Penn National Insurance has announced a one percent dividend for the fourth program year of the ChamberChoice Business Insurance program. Members who placed their insurance coverage with the program during the 2014/2015 program year will receive a dividend equal to one percent of their total premium. Over the past four years, Penn National Insurance has returned an average of 7% in dividends. In the four years of its existence, the program has returned over $132,000 to participating local member businesses of the Chamber.
An important aspect of this group insurance program is preventing loss and controlling claims costs. Because dividends are based on the group’s collective loss experience, a business that may have had a significant loss may still be eligible to receive a dividend. The program is sold exclusively through local, independent agents who can offer Chamber members a variety of coverages and pricing on property and casualty insurance, including business owners, commercial auto, general liability, inland marine and workers’ compensation. Dividends are paid on all of these coverages. In addition, through safety consulting, Penn National Insurance and local independent insurance agencies encourage member businesses to develop safety practices to substantially reduce or eliminate workplace injuries. Check out this link to know more on insurance.
The Business Insurance program is just one of many benefits of Chamber membership. For more information about this year’s dividend, contact Fred Gaffney at fgaffney@cmpartnership.org. To sign up for the program, call the Chamber at 570-784-2522.
More than 600 businesses and organizations belong to the Columbia Montour Chamber to receive benefits and support efforts to strengthen 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 four organizations that joined in June to help us fulfill our mission:
2 Twisted Sisters – 518 B Walnut Street, Danville
Berwick Area Boat Club #454 – P.O. Box 94, Mifflinville
DRIVE – Driving Real Innovation for a Vibrant Economy – 114 Woodbine Lane, Suite 103, Danville
Prenault Corporation – 152 Franklin Avenue, Suite 200, Kent, OH
Additional contact information is available on the Chamber’s Online Directory.
A reminder that anyone who recommends Chamber membership will receive a $25 gift certificate when that organization joins.
Last Thursday, eighteen teams participated in the Chamber’s annual Golf Outing at Knoebels Three Ponds Golf Club. The event was a rousing success, and the Chamber would like to take this time to thank all of the generous business sponsors that made it possible, namely the overall event sponsor – Williams. A special thank you also goes out to Knoebels and the Three Ponds Golf Club staff for all of their hard work in hosting a well-organized and enjoyable tournament.
Several teams stood out on the course during the tournament. The top overall finishers in the first flight were the golfers from 3B Cleaning and Floorcare; Brian Snyder, Nate Snyder, BJ Snyder, and Jim Henninger. Their winning score was a 16-under round of 55 (par 71). The second-place team, also with a 16-under score, was the team from First Keystone Community Bank; Matt Prosseda, Jonathan Littlewood, Gene Morrison, and Mike Boone. In the second flight, the winning team finished with a 4-under round of 67. The top golfers in this flight were from First Columbia Bank & Trust; Lance Diehl, Jeff Hill, Jeff Whitenight, and Matt Beagle. The second place team also finished with a 4-under round of 67 and represented Service 1st Federal Credit Union; Tom Rambo, Joe Reinard, Karen Wood, and Jenna Ward.
The winner of the skins competition was the Williams #2 team; Greg Galante, Brad Kemerer, Wesley Smith, and Jason Neidig. Other Winners: Men’s Longest Drive: Jason Taylor Women’s Longest Drive: Karen Wood Men’s Closest to the Pin: Jonathan Littlewood Women’s Closest to the Pin: Jodi Berry Putting Contest: Bryan Snyder Thanks to everyone who participated and made the outing a memorable one. We look forward to seeing everyone in next year’s tournament as well!
From PA Chamber of Business & Industry
In the final week of the 2015-16 Fiscal Year, a budget agreement for 2016-17 remains a work in progress. Legislative leaders in the House and Senate met twice on Sunday, and told reporters that they are moving ever closer to an agreement on a final spending number. According to media reports, the bipartisan budget deal that was taking shape was jelling somewhere between $31 billion and $32 billion. Differences are still being worked out over new sources of revenue, although cigarette taxes, increased liquor sales and expanded gaming are said to factor into the revenue equation. In an effort to generate more non-tax revenue for state spending, the House adopted a gaming expansion amendment last week that allows for internet-based gaming for players 21 years of age and older; permits players 18 years of age and older to participate in daily fantasy sports betting; authorizes the state’s five racetrack casinos to put slot machines at a certain number of off-track better parlors; allows for slot machines at airports; and changes rules related to resort casinos and sports wagering. All told, the House-passed gambling reform package is projected to net between $150 million to $200 million in annual revenue for the Commonwealth.
Before the House adopted the gaming reform amendment by a bipartisan 115-80 vote, the chamber voted down another amendment that would have implemented these changes, plus legalized video poker and other gaming machines in bars. Meanwhile, Gov. Tom Wolf announced early last week during a radio interview that he has taken personal income and sales tax hikes off the table in 2016-17 state budget negotiations. While he is still asking for $250 million for basic education and $34 million to combat the state’s heroin crisis, he said during the interview: “I think all this can be done without a broad based tax increase. I’m not asking for a Sales Tax increase or Personal Income Tax increase. I think we can do all this; the balanced budget, the increase in education and heroin initiatives without a broad based tax increase. So, I think that we’re making some good progress. I think we’re very close.”
The annual Block Party held in Bloomsburg in mid-April each year has a significant impact on the Town. The Board of Downtown Bloomsburg Inc., in coordination with the Town/Gown Relations Committee, is interested in getting input from service (restaurants, spa/salons, professional services, financial institutions, lodging, etc.) and retail businesses in the Bloomsburg area about this event through a brief poll. Businesses located within the Town and surrounding townships are invited to participate.
Click the link to participate by noon on Friday, July 1st. The results will be shared with the Town/Gown Committee, Bloomsburg Town Council and Bloomsburg University Administration.
Anyone with questions should contact Fred Gaffney at 570-784-2522 or fgaffney@cmpartnership.org.
Last week, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) held four public meetings to collect input on the draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Atlantic Sunrise natural gas pipeline project. The Chamber of Commerce submitted comments at Wednesday’s meeting in Bloomsburg in support of the expansion of Pennsylvania’s pipeline infrastructure. Public comments on the DEIS are being accepted until June 27th.
The Atlantic Sunrise project includes construction of 195 miles of 30 and 42-inch pipeline in Pennsylvania for the transmission of natural gas. The proposed route runs south through Columbia County. A compressor station is also proposed to be built in the county. Details about the project including maps are available here.
In early 2015, the Chamber Board solicited input from members on two natural gas pipeline projects in the region, the Atlantic Sunrise project, and the Sunbury Pipeline project. The Sunbury Pipeline consists of a 35-mile pipeline being constructed primarily to supply the Hummel Station power plant in Shamokin Dam, Snyder County. A portion of that pipeline will go through Montour County after being approved by FERC this spring. Following member input, the Board approved a resolution supporting “the expansion of Pennsylvania’s natural gas transportation and distribution pipeline infrastructure through responsible collaboration with property owners for the benefit of the citizenry and economy of the Commonwealth.”
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement, as well as links to electronically submit comments, are available through FERC’s website. Comments must be received by June 27, 2016.
From PA Chamber of Business & Industry
Last week, the House passed historic liquor reform legislation that Gov. Tom Wolf publicly signed on Wednesday, June 8. On Tuesday, the House voted 157-31 on concurrence in favor of H.B. 1690, which provides for the private sector sale of wine in grocery stores with a restaurant license; allows takeout wine sales in licensed restaurants, bars, hotels, supermarkets and delis; and lets about 14,000 holders of takeout beer licenses to sell up to four bottles of wine; among other improvements to the current state store system.
The new law makes no changes to the current sale of liquor and does not close any state stores. Governor Wolf issued a statement calling the bipartisan effort “the most significant step the commonwealth has taken to reform our liquor system in 80 years.” For its part, the PA Chamber has long advocated moving Pennsylvania’s antiquated liquor sales system into the 21st century to give consumers the convenience and choice they overwhelmingly want; and make the state competitive in alcohol sales, in order to keep critical sales revenue in the Commonwealth’s borders each year.
Following the governor’s action, PA Chamber President Gene Barr released a statement thanking elected officials for enacting the popular reform legislation and allowing the private sector to responsibly sell wine. “We applaud the governor for signing this important reform legislation into law – which will help keep revenue within our borders and will expand private sector opportunities to responsibly sell alcohol and compete on equal ground with neighboring states,” Barr said. “This effort – which had bipartisan support – shows how the spirit of compromise can bring about positive change in Pennsylvania.”
It has been over 12 years since the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) was last amended. In 2004, a Final Rule increased the salary level an employee must be paid to come within the standard test for an Executive, Administrative or Professional exemption (EAP, also known as the white collar exemption) from minimum wage and overtime requirements to $455 per week. At that time the Department of Labor (DOL) also modified required duties tests for meeting the exempt from overtime status and created an exemption for highly compensated employees (HCEs).
After issuing proposed rules in 2015, the DOL recently released its 2016 Final Rule, which is aimed at expanding overtime eligibility for millions of American workers. The Final Rule increases the minimum salary employers must pay white collar workers to maintain their exempt status to $913 per week, but does not make any changes to the job duties test. Employers have until December 1, 2016 to comply. The Chamber’s member benefits provider, ChamberChoice, has provided a summary of the key provisions of the new overtime rule. The U.S. Department of Labor has held several webinars explaining the changes, which are archived for viewing. If employers have any remaining questions, they are advised to contact an attorney for clarification.
Leaders in the PA House and Senate from both parties are optimistic that the 2016-17 budget will be passed on or near the June 30th deadline this year. A major motivator is that the entire House and half of the Senate members are up for reelection this fall. Details on how to close a $2 billion deficit have not yet been finalized.
The expectation of a budget deal was echoed by House Speaker Mike Turzai, House Appropriations Committee Chairs Bill Adolph and Joseph Markosek, Senate Appropriations Chair Pat Browne and Senator Jake Corman on Tuesday. All stated that this year’s negotiations are going much better than last year’s. The legislators met with chambers of commerce from across the state at the annual Chamber Day at the Capitol. The event was organized by the PA Chamber of Business and Industry and the Pennsylvania Association of Chamber Professionals. Republican leaders and the PA Chamber continue to push for reform of the state pension system, a major cost driver in the budget. The Commonwealth’s obligation for the coming fiscal year increases $500 million to $2 billion. Speaker Turzai stated that pension reform legislation currently in the House was agreed to by Governor Wolf last year. Any of the reforms being considered would not result in immediate savings for Pennsylvania taxpayers.
To help generate the additional revenue needed to meet this obligation, the expansion of gaming and the expansion of items and services subject to sales tax are being considered. Also on Tuesday, the House passed reforms to the state liquor system that will allow grocery stores to sell wine and expand beer sales at convenience stores. The reforms, which House leaders hope will lead to the eventual complete privatization of the liquor sales in Pennsylvania, is expected to generate an additional $150 million in revenue annually. Governor Wolf did not immediately indicate if he would sign the bill. Increases in the sales tax rate and personal income tax rates are off the table in the negotiations, according to legislators. Budget Secretary Randy Albright expects that some “gimmicks” and “one-time fixes” will be utilized by the legislature to bridge any remaining budget shortfall.