The PA Chamber remains opposed to this tax shift measure that relies on fluctuating revenue streams (sales and personal income taxes) to replace the steady, reliable funding that property taxes have provided for generations. The property tax legislation that a small but vocal group of advocates are promoting would have an especially negative impact on renters, small businesses and young families who would see a new sales tax placed on many everyday essentials like diapers and daycare.
The Joint Governmental Affairs Committee of the Columbia Montour Chamber and the Visitors Bureau will be evaluating the legislation once it is introduced.Congressman Lou Barletta recognized business investments in technology during a visit to the Bloomsburg area on Tuesday, April 18, 2017. Barletta toured the new SUEZ water treatment facility on Irondale Road before visiting with businesses at the Bloomsburg Regional Technology Center.
The new, $32 million water treatment plant includes pressurized membrane filtration and ultraviolet light technology to provide high water quality. The facility took two years to build and is located above the floodplain on higher ground across from the old plant. A new intake includes submersible pumps to provide continuous operation during times of future flooding. The company also recently placed a new, 1.8 million gallon water storage reservoir into service that replaces an old reservoir. Congressman Barletta recognized the company’s investments and efforts to protect the system against cyber attacks.
The Chamber advocated for and supported the new facility to improve reliability. Chamber President Fred Gaffney also recognized SUEZ for their investments. “Thanks to the time and resources SUEZ has spent working on these improvements, our water supply is something the rest of us don’t have to think much about,” he said.
At the Tech Center, Barletta and representatives of the U.S. Small Business Administration met with another Chamber member, OPTiMO Information Technology. OPTiMO specializes in application development, system integration and digital design. Their client base includes the private and public sectors.
The Joint Governmental Affairs Committee will be hosting the annual breakfast with Congressman Barletta this summer for an update on activities in Washington.
The Chamber is deeply committed to supporting and promoting its member organizations. This includes making sure each member utilizes or is at least aware of the full value and benefits of its membership. Beginning this week, this periodic section of E-Biz will be dedicated to reviewing a specific benefit of Chamber membership, as a means of reminding our members of ways the Chamber can help you increase revenue or decrease costs.
OnDemand Energy Solutions
As a business owner or decision maker, you probably often get contacted by people trying to sell you cheaper electricity. However, most people – business owners and consumers alike – don’t have the time to truly look at their options and figure out which ones are questionable and which ones could actually save you some real money.
That is a problem you shouldn’t have. As a Chamber member, you exclusively have access to OnDemand Energy Solutions, part of the ChamberChoice portfolio. OnDemand is the largest energy consultant and broker in Pennsylvania that annually serves over 6,500 active businesses, which include small businesses up through large industrials, and over 23,000 residential customers. More than 40 Columbia Montour Chamber members have cumulatively saved millions of dollars in electricity costs since this program was implemented.
OnDemand can provide a free, no-obligation quote so you can see how much money you can potentially save. They are also able to evaluate any existing energy contract. The process is quick and easy – all you need to do is sign an authorization form allowing OnDemand to access your energy information and act on your behalf to get supply pricing from various competitors. Because we know your time is short, members of the Chamber staff are also willing to help facilitate this process if necessary. For more information, please contact Matt Beltz at 570-784-2522 or email.
From the Better Business Bureau
Beware of a new email phishing scam trying to fool small businesses. The message looks like an email alert from accounting software QuickBooks, but it’s not. It’s really a clever phishing con designed to fool small businesses into giving up private information.
How the Scam Works: You receive an email with the subject line “QuickBooks Support: Change Request.” The message is “confirming” that you changed your business name with Intuit, QuickBook’s manufacturer. However, you never made such a request. It must be a mistake, but fortunately the email contains a link to cancel.
Pause before you click! Scammers know that you didn’t make this request, and the link to cancel is simply bait. It downloads malware to your device, which scammers use to capture passwords or hunt for sensitive information on your machine. This can open you up to identity theft. Click here for tips on how to spot and report a phishing scam or register for the next Learn at Lunch for more in depth information on how to protect your organization’s data.
In the last two years, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have passed mandates for private employers to provide paid and unpaid leave to employees in addition to provisions of the Family & Medical Leave Act. PA Senate Bill 128, co-sponsored by Senator John Gordner, would require that any such mandates be implemented at the state level.
The Chamber Board recently approved a letter to Senator Gordner supporting the legislation with the understanding the Chamber is not advocating for such a mandate to be passed. The Board feels that local mandates of this type would create a confusing patchwork for employers across the state. Further, additional requirements at the state level would be burdensome for employers.
On Monday, Bloomsburg Town Council unanimously passed an update to its signage ordinance. The changes were primarily aimed at establishing guidelines in the Business Campus district, which encompasses the former Bloom Mills site. Members of Council recommended a more comprehensive review of the signage ordinance to consider issues raised by the Chamber and Downtown Bloomsburg, Inc.
The Chamber and DBI Boards expressed concerns about potential conflicts in the revisions. Also, the ordinance prohibits certain types of signage that are already in use. While existing signs are grandfathered, guidelines for any new signage would be more restrictive. Several Council members expressed an interest in conducting a comprehensive review of the ordinance. The Chamber looks forward to being a part of this process. (more…)
The Chamber of Commerce and Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau recently announced that the organizations will return to operating as independent entities. The dissolution of the Columbia-Montour Partnership for Community Development, which was initially communicated at the Partnership’s annual dinner, is expected to be complete by March 31, 2017. Long-standing Chamber and Visitors Bureau programs will continue uninterrupted, and members should receive separate dues invoices for each organization in March. (more…)
The 2017 PA CareerLink Job Fair for Columbia County is quickly approaching. The event is co-sponsored by the Chamber, Sykes Enterprises, and WHLM and serves as a prime venue to connect employers and post-secondary schools with hundreds of students and potential employees from the Central Pennsylvania area. (more…)
From PA Chamber of Business & Industry
This week kicks off several weeks of State budget hearings, where lawmakers on the House and Senate Appropriations Committees will hear from the heads of state-run agencies, state row offices and educational institutions that receive state funding. These hearings, which are held each year in the weeks following the governor’s budget address, give these entities the opportunity to weigh in on the level of funding that the administration has proposed they receive in the coming fiscal year and allows committee members to ask questions about the funding and the function of their agencies. Updates will be provided in the coming weeks and the Columbia-Montour Chamber will be planning a budget breakfast later this spring.
Bloomsburg Town Council is considering changes to its zoning ordinance related to business signage in its Commercial, Commercial-Residential, and Business Campus districts. While existing signs would be grandfathered, some of the proposed changes would prohibit new signage that is similar to what is currently being used.
A public hearing is scheduled for Monday, February 27th at 6:00 p.m. at Town Hall prior to Council’s vote. A copy of the proposed amendment is available here , and at Town Hall during normal business hours. The Chamber’s Board of Directors is expressing concerns about the proposed changes in a letter to Council. Additionally, there appears to be conflicting language in amendment. Business and commercial property owners in the Town are encouraged to review these proposed changes and attend Monday’s hearing to express any concerns.