Small Business Owners: Make your voice heard!

The Federal Reserve Banks are conducting a national survey of existing and pre-start small business owners/managers. This survey – the Small Business Credit Survey (SBCS) helps to amplify the voices of small businesses. It tracks small business financing conditions and brings small business conditions to the attention of service providers, lenders, and policy makers. Individual responses are confidential.

The SBCS is a national sample of small businesses — those with fewer than 500 employees — aimed at providing insight into firms’ financing and debt needs and experiences. It is designed to identify potential financing challenges affecting small businesses and bring them to the attention of those who have the ability to make changes.

More than 400 chambers of commerce, small business development centers, lenders, and other technical assistance and advisory organizations have invited their members to participate in previous surveys. Firms have used information from the SBCS to advance their business goals and assist with other policy objectives.

Summary results will be shared with you. You are encouraged to take the survey today. It is estimated that it will take about only 10 minutes to complete the survey. 

The survey closes Dec. 20, 2019. For questions, contact PHILFedSmallBusiness@phil.frb.org.

If you have problems with the link above, copy and paste the following URL into a new browser
http://frb.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6eU4rTBoP0L3MPz?orgid=ColumbiaMontour_CC&parentid=&reserve_bank=PHI

From Penn State World Campus

Note: Employees of all Columbia Montour Chamber members, their spouses and dependents are eligible for a 5% discount on tuition through the PSU World Campus.

Katherine Meckler, a captain in the United States Air Force, helps pilots to navigate the skies, has completed six deployments around the world since 2017, and moved across the country for a new assignment. Despite leading such a busy life, she is pursuing her master’s degree online from Penn State and carries a 4.0 GPA.

Meckler is a Penn State World Campus student who is balancing the demands of serving in the military and working toward a master’s degree in geographic information systems. Meckler, who has a bachelor’s degree in geography, hopes her master’s degree will allow her to go back to the geographic information field once her active-duty military service ends.

“I knew I wanted to get it in something similar to my undergraduate degree since I loved what I studied,” said Meckler, who received her bachelor’s degree from Penn State’s Department of Geography in 2014. “It only made sense to look at World Campus programs because Penn State is world-renowned for its geography programs, and World Campus would allow me to study anywhere in the world.”

Meckler traveled extensively in Europe and the Middle East for her airborne job. She used every bit of downtime that she could find to pursue her degree.

“Getting my work done was more about time management than anything else,” Meckler said. “Most of the time I was just able to work on school from my hotel room or the base library.”

Other times, Meckler was able to turn technological challenges into opportunities.

“There was this one deployment when the internet was spotty in my hotel room, so I did most of my work in a pub down the street. I would sit there for hours and the staff got to know me pretty well,” Meckler said. “They would just keep bringing me tea kettle after tea kettle, sometimes with a scone and clotted cream or a slice of spice cake on the house. It was a wonderful way to immerse myself in the culture.”

Meckler said that her success was made possible in part by Penn State instructors who understood her military lifestyle.

“They were communicating with me constantly to work out a plan,” Meckler said of her professors, who teach in the Department of Geography in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. “They treated me as a valuable member of their community and genuinely care about my success in their program.”

Meckler received the 2019 Lt. Michael P. Murphy Award in Geospatial Intelligence, which recognizes achievement by a Penn State graduate who is serving or has served in the U.S. armed forces or the intelligence community, based on their contribution to the geospatial intelligence discipline.

“It was an absolute honor to receive the Lt. Michael P. Murphy Award not only because of what it honors, but also for who it honors,” Meckler said. “To me, Lt. Murphy was the physical embodiment of giving your all in whatever you do.”

Meckler expects to graduate in May. She aspires to transition her passion for geographic information systems to a career with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency after her active-duty military service ends.

Visit the Penn State World Campus website for more information about the master’s degree in geographic information systems.

While they didn’t do any actual reading (unless they checked out a book to take home with them after the event), members had an opportunity to meet and interact with several employees of the Bloomsburg Public Library, as well as a majority of its board and board members of the Friends of the Library at September’s Business After Hours. Attendees heard directly from library staffers and board members about what’s going on at the library, the various programs and services available to all patrons, and about the value of the library to the community. 

Attendees also had an opportunity to enjoy some delicious appetizers prepared with care by several different board members and other volunteers. With September also being Library Card Sign-Up month nationally, which is intended to promote literacy, attendees also had the opportunity to sign up for a card if they didn’t already have one, and anyone else is welcome to stop in this month or anytime at the library to do just that. 

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 will be held at Service 1st Federal Credit Union’s Elysburg branch, located at 196 West Valley Ave., Elysburg, on Thursday, Oct. 10, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. There will also be a second Business After Hours in October on Wednesday, Oct. 23 at Berwick Hospital Center, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. 

From PA Chamber of Business & Industry

Following feedback from the state’s Independent Regulatory Review Commission and stakeholders, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry is expected to indicate sometime this fall how they intend to proceed with potential proposed changes to the state’s overtime eligibility rules.

In 2018, the PA Department of Labor and Industry proposed new rules related to employee eligibility for overtime pay, including doubling the minimum salary threshold for exemption and requiring regular increases. The PA Chamber, along with hundreds of other employers and advocates, submitted comments to IRRC expressing concerns, and ultimately IRRC issued its own comments with a significant number of questions and suggestions to which the Department must respond in a subsequent filing. Among IRRC’s directives to the Department was more robust stakeholder outreach and in May and June of this year, the Department conducted a series of employer roundtable meetings throughout Pennsylvania. 

When President Obama proposed similar changes to the federal rule in 2015, the response from employers was swift and deeply negative, particularly among small businesses, nonprofit organizations, higher education institutions and the health service industry, among others. Employers not only described significant increases to the cost of providing services or doing businesses, but also the reality that this dramatic change would damage workplace culture and morale, as employees would have to be shifted from earning a salary to being paid by the hour. This transition typically requires employees to start clocking in and out, along with more burdensome record-keeping, less flexibility, a rigid work schedule and fewer training opportunities and benefits.

In February 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor released a new proposal to update overtime eligibility standards, which includes raising the salary threshold for exempt status but to a level considered less disruptive.

• The Ken Pollock Auto Group will hold a car seat safety check in conjunction with the PA State Police tomorrow, Sept. 19, from 2-5 p.m., at its Tire and Auto Center, located at 88 Wyoming Valley Mall Blvd, Wilkes-Barre. 

• The Danville Area Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Central Susquehanna Community Foundation, will hold its grant awards breakfast on Wednesday, Oct. 9, from 8:30-10 a.m., at the Meadows Community Center at the Maria Joseph Continuing Care Community. This event annually celebrates the investments made to community organizations through the work of the DACF. Local nonprofit organizations will be presented with 2019 grant awards during the breakfast. Reservations are required but there is no cost to attend (see printed invitation). To reserve your seat, please contact Katie Simpson by email or at 570-752-3930 by Oct. 2.

• The Ronald McDonald House of Danville recently had the opportunity to partner with Beiter’s Home Center during the Little League World Series to raise funds for thousands of families. Beiter’s presented RMHD with a check for $30,057.05 which represents 100% of the proceeds raised from parking cars during the Little League World Series. RMHD extends a big thank you to all of the fantastic volunteers who helped make this fundraiser a huge success.

• The Danville Child Development Center’s September newsletter is now available. 

• Susquehanna Steam Electric Station (SSES) recently hosted its annual Team Susquehanna/Berwick Area United Way golf tournament raising over $84,000 to benefit the Berwick Area United Way, and the local programs and agencies it supports.  In the tournament’s 10-year history, it has raised over $730,000 for the Berwick Area United Way.  In 2018, the event supplied 77% of all the funding awarded to agencies that serve the local community. 

  

  (L-R): Susquehanna Steam Electric Station Employee and Golf Tournament Chair, Kip McCabe; Talen Energy senior vice president and Chief Nuclear Officer, Brad Berryman; United Way President and Chief Executive Officer, Bill Jones; and United Way Community Impact Coordinator, Ayrin Shortlidge.

  “Susquehanna Station is proud to support the Berwick Area United Way through our annual golf tournament,” said senior vice president Chief Nuclear Officer, Brad Berryman.  “We are grateful to all the volunteers and sponsors who helped to make our 10th tournament a success.” In addition to their annual golf tournament, SSES supports the Berwick Area United Way through an annual employee giving campaign, backpack donations for their Stuff the Bus initiative, and volunteer resources for their annual Day of Caring.  They are also hosting their first annual clay shoot tournament fundraiser this fall.  

• There will be a fun, Halloween-themed, family-friendly fundraising event on Saturday, Oct. 26, at Hawkins Chevrolet, located at 1856 Montour Blvd. (Rt. 11), Danville, to benefit the Montour Area Recreation Commission, which manages the Montour Preserve. This event is being hosted by the Danville Business Alliance and several other Danville-based organizations. It will feature an obstacle course, pumpkin toss, trunk or treat and much more. All proceeds raised from the event will benefit MARC, which currently does not have enough funding to sustain operations beyond next fall. For additional information, visit the Facebook event page, and view the below video. 

Portions of this article are from PA CareerLink

A new website intended to provide a place for employers to connect with students and schools to highlight the many career opportunities available in the local area has launched. Pathtocareers.org is the result of a collaboration between the Central Pennsylvania Workforce Development Corporation, Central PA CareerLink (which includes PA CareerLink Columbia/Montour Counties), and the Foundation of the Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce. 

Here is what organizations can do with the website. 

HIGHLIGHT YOUR BUSINESS

Share information you want young people, teachers, and parents to know about your business. Highlight reasons young people should consider a future with your company and what steps they must take to start a successful career with your business.

POST AVAILABLE EXPERIENCES

Post career experiences you are able to offer and when you offer them. You set the agenda and define whether you’ll offer experiences such as company tours, internships, co-ops, and job shadows. Schools will initiate connections with your designated staff through the click of a button.

CONNECT AND IMPACT

You’ll meet young people and educators who are eager to learn from you! Build meaningful connections with schools and students more efficiently and effectively as you look to find the next generation of leadership and impact the future.


To register your business on this website, visit the website and the instructions for doing so. 

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, The Keystone School, to help us fulfill our mission.

The Keystone School is an accredited online school that offers cyber education for all levels, from elementary school through adult learning. They have students from all around the country as well as internationally. The Keystone School is a division of K12, Inc. Located at 920 Central Rd. in Bloomsburg, Keystone School can be reached at 1-800-255-4937, or visit its website. 

From ChamberChoice & Smart Business Pittsburgh

Let’s face it, one of the most important and costly issues for employers today is implementing and managing a successful employee benefits program.

“When it comes to retaining and recruiting quality employees, your benefits program is a critical component, and in most cases, it can account for 40 percent or more of total compensation costs,” says Ron Smuch, Insurance and Benefits Analyst at JRG Advisors. “Employers should take the time to implement a strategic, well-thought-out benefits program that meets the employee needs and the business objectives.

Smart Business spoke with Smuch about what employers need to consider to achieve a successful benefits program.

How do the objectives and budget shape these programs?

A successful employee benefits program has clearly identified objectives. If you’re offering benefits just so you can say that ‘we offer benefits,’ you’re missing the mark.

Identifying clear objectives will lay the groundwork and guidance to establish the selection and design of your benefits program. Keep in mind, the objectives should reflect both the employer and employee needs. Additional factors also to be considered include employer size, location and industry. Unless you have an open checkbook, budget is an equally important factor. If you already have a benefits plan in place, current benefits costs and projected costs should be analyzed.

Why are the employees’ needs important?

A survey or needs assessment should be conducted to identify the coverage, cost and network that reflect the needs of your employees. Benefits are by no means one-size-fits-all in today’s diverse workforce. Gaining feedback from your employees will increase motivation and satisfaction with the benefits program. Employee feedback can also help to prioritize which benefits would be most helpful in achieving satisfaction with the plan.

How can employers use survey data?

After analyzing the employee feedback, employers should prioritize the survey findings. For example, the cost of providing the prioritized benefits can then be evaluated and compared to the overall budget and cost sharing methodology.

This process can involve many factors. For instance, should changes be made to the current benefits plan design to promote cost savings? Can underutilized benefits not important to employees be eliminated? What cost containment features can be implemented? These are all important points to evaluate when considering the design of the benefits program.

Where does communication come into play?

Developing effective communication channels should be at the forefront of the planning and management of any employee benefits program. The only way to get employees on board is to ensure that they fully understand their benefits and coverage. Without employee support and satisfaction, an employer’s efforts could prove futile. If employee feedback was used as a determining factor in the benefits program design, employers should make employees aware of how their feedback influenced the design.

Additionally, communications with employees about benefits should extend beyond legal requirements. A good communications strategy and dialogue create awareness and appreciation, provide a heightened understanding of the benefits and promote wise use of the coverages.

What about ongoing evaluation?

Review and assessment of the plan throughout the year will ensure you are meeting employer and employee objectives. Many factors can impact the benefits program, such as the economy, regulatory environment and workforce demographics.

Set the measurements on your goals in order to assess the benefits program and quantify adjustments. The use of benchmarking data and periodic employee surveys further assist employers in evaluating the effectiveness of the employee benefits program.

The United Way of Columbia and Montour Counties held an open house for members of the community to stop by its new office building in downtown Bloomsburg on Thursday, Sept. 12, and to kick off the event, a ribbon cutting was held. 

Earlier this year, the United Way moved from its previous location at the Chamber office on Market St., to a new location a few blocks down Main St. next to Fog and Flame at 36 East Main St. The move was made necessary by the agency’s growth, as an increase in its scope of services led to an increase in staff. Two agencies that the United Way often collaborates with have also set up auxiliary offices at the same location: Central Susquehanna Opportunities, Inc. and The Gate House. This has enable better and move efficient collaboration between the organizations. 

From PA Chamber of Business & Industry

Rep. Frank Ryan, R-Lebanon, held a news conference two weeks ago where he discussed yet-to-be-introduced legislation (H.B. 13) that calls for the elimination of school property taxes in the Commonwealth with new revenue derived, in part, through a retirement income tax.

Specifically, the proposal intends to generate $15 billion annually in replacement revenue for the state’s school districts through:

• A 4.92 percent retirement income tax, excluding Social Security benefits
• A 1.85 percent local Personal Income Tax (in addition to the state’s 3.07 percent PIT)
• A local Sales and Use Tax of 2 percent on items that are already subject to the state Sales Tax; and
• A local Sales Tax of 2 percent that would be added to most food and clothing, which are currently exempt from the state Sales Tax.

Property tax reform is an ongoing, hot button issue in Pennsylvania, as these tax rates have risen precipitously in certain areas of the state, making it difficult for some homeowners to continue affording their properties.  One of the most debated legislative “fixes” has been a proposal to replace school property taxes with increases to the Sales and Personal Income Taxes, along with the expansion of the Sales Tax base to additional goods and services.  The PA Chamber stands in opposition to this proposal because it would simply “shift” the tax burden from one segment of taxpayers to another and target renters, small businesses and young families; and would rely on volatile taxes that tend to fluctuate more with the economy.  Tax experts and school officials have warned this framework would put school districts and the entire Commonwealth on financially shaky ground.

As noted by PA Chamber Vice President Sam Denisco at a recent property tax-focused public forum, Rep. Ryan’s bill presents an outside-the-box way of approaching the state’s property tax issues and should be discussed by lawmakers.  At his news conference last week, Ryan stressed that his plan is unlikely to pass without the support of Pennsylvania seniors, admitting that “this is not going to be an easy sell.”

Rep. Ryan’s news conference was covered by various media outlets, including Pennlive which noted the PA Chamber’s previous comments about his proposal.