that helps Pennsylvanians with criminal records re-enter the workforce by reforming the process by which they can obtain an occupational license:

“Pennsylvania oversees the administration of more than 250 types of processional licenses – that’s 250 potential opportunities for individuals to find meaningful employment and help to close an existing jobs skills gap. Previously, the rules varied in terms of when a criminal record could prevent issuance of an occupational license and impede someone from entering into careers for which they were otherwise qualified. Under the new law, licenses may only be denied if the job applicant’s record is related to the occupation they’re pursuing – the same standard that employers follow if a job applicant has a criminal record. In addition, the new law requires agencies to determine and publicize the types of criminal records that relate to certain licenses – with language we suggested to ensure that the employer community’s perspectives are being sought in the process.”

“Providing this uniformity and clarity in the application of the occupational licensure law will help people make informed decisions related to the education and training opportunities they pursue. It will further help to ensure that good candidates are not being denied entry into their chosen career path based on a bad decision for which they’ve already paid their debt to society. Helping otherwise qualified people earn occupational licenses is one part of the Pennsylvania Chamber’s multi-pronged strategy to address our state’s workforce crisis, and we applaud Senator John DiSanto and Representative Sheryl Delozier for sponsoring bills in their respective chambers; as well as all lawmakers and the governor for their support of this important legislation.”

On July 4, President Trump signed into law a bill extending the deadline to apply for a Paycheck Protection Program loan to August 8. This modification gives businesses an additional six weeks to apply for a PPP loan. If you have already received a Payroll Protection Program loan, you may not receive a second loan. If you have not received a loan through this program, however, you may be eligible for a PPP loan.

EIDL applications, which include the advance of up to $10,000, are also still being accepted.

The first round of the COVID-19 Relief Pennsylvania Statewide Small Business Assistance program is also open for small businesses through July 14th.

Links to additional information on these programs and the applications are available on the Chamber’s website.

The Chamber of Commerce and Bloomsburg University are again offering a program to help develop and sharpen skills for leading in today’s workplace environment.

The five-module management and leadership certificate program is appropriate for existing leaders, managers, and supervisors; or those who are new or emerging in any business sector. Dozens of individuals working at area employers have completed the program.

Professional course materials include activities and other learning enhancement components to help each participant individualize their learning experience. The five, three-hour modules are: supervisor effectiveness; effective communication for managers; conflict management; navigating a multigenerational workforce; and being a great mentor or coach. Participants will receive a certificate from Bloomsburg University upon completion and will have identified personal development goals to provide to their employers.

Online sessions are scheduled to begin September 22^nd and be held bi-weekly. Complete program details are available on the Chamber’s website. Applications are due no later than Friday, September 4^th.

The program qualifies for WEDnet funding. For eligibility information, visit wednetpa.com or contact Jennifer Williams at Bloomsburg University at 570-389-4004.

On July 7th, the Chamber and Bloomsburg University‘s Zeigler College of Business co-hosted a webinar to assist small businesses with recovery.  Dr. Todd Shawver, Dean of the Zeigler College of Business, also discussed how Bloomsburg University’s Small Business Recovery Program (SBRP) is available to provide individualized consulting services to small businesses impacted by COVID-19. 

Topics discussed included: SBRP’s free services, business planning, accounting, social media marketing, and pursuing business financing.  

If you were unable to attend the webinar, a recording is available on YouTube. Information on the Zeigler College of Business’ Small Business Recovery Program is available here.

More than 435 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 Orilie’s Medical Supply.

Orilie’s Medical Supply is an online medical supply store, that is Veteran owned in Danville.  They have access to 20,000+ items on their website, offering cleaning supplies for the home and office, to a variety of medical and healthcare specialty items.  To learn more about Orilie’s Medical Supply visit their website or Facebook page.