From PA Chamber of Business & Industry

Ahead of his 2020-21 state budget address, Gov. Tom Wolf reiterated his support for policies the PA Chamber has consistently opposed, due to their negative impact on economic growth and job creation.

At a morning press conference on Tuesday, Jan. 28, the governor announced he is again pushing to more than double the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour; along with the approval of an overtime eligibility expansion rule that aims to dramatically expand – both in the near-term and automatically going forward – the scope of employees eligible for overtime pay, or time-and-a-half for any hours worked over 40 in a week.  This proposal would be unaffordable for many employers who would be forced to convert salaried employees into hourly positions so that hours can be closely monitored and overtime avoided.

The governor voiced renewed support for these measures following the House’s inaction on S.B. 79, compromise legislation that passed the Senate in a 42-7 vote and would have rescinded the overtime rule in exchange for a more gradual and modest increase in the state’s minimum wage, to $9.50 an hour.  While the PA Chamber has historically opposed minimum wage increases, the organization believes this legislation had merit and was the only viable option for stopping the overtime proposal, the economic impact of which could be even worse for the employer community.  

On Friday, Jan. 31, the state’s Independent Regulatory Review Commission voted to move forward with the overtime proposal; after which PA Chamber President Gene Barr issued a statement expressing the organization’s disappointment with approval of a policy that so many employers statewide had voiced multiple concerns with.

“In 2018, during the initial phase of the review process, hundreds of opposition comments were submitted from a wide range of stakeholders – including nonprofits, higher education, local governments, small businesses among many others,” Barr said. “Many of these concerns were echoed by IRRC, which directed the Department to re-engage with stakeholders and submit a revised proposal for consideration.

“Unfortunately, the proposal approved today is only minimally different from the Department’s initial proposal and largely disregards the concerns raised by stakeholders.  We urge the General Assembly to consider the true impact of this proposal and for each legislative chamber to issue disapproval resolutions rejecting the change.” 

From the PA Chamber of Business & Industry

In May 2016, the Pennsylvania Chamber Educational Foundation teamed up with the mikeroweWORKS Foundation to increase public awareness around the growing demand for workers in the skilled trades, and to help award scholarships specifically to Pennsylvania students through the Work Ethic Scholarship Program.

In the past three years, thanks to generous donations from the Pennsylvania business community, the PA Chamber Educational Foundation has helped provide nearly $195,000 in work ethic scholarships for approximately 94 Pennsylvania students who are entering into the skilled trades in the Commonwealth. And now the 2020 Scholarship is open and available for students who are pursuing an education in the skilled trades to apply.

The PA Chamber hopes to have a record year in scholarships given to PA students interested in learning a skilled trade. You can learn more about the partnership here. 

From the PA Chamber of Business & Industry

Harrisburg – The Pennsylvania Chamber Educational Foundation is proud to launch “Your Career Starts HERE” – an online career calculator aimed at helping Pennsylvania students make informed post-secondary education decisions.  As the next phase of the PA Chamber’s wide-ranging workforce initiative aimed at addressing the jobs skills gap, Start the Conversation HERE, the calculator pulls key Pennsylvania specific information – including starting salary, educational costs and potential loan payments upon graduation.  This new website tool is designed to help Pennsylvania students determine the most productive career path.  

“For many people, post-secondary education is the first substantive investment they make as an adult,” said PA Chamber President and CEO Gene Barr.  “Unfortunately, we’re finding that many students are graduating with degrees that don’t match up with the in-demand careers that are currently available in the state.  This disconnect results in people without jobs, but also jobs without the people to fill them.  We’re excited to launch this innovative, user-friendly tool to help Pennsylvanians make educated decisions regarding the realistic costs and return on investment of their educational choices post-graduation.  This is the next step in our initiative to ensure Pennsylvania’s workforce is trained and prepared to meet the needs of the Commonwealth’s evolving jobs market.”  

The career calculator is an interactive tool that allows users to input key information to calculate the ROI on their educational investment and selected career field.  Based on data pulled from the state and federal government, users can determine the job prospects in a particular field, the average starting salary, the training or educational requirements; as well as the educational costs and potential loan payments upon graduation.  Users can also compare the costs of obtaining the degree/training for a specific career at different schools across the Commonwealth.    

“The initial career and educational choices a person makes can either set them on a path toward long-term debt or career readiness,” said PA Chamber Workforce Development Executive Allen Norton.  “There’s a large segment of the population that is not unemployed, but rather underemployed – meaning that they are working in a career that they didn’t need the degree they went to school for.  We’re hoping to stop that cycle and also stop the state’s population decline by showing all the career and educational opportunities that exist in Pennsylvania.”

More information on the PA Chamber’s far-reaching workforce initiative is available online.   

Attendees enjoyed an evening at Java Momma while sampling fresh brewed coffee and taking tours of their new facility on Ferry Street in Danville at the Chamber’s first Business After Hours of 2020, held January 29th. 

Java Momma offers wholesale for retail/private label, coffee for breakrooms with subscription and delivery options, bulk coffee, as well as tea and cocoa. Their Coffee Cart will soon be available daily with coffees and baked goods for sale (self-serve). Casual seating will be available.

Business After Hours provide regular opportunities to build business relationships while learning about the services offered by other Chamber members. The next Business After Hours is currently slated for Wednesday, Feb. 26 at the Danville Child Development Center, 986 Wall St., Danville. The 2020 Business After Hours schedule for the whole year is available on our website.

From the PA Chamber of Business & Industry

Barring any unforeseen development, the state’s Independent Regulatory Review Commission is expected to consider and likely approve Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed overtime eligibility expansion measure at a meeting on Friday, Jan. 31.

The PA Chamber has been a leading voice against the governor’s proposal to dramatically expand – both in the near-term and automatically going forward – the scope of employees eligible for overtime pay, or time-and-a-half for any hours worked over 40 in a week.  This costly move would force many employers to convert their workers from salaried into hourly positions so that hours can be closely monitored and overtime avoided.

Late last year the state Senate voted 42-7 to pass S.B. 79 – compromise legislation that would rescind the overtime rule in exchange for a gradual increase in Pennsylvania’s minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $9.50 by 2022.  While the PA Chamber has historically opposed minimum wage increases, the Chamber concluded the compromise has merit and, as the only viable option to stopping the overtime rule, have urged the House to pass it as well.

Governor Wolf had previously said that if S.B. 79 did not reach his desk before Jan. 31, he would allow IRRC to take up the measure at the end of January.  That scenario now appears likely as the House is not scheduled to be back in session until Feb. 3. Should IRRC approve the proposal (which is expected given its 3-2 Democratic majority) the PA Chamber will advocate that House and Senate lawmakers pass a motion to disapprove the measure.  This action is widely considered symbolic, however, as any disapproval legislation would have to overcome a likely veto by Gov. Wolf.    

• McKonly & Asbury Announces Promotions
  McKonly & Asbury,  a regional accounting and business advisory services firm, recently announced promotions for a number of team members.
  
  Aaron Stagliano, CPA – Senior Manager
  Aaron joined McKonly & Asbury in 2019 through the firm’s acquisition of Brewer & Company, LLC. He had been with Brewer & Company, LLC for 8 years. As a member of McKonly & Asbury’s Assurance Practice, Aaron specializes in audits of nonprofit organizations, local governments, construction, and small businesses. Aaron works out of the firm’s Bloomsburg office and holds a B.S. in Business Administration Degree in Accounting from Bloomsburg University
  
  Robert Grey, CPA – Supervisor
  Bob joined McKonly & Asbury in 2019 through the firm’s acquisition of Brewer & Company, LLC. He had been with Brewer & Company, LLC for 14 years. As a member of McKonly & Asbury’s Assurance Practice, Bob provides a wide range of services to clients by performing audits, reviews, and compilations to non-profit organizations and local government entities. He is also a member of our firm’s Tax Practice and oversees the individual tax return preparation process in the Bloomsburg office. Bob works out of the firm’s Bloomsburg office and holds a B.S. in Business Administration Degree in Accounting from Bloomsburg University.
  
  Chad Roeder, CPA – Senior Accountant
  Chad joined McKonly & Asbury in 2019 through the firm’s acquisition of Brewer & Company, LLC. He had been with Brewer & Company, LLC for 1 year. As a member of McKonly & Asbury’s Assurance and Tax Practices, Chad performs audits and tax returns for clients in the nonprofit and local government industries. Chad works out of the firm’s Bloomsburg office and holds a B.S.B.A. in Accounting and Management from Bloomsburg University.
  
  Dan Brewer retired from the firm effective January 15.
  
  Kurt Trimarchi is the new Managing Partner of the Bloomsburg office.
  
  
• Bloomsburg Children’s Museum Offers Free Programming in February
  The Bloomsburg Children’s Museum, 2 West 7th Street, will offer a number of free programs this month, including:
  

  Families with Special Needs Night
  Friday, January 31, 4-7 p.m.
  Come to a fun night out for families with special needs! Enjoy a performance from IMAGE. IMAGE is a Sign Language performance group from Bloomsburg University. Their main goal is to promote American Sign Language, ASL, as a true language. Enjoy reduced number of visitors, a quiet area, fun craft and sensory activities, and an opportunity to network with other families. Admission is FREE.

  Paint Me A Story: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
  Tuesday, February 4, 1-2 p.m.
  This Tuesday afternoon story-time art-studio-mashup is a whole lot of fun for your little ones ages 2-6. Hands-on activities while exploring rotating themes are available on a walk-in basis, while supplies last. Free with Museum admission.

  National Cherry Month
  Saturday, February 8, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
  Did you know each cherry tree grows enough cherries to produce 700 cherry pies? Join us this Saturday to celebrate National Cherry Month. Learn about this fruit and where it is grown. Free with regular admission.

  Homeschool Hangouts
  Wednesday, February 12 and 26, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
  Parent/child activities designed to complement concepts taught in homeschool curriculum, grades K-12. Discounted admission for homeschool families.

  Girls Who Code
  Thursday, February 6 and 20, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
  Girls Who Code is a FREE after-school program for 3rd-5th grade girls. Learn the concepts of loops, variables, conditionals and functions that form the basis for all programming languages. All while having fun and making friends!

  For more information about these events and dozens of others, visit the Museum’s website and calendar.

• Zartman increases capacity with 300 ton crane
  Zartman Equipment Rental increased its crane fleet capacity with the purchase of a Grove GMK5250L, which has a capacity of up to 300 tons.
  
  “Our new crane will allow us to expand our offerings for our customers,” said Tim Clark, Vice President of Operations. “This is the
  largest crane Zartman has ever owned and we’re very excited about the new opportunities it will bring.”
  
  Zartman’s fleet of nine cranes ranges in capacity from 8.5 tons to 300 tons. The GMK5250L has five outrigger positions, which allows for set up in tighter spaces. The crane also has the ability to move about a jobsite while carrying the counterweights. It features up to a 50° jib offset, allowing for greater ability to reach over obstacles.
  
  Zartman purchased their first 18 ton crane in 1975 and began a rental business shortly after. Zartman operators are all NCCCO certified, and at Zartman safety is always a number one concern.

Businesses are invited to participate in an upcoming event aimed at educating local students and their parents about the diverse paths to a successful career. The Chamber’s Foundation is partnering with PA CareerLink and Central Pennsylvania Workforce Development Corporation to host the 2020 Future Careers Expo and Parent Pathways Awareness Night. This is a wonderful opportunity for employers to meet with students (and parents) and share information about the types of work that is done, and the jobs that are available. This is not intended to be a “job fair”, but an opportunity to inspire students to explore a career path that might lead to your company. 

The event will be held Tuesday, March 3^rd from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Columbia Montour Area Vocational Technical School. Participating businesses can begin setting up at 4:45. There is no cost to participate.

Middle and high school students and their parents from at least eight area districts (Benton, Berwick, Bloomsburg, Central Columbia, Columbia Montour Vo-Tech, Danville, Millville, Southern Columbia) will be invited to attend. The goal of this event is to educate students about the many great career opportunities in our area, including the types of industries available here, the skills and education needed for specific careers, future job openings, etc.

Participating employers are encouraged to provide the following information:

• An overview of your business/industry
• The types of jobs or careers available and the education, or skills, needed for those jobs
• The future of your business and how that will affect future careers
• Information on internships, job shadowing, etc.
• Any type of informational or marketing materials that can be handed out
• Photos/display boards/examples of products or services
• Hands on activities that demonstrate your business
• Your contact information in case students have more questions following the Expo
• Door prizes that students may win through random drawings

Tables (6′ long) will be provided and electricity, internet access, and a limited number of extension cords will be available.  Businesses should provide their own table cloths and skirting. A light meal will be provided for the representatives working the Expo. 

Register for the event at https://tinyurl.com/futurepathexpo no later than Friday, February 21. For questions or additional information, contact Jeff Emanuel at the Foundation at foundation@columbiamontourchamber.com or 570-784-2522.

Members can get a free assessment of their website thanks to the newest offer in the Chamber’s member-to-member discount program. Carnegie Agency will review the digital foundation of websites. There are two aspects of the assessment for usability. First, the aesthetics of the site based on the user experience and second, how it is viewed by search engines like Google. By updating default settings, businesses can be better positioned to display at the proper search ranking with the correct description for customers and prospects. To get started on the process of having a more effective website, contact Carnegie Agency at info@carnegieagency.com or 412-983-8191.

This and other member-to-member offers are listed on the Chamber website. There is no additional cost to participate in the program. If you would like to offer a discount or special promotion to fellow Chamber members, send the information to Fred Gaffney at fgaffney@columbiamontourchamber.com or 570-784-2522.

• Have you made a deliberate effort to ensure succession planning in your business? NEPIRC and NEPA SHRM will present a Talent Succession Planning workshop on Tuesday, March 10 from 8:30-10 a.m. at the Holiday Inn in Wilkes Barre. The workshop will discuss how to ensure leadership continuity in key positions, retain and develop intellectual capital for the future and encourage individual advancement. Benefits of the succession planning include: disaster-proofing your business, identifying qualified future leaders, and long-term business planning. For more info and to register, visit their website.
  
  
• The Town of Bloomsburg is reaching out to Bloomsburg homeowners who need home repairs such as roofing, electrical upgrades, furnace repair and window replacement. The Town is building a waitlist of qualified candidates that meet grant specifications. These grants could cover 100% of the costs if the Town would successfully be awarded.  Please contact Stacy Anderson at SEDA-COG at 1-800-326-9310.

• Early Bird Sports Expo this weekend: The 32^nd annual Early Bird Sports Expo is this Thursday through Sunday (January 23-26^th) at the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds. Show hours and a list of participating vendors are available at earlybirdexpo.net. The Broadt family, organizers of the event for the last 13 years, have announced that this will be the last year for the Expo. The Early Bird Sports Expo was started in 1988 by Tom and Mary Lou Austin.

• The Montour Area Recreation Commission recently recognized a number of organizations and individuals who helped support MARC’s efforts to preserve and enhance public spaces in Montour County, including Hess Fields and the Montour Preserve. Among those recognized was USG as Corporate Supporter of the Year. Dr. Frank Maffei, Chair of Pediatrics for the Geisinger Women and Children’s Institute (right), was recognized as MARC’s Community Health & Wellness Advocate of the Year.

  Bob Stoudt, MARC Director, also talked about a brighter future for MARC and the Preserve thanks to new revenue being generated, in-part, by an increase in the Montour County room tax. The rate was increased from 3% to 5% as of January 1, with the new revenue supporting MARC programming. Stoudt thanked the Montour County Commissioners and Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau for working to create this new revenue stream. Geisinger has also made a five-year commitment to the organization of $25,000 annually.

  

  Dr. Frank Maffei, Chair of Pediatrics for the Geisinger Women and Children’s Institute (right) was recognized as MARC’s Community Health & Wellness Advocate of the Year. Presenting the recognition was Bob Stoudt (left), MARC Director.