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, Community Options, Inc., to help us fulfill our mission. Founded in 1989 and now with locations in 11 states, Community Options, Inc. is a nationally-based nonprofit organization with headquarters in Princeton, N.J. that serves thousands of people with disabilities through numerous programs and services, including residential supports, and by providing housing and employment opportunities for these people. Locally, Community Options recently opened an office in Columbia County at 1117 Old Berwick Rd., Bloomsburg and is looking forward to continuing to develop relationships with the various businesses and organizations in the area. Community Options’ Bloomsburg office can be reached at 570-638-6007 and the office’s associate executive director, David McConaghy, can also be reached via email. Visit its website for more information. 
After a 24-hour delay due to the early-spring nor’easter that hit the area on Wednesday, the Columbia Montour Chamber had its March Business After Hours on Thursday, March 22 at Wild For Salmon, which welcomed a large crowd of Chamber members and guests to its retail store and warehouse on Rt. 11 between Bloomsburg and Danville for a late afternoon of great tasting food and drink, networking and learning about the sometimes complicated but never dull business of commercial fishing and seafood.
Attendees were treated to a tasty selection of dishes made up by Chef Josh, Wild For Salmon’s in-house chef, including albacore tuna poke, halibut cheek ceviche, sweet and savory sole soup, salmon nicoise pasta salad and roasted shrimp salad. There were also a couple of beer selections from fellow Chamber member Turkey Hill Brewing, and attendees had an opportunity to spin the “wheel of opportunity” for a chance to win a variety of prizes. Tours of the warehouse were given, and members also had an opportunity to learn about what goes into making sure the freshest fish make it directly from Bristol Bay in Alaska to your plate here in Columbia and Montour counties and other Wild For Salmon customers throughout the country. There is an approximate six-week fishing season for salmon in Bristol Bay each June and July, and after Wild For Salmon’s owners and staff catch the fish each year, the fish are processed, preserved, packed and shipped to a refrigerated warehouse in Seattle, where there are a large number of seafood warehouses to support the large fishing industry in and around the Pacific. Here, they are stored until they are needed to ship to the warehouse here in Bloomsburg to fulfill customer orders. There is limited cooler space in the warehouse here, so inventory must be carefully managed based on demand and projected sales, and there is very little room for error since fish can easily spoil. Weather events are also something that must be taken into consideration when the shipping schedule is put together, as dry ice only preserves the fish for 48 hours, and any shipping delays due to weather will result in spoilage.
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 the Bloomsburg Municipal Airport, which is owned and run by the Town of Bloomsburg and located at 301 Airport Rd. Bloomsburg, on Wednesday, April 18, from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Please note this location change from the previously scheduled location of Ken Pollock Ford Lincoln, which instead will host a public grand reopening of its newly-remodeled showroom on Saturday, April 21 at 1 p.m. The Chamber will be on hand to cut the ribbon at the beginning of the event.
From U.S. Department of Homeland Security
As result of the recent bombings in Texas, many organizations are reviewing their preparedness plans & procedures for prevention, response and recovery to bombing incidents. Individuals and organizations are encouraged to review their emergency plans and procedures and make sure they are up to date and cover bombing incidents, suspicious packages, and proper mail procedures. The information below are resources available from the U.S Department of Homeland Security.
How to React Quickly and Safely to Suspicious Packages and Bomb Threats:
Bomb threats are a rare but serious event. How quickly and safely you react can save lives, including your own:
- DO report suspicious activity, unattended packages, or a potential bomb threat to authorities immediately, follow instructions, and evacuate the area
- DO provide as much detail as possible to authorities
- DO seek distance and cover – they are the best means to reduce the risk of injury
- DO NOT approach or inspect suspicious items or unattended packages
- DO NOT congregate near the incident scene – it may impede first responders and there could be a risk of secondary attacks
Be Prepared for IEDs and Play a Role in Prevention!
Below are counter-IED resources appropriate for individuals, families, travelers, educational and religious institutions, and businesses, as well as law enforcement, emergency services, or security professionals, which provide insight to help increase preparedness and reduce risks associated with potential bombings.
Bomb Threat Guidance:
- Bomb-Making Materials Awareness Program (BMAP) Video
- Bomb Threat Checklist
- Bomb Threat Stand-Off Card
- Bomb Threat Management Guidance Quad-Fold
- Bomb Threat Management Video
- Bombing Prevention Lanyard Cards (Lined Version)
- Bombing Prevention Lanyard Cards (Unlined Version)
- (NEW) Sports and Entertainment Venues Bombing Prevention Solutions Portfolio (The best source of comprehensive counter-IED products, tools, training and resources)
Awareness Materials:
- FBI-DHS Private Sector Advisory – Ammonium Nitrate- & Urea-Based Fertilizers Poster
- FBI-DHS Private Sector Advisory – Hazardous Chemicals Poster
- FBI-DHS Private Sector Advisory – Hazardous Chemicals Card
- FBI-DHS Private Sector Advisory – Peroxide Products Poster
- FBI-DHS Private Sector Advisory – Peroxide Products Card
- FBI-DHS Private Sector Advisory – Suspicious Purchasing Behavior Awareness Poster
- FBI-DHS Private Sector Advisory – Suspicious Purchasing Behavior Awareness Card
- FBI-DHS Private Sector Advisory – Retail and Shopping Center Advisory
- Mail and Suspicious Package Guidance Poster
Virtual Training:
These web-based courses provide general awareness-level, counter-IED information to a broad audience via an online virtual training experience with a live instructor, using Adobe Connect through the Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN). These courses are designed for small group instruction of 15 to 25 participants.
A FEMA Student ID (FEMA SID) is required to participate in all VILT OBP course offerings. To obtain a FEMA SID, visit FEMA’s website to apply.
To view the VILT training schedule and register for a course, please visit the VILT website.
- Homemade Explosive (HME) and Precursor Awareness (AWR-338)
- Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Construction and Classification Course (AWR-333)
- Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Explosive Effects Mitigation Course (AWR-337)
- Introduction to the Terrorist Attack Cycle Course (AWR-334)
- Protective Measures Awareness Course (AWR-340)
- Response to Suspicious Behaviors and Items Course (AWR-335)
Computer-Based Training:
Homemade Explosives and Precursor Chemicals Awareness for Public Safety Computer Based Training (AWR-349)
This one-hour, awareness-level, computer-based course, available through TRIPwire, educates law enforcement, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and other public safety personnel about homemade explosives—commonly referred to as HME—the precursor chemicals that are used to manufacture HME, and actions to take if HME precursor chemicals or equipment are thought to be present during a routine service call.
Improvised Explosive Device Awareness and Safety Procedures Computer Based Training (AWR-341)
This one-hour, awareness-level, computer-based course, available on TRIPwire, provides foundational knowledge concerning improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and proper safety precautions and procedures for reacting and responding to unattended and suspicious items.
If you are a law enforcement, emergency services, or security professional, much more information is available through free registration to the full TRIPwire website. Inside you will find valuable resources and much more detail on IED threats and counter-IED activities.
Find more information on the DHS Office for Bombing Prevention.
For additional information on how to identify suspicious activity, safety and effectively react to bomb threats, or get additional counter-IED awareness, or planning resources, contact your local Protective Security Advisor.
Dr. Bashar Hanna, Bloomsburg University President, recently provided an overview of the University’s budget, construction projects on campus, and other issues of interest to the local area and public.
Enrollment at Bloomsburg University has been on a slow but steady decline since the fall of 2013. The lower number of students, combined with flat funding from the state, is resulting in a projected revenue shortfall for the current fiscal year and a deficit for 2018/19 of over $7.4 million. University President Dr. Bashar Hanna discussed efforts to increase enrollment at a breakfast meeting held recently with community leaders.
Enrollment at BU for this past fall semester was 9,287, down 8% or 840 students from the fall of 2013. Summer numbers have dropped from 3,378 in 2013 to 2,854 last summer. These decreases are not exclusive to Bloomsburg, reflecting a general decrease in younger demographics across the northeast. One semester that has seen an increase is the winter semester, up from 517 students in 13-14 to 1,324 during the most recent session.
The University has been working on a strategic enrollment management plan to reverse this trend and support the long-term financial stability of the institution. Pennsylvania’s appropriation to Bloomsburg for the current fiscal year is $37 million, essentially the same as it was in FY 2007/08. The funding provided by the state represents 25% of the University’s total revenue, with the remainder representing student tuition and fees. In FY 07/08, the state appropriation was 36% of the University’s revenue.
Having an inviting campus and Town are important components to attracting students, according to Dr. Hanna. A “one-stop shop” for student services will be located in a new building that will be constructed on the site of the Centennial Parking Lot. The project, which will house several offices including those currently in the Waller Administration Building, is scheduled to begin this spring and be completed by December 2019.
The intersection upgrade at Lightstreet Road and Country Club Drive is scheduled to begin in May and be completed in August. That project will provide turning lanes in both directions to increase traffic flow. Funding is being provided through a grant received by the Town as well as the University.
The Town/Gown Relations Committee continues to meet regularly to maintain a positive relationship and identify ways to enhance the Town. Topics of discussion include parking, code & zoning regulations, student housing, student behavior, and town/university partnership opportunities. One issue Hanna has received significant input on is the annual spring Block Party. He noted that steps taken last year helped to reduce the number of incidents with police, admitting that one year does not make a trend. On campus visitation was limited to one guest during the weekend last year and several campus parking lots were closed or carefully monitored. Participation in the on-campus alternative event, Springfest, has also increased. Citations issued last year were down significantly from the 2016 event, and only 20% of which involved students enrolled at Bloomsburg University.
Among the issues raised by those in attendance were increasing positive interactions between the Town and University, and helping students feel more welcome in the community.
The Business After Hours scheduled for Wednesday, March 21 at Wild For Salmon has been postponed to Thursday, March 22, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. due to weather conditions on Wednesday.
Register to attend the event here.
Member News
- The Enactus group at Bloomsburg University will partner with Downtown Bloomsburg, Inc. to conduct one more free workshop for businesses on how they can make use of social media for marketing purposes. The workshop will focus on optimizing social media management by touching upon marketing statistics, brand development, content creation and how to stay active on social media. The program will be presented tomorrow, March 22, beginning at 6 p.m. at 151 East Main St., Bloomsburg (in the I-Cell Repair location). Local small businesses and nonprofits are encouraged to take advantage of this free opportunity and are also welcome to invite colleagues and/or neighbors.
- For those that aren’t able to attend tomorrow night’s Business After Hours at Wild For Salmon (note the postponement from Wednesday due to weather), it will host a spring seafood tasting this Saturday, March 24, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at its retail store and warehouse at 521 Montour Blvd. (Rt. 11), Bloomsburg. Chef Josh has created an all new menu for this event, which includes halibut cheek ceviche, sweet and tangy sole soup, roasted shrimp salad, as well as new recipes featuring sockeye salmon and tuna (note: samples of these foods will also be served at Thursday’s Business After Hours). This event is free and open to the public.
- State Rep. David Millard will host two upcoming drug forums on Tuesday, March 27 at Millville High School and on Tuesday, April 24 at Benton High School, from 6-8 p.m. Adults and children are invited to attend these events, which are designed to share information about drug abuse, the opioid crisis and how to avoid drug addiction. Speakers include Jeremy Reese, Columbia County coroner, representatives from Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital, and representatives from a local rehabilitation facility. These forums are free and open to the public, and registration is not required. Visit Rep. Millard’s website or call 570-759-8734 or 570-387-0246 for more information.
- Bloomsburg University will holds its third annual Advocacy, Connections and Empowerment for Older Adults Career and Community Expo on Thursday, April 5, from 3:30-5:30 p.m. in the lobby area of the 2303 auditorium in the McCormick building. The purpose of this expo is to connect undergraduate students from a variety of majors to professionals who work to meet the needs of and provide services to older adults. Following the expo, there will be a presentation by Amanda Cavaleri at 6 p.m. in the 2303 auditorium. Cavaleri is a entrepreneur from Colorado that is changing the landscape of careers in aging. Her current project is called “Connect The Ages,” whose mission is to “build multimedia awareness tools and grassroots campaigns to help younger generations see and experience the value in older generations and to bridge the gap between educators and students and the demands of an aging America.” Light refreshments will be provided. There is no cost to attend, however registration is required by contacting Mary Jo Larcom by email or phone at 570-389-4479.
- Geisinger Health Plan and the Columbia-Montour Aging Office, Inc. will team up to bring “A Matter of Balance,” an award-winning program, to the area for a series of presentations in April and May. This program for older adults and is designed to manage falls and increase activity levels. It is available to the public at no cost and will be held each Monday, beginning on April 9 and running through May 21, from 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at Maria Joseph Continuing Care Community, located at 1707 Montour Blvd. (Rt. 11), Danville. The program will also be held on Tuesday, May 29 due to Memorial Day, and this will be the last class. Attendees will learn to view falls as controllable, set goals for increasing activity, make changes to reduce fall risks at home and exercise to increase strength and balance. Registration is required, and to do so, call the GHP wellness team at 866-415-7138.
- Montour County, the Borough of Danville, and Child Care Information Services of Columbia, Montour & Northumberland Counties will celebrate the Week of the Young Child on Tuesday, April 10 at 10 a.m. on the steps of the Montour County Courthouse on Mill St. in Danville. The commissioners and mayor of Danville will read a proclamation of WOYC, there will be a reading of the children’s book My Cousin Momo by Zach O’Hara, and musical entertainment by “The Singing Mailman.” WOYC is sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) to raise awareness and advocacy surrounding the importance of early childhood programs and services.
- The Bucknell Small Business Development Center will offer a First Step Workshop on Wednesday, April 11, from 1-3 p.m. at Service 1st Federal Credit Union, located at 1985 Montour Blvd. (Rt. 11), Danville. This “pre-business” workshop is intended to assist potential entrepreneurs that are considering starting a business but might not know where to start. Attendees will learn about legal structure, selection a location, licenses and forms, insurance needs, business planning, small business taxes, hiring employees and more. Cost is $25 for each workshop, and those interested can register online or by calling 570-577-1249.
- Thrivent Financial will host a tax reform workshop on Thursday, April 12, at 6 p.m. at the Bloomsburg Public Library. Find out how you and your family will fare under the new changes to the U.S. federal tax code, which was changed due to the new law passed in December. Learn about those tax law changes that could impact you, and get positive, professional guidance from the professionals from Thrivent. No products or services will be sold at this event. Light refreshments will be served and there is no cost to attend, however and RSVP is requested by calling Richard Keller at 570-317-2111 or email.
- The local PA CareerLink centers have scheduled their 2018 job fairs. The local one in our area will be held on Wednesday, May 9, from 4-7 p.m. at Columbia-Montour Area Vocational Technical School, located at 5050 Sweppenheiser Dr., Bloomsburg. There will also be job fairs during May just outside of the area at Shikellamy High School in Sunbury on May 2 and at the Selinsgrove VFW in May 30. Later in the year, there will be one at the Best Western in Lewisburg on Sept. 6. The registration links for employers are now open for the three May events. See the flyer for more information as well as registration links.
From PA Chamber of Business & Industry
A PA Chamber-led, multi-industry coalition sent a letter to Gov. Tom Wolf and the General Assembly last week voicing opposition to imposing another punitive tax on the natural gas industry. Gov. Wolf first spoke of his desire for a severance tax when he was campaigning for office and has proposed the tax every year of his administration. His fourth and most recent proposal, as announced during his 2018-19 state budget address, would combine a new severance tax with the existing impact tax, resulting in an effective rate of around seven percent – among the highest of the states in the shale play.
Among the coalition’s reasons for opposing the tax is the state’s improving economy and increasing tax revenue, which would seemingly render another natural gas tax unnecessary. Additionally, multiple studies have revealed that policies that enhance the use of natural gas and other natural resources – rather than stifle growth through undue tax burdens – are projected to yield billions of dollars in investment and hundreds of thousands of jobs. “The effective tax rate of the existing impact fee is competitive with that of other states’ severance rates; a severance tax will diminish the potential that we realize through the facts outlined in these economic reports,” the coalition wrote. “As businesses make investment decisions on where they choose to deploy capital, we must not put up unnecessary barriers to growth simply because public sector unions are advocating for more spending.”
While the Columbia Montour Chamber did not sign on to this letter, a letter was sent to our representatives in Harrisburg in October calling for long-term revenue strategies rather than “one-time fixes, borrowing and taxes on specific industries such as the Marcellus Shale Gas industry, hotels, and warehousing.”
On Monday, March 19, Governor Tom Wolf announced a new initiative aimed at expanding broadband access to businesses and households in Pennsylvania through the creation of a new office dedicated to ensuring every Pennsylvanian has access to high-speed internet. The announcement also included the introduction of the Pennsylvania Broadband Investment Incentive Program, which offers incentives to private providers willing to invest in underserved and unserved areas throughout Pennsylvania.
To spearhead the initiative the governor has created the Pennsylvania Office of Broadband Initiatives which will be responsible for developing and executing a statewide strategy to expand access to every Pennsylvanian by the end of 2022. To lead this initiative the governor appointed Mark Smith as the Executive Director of Broadband Initiatives. Smith, a former Bradford County Commissioner, has been with the Wolf Administration since 2015 serving as a Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Government Affairs and Outreach.
Currently, over 800,000 Pennsylvanians still lack access to robust, reliable, High-Speed Internet. Over 520,000 of residents without access reside in rural areas and over 250,000 reside in urban areas.
Additionally, the governor announced the Pennsylvania Broadband Investment Incentive Program. Through this program, the Wolf Administration is offering up to $35 million in financial incentives to private providers bidding on service areas within Pennsylvania in the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) upcoming Connect America Fund Phase II (CAFII) Auction. The FCC CAF Phase II Auction is making nearly $2 billion available nationwide to providers willing to expand broadband access in unserved areas.
The program is available to all service providers interested in the CAFII Auction. Guidelines will be released March 22, with April 2 being the first day to file Preliminary Expressions of Interest. Any provider who wishes to participate will be subject to state guidelines and requirements that will ensure that service is delivered by June 30, 2022 and broadband speeds meet or exceed 100 Mbps, while encouraging the delivery of gigabit service.
The above noted $35 million of incentive funding is being provided through PennDOT to fulfill its strategic goal of building network along roadways, right of ways, and intersections and furthering connections between all its facilities. As the needs and demands of vehicle technology increase, including autonomous vehicles, so will the demands on the state to support digital transportation needs. PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards spoke about this future planning at the Cabinet in Your Community meeting held March 12 at Bloomsburg University. Broadband buildout benefits for PennDOT include better communications for public safety devices, the ability to provide high speed access and communication between PennDOT and emergency management partners, the ability to connect key traffic signals to PennDOT’s traffic management centers, and the success of deployment of automated vehicles.
The Pennsylvania Broadband Investment Incentive Program is the first, but not the only effort the Office of Broadband Initiatives will undertake to expand broadband access. The new office is also developing a longer-term approach to deliver service to those areas not included in the FCC CAFII auction. This endeavor will require further assistance from the private sector, FCC or other federal agencies, and the state legislature. The Chamber has joined with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission in calling for greater flexibility in the use of federal funds to expand broadband infrastructure.
From ChamberChoice and Smart Business Pittsburgh
As spring approaches, many of us get the itch for a little “spring cleaning.” It’s less hectic with end of the year issues and open enrollment out of the way. It’s also the perfect time for employers to pull out benefits records for review, confirmation and updating, says Chuck Whitford, consultant at JRG Advisors.
Smart Business spoke with Whitford about the tasks that employee benefits professionals should consider when spring cleaning.
Why should employers review and confirm items in their employee benefits this spring?
Many employers use benefits confirmation statements once employees have completed their open enrollment elections. Although these statements are generally utilized for electronic enrollments, some employers also provide them for paper elections. During this time, an employer should compare the confirmation statements to what is on record for an employee’s benefits choices and dependents enrolled. Furthermore, an employer should ensure that payroll records reflect any premium changes because of the employee’s elections.
This is especially important when an employee’s premium insurance elections are done on a pre-tax basis through an employer’s Section 125 plan. Section 125 rules provide that an election is irrevocable for the 12-month plan year unless there is
an IRS permissible reason for a mid-year election change. There are some events not in the 125 rules that could allow an individual to make a mid-year election change, such as a mistake by the employer or employee, or needing to change elections
to pass nondiscrimination tests. To make a change due to a mistake, there must be clear and convincing evidence that the mistake has been made. For instance, individuals might accidentally sign up for family coverage when they are single with no children.
What could need to be updated with life insurance and disability benefits?
Two popular benefits that employers provide their employees are group term life insurance and disability (both short and long term). Life insurance premiums are usually based on the age of the employee, while disability premiums are based on an employee’s wages.
An employer should take advantage of spring cleaning to ensure that its records (payroll and invoices) reflect the age changes
of employees as well as any pay increases that may have occurred at the beginning of the year. Also, the employer should double check these benefits for issues such as the removal of terminated employees, employee classification change, which affects the amount of a benefit, and proper taxation.
Depending on the employer’s policies, an employee may be able to have the premiums for disability insurance paid on a post-tax basis, instead of pre-tax, which enables an employee to avoid taxation upon receipt of a disability benefit.
How should beneficiary forms be reviewed and updated, if necessary?
Beneficiary designations are frequently used in retirement and life insurance plans to determine entitlement to benefits payable upon death of the participant. In the case of certain benefits subject to spousal protections, federal law imposes requirements on both the form and timing of beneficiary designations. Other types of beneficiary designations are a matter of plan design. A beneficiary designation that doesn’t accurately reflect an employee’s intent can result in disputes following the death of a participant.
There are a multitude of life situations that could be costly to an employer if a proper beneficiary designation is not on file — think divorce, simultaneous death of the participant and beneficiary, or lost forms as examples. An employer may be required to defend a lawsuit, correct improper payments or find the proper beneficiary.
Does the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act make other changes necessary?
The IRS updated the income tax withholding tables for 2018 to reflect changes made by the new tax law. The updated tables, which were to be used no later than Feb. 15, 2018, reflect the new rates for employers. As part of its spring cleaning, an employer may want to have its employees complete new W-4s. Employers should visit the IRS website for the release of
2018 W-4s.
The 40th annual Renaissance Jamboree in downtown Bloomsburg will be held on Saturday, April 28 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine. This annual event is run by Downtown Bloomsburg, Inc., and is co-sponsored by Bloomsburg University and its Program Board, the Columbia Montour Chamber and the Town of Bloomsburg.
There are still plenty of vendor slots remaining for nonprofit organizations. The application deadline was on March 12, however it is being extended for nonprofits. If your nonprofit organization is interested in being a vendor, please fill out the application and see the guidelines. The cost for a nonprofit vendor is just $25, and only online registrations are being accepted.
For more information, visit the Downtown Bloomsburg, Inc. website.