From PA Chamber of Business & Industry

Last week, the state’s Independent Fiscal Office released its Five Year Economic and Budget Outlook and while revenue collections continue to come in strong, the agency warns that the state is facing potential budget deficits in the near future. 

For the current 2019-20 Fiscal Year, the IFO is projecting that the state could face a potential $409 million shortfall, with that number growing to $1.3 billion for the 2022-23 Fiscal Year.  The IFO takes a variety of factors into consideration when creating its future projections, including: mandatory and non-mandatory expenditures; economic forecast projections; and changing demographics – particularly the state’s aging population.  Additionally, the use of one-time revenue sources to balance that annual state spending plan; as well as supplemental budget requests also play a role in the structural imbalance.

According to the IFO, the state’s mandated expenditures are expected to outpace revenue collections for each of the next five years.

• The November issue of Danville Child Development Center’s newsletter is available. 

• Recently, the Danville Primary School in the Danville Area School District joined the Johns Hopkins University’s National Network of Partnership Schools, a nationwide program that helps create excellent schools where families, teachers, staff and community members work together to create successful students. This new designation encompasses many things, one of which is creating home learning areas for children. As part of this initiative, the Primary School is looking to purchase children’s desks for children in the school that may need assistance. If you or your organization is interested in assisting with this goal, please see the flyer, and for additional information or questions, contact June Heeter by email or at 570-394-8413. 

• BNI Central Pennsylvania, the Chamber’s newest member, will host an informational interest meeting for those interested in possibly becoming a part of a new chapter in Bloomsburg. The meeting will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 4, from 7-9 a.m., at the Hampton Inn Bloomsburg. See the Facebook event page for additional information and registration. 

• The Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center (NEPIRC) will hold a free four-hour seminar on leadership development on Thursday, Dec. 12, from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Central Susquehanna Community Foundation, 725 Front St., Berwick. This program helps individuals become stronger, more impactful leaders. While joining other managers and supervisors to discuss workplace challenges, attendees will explore topics that include Self-Awareness, Power & Authority, Risk & Failure, and Leadership Style. Using self-assessment tools and experiential learning, attendees will examine their strengths and weaknesses while exploring best practices of exceptional leaders. To register, and for a list of other locations of similar seminars, visit NEPIRC’s registration page. 

• Wild For Salmon will host a holiday tasting on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at its retail store located at 521 Montour Blvd. (Rt. 11), Bloomsburg. There will be samples of various holiday-inspired dishes and other festive samples available, as well as a couple of other vendors there as well. Visit the Facebook event for more information. 

Governor Tom Wolf is expected to pull his plan to increase the threshold for overtime eligibility if the legislature passes an increase in Pennsylvania’s minimum wage. On Monday, Nov. 18, the Senate Labor & Industry unanimously advanced a bill that would gradually increase the minimum wage to $9.50 an hour by Jan. 1, 2022. This would be a compromise from the $12 rate Wolf has been calling for since he took office.

Senate Bill 79 would increase Pennsylvania’s minimum wage from the current federal level of $7.25 to $8.00 an hour beginning July 1, 2020, then to $8.50 beginning Jan. 1, 2021, $9.00 beginning July 1, 2021, and $9.50 beginning Jan. 1, 2022, with no escalator beyond that. The legislation does not change the application of the tipped wage.

In exchange for the increase, the Governor is expected to drop his plan to increase the overtime eligibility threshold from the current level of $23,660 to $45,500 in three years. A new federal threshold of $35,568 is already scheduled to take effect Jan. 1. The Chamber’s Board of Directors voted to oppose the Governor’s proposal, as additional increases as the state level would create an excessive burden on businesses and inconsistency for employers that operate in multiple states.

While the Senate is expected to approve the minimum wage proposal, House leadership has not indicated support. The PA Chamber of Business and Industry is not supporting the legislation, but president Gene Barr feels that a modest increase in the minimum wage is an appropriate trade to avoid a dramatic increase in the overtime threshold which is expected to have significantly more negative impacts on employers and employees.

More than 400 businesses and organizations belong to the Chamber to receive benefits and support efforts to strengthen their businesses and our region. Increased membership allows us to offer additional programs and benefits, have a stronger voice in advocacy and be involved in more activities and initiatives in our communities. The Chamber welcomes its newest member, BNI® Central Pennsylvania, to help us fulfill our mission.

BNI stands for Business Network International, and it is the world’s leading business networking and referral organization. Each week, in thousands of communities around the world, members meet with each other to build and cultivate relationships and pass qualified business referrals. BNI uses a franchise model, and BNI Central Pennsylvania is the local franchise that encompasses both Columbia and Montour Counties and beyond. The nearest BNI chapters to our area are currently in the Scranton and Wilkes-Barre areas, as well as in Lewisburg and Williamsport. BNI is planning to hold an informational event on the possible formation of a new chapter in Bloomsburg on Wednesday, Dec. 4, from 7-9 a.m. at the Hampton Inn Bloomsburg. For more information, visit its website or Facebook page, or email. 

A committee working to enhance downtown Berwick is encouraging area residents to get some exercise by exploring the community. The Berwick On the Move wellness initiative is inviting people to participate in an easy activity in honor of the annual Run for the Diamonds. In addition to getting some fresh air, participants have the opportunity to win a $20 gift card.

Starting at the corner of Market and Second streets, heading north toward the Jackson Mansion, count out the number of sidewalk blocks equal to the age of the Run for the Diamonds. Once you reach the correct number of blocks, take a picture of the closest street sign and email the picture to berwickonthemove@gmail.com by midnight, Nov. 30. One $20 gift card will be awarded in a random drawing from all submissions. 

Berwick On the Move is supported by the Central Susquehanna Community Foundation.

Students at Bloomsburg University recently had the opportunity to network with dozens of alumni and other business leaders in learning about topics to prepare them to enter the workforce. The Zeigler Institute for Professional Development (ZIPD) Business Conference was held on campus Nov. 7 and 8 with hundreds of students participating. The Chamber and other local employers participated to help students in their development and make them aware of career opportunities in our area. 

Panel discussions and individual presentations focused on a wide range of topics including soft skills, ethics, personal branding, entrepreneurship, and specific career fields. Fred Gaffney, (’96) Chamber president, participated in several panel discussions and encouraged students to reach out to the Chamber to explore opportunities with local employers. Mary Howe, Director of ZIPD and former Chamber Board chair, regularly brings students to Chamber events to help them make connections and develop networking skills.

“One of our goals at the Chamber is to connect more local employers with Bloomsburg University, with the ultimate outcome that students will identify career opportunities and stay in our area. The ZIPD conference is a tremendous opportunity for students to make connections with potential employers,” said Gaffney “It’s also very gratifying to share experiences and knowledge with the students to assist them in their development.”

The conference was supported in part by SEKISUI SPI, main event sponsor.

From DRIVE

A Joint Venture between the Columbia County Industrial Development Authority (CCIDA) and DRIVE announced today that all seven lots in the Columbia County Business Park have been sold. In 2007, CCIDA and the Columbia Alliance for Economic Growth began the project with the goal of bringing jobs to the county.

“Job creation is at the heart of our mission,” said Nancy Marr, chair of CCIDA and president of Marr Development. “Providing a location for businesses to grow and expand in Columbia County, and offering employment opportunities for residents is our goal.” 

Members of the boards of DRIVE, CCIDA and the Columbia Alliance gathered on Thursday, Nov. 14 at the Fairfield Inn & Suites to celebrate and honor this accomplishment and the commitment to economic development in Columbia County. 

DRIVE assumed the Joint Venture when the Columbia Alliance dissolved in 2018. “It became DRIVE’s responsibility to sell these parcels on behalf of the Joint Venture. We’ll continue to work with the property owners and market the Business Park until each lot is fully developed,” said Jennifer Wakeman, DRIVE’s Executive Director. “It is an ideal location for offices or light industrial space with its proximity to Interstate 80.”

Reaching this milestone in the Business Park’s growth is a moment worth celebrating, according to Vic Klein, chair of the Columbia Alliance. “There were definitely some speed bumps along the way and a lot of hours put in by countless people to bring this park to fruition. I’m just thrilled to see it reach this point with all the lots now sold.”

Ed Edwards, former Chamber president, was also President of the Columbia Alliance leading up to the construction of the Park. Responsibility during the construction phase transitioned to Fred Gaffney, current Chamber president, upon Edwards’ retirement in 2010.

Currently, the Business Park is home to Fairfield Inn & Suites and construction is underway on Larry Frace Inspection Services’ Northeast Training Institute (NETI), as well as the Forest & Field design center, part of Tri-County Lumber. Additional development is planned by Marr Development and Mariano Enterprises.

The 54-acre project in Scott Township was developed with assistance from the Economic Development Administration and Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development.

From PA Chamber of Business & Industry

In late October, the House Labor and Industry Committee voted along party lines to pass H.B. 1234, legislation that would amend the state’s Workers’ Compensation law in response to a state Supreme Court decision known as the Tooey case. 

In 2013, the Court ruled in Tooey that employers can potentially be sued in civil court for claims involving alleged occupational diseases filed outside the workers’ compensation eligibility window of 300 weeks (or five and a half years) after employment.  This ruling leaves employers at risk for costly civil litigation.

In a memo sent to the committee prior to the vote, the PA Chamber noted that, while our organization does not dispute the Court’s conclusion that individuals in these circumstances ought to have a remedy, as work-related injuries these claims should be directed to workers’ compensation.  House Bill 1234 would do just that by providing an additional window of workers’ compensation eligibility following diagnosis of the condition and preventing these cases from proceeding to civil court.

The bill was voted out of the House Labor and Industry Committee by a vote of 15 to 10.  It now goes before the full House for further consideration. 

• For their service project this year, Life Skills students at Liberty Valley Intermediate School in the Danville Area School District will be making no-sew tie blankets and donating them to people in need. In support of this project, the program is looking for donations of fleece blanket fabric or money to purchase fabric. Any donation would be greatly appreciated and will go directly toward the student making blankets for the community. All donors will be recognized on a card that will be given to the community along with the blanket. If interested in donating for this project, please submit any donations by this Friday, Nov. 15. Donations can be mailed to or dropped off at the school, located at 175 Liberty Valley Rd., Danville. Donations can also be picked up by calling Elise Truax at 570-271-3268, ext. 3675. For additional information, please see the letter.

• MePush, recently welcomed seven new faces to its team over the past five months: Collin Snyder, Adam Gemberling, Josh King, Brian Eyster, Jason Clarke, Brad Duncan and Jenna Helwig. Since its inception 15 years ago, MePush has grown from one employee to 24 full-time IT professionals focused on four key business service areas: cybersecurity, managed services, hosted services and IT support ranging from business interconnection and automation to compliance and customer data security. For photos and bios of all of MePush’s new hires, visit the MePush website. 

• The Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center (NEPIRC) will hold a free four-hour seminar on leadership development on Thursday, Dec. 12, from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Central Susquehanna Community Foundation, 725 Front St., Berwick. This program helps individuals become stronger, more impactful leaders. While joining other managers and supervisors to discuss workplace challenges, attendees will explore topics that include Self-Awareness, Power & Authority, Risk & Failure, and Leadership Style. Using self-assessment tools and experiential learning, attendees will examine their strengths and weaknesses while exploring best practices of exceptional leaders. To register, and for a list of other locations of similar seminars, visit NEPIRC’s registration page. 

Promotional flyer (pdf)
Official contest rules (pdf)
Application (pdf)

Berwick: The Next Step (BNS) is excited to announce its first Business Pitch Competition. Partnering with Wilkes University’s Small Business Development Center, BNS brings this unique opportunity to aspiring entrepreneurs interested in opening a new business in downtown Berwick.

Entrepreneurs wishing to compete must submit a letter of intent and application by 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 13. Selected participants will be notified by Jan. 6 and given an opportunity to present their idea to a panel of judges on Jan. 13. Competition finalists will then work with Wilkes University’s Small Business Development Center over the course of six weeks to develop a business plan. That plan will be reviewed for feedback by a panel of judges in March, and final pitches will take place the first week of April.

Competitors will be judged on several criteria, including business innovation. The winner of this competition will receive a prize package valued at more than $20,000 (which will include subsidized rent, access to $10,000 in low-interest loans, a six-month internet credit, a gift card for printing materials, as well as several professional services, including legal and accounting.)

For applications, rules, and more information, email Josh Nespoli or visit columbiamontourchamber.com/berwickbizpitch.

Partnering Businesses include:
Atlantic Broadband
Berwick Industrial Development Association
Campbell Printing
Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce
First Keystone Community Bank
Law Offices of Lutz & Petty
ND Accounting & Consulting PC
Walker’s Jewelers
Wilkes University Small Business Development Center
and partnering agencies for Berwick: The Next Step