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, Marr Property Management Group, to help us fulfill our mission.

Marr Property Management Group is a new business launched earlier this year that like Northeast Pennsylvania Business Center, is owned by Marr Development. You could also get online property management services. Get help from experts like the rental property management melbourne. It offers an array of commercial and residential services to assist landlords, enabling them to focus more on their businesses. Services include cleaning, home and property improvement and repair, handyman services, HVAC and more. MPMG also offers marketing services for available properties, leasing and rent collection services, property inspection and more. For more information, visit its website, Facebook page or call 570-245-6373.

Oren Helbock, the executive director of The Exchange, was recently presented with the Buddy Award by the Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau for his support of the organization and the region’s tourism industry. The award was presented at the Visitors Bureau’s annual meeting held Tuesday, May 7 at Rock God Brewing Company in Danville.

Named for the first recipient, Buddy Knoebel of Knoebels Amusement Resort, the award goes annually to a Bureau member, business, or event who/which has emulated Buddy Knoebel’s characteristics as an advocate for the tourism industry in the two counties.

“I consider it an honor to receive an award named for someone in the Knoebel family,” Oren says. “Knoebels Amusement Resort epitomizes the very best of what this area has to offer, and it makes a lot of people happy year after year after year. The Exchange likewise works to make people happy through the sharing of art and music, and to help make this the region where we all want to live, work, and play.”

The Visitors Bureau also recognized outgoing board members Lauren Martz, Town of Bloomsburg and Joe Scopelliti, Key Partners Realty for their service to the organization. Nancy Bishop, Board President, thanked Chris Hill, Pine Barn Inn, for his past service as President. 

From PA Emergency Management Agency

Pennsylvania is a state of small businesses, with our one million small businesses forming the bulk (more than 99%!) of our business economy. Small businesses employ almost half of Pennsylvania’s workforce.

National Small Business Week recognizes the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. It is also an important time to learn and plan for how to get your business back to business after disaster strikes.

An estimated 40% of businesses do not open again after a major disaster, according to the Institute for Business and Home Safety. Protect your small business by identifying the risks relevant to your location, both natural and human-made. Then, keep your plan of action updated.

Want Help?
Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) can provide assistance and confidential consulting on topics such as:
• Creating, updating and refining business continuity plans
• Acquiring capital, before and after the event
• Developing mobile-ready strategies to prepare for employees working
off-site when needed
• Finding ways to maintain connectivity during a business disruption
Find a center near you at www.pasbdc.org.

More Sources For Assistance
• Learn more about starting, registering, operating and growing a business in Pennsylvania visit the PAs business, “One-Stop Shop.”
• Emergency and Continuity Planning
• Business and emergency planning

From PA Chamber of Business & Industry

“Energize PA,” an economic development bill package, was touted at a press event last week where PA Chamber President Gene Barr joined House Speaker Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, lawmakers and members of the Operating Engineers Local 66 union in support of legislation that collectively would help to create jobs, drive investment by manufacturers and redevelop Pennsylvania’s infrastructure with no additional taxes or fees.

The eight-bill package would achieve a number of pro-growth initiatives the PA Chamber supports:

• H.B. 1100, sponsored by Rep. Aaron Kaufer, R-Luzerne, mirrors the existing Pennsylvania Resource Manufacturing Tax Credit that was established during the 2012-13 state budget and would help large manufacturers using Pennsylvania-based methane in production.
• H.B. 1101, by Rep. Natalie Mihalek, R-Allegheny, would increase the cap on Net Operating Losses from 40 percent to 45 percent in 2020, and 50 percent in 2021. This will encourage businesses to grow and invest in technology.
• H.B. 1102, by Rep. Josh Kail, R-Beaver, would establish the Keystone Energy Enhancement Act to create 20 energy enhancement zones where businesses would be eligible for local tax exemptions and credits. This would especially encourage investment within Pennsylvania’s natural gas, manufacturing and petrochemical industries.
• H.B. 1103, by Rep. Jonathon Fritz, R-Susquehanna, would expand the valuable Pipeline Investment Program to make low-cost natural gas energy available to Pennsylvania residents, manufacturers and pad-ready sites.
• H.B. 1104, by Rep. Tarah Toohil, R-Luzerne, would establish a registry for abandoned manufacturing sites across the Commonwealth that are now available properties for development.
• H.B. 1105, by Rep. Eric Nelson, R-Westmoreland, would help to create a streamlined permitting process that would encourage businesses to engage in brownfields cleanup and redevelopment.
• H.B. 1106, by Rep. Mike Puskaric, R-Allegheny, would overhaul the permitting process for all general and individual environmental permits, as well as general plan approvals. This would help prevent industries from facing bureaucratic delays.
• H.B. 1107, by Rep. Tim O’Neal, R-Washington, would create the Pennsylvania Permitting Commission as an independent commission that will alleviate the Department of Environmental Protection from having to collect and approve permitting permits.

Video of the press event is available on the PA House GOP website.

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. 

Penn State, one of the top CEO-producing universities in the country, has launched a new degree aimed at educating the next generation of corporate leaders.

Penn State is accepting applications for the master’s in strategic management and executive leadership. The degree’s curriculum focuses on the formulation and implementation of effective strategies and developing leaders who can build a culture of commitment across their organization.

The degree is being offered exclusively online through Penn State World Campus in partnership with the internationally ranked Penn State Smeal College of Business.

“The world has changed so rapidly, and many principles of strategy and leadership have changed,” said Al Vicere, professor of business and strategic leadership in the Smeal College of Business and the faculty director of the new degree program. “There is an increased demand for leaders who are skilled in strategic thinking and strategy development. Those skills require work experience, but they also require enhanced academic knowledge to formulate, articulate and implement strategy.”

Penn State has been recognized as one of the leading institutions in the country for its development of top corporate talent: In 2018, LinkedIn said Penn State graduated the second-most CEOs in the country. In 2016, Time ranked Penn State in the top 10 of universities with the most alumni as CEOs of Fortune 500 companies.

Vicere said the degree has been designed for those business professionals who want a specialized business degree in the areas of strategic leadership and strategic management. They may be about eight to 10 years into their careers with five to six years of management experience and want to take the next step in their career, or they may be executives who want to develop their ability to think strategically beyond their organization’s operational duties.

“They aspire to increased levels of responsibility and are seeking to expand their perspective on leading an organization in a constantly changing and complex environment,” Vicere said. “They want to enhance their ability to connect their organization with the outside world and set direction and strategy to ensure the organization is able to grow and remain successful both today and in the future.”

The curriculum consists of core courses in global strategic management, strategic leadership, strategy implementation and organizational change, strategic leading and identity, ethical leadership, and power and influence.

Students also will choose between a concentration in either negotiation and influence or corporate innovation and entrepreneurship.

Vicere said the instructors in the new degree program will be faculty from the Penn State Management and Organization Department, which consistently ranks among the top 10 of the most research-productive management departments in the world, according to the KUBS Worldwide Business Research Rankings.

Penn State World Campus has been offering degrees online for more than 20 years. Its graduate business degree programs have been ranked in the top 10 by U.S. News and World Report for the past three years.

“Business leaders who want to advance their careers need the flexibility that an online master’s degree offers,” said Shubha Kashyap, director of academic affairs for World Campus. “This degree will allow them to learn while they continue leading their organizations, with opportunities to apply their skills for professional and educational advancement.”

Visit the Penn State World Campus website for more information about this new professional business degree.

• Bloomsburg University has implemented a clear bag policy for its Commencement events on campus this Friday and Saturday, May 10-11. There are also restrictions on the size and types of bags that may be brought into its facilities. See this flyer for additional information.

• Lightstreet Rd. will be closed and a detour will be in place running through next Wednesday, May 15 for construction of the new pedestrian bridge. The Bloomsburg University campus and surrounding local roads will still be accessible, and crews will be working seven days a week to keep the closure and detour as short as possible. The formal detour will go down East Street, U.S. Route 11 and up Central Road. 

• The Northern Tier Partners for the Arts, a partner of the Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts, will provide a free workshop on Wednesday, May 15, at the Bloomsburg Public Library, from 2-3 p.m., on grant writing for arts programming. This workshop will educate attendees on grant guidelines, application processes and criteria. For additional information, call 570-268-2787 or email. 

• Bloomsburg University’s IT Outreach Webinar Series has one more upcoming webinar on IT-related issues on Wednesday, May 22, at noon. Ronald Fussell, program manager at Zel Technologies, LLC, will present “Software Systems Design Considerations.” BU’s IT Outreach Webinar Series engages its local constituents in a purposeful manner about the trending topics in the IT field. Webinars are approximately 30 minutes in length. There is no cost to participate, however participants must register. For more information on these webinars or the series, visit BU’s dedicated website page.

• BIDA, Luzerne County Community College and the other tenants in the Eagles Building, located at 107 South Market St., Berwick, will host an open house on Wednesday, May 22 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the building. There will be information regarding each of the organizations that have their offices in the building, including the dental clinic and VA Services. There will also be light refreshments and tours of the facility as well as the additional spaces that are currently available in the building. Employers, the general public and anyone interested in seeing available office space are welcome to stop by. 

• The Central Susquehanna Community Foundation will hold its Berwick area luncheon on Friday, May 31, from 12-1:30 p.m. at Rolling Pines Golf Course & Banquet Facility. Twenty years ago, the Foundation made a commitment to invest in programs and projects that improved the greater Berwick area. Each year, this luncheon celebrates the continuation of this mission and recognizes the generous giving of local community members. Featured speakers will include fundholders, grantees, scholarship recipients, and board members who will reflect on the story of the Foundation and its 20-year history. See the invitation for more information, and to reserve your seat at this event, call 570-752-3930 or email by May 24. 

• Service 1st Federal Credit Union’s 12th branch location is now open at 196 West Valley Avenue in Elysburg. This fully renovated office features a one-lane drive through, a drive-up ATM and night depository, and a state-of-the-art “Pod” station (service station) for credit union members to conduct transactions. The “Pod” station is a variation of the traditional teller line, but offers a more personal experience for performing transactions.Elysburg Office Hours:
  Lobby & Drive-up
  Monday – Thursday 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  Friday 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  Saturday 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
  

  The Service 1st Elysburg Team welcomes you to stop in their newest location at 196 West Valley Avenue in Elysburg.
  Front row (L-R): Brittany Chesney, Member Service Representative; Yvonne Bradley, Member Service Representative; and Amy Bordell, Member Service Representative II. Back row (L-R): Robert Gonzalez, Assistant Market Manager; John Yoder, Assistant Vice President Elysburg Market; and Bobby Jones, Member Service Representative.

  The credit union will host an Open House June 17-29 to celebrate the new location. Watch Service 1st’s website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages for more details and plan to stop by to enjoy refreshments and a chance to win great door prizes! The Chamber will also hold a Business After Hours at this new location later this year on Wednesday, Oct. 9. 

• Focus Central Pennsylvania received $1,000 from PPL Electric Utilities to support the mission of Focus to attract and support expansion of capital investment that creates quality career opportunities for the families of Central Pennsylvania. The investment was presented at the site of one of the region’s premier industrial business parks, Great Stream Commons.
  

  Tracie Witter, PPL Electric Utilities and Lauren Bryson, Focus Central Pennsylvania at Great Stream Commons. Great Stream Commons is an industrial and business park designated as a Keystone Opportunity Zone and marketed by Focus to prospective businesses.

  Located on U.S. Route 15 just four miles north of I-80 at the New Columbia interchange, the park is a designated Keystone Opportunity Zone thru 2027 and offers full infrastructure, including municipal water & sewer, natural gas, electricity and is rail served. Focus Central Pennsylvania is part of a committed team in the region that is driving economic development for communities in Centre, Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Union, Snyder and Mifflin Counties communities.

Berwick Area High School YIP
Back row L to R: Megan Dalo; Kaitlyn Boucek; Tegan Shortlidge; Graham Marshman; Emily Ouimet; Renny Murphy. Middle row L to R: Angeni Peters; Gianna Miller; Taylor Woodeshick; Nick Pajovich; Abigail Seely; Alicia Dent; Maya Kile; Gabby Segura. Front row L to R: Chris Lehman, Ronald McDonald House; Eileen Chapman, AGAPE; Gordon Calvert, North Branch Young Life; Karri Harter, Beyond Violence; Olivia Slusser, For the Cause; Teresa Peters, For the Cause; Ian Missien, Berwick Area School District.

From Central Susquehanna Community Foundation

Youth in Philanthropy (YIP) is a philanthropic-oriented education program offered by the Central Susquehanna Community Foundation. The purpose of the program is for youth to understand the meaning of philanthropy, learn about the local nonprofit world and take part in the grantmaking process. Through this program, students are empowered to make a positive impact in their communities now and in the future.

YIP groups, consisting of approximately 15 high school students from eight local school districts: Benton, Berwick, Central Columbia, Columbia-Montour Area Vo-Tech, Danville, Northwest, Shikellamy and Warrior Run, held their end-of-year grant ceremony on Tuesday, April 30 at Danville Area High School.

Central Columbia Area High School YIP
Back row L to R: Alec Horton; Koy Seesholtz; Alison Groshek; Emma Crawford; Bianca LaFata; Jonah Klock; Cameron Jennings; Maiah Farley. Middle row L to R: Morgan Mungo; Caroline Stout; Erica Miller; Kaitlin Costanza; Elizabeth Mitchell; Natalie Stere. Front row L to R: Cindy Rupp, Caring Communities for AIDS; Chris Lehmen, Ronald McDonald House; Eileen Chapman, AGAPE; Debbie Smith, EOS; Ginny Weibel, The Children’s Museum; Gail Truax, Nicholas Wolff Foundation; Pam Simpson, Orangeville Public Library; Jan Harris, Central Columbia School District.

Forty-four grants totaling $38,500 were awarded to organizations that included a total of nine Chamber members. At the ceremony, student representatives from each YIP group presented grant awards to a representative from each grantee organization. These grants were funded by the Berwick Health and Wellness Fund, the Central Columbia Educational Foundation, Danville Area Community Foundation, Warrior Run Education Foundation and individual donor contributions. The YIP program is coordinated by Christine Orlando, CSCF Senior Program Officer.

Benton YIP awarded the following grants:
Benton Area Band Booster Club, It’s All About the Bass! Improving Benton’s Band Program, $510
Benton Area School District, Clean Water, Clear Minds, $3,000
Benton Area School District, Feed Every Child for the Summer, $250
Nicholas Wolff Foundation, Inc. (Camp Victory), KidsKash, $490
Ronald McDonald House of Danville, Inc., Camp Dost, $500
The Children’s Museum, Inc., Improving Self-Efficacy and Self-Esteem in Benton Area Students, $250

Danville Area High School YIP
Back row L to R: Mavin James; Eric Sees; Paige Holcombe; Maria Montoya; Doug Houser; Riley Outt. Middle row L to R: Coleman Cush; Colton Sidler; Linae Williams; Kylee Cush; Olivia Outt; Andrew Johnson; Lilly Snowden. Front row L to R: Gail Truax, Nicholas Wolff Foundation; Danielle Spaid, Danville Child Development Center; Cindy Powers, The Gatehouse; Ginny Weibel, The Children’s Museum; Gordon Calvert, North Branch Young Life.

Berwick YIP awarded the following grants:
AGAPE Love from Above to Our Community, No Child Left Hungry on the Weekend: AGAPE School Backpack Program, $1,000
Berwick Area School District, Students Overcome and Achieve through Running Program Uniforms, $500
Beyond Violence Inc., Shelter Teen Area, $500
For The Cause, Teen Tech Program, $2,000
North Branch Young Life, Berwick WyldLife Campership Initiative, $500
Ronald McDonald House of Danville, Inc., Camp Dost, $500

Central Columbia YIP awarded the following grants:
AGAPE Love from Above to Our Community, “Go Green” Cloth Diaper Program, $500
AGAPE Love from Above to Our Community, No Child Left Hungry on the Weekend: AGAPE School Backpack Program, $500
Caring Communities For AIDS, SCORE Conference, $300
Eos Therapeutic Riding Center, Beautification and Safety of Therapeutic Riding Trail, $300
Nicholas Wolff Foundation, Inc. (Camp Victory), KidsKash, $680
Orangeville Public Library, Summer Reading Program 2019, $700
Ronald McDonald House of Danville, Inc., Camp Dost, $1,000
Central Columbia School District, SAP Central Family, $500
The Children’s Museum, Inc., Special Needs Nights at the Museum, $520

Columbia-Montour Vo-Tech YIP
Back row L to R: Katlynn Burger; Kyle Koepisch; Aunide Lindner; Destiny Dunkle; Kevin Vo; Gabby Slusser; Liam Ruddy; Natalie Miller; Maverick Kramer; Kiya Mundrick. Front row L to R: Michael Porter, Central PA Business & Education Association; Eileen Chapman, AGAPE; Debbie Smith, EOS; Paula Dickey, CSIU; Ginny Weibel, The Children’s Museum.

Columbia-Montour Area Vo-Tech YIP awarded the following grants:
AGAPE Love from Above to Our Community, No Child Left Hungry On The Weekend: AGAPE School Backpack Program, $500
AGAPE Love from Above to Our Community, Women in Need (WIN) Program, $500
Angel Blessings, Organization Support, $1,500
Central PA Business & Education Association, College & Career Readiness Programs Outreach, $500
Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit, YES to the Future, $500
Eos Therapeutic Riding Center, Beautification and Safety of Therapeutic Riding Trail, $500
Single Mothers Individually Living Empowered, Inc., Imagine Phase II, $500
The Children’s Museum, Inc., MAKER Camp: STEM Summer Camp Materials, $500

Danville YIP awarded the following grants:
Danville Child Development Center, Engaging Opportunities for School Age Children, $1,500
Nicholas Wolff Foundation, Inc. (Camp Victory), KidsKash, $750
North Branch Young Life, Young Life High School Mentorship Expansion and Staff Support, $500
PA Swarm, 2019 Youth Support, $500
The Children’s Museum, Inc., After School STEM with Danville Area Students, $750
Transitional Housing and Care Center of Columbia and Montour County, Care Kit, $1,000

Northwest YIP awarded the following grants:
For The Cause, Teen Tech Program, $2,000
Northwest Area School District, Life Skills Program, $1,000
Northwest Area School District, Ranger Care Closet, $2,000

Shikellamy YIP awarded the following grants:
AGAPE Love from Above to Our Community, “Go Green” Cloth Diaper Program, $2,000
Central PA Business & Education Association, College, Career, and Community Leadership Development, $500
Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit, YES to the Future, $500
Nicholas Wolff Foundation, Inc. (Camp Victory), KidsKash, $2,000

Warrior Run YIP awarded the following grants:
Father’s Hope, Hope for the Holidays, $400
Warrior Run High School National Honor Society, 6th Annual Special Education Field Day, $3,100

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 Bloomsburg Children’s Museum, to help us fulfill our mission.

Previously a member that the Chamber is happy to welcome back, the Children’s Museum was founded in 1985 to offer unique, sustainable and dynamic learning opportunities for youth through year-round interactive exhibits, programming and community outreach. It annually welcomes over 25,000 visitors per year and offers various levels of membership for families and individuals. Located at 2 West 7th St. in Bloomsburg, it is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and can be reached at 570-389-9206, by email, or visit its website or Facebook page.

Due to the summer of 2018’s storms and a building fire, the Commonwealth requested and obtained a Small Business Administration (SBA), Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Declaration. 

The below table shows the designated Counties that received the SBA EIDL declaration, the event dates the economic loss needs to be attributed to, and the date the SBA EIDL application period expires.

EIDL assistance is available only to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, and most private nonprofit organizations in the designated counties and after the SBA determines they are unable to obtain credit elsewhere.

Loan Amounts and Use:

Substantial economic injury means the business is unable to meet its obligations and to pay its ordinary and necessary operating expenses. EIDLs provide the necessary working capital to help small businesses survive until normal operations resume after a disaster.

The SBA can provide up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could have been met had the disaster not occurred. The loan amount will be based on the actual economic injury and the company’s financial needs, regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage.

How to Apply: 
Businesses can apply online for an SBA disaster assistance loan.

Businesses must submit the completed loan application and a signed and dated 

IRS Form 4506-T giving permission for the IRS to provide SBA your tax return information. 

For additional information, please contact the SBA disaster assistance customer service center. Call 1-800-659-2955 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339) or

IRS Form 4506-T giving permission for the IRS to provide SBA your tax return information. 

For additional information, please contact the SBA disaster assistance customer service center. Call 1-800-659-2955 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339) or email.

In addition to the SBA disaster assistance loans, the Chamber also offers a low interest loan program that offers loans between $5-20K with a fixed interest rate of 3% and terms not to exceed five years. For additional information, see the guidelines and download an application.

From PPL Electric Utilities

Science lessons are rarely as tasty as the recent solar oven activity in Jennifer Fisher’s class at Central Columbia Middle School in Bloomsburg.

Fisher received a $1,000 Empowering Educators Grant from the PPL Foundation and used it to help teach her students about solar power. Teams of four students made their own solar ovens using foil, a cardboard box, plexiglass and foam insulation. You can too shop at Insulation4US if you need such items of insulation for your home or view the blog for further details on insulation.

On the first sunny day in March, they used the ovens to make s’mores for an after-lunch snack.

Cool things like this are happening at schools all over the PPL Electric Utilities service area thanks to Empowering Educators Grants from the PPL Foundation.

Each fall, the PPL Foundation announced grants to 25 middle and high school teachers to support science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) activities in their classrooms. Each teacher receives a grant of $1,000 to spend on equipment and materials for projects.

In addition to Fisher’s solar project, the grants funded things like STEM labs, computer coding, robotics, 3D printers, climate change projects and soil and water quality studies. Since the grant program’s inception in 2003, more than $230,000 has been awarded to more than 165 teachers.