Member News ~ September 18, 2025
Columbia County America250PA Bells Across PA Unveiling at Bloomsburg Fair - September 19th
Bells Across PA is a statewide art series that features locally designed bell sculptures that will be unveiled in each of the state's 67 counties. The Columbia County bell, which is sponsored by the Bloomsburg Fair Association, will be unveiled on Friday, September 19th at 7 PM at the Caleb Barton Historic House at the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds. The celebration will be followed by fireworks. Click here for more information. RSVP by contacting Danielle@America250PA.org.
Susquehanna Kids Curates Guide to the 2025 Bloomsburg Fair
Susquehanna Kids has done all the research for you! Enjoy the fair with their family and budget friendly tips, tricks, and best kept secrets! Click here to view the full article.
Service 1st Federal Credit Union Announces Upcoming Events to Conclude Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month
Service 1st Federal Credit Union announces that Pediatric Cancer Awareness events and the sale of Gold Dust pale ale will continue throughout the area until the end of the September to benefit the ThinkBIG Pediatric Cancer Fund®. To view the full list of events, click here.
Maria Joseph Manor Holds Groundbreaking Ceremony for Expansion Project - September 25th
Maria Joseph Manor cordially invites you to the celebratory groundbreaking of their expansion project, the Willows at 1 PM at 77 Tower View Circle, Danville, PA. There will be a reception at 1:45 PM following the groundbreaking. Refreshments will be provided. Click here to view the invitation.
Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble Launches its 48th Season - September 25th
The 39 Steps is the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble’s first show of its 48th Season. The run opens with a low-price preview on Thursday, September 25. The tickets for the official premiere performance on September 27 include a pre-show fundraiser gala. View this link for more information.
Community Giving Foundation Holds Grant Event to Celebrate 2025 Community Impact
The Community Giving Foundation welcomed nonprofit grant recipients, donors, board members, and community partners for a regional grant impact celebration on September 12th. The breakfast was a wonderful time to connect with each other and acknowledge the remarkable impact that charitable giving creates, both regionally and in individual communities across our region. Read More.
The Phoenix at Knoebels Amusement Resort Wins Seventh Golden Ticket Award
Knoebels Amusement Resort’s Phoenix roller coaster was named best wooden roller coaster in the world for the seventh consecutive year at The Golden Ticket Awards ceremony at Carowinds, North Carolina. Additionally, the park also claimed the Golden Ticket Award for its food, which earned the title of “Legend,” according to a press release issued by the resort.
Public Meetings for the Montour County Comprehensive Plan - September 30th
The first public meeting for the project is scheduled for Tuesday, September 30, 2025, with two sessions planned: Town & Village from 3–5 PM at the Montour County Administration Center Gymnasium, and Farm & Forest from 6–8 PM at Delong Memorial Hall. The team is also exploring opportunities for collaboration with the Danville School District. Click here for more information.
MC Federal Credit Union Raises $32,000 for Getting Ahead Foundation
The 5th Annual tournament was held on Friday, June 27, 2025, at Knoebels Three Ponds Golf Course, bringing together local businesses, community members, and supporters for a day of fun on the green — all for a great cause. This year’s event proudly supported the Getting Ahead Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping individuals break the cycle of poverty and build stable, thriving futures. Click here to read the full article.
Susquehanna Valley United Way Promotes Recovery Awareness Events
The Susquehanna Valley United Way is proud to support a variety of Recovery Awareness events this fall, offering opportunities for connection, education, and community support. Check out the full list of events and details here!
Ken Pollock Ford Joins AGAPE to Fight Hunger in the Berwick Community - September 15th - 25th
From September 15–25, 2025, Ken Pollock Ford will be collecting canned and non-perishable food items at their Berwick location, 1120 W Front Street, Berwick, PA 18603. These donations will directly benefit local families, helping to fight hunger right here at home. The food drive kicks off during the dealership’s 6th Annual Car Show, held on Sunday, September 14, 2025. Click here for more information
The Women's Center is Accepting Submissions for Pet Photo Contest - September 19th
One study found a disturbing link between domestic abuse and animal cruelty. The Women's Center Inc. of Columbia & Montour counties is hosting a Cutest Pet Contest as a fun way to celebrate our beloved pets while shining a spotlight on this critical issue. All submission forms and photos must be received by Friday September 19th. Click here to enter!
Stop Hopper Adds Weekend Hours During Fair Week - September 19th-27th
Stop Hopper is the easiest way to get to the Bloomsburg Fair! Use the on-demand curb-to-curb service in Danville, Bloomsburg and Berwick during weekend hours (9:00 AM- 4:30 PM) that are only operative during the Bloomsburg Fair. Normal business hours are Monday through Friday 6:30 AM-6:30 PM. Visit this link for more information.
Bloomsburg Children's Museum Will Remain Open During Fair Week - September 20th-27th
The Bloomsburg Children’s Museum, 2 West 7th Street, has announced it will remain open during Fair Week. The museum will be operational during its normal business hours from Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Click here to for more details!
America250PA's Mobile Experience Unit is Coming to the Bloomsburg Fair - September 24th
The Bloomsburg Fair Association and the Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau are excited to announce that the America250PA Countdown to 250 Mobile Experimental Unit will be coming to the fair on Wednesday, September 24th, from 12-7 PM. This experience will connect Pennsylvanians of every age to our shared past, present and future. View this flyer for more detailed information.
United Way CEO Roadshow: Columbia & Montour - September 23rd
Susquehanna Valley United Way’s new CEO, Mark Stankiewicz, is visiting our region as part of the “United in Community” Roadshow. Join the Columbia & Montour stop on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at 8:00 AM at the SVUW Bloomsburg Office and and 11:30 AM at DRIVE. To RSVP, visit their website.
Weis Center Andre Mehmari Trio Concert - September 24th
Pianist and composer Andre Mehmari’s trio blends Brazilian roots with jazz and classical influences in a new nature-inspired repertoire shaped by his life in the Atlantic Forest. This event will be located at the Weis Center Atrium, on September 24th at 7:30 PM. Purchase your tickets by visiting this link or calling 570-577-1000.
Bloomsburg Children’s Museum Joins Worldwide Day of Play - September 27
On Saturday, September 27, the Bloomsburg Children’s Museum will take part in Our World: Worldwide Day of Play, a global initiative led by Nickelodeon and the Association of Children’s Museums. Families can enjoy discounted admission and a hands-on slime lab from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., celebrating the power of play in learning, creativity, and healthy development. To learn more, click here.
September Mental Health Minute from Swift Kennedy
This month's Mental Health Minute Newsletter from Swift Kennedy delves into the fascinating connection between diet and mental health, alongside highlighting the myriad benefits of talk therapy. Click here to view the newsletter.
Free Workforce Training for Farms & Agribusinesses
Small-to-medium Pennsylvania farms and agribusinesses can now access free training and consultation through the AgWorks Program. Topics include hiring and retention, business operations, legal counseling, health and safety, and more at no cost. To participate, complete the intake form, which includes a brief survey that will help us understand the challenges that businesses face. For more information about the program, contact agworks@psu.edu. For more information about the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry’s training and services, visit their website.
Town of Bloomsburg Provides Updates on Current Projects
From paving Market Street to expanding recreation spaces and investing in solar energy, the Town of Bloomsburg is making steady progress on projects that improve daily life for residents. See what’s happening now (and what’s coming next) by checking out the full update.
Bloomsburg Area YMCA hosting Trunk or Treat
The Bloomsburg YMCA is looking for businesses to join them for their October 24th Trunk or Treat as part of Boo!burg. Interested in joining them? Fill out their registration form here.
Candlewood Suites Grand Re-Opening - October 8th
Candlewood Suites invites you to save the date for their Grand Re-Opening on October 8th at 4:45.
Millville Mutual Insurance Launches Fundraiser
As part of Millville Insurance’s 150th anniversary, they are partnering with Geisinger Health Foundation to provide 500 specially designed Infusion Shirts to patients at Knapper Clinic. To Learn More click here.
The Future of Employer-Sponsored Healthcare
Source: My Benefit Advisor
As we move into the later stages of 2025, employer-sponsored healthcare is undergoing a dramatic transformation driven by technology, cost pressures, and shifting workforce expectations. Traditional models focused solely on insurance coverage are giving way to holistic, data-driven strategies that prioritize prevention, personalization, and accessibility.
The rise in virtual care has redefined the healthcare experience and telemedicine, once a convenience, is now a cornerstone of care delivery. Employers are increasingly adopting virtual-first health plans, combining digital platforms with in-person networks to improve engagement and lower costs.
Another major trend is the integration of mental and behavioral health services. In the wake of the pandemic and growing awareness of stress and burnout, companies are embedding mental health solutions directly into their benefits ecosystem…from on-demand counseling to manager mental health training. Additionally, wearable health technology and AI-driven analytics are enabling real-time monitoring of employee well-being, allowing for more proactive interventions.
The Columbia-Montour Chamber of Commerce offers its members access to My Benefit Advisor as a solution for employee benefits, including voluntary offerings. For more information about My Benefit Advisor, visit our website at cmcc.mybenefitadvisor.com or contact Rob Higginbotham at (800) 377-3536.
How Teaching Your Team to Sell Drives Every Metric Up
Source: Chamber Today
-
Growth-minded companies train everyone, not just the sales team, to understand the basics of selling.
-
Every employee interaction with customers, partners, or community stakeholders can be a growth opportunity.
-
Sales skills foster confidence, empathy, and better communication, which boosts performance across all roles.
-
The payoff: stronger culture, deeper client loyalty, and measurable revenue growth.
574 words ~ 3 min. read
Most leaders view sales as the responsibility of one department. Sales teams chase leads, close deals, and push revenue forward while the rest of the organization focuses on operations, service, or support. But here’s the truth: when sales skills are seen as universal, not specialized, they become a growth multiplier for the entire company.
At its core, selling is not about closing a transaction. It is about listening, understanding needs, and connecting solutions to problems. Those same skills show up in customer service, project management, product design, and leadership. By instilling basic sales training across your team, you equip every employee to see their work as part of a larger growth story.
Think about what happens when customer-facing staff in accounting, operations, or service know how to uncover needs. Instead of just processing an invoice, an employee recognizes an opportunity to recommend a bundled service or flag an upcoming renewal. Instead of handling a complaint with defensiveness, a frontline worker sees it as a chance to retain loyalty and potentially upsell. Even in back-office roles, sales skills improve communication with colleagues, drive collaboration, and sharpen the ability to advocate for ideas.
For many companies, the barrier to growth is not a lack of opportunity. It is a lack of awareness. Employees who do not see themselves as “salespeople” miss moments that could deepen customer relationships or open new revenue doors. Training your team to sell reframes this. It creates a shared language around value, urgency, and problem-solving. Over time, that shared mindset strengthens culture because people start connecting their day-to-day actions to organizational success.
Leaders play a decisive role in this shift. When executives champion sales skills as part of professional development, they signal that growth is everyone’s job. When managers celebrate moments where non-sales staff uncover opportunities, they reinforce a culture that rewards curiosity and initiative. Without this top-down encouragement, even the best training risks being treated as optional.
The payoff extends beyond revenue. Customers feel the difference when every interaction is rooted in listening and value. Instead of being shuffled between departments, they encounter a unified team that understands their needs and responds with solutions. This builds trust, loyalty, and long-term partnerships that are far more valuable than one-time transactions.
The key is not to make everyone a quota-carrying salesperson. Rather, it is about giving your team the ability to recognize and act on moments of influence. Basic training in questioning techniques, active listening, and value articulation is often enough to shift mindsets. From there, role-specific application ensures that sales skills do not feel bolted on but embedded into daily work.
The companies that thrive in competitive markets are those that understand growth is not a department. It is a culture. Leaders who teach every employee how to sell are not just building revenue pipelines. They are cultivating ambassadors who can champion the organization’s value at every turn.
The Bottom Line
Sales training is not an isolated investment in one department. It is a cultural strategy that multiplies impact across your organization. By equipping every employee with basic sales skills, you create a workforce that listens better, communicates more clearly, and strengthens relationships. Customers win through better service and personalized solutions. Employees win through confidence and ownership. And organizations win through loyalty and growth that compound over time. If you want growth to be more than a number, make sales everyone’s responsibility.
Budget Battle Persists Despite Public Transit Temporary Fix
Democratic leaders have sounded less optimistic. Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette last week that “anything could happen.”
Source: PA Chamber of Business and Industry
Pennsylvania’s state budget impasse has now stretched into its third month, with negotiations continuing behind closed doors and lawmakers again signaling a potential agreement could be reached soon.
However, one major sticking point in the talks, public transit funding, appears to be off the table for now. Last Monday, Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration approved a temporary fix that allows the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) to shift up to $394 million from its capital assistance fund to cover operating costs for the next two years. Other transit agencies have signaled they may pursue that option as well.
The move mirrors a concept backed by Senate Republicans, who had previously pushed to use the state’s $2.4 billion Public Transportation Trust Fund to avoid service cuts. Democrats previously opposed the idea, citing risks to long-term infrastructure needs, but Shapiro said the fix removes the transit issue from the budget table and clears the way for broader negotiations. He added that talks are now focused on “narrow” differences around overall spending levels.
The budget was due on June 30, but negotiators remain divided on key fiscal and policy issues. The protracted stalemate has held up payments to school districts, counties, hospitals, and human services providers.
Shapiro originally proposed a $51.5 billion budget in February. The Democratic-controlled House later passed a $50.6 billion plan that included added funding for schools and transit. Senate Republicans countered with a $47.6 billion measure that flat-funded programs at last year’s levels, arguing the Commonwealth cannot spend more than its roughly $45 billion in annual revenue without drawing down reserves or raising taxes.
None of the proposals have bridged the gap between the chambers, and leaders continue to spar over whether spending levels are sustainable. Republicans have warned against tapping the state’s Rainy Day Fund, while Democrats argue that more investment is needed in education, human services, and other priority areas.
Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-Indiana) said last week that the transit development has led to more frequent and detailed talks that could yield a final deal within days. Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland) suggested the PA chamber could move a partial spending bill to at least release funding for agreed-upon items.
The Senate adjourned last week without scheduling its next voting day until Oct. 20, but told members they could be called back on 24 hours’ notice if a deal is reached. Meanwhile, the House held a series of non-voting session days to prepare legislation for quick action when an agreement comes together.
For now, the principal negotiators — Shapiro, Pittman and House Majority Leader Matt Bradford — reportedly remain engaged in talks. While both parties acknowledge progress, a “global agreement” on the budget has yet to emerge.
American Remodeling Enterprises- New Member Highlight
Member News ~ September 11, 2025
Ken Pollock Ford Joins AGAPE to Fight Hunger in the Berwick Community - September 15th - 25th
From September 15–25, 2025, Ken Pollock Ford will be collecting canned and non-perishable food items at their Berwick location, 1120 W Front Street, Berwick, PA 18603. These donations will directly benefit local families, helping to fight hunger right here at home. The food drive kicks off during the dealership’s 6th Annual Car Show, held on Sunday, September 14, 2025. Click here for more information.
Millville Mutual Insurance Celebrates 150th Anniversary with Business After Hours Event - September 17th
Join us in celebrating Millville Insurance and its 150th Anniversary on September 17th from 4:30 -6:30 PM by gathering for a night of networking and building business connections. Click this link to register for the event and view the promotional video here!
Journey Bank Celebrates Naming Rights of Community Arts Center with New Marquee
Journey Bank has partnered with the Community Arts Center to celebrate the unveiling of its new name, the Journey Bank Community Arts Center, along with the installation of a modern digital marquee. These updates highlight Journey Bank’s commitment to supporting arts, culture, and community in our region. Read the full article here.
The Women's Center is Accepting Submissions for Pet Photo Contest - September 19th
One study found a disturbing link between domestic abuse and animal cruelty. The Women's Center Inc. of Columbia & Montour counties is hosting a Cutest Pet Contest as a fun way to celebrate our beloved pets while shining a spotlight on this critical issue. All submission forms and photos must be received by Friday September 19th. Click here to enter!
Stop Hopper Adds Weekend Hours During Fair Week - September 19th-27th
Stop Hopper is the easiest way to get to the Bloomsburg Fair! Use the on-demand curb-to-curb service in Danville, Bloomsburg and Berwick during weekend hours (9:00 AM- 4:30 PM) that are only operative during the Bloomsburg Fair. Normal business hours are Monday through Friday 6:30 AM-6:30 PM. Visit this link for more information.
Bloomsburg Children's Museum Will Remain Open During Fair Week - September 20th-27th
The Bloomsburg Children’s Museum, 2 West 7th Street, has announced it will remain open during Fair Week. The museum will be operational during its normal business hours from Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Click here to for more details!
America250PA's Mobile Experience Unit is Coming to the Bloomsburg Fair - September 24th
The Bloomsburg Fair Association and the Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau are excited to announce that the America250PA Countdown to 250 Mobile Experimental Unit will be coming to the fair on Wednesday, September 24th, from 12-7 PM. This experience will connect Pennsylvanians of every age to our shared past, present and future. View this flyer for more detailed information.
North Central Sight Services, Inc. Launches Customer Support Center
North Central Sight Services, Inc. has officially launched its Customer Care Center, a call center specializing in customized outbound calling campaigns for both B2B and B2C clients. This initiative is part of the organization’s ongoing mission to empower individuals who are blind or visually impaired through meaningful employment while providing a valuable service to the business community. Read more here!
United Way CEO Roadshow: Columbia & Montour - September 23rd
Susquehanna Valley United Way’s new CEO, Mark Stankiewicz, is visiting our region as part of the “United in Community” Roadshow. Join the Columbia & Montour stop on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at 8:00 AM at the SVUW Bloomsburg Office and and 11:30 AM at DRIVE. To RSVP, visit their website.
Weis Center Andre Mehmari Trio Concert - September 24th
Pianist and composer Andre Mehmari’s trio blends Brazilian roots with jazz and classical influences in a new nature-inspired repertoire shaped by his life in the Atlantic Forest. This event will be located at the Weis Center Atrium, on September 24th at 7:30 PM. Purchase your tickets by visiting this link or calling 570-577-1000.
Bloomsburg Children’s Museum Joins Worldwide Day of Play - September 27
On Saturday, September 27, the Bloomsburg Children’s Museum will take part in Our World: Worldwide Day of Play, a global initiative led by Nickelodeon and the Association of Children’s Museums. Families can enjoy discounted admission and a hands-on slime lab from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., celebrating the power of play in learning, creativity, and healthy development. To learn more, click here.
September Mental Health Minute from Swift Kennedy
This month's Mental Health Minute Newsletter from Swift Kennedy delves into the fascinating connection between diet and mental health, alongside highlighting the myriad benefits of talk therapy. Click here to view the newsletter.
Free Workforce Training for Farms & Agribusinesses
Small-to-medium Pennsylvania farms and agribusinesses can now access free training and consultation through the AgWorks Program. Topics include hiring and retention, business operations, legal counseling, health and safety, and more at no cost. To participate, complete the intake form, which includes a brief survey that will help us understand the challenges that businesses face. For more information about the program, contact agworks@psu.edu. For more information about the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry’s training and services, visit their website.
Town of Bloomsburg Provides Updates on Current Projects
From paving Market Street to expanding recreation spaces and investing in solar energy, the Town of Bloomsburg is making steady progress on projects that improve daily life for residents. See what’s happening now (and what’s coming next) by checking out the full update.
Bloomsburg Area YMCA hosting Trunk or Treat
The Bloomsburg YMCA is looking for businesses to join them for their October 24th Trunk or Treat as part of Boo!burg. Interested in joining them? Fill out their registration form here.
Candlewood Suites Grand Re-Opening - October 8th
Candlewood Suites invites you to save the date for their Grand Re-Opening on October 8th at 4:45.
Millville Mutual Insurance Launches Fundraiser
As part of Millville Insurance’s 150th anniversary, they are partnering with Geisinger Health Foundation to provide 500 specially designed Infusion Shirts to patients at Knapper Clinic. To Learn More click here.
President’s Message: Flunking the Small Talk, Firm in Focus
By Chris Berleth, Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce
“Hey, Chris, what’s new/how’s it going at the Chamber?”
As members return to a consistent work schedule following summer vacations, stay-cations, or PTO, that’s the question I’m encountering most frequently. At this point, you’d think I’d be prepared to answer it, but unfortunately, what I’ve managed to blurt out repeatedly is “Oh, we’re uh, pretty busy, doing a lot of great things!”
That’s lame.
Do you ever feel like you’ve got so many things going on that when asked a simple question, you’re stuck between not offering enough information or dominating the conversation? The truth is that my brain isn’t fast enough to give the tailored answer I want to give to the folks I meet, while also giving them time to chat.
Members, friends, you deserve to know what’s going on with your Chamber and finding the answer should be easy. That’s why we’ve invested in a reporting system designed to keep you looped in, and I’ll be working to be more ready with a copy of it for the occasions I’ve described.
What We’ve Been Up To, All in One Place
Each month, your Chamber publishes a Dashboard which showcases the work that we’re doing under our Five Focus Areas. (You’ve already heard about this from Taryn). It’s a one-page (front and back) document which highlights our financial position, metrics and analytics for membership and communications, and most of all, how we’ve spent our time on what’s most important to our members. The Dashboard is great, but it’s limited –it isn’t designed to connect the dots as to how the work we’re doing ties into a comprehensive strategy to meet our mission of “vibrant and sustainable communities”.
For that, you’ll need another President’s Message, but here’s a glimpse of what’s got us most excited lately:
Foundation & Chamber Alignment, Member Benefits
In August, we announced the hiring of Kyra McKinnon to our team. Kyra is part of a fundamental shift in how we operate, and a strategic realignment of our partnership with the Chamber Foundation. She’s taken to the role like a fish takes to water and is already making improvements to the Chamber and Foundation website, social media, and communications. Just wait until you see what she’s bringing to the table. Spoiler alert: you’ll be seeing more of us through Instagram very soon.
Talent Pipeline and Employee Development
Taryn Crayton, who’s handed off her responsibilities in marketing, communications, and events to Kyra, continues to lean into her role as a key strategist on our team. She’s leading Leadership Central Penn, as well as key Foundation programming with our school partners. In August, at the K-12 Educators’ Summit, we doubled down on our talent pipeline efforts to meet workforce and educators’ needs. We’re re-launching Educator in the Workplace next Summer, thanks to a generous Arconic grant, we’re doubling down on financial literacy offerings to local students, thanks to our partnership with Journey Bank and Brighter Financial Futures. Our S.E.A.L. Challenge (STEM Contest) continues to grow, and we’re continuing to coordinate What’s So Cool About Manufacturing. That’s just what’s up with the Foundation.
Advocacy, Business Connections
As to the Chamber, we’re building on our advocacy efforts by continuing dialogues with legislators and municipal leaders and will be hosting a state issues conversation in October (I wrote about the dress code for that last week). We’re also very excited about the other premier event this Fall, which is our Business Leadership Forum. This year’s program is designed to be a practical resource for your business’ technology and AI questions. You read that right - we’re focusing on practical and tactical – so that you have takeaways that you leave feeling informed and better equipped, contrary to what’s so easy with fast-moving technologies (overwhelmed and anxious).
To be more transparent with our process and include more of you, we’ve created a new mechanism for our annual awards – complete with a rubric, and a better way to nominate eligible businesses and individuals.
We’re also planning on sending some of you to Ireland through our new group travel experience with Colette (and there’s still an opportunity to build more relationships through that fun experience.)
Strengthening our Communities
As I type this, I’m on my way out the door to stump for the Chamber in our community, through advisory committees, planning groups, downtown efforts, and more. Montour County’s Comprehensive Plan is in full swing, as are efforts to poll businesses through Danville Business Alliance’s Economic Vitality Committee. We’re growing experiential learning opportunities alongside Scouting America’s Exploring program and connecting with the U.S. Chamber and its Foundation about best practices for Chambers.
I’m proud to share that we’ve submitted paperwork for Chamber accreditation, which would make us one of only a handful of accredited Chambers in the Commonwealth.
I hope to see you at events this Fall, at celebrations like the 150th Anniversary of Millville Mutual Insurance (next week), and community staples like the Bloomsburg Fair, Riverfest, and the Covered Bridge Festival. When I do, I hope that you’ll hear me say something better than, “We’re pretty busy…,” but in case I flub it, I trust you’ll give me grace.
One company’s bold move increased worker satisfaction by 20%
Source: Chamber Today
- Disengagement among employees is a significant problem, with only one-third of workers feeling engaged at work. Companies are seeking innovative solutions, such as replacing managers with coaches, to boost employee satisfaction.
- Employee dissatisfaction often stems from not feeling valued or not experiencing a sense of belonging. Workers desire more personal and professional development opportunities, autonomy, and goal-setting assistance, prompting the shift towards a coaching approach in management.
- Despite initial challenges in implementing this new approach, Time, Etc. reports a 20% increase in employee engagement and recognition among the top 1% of teams worldwide. The company believes the gains significantly outweigh any growing pains, making this approach a valuable investment.
Barry Isett & Associates – New Member Highlight
Barry Isett & Associates (Isett) is proud to bring decades of engineering and consulting expertise to Bloomsburg and the greater Columbia-Montour region. Founded in 1977, Isett has evolved into a 100% employee-owned firm, empowering its team to take ownership of every project and every client relationship. The firm has grown into a trusted, multi-discipline leader with offices across eastern and central Pennsylvania, including a strong and growing presence right here in Bloomsburg.
The Bloomsburg office exemplifies Isett’s mission to deliver high-quality, client-focused services with a deep understanding of the communities it serves. Whether supporting municipalities, school districts, colleges and universities, developers, or private clients, the local team provides tailored solutions that promote long-term growth, sustainability, and compliance.
Beyond technical expertise, Isett is deeply invested in the success of the Columbia-Montour region. The Bloomsburg team actively partners with local leaders, supports economic development initiatives, and helps municipalities secure grants and implement infrastructure improvements. Their work is guided by the belief that engineering is not just about structures—it’s about strengthening communities. With a commitment to integrity, responsiveness, and collaboration, Isett continues to build strong foundations—both physically and socially—throughout Columbia and Montour counties and beyond.
Key services offered from Isett’s Bloomsburg office include:
• Civil and structural engineering
• Mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP) & fire protection
• Third-party building code inspections and enforcement
• Municipal engineering and water/wastewater
• Environmental consulting and assessments
• Forensic building investigation
• Geotechnical engineering
• Traffic engineering
• Landscape architecture
• Construction inspections and plan review
• Surveying
• Grant writing
Interested in learning more or partnering with Barry Isett & Associates? Visit www.barryisett.com or connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram to explore how we can support your next project!
Shapiro Administration Approves Short-Term SEPTA Funding Fix Amid Budget Impasse
Source: PA Chamber of Business and Industry
This morning, Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office approved a request from the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) to shift up to $394 million in future capital funding toward daily operations. The move allows the transit agency to maintain service levels and avoid planned cuts for the next two years.
The decision gives SEPTA access to funds from the 2025-26 fiscal year that had not yet been committed to projects, meaning no already-obligated Public Transportation Trust Fund dollars will be redirected. SEPTA leaders said the shift is not ideal but will stabilize operations while policymakers continue to debate a long-term solution.
The approval comes against the backdrop of a state budget that is more than two months late and ongoing partisan disagreements over transit funding. In its announcement, the governor’s office cited an economic analysis showing that SEPTA’s planned service cuts would have cost the region $6 billion in long-term earnings and eliminate 76,000 jobs.
Democrats, including Gov. Josh Shapiro, have pushed for recurring revenue to support agencies like SEPTA and Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT). Senate Republicans, meanwhile, have backed short-term approaches such as using capital funds for operations and have tied long-term support to reforms on issues like fare evasion and financial accountability.
While SEPTA made the official request, PRT and other transit systems are also expected to be eligible to pursue similar relief. Leaders in Allegheny County have warned that PRT faces many of the same financial pressures as SEPTA, driven by post-pandemic ridership declines and the expiration of federal stimulus aid.
In a letter to PennDOT last week, SEPTA General Manager Scott Sauer said the funding flexibility was needed after a court ruling required the agency to restore service cuts. SEPTA still plans to implement a 21.5 percent fare increase on Sept. 14, but will bring bus and metro service back online the same day.
The Shapiro administration attached conditions to the approval, requiring SEPTA to report every 120 days on steps the agency is taking to address structural challenges and improve efficiency.
Access to future-year capital allocations could provide short-term stability, but it will not resolve underlying funding gaps. As such, the PA Chamber will continue working with policymakers and stakeholders to advance a long-term, sustainable transportation funding solution that supports both transit and highway needs and strengthens Pennsylvania’s economic competitiveness.