Department of Health Gauging Business Interest in Free Air Filtration Devices
The Pennsylvania Department of Health is currently developing an environmental health project that may be of interest to your business. In this project, the DOH is evaluating devices that can eliminate viruses, bacteria, mold, and other pathogens from air and surfaces simultaneously. The devices could be stand-alone or wall mounted, use a standard outlet for power, and come with two years of supplies that may be needed to run the device. If funding for the project is approved, the department would purchase and distribute the devices free of charge to small businesses, non-profit entities, and other facilities throughout the commonwealth that meet designated criteria to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, flu, and other diseases.
To gauge the interest of businesses that could receive such a device, the DOH is utilizing the following application. Those who complete the application are not guaranteed a device; however, the application must be accurately completed in order to be considered when and if funding becomes available. At that point, the Department would reach out to the businesses and facilities chosen to receive devices to confirm delivery details and provide an approval notice. Devices will be awarded based on the amount of funding available and on a first-come, first-serve basis. The department may also consider factors such as foot traffic versus square footage, and COVID-19 risk in the community served, with priority given to underserved communities.
For additional information, contact Jami Nejedly, Regional Field Manager, PA Department of Health
Welcome New Member – Dead Man Walking Distillery
The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce is pleased to welcome its newest member, Dead Man Walking Distillery, a craft distillery that began "with forty years of friendship, zest for life, and a few near-death experiences". Expecting to open its doors in grand style in May, this home-grown distillery is focused on quality. "We want our products and this place we're making to be something people truly enjoy. Natural flavors and a home-town feel are a big part of that," said Co-Owner Derk Reed. The distillery, when open, will feature recipes that are hand-crafted in small batches. Flavors include "Morgue-a-Rita", "Pumagranite", "For the Kraut with Gout Cranberry", "J&D's Root Beer", "Sour Cherry", "Strawberry Tart", "Blue Ribbon Apple Pie", "Peach Cobbler" and there's room to add seasonal recipes. The space will be available for small groups and private events, and additional tastings outside of business hours will be available by appointment.
Welcome to the Chamber, we look forward to celebrating the opening of your doors with you!
Chamber Announces Leadercast: Amplify Lineup
The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Community Giving Foundation's Women's Giving Circle, is pleased to announce the lineup of speakers who will be showcased during this year's Leadercast Women: Amplify, which will be held on April 25, 2023, at the Pine Barn Inn, Danville, PA.
The women speakers were carefully selected to speak on encouraging women to unlock and amplify their authentic voices. Attendees will walk away inspired to speak up and share their wisdom, ideas, and passions.
Speaker Lineup
This half-day event will feature speakers Judi Holler, Kim Anthony, and Amy O’Dell, and will include breakout sessions facilitated by the Community Giving Foundation’s Women’s Giving Circle.
Judi Holler is the creator and founder of Haus of &. Judi embraces the improv mindset of "Yes, and" to manage fear, reduce anxiety, build confidence, and embrace disruption. Her deepest desire is for you to UNLOCK THE POWER OF &.
Kim Anthony overcame overwhelming odds to become a US National Gymnastics Team member and the first African American female to receive a UCLA gymnastic scholarship. Kim’s mission includes helping women overcome past pain, embrace their worth, and fulfill their purpose.
Amy O’Dell is the Founder and CEO of Jacob’s Ladder, a non-profit school and research center in Roswell, Georgia. As a leading healthcare innovator and global pioneer in special needs education, Amy gives people with neurobiological delays or disorders a clear path to hope, healing, and transformation.
This year’s facilitators will include Linda Brown, Service 1st Federal Credit Union, Christine Orlando, Community Giving Foundation, and Stephanie Andreacci, President of the Bloomsburg School Board. The event will open with remarks from event sponsor Geisinger and an icebreaker led by Brianna Apfelbaum and Patti Leighow of the Women's Giving Circle. The event will include lunch, sponsored by My Benefit Advisor.
To attend, purchase tickets here.
Member News – March 15, 2023
March Events at Lions Gate
Lions Gate continues to hold regular community events for all ages, including yoga, spin, movie matinees, kids canvas painting, open houses, trivia and live music. Check out the calendar here.
BloomCON HAK4KIDZ Returns on Saturday, March 25
The Bloomsburg Children's Museum is pleased to announce that HAK4KIDZ, the area’s only kid-friendly hacking conference, returns on Saturday, March 25 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Kehr Union Center on the campus of Bloomsburg University. The Bloomsburg Children’s Museum produces Hak4Kidz in conjunction with the BloomCON, an adult-hacking conference on Bloomsburg University grounds. Children aged 7-17 are encouraged to pre-register for this FREE conference. Registration can be done at https://www.bloomconhak4kidz.com/.
Upcoming Bucknell Small Business Development Center Workshops
Don't miss these free workshops offered by the Bucknell SBDC:
- March 23, 2023, 12 pm - Basic Legal Considerations for Startups and Small Businesses
- April 19, 2023 9:30 am - Intellectual Property Fundamentals for Small Business
The SBDC also reminds you that there are several grants and loan opportunities currently open for application, including Economic Injury Disaster Loans, Small Business Advantage Grants, DEP Agriculture Energy Efficiency Rebates, and more.
McKonly & Asbury Webinar: Reviewing SOC 2 Reports Efficiently & Effectively
Organizations need to review SOC 2 reports from critical vendors and some of these reports can be hundreds of pages. In this March 30, 2 PM webinar, David Hammarberg, Partner and leader of the firm’s SOC, Cybersecurity, Forensic Examination, and Information Technology practices along with Lynnanne Bocchi, Senior Manager will discuss how to review these reports efficiently and effectively. Register now.
Free Preview Performance of Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble’s 44th Annual Theatre In the Classroom Production, Park Protectors: The Story of the Buffalo Soldiers and the National Park Service
The Bloomsburg Public Library will host the first public performance of Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble’s Park Protectors: The Story of the Buffalo Soldiers and the National Park Service on Saturday, March 18th, at noon. The show is free, fun, and suitable for all ages. No reservations or tickets are needed! Read the release.
Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble Announces Auditions for this Summer’s ‘Dragons Love Tacos’
BTE is pleased to announce an audition date for this summer’s ‘Dragons Love Tacos.’ Auditions for children and teens ages 8 to 18 will be held on April 15th at the Alvina Krause Theatre, 226 Center Street, Bloomsburg. The doors will open at 9:30 am, and auditions begin at 10:00 am. Read the full release.
Innovative Manufacturer's Center (IMC) Events
IMC will host two free events in April. Contact Lauri Moon, IMC Outreach & Special Projects Manager, with questions.
- April 6, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM - webinar called "Developing Your Workforce with Online Training & Certification"
- April 11, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM - "Electrical Safety Training for General Industry", to be held in person at Northway Industries in Middleburg, PA.
First Front Door Grant Reservations Now Open
This grant offers up to $5,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance for first-time homebuyers. The FHLB of Pittsburgh will match the qualified homebuyer's contribution 3-to-1. For every $1 you contribute, you can receive $3 in grant assistance, up to a maximum of $5,000. The grant assistance can be used toward a down payment and/or closing costs on owner-occupied homes.¹
To qualify you must:
- Not have owned a home in the past 3 years
- Have household income at or below 80% of the area median income
- Not be a student working less than 30 hours per week
- Complete at least four hours of homeownership counseling² prior to purchasing the home
- Retain the home for five years to avoid having to repay any portion of the grant
Not sure if you qualify? Columbia County Housing & Redevelopment Authorities' Matt Hess has provided an 80% AMI table for reference. Thanks Matt! See it below:
| Household Size | Income Limit |
| 1 | $ 41,450 |
| 2 | $ 47,400 |
| 3 | $ 53,300 |
| 4 | $ 59,200 |
| 5 | $ 63,950 |
| 6 | $ 68,700 |
| 7 | $ 73,450 |
| 8 | $ 78,150 |
Fiscal Year 2023 Nonprofit Security Grant Program Now Open
Through this Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency grant, eligible nonprofits are allowed to request a maximum of $150,000 per investment justification to increase the physical/cybersecurity safety of the applicant's owned/leased facility. No match for this grant is required. More details may be found here. The deadline to apply is April 28, 2023 at 5pm. Questions may be directed to nsgpgrant@pa.gov.
Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities
Welcome New Member – Fusion Homes, LLC
The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce is pleased to welcome to its membership Fusion Homes, LLC. Located in the Village of Lightstreet, Fusion Homes, LLC builds stick-built and modular homes – both residential and commercial. Each project is unique no matter which direction you choose to build. They offer high quality, great turnaround times, and cutting-edge energy efficiency knowledge that will save each of their customers well into the future. Customer satisfaction is a priority in all of the relationships that they build with each and every customer, and they are committed to seeing your project through from design, land prep, permits, foundation, and inspections to your completed job.
With completely customizable floor plans and an in-house designer who can modify any floor plan you choose, the team at Fusion Homes will sit down with you to determine the floor plan that fits your needs perfectly. No project is too small, and they also enjoy taking on remodels and additions.
Visit their showroom today to meet the interior designer who can show you the wide variety of products and finishes we have to offer for your dream home!
At Fusion Homes, their goal is to get to know your story, not just your timeline and your budget. Check out more!
Welcome to the Chamber!
Governor’s 2023-2024 Budget Proposal
On March 7th Gov. Josh Shapiro delivered his first Budget Address, outlining key public policy priorities and summarizing his proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023. The PA Chamber of Business & Industry has reviewed the proposal and summarized its contents, highlighting those items of particular relevance to the broader employer community. They are:
Budget Proposal Overview
Total proposed spending is $44.4 billion, which represents an 8 percent (or $3.3 billion) increase over last year. This does not include over $930 million for the State Police the governor proposes moving to a new fund. Including these funds would bring the year-over-year increase to over 10 percent.
Proposed Changes in PA Tax Structure
Governor Shapiro released his 2023-2024 budget proposal.
The governor noted the bi-partisan efforts last session to phase down the Corporate Net Income Tax (CNI) from 9.99 percent to 4.99 percent by 2031, and said that “while the work that you began is critically important, we need to speed up these cuts.” While his budget document does not reflect an accelerated phase-down of the CNI, he asked the legislature “to work to together to do just that.”
The governor called for a refundable tax credit program for newly certified nurses, police, and teachers equal to $2,500 per year for three years to attract and retain workers in these fields.
While he called for eliminating the sales tax and gross receipts tax on cell phones, which would save $62 million, he also called for increasing the 911 surcharge from $1.65 to $2.03, which would generate an additional $54 million.
He also called for an increase in the income limit for Property Tax Rent Rebates from $35,000 or less for homeowners and $15,000 or less for renters to $45,000 or less for both, which would expand the program to an additional 173,000 seniors and persons with disabilities. The income limits would also be indexed for inflation.
Public Safety and Transportation Funding
The governor proposed establishing a roughly $1 billion new fund for the State Police, funded through existing General Fund revenue sources. In doing so, the governor would also reduce the amount of motor license fund money going to support the State Police by $100 million a year, until it is eliminated in FY2027-28. According to the Governor’s proposal, this provides for the full matching requirements over the next five years for additional federal funding for highways and bridges made available by the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and will allow PennDOT to bid $2.5 billion of work each of the next five years. The Governor’s proposal does not contemplate any changes to the structure of the state’s tax on sales of motor fuels.
Permitting Reform
The Governor is requesting additional funding to support staffing and operations of his one-stop shop for permitting key projects, the Governor’s Office of Transformation and Opportunity. The Governor also noted in his remarks that the permitting process takes too long, and that he is charging agencies to define by May 1 expected responses times for all permits to establish a “money back guarantee” if a decision is not made by then. The Governor is also seeking increased funding for DEP and DCNR to hire more permitting staff as well as to develop modeling for carbon capture sequestration in support of securing federal funding for a hydrogen hub in the state.
Education Spending
Total PreK-12 education spending would increase by almost $900 million or 5.6 percent. That includes a $567 million increase in basic education funding, an 8 percent increase, as well as a $104 million increase for special education, a new $100 million block grant to provide mental health services in schools, and a new $100 million grant program for school environmental improvement capital projects.
Higher Education would receive a $60 million increase with a 7.1 percent increase for Penn State, Pitt, Temple and Lincoln Universities and a 2 percent increase for the State System of Higher Education, the Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, and community colleges.
Workforce Development
Increased funding for existing workforce development programs, including a $14 million, or 13.3 percent, increase for career and technical education and a $2.5 million increase to the apprenticeship training program through the Department of Labor and Industry (L&I). He also proposed two new programs. A $3 million appropriation to the Foundations in Industry program through the Department of Community and Economic Development would increase apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs and a $3.5 million appropriation to the Schools-to-Work program through L&I would support partnerships between career and technical education students and employers.
Proposed Mandated Minimum Wage Increase
Increases the minimum wage from $7.25 to $15/hour effective January 1, 2024. The proposal does not include any other detail, including any references to the tip credit.
Recreational Marijuana
Legalizes adult use cannabis and assessing a 20 percent wholesale tax, which he projects would generate $28 million in the first year, increasing to $250 million by FY2027-28.
Labor Law Compliance
Increases funding by $1.28 million to hire additional labor law compliance investigators within the Department of Labor and Industry to investigate more cases, allow for more strategic enforcement of current laws, and provide additional education for businesses.
Unemployment Compensation
Reauthorizes the Service and Infrastructure Improvement Fund (SIIF), which was established in 2013 and provided for a temporary diversion of employee taxes in order to fund technology infrastructure upgrades. This new authorization is intended to fund 50 new UC Service Center positions.
Member News – March 8, 2023
Together for Health & Wellness Presents at 1 Million Cups
At this month's 1 Million Cups presentation, Chamber member Emily Daniels of Together for Health & Wellness shared about her commitment to bring back old-fashioned medicine, with a modern model - a model which allows direct access, more time with your practitioner, and a team advocating for a patient's whole health. Congrats Emily!
2023 Small Business of the Year Award Honoree Featured in Lancaster Farming Magazine
Shanty Secrets was recently featured in the March edition of Lancaster Farming Magazine. Read the feature.
GAF Names New CEO
In January, John Altmeyer was appointed CEO at GAF. John joined GAF in 2021 as Executive Chairman, Commercial Roofing. Under his leadership, GAF Commercial sales have more than doubled and significant strategic progress has been made to set the business up for continued growth. Read more.
March Events at Lions Gate
Lions Gate continues to hold regular community events for all ages, including yoga, spin, movie matinees, kids canvas painting, open houses, trivia and live music. Check out the calendar here.
Upcoming Bucknell Small Business Development Center Workshops
Don't miss these free workshops offered by the Bucknell SBDC:
- March 9, 2023, 9:30 am - Business Startup Basics for Central PA: The First Step
- March 23, 2023, 12 pm - Basic Legal Considerations for Startups and Small Businesses
Columbia County Placemaking Initiative Requests Your Input
Over the next several months, the Columbia County Placemaking Initiative will create and implement a county-wide placemaking plan that makes Columbia County an even better place to live, work, play, and learn. The information gathered through this survey will inform the plan. It takes 15 minutes, and all responses are anonymous. Residents, businesses, and community leaders are strongly encouraged to participate! Complete the survey here.
This project is funded through the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge.
UC Appeals and Hearings Part 2: Presented by the PA CareerLink
Connect with this virtual PA CareerLink program to learn 8 ways to prepare for an unemployment hearing. The event is to take place on March 9, from 10:00 am to 11:30 am via Zoom. Register here.
Montour County Human Services Coalition Senior Expo
On Thursday, March 9, MCHSC will offer free resources and support, 2023 tax filing assistance, a cooking demo, and more for seniors at the Montour County Admin Building. Registration is not required. Share the flyer. Sign up to be a vendor.
Community Youth Suicide Prevention Forum - March 14, 2023 10 AM - 1 PM
The CSIU, in partnership with WVIA and Commonwealth University, will host this school and community event to discuss the realities of youth suicide, best practices and prevention, local data, trends, and resources, as well as ways to support our region's youth, schools, and families. Admission is free, thanks to PA's COVID Relief Funding. See the flyer. Register here.
McKonly & Asbury Webinar: Reviewing SOC 2 Reports Efficiently & Effectively
Organizations need to review SOC 2 reports from critical vendors and some of these reports can be hundreds of pages. In this March 30, 2 PM webinar, David Hammarberg, Partner and leader of the firm’s SOC, Cybersecurity, Forensic Examination, and Information Technology practices along with Lynnanne Bocchi, Senior Manager will discuss how to review these reports efficiently and effectively. Register now.
Innovative Manufacturer's Center (IMC) Events
IMC will host two free events in April. Contact Lauri Moon, IMC Outreach & Special Projects Manager, with questions.
- April 6, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM - webinar called "Developing Your Workforce with Online Training & Certification"
- April 11, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM - "Electrical Safety Training for General Industry", to be held in person at Northway Industries in Middleburg, PA.
First Front Door Grant Reservations Open March 14
This grant offers up to $5,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance for first-time homebuyers. The FHLB of Pittsburgh will match the qualified homebuyer's contribution 3-to-1. For every $1 you contribute, you can receive $3 in grant assistance, up to a maximum of $5,000. The grant assistance can be used toward a down payment and/or closing costs on owner-occupied homes.¹
To qualify you must:
- Not have owned a home in the past 3 years
- Have household income at or below 80% of the area median income
- Not be a student working less than 30 hours per week
- Complete at least four hours of homeownership counseling² prior to purchasing the home
- Retain the home for five years to avoid having to repay any portion of the grant
Not sure if you qualify? Columbia County Housing & Redevelopment Authorities' Matt Hess has provided an 80% AMI table for reference. Thanks Matt! See it below:
| Household Size | Income Limit |
| 1 | $ 41,450 |
| 2 | $ 47,400 |
| 3 | $ 53,300 |
| 4 | $ 59,200 |
| 5 | $ 63,950 |
| 6 | $ 68,700 |
| 7 | $ 73,450 |
| 8 | $ 78,150 |
Fiscal Year 2023 Nonprofit Security Grant Program Now Open
Through this Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency grant, eligible nonprofits are allowed to request a maximum of $150,000 per investment justification to increase the physical/cybersecurity safety of the applicant's owned/leased facility. No match for this grant is required. More details may be found here. The deadline to apply is April 28, 2023 at 5pm. Questions may be directed to nsgpgrant@pa.gov.
Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities
5 stages of a cyberattack
By Christopher Fieger, CPA, McKonly & Asbury
Cyberattacks have become an efficient and effective means for cybercriminals to create chaos, and oftentimes benefit financially, all while operating from a safe distance. As seen with recent events, the effects of an attack can be widespread. These attacks can happen at any time and can be a result of poor security practices. To better prepare for and defend against an attack, it is important to understand the stages cybercriminals often take to perform a cyberattack.
Stage 1: Reconnaissance
The first stage of a cyberattack involves information gathering. During this stage, cybercriminals will attempt to explore all publicly accessible information about a potential target. This can include information listed on the dark web or on a company’s website, such as employees, physical locations, social media sites, and other platforms. All of this information is used when determining their target. In order to better plan their attack, cybercriminals will often use the information gathered during the reconnaissance stage to build a blueprint of their target.
Stage 2: Scanning
Scanning is the second stage of a cyberattack. After the cybercriminal identifies their target, more information is needed in order for them to perform their attack. Attempting to ping devices on the target network, such as routers, or performing vulnerability scans could provide additional information about the target network. Email phishing can be considered a form of scanning. For example, a cybercriminal could obtain employee email addresses from a company website and send out phishing emails in an attempt to gather additional information such as account names, passwords, and other employee information. Cybercriminals will often times target employees to obtain access to a network.
Stage 3: Gaining Access
The third stage of a cyberattack involves the cybercriminal gaining access to the computer system, account, or network. The cybercriminal could do this based on data, credentials or other information obtained in the prior two stages of reconnaissance and scanning. At this stage, the target has been compromised. Cybercriminals could attempt to gain access physically through a building and plug into the target network or access the target network remotely. Once the cybercriminal obtains access, they could have free reign to the network or system and company data depending on the permissions and controls in place.
Stage 4: Maintaining Access
Once a cybercriminal gains access to a target, it is important for them to maintain access to the target. The cybercriminal may attempt to remain hidden on the network long enough to determine the extent of the information or data they can obtain. Depending on the controls in place at the target, they could have full or limited access to the target data. If the cybercriminal has limited access to data, they may attempt to escalate their access privileges from a basic user to an admin user to have greater access to the target data. Cybercriminals may also install malware on the target to provide them repeated access to the target, often referred to as a “backdoor”.
Stage 5: Covering Tracks
The final stage of a cyberattack involves covering the tracks of the cybercriminal. This could include erasing log entries or deleting any malware installed during the maintaining access stage. If a cybercriminal were to hack a user’s email, deleting sent phishing emails sent from the account could be a form of their covering tracks. Stealth is the name of the game in cyberattacks. Apart from ransomware attacks, cybercriminals often look for ways to quickly get to the data, gather as much as they can and get out of the network without being detected. Ransomware attacks have become more common in recent years. Instead of deleting or corrupting data, cybercriminals will encrypt the data, hold it hostage and demand payment for its release.
With cyberattacks on the rise, it is critical to remain alert. As mentioned earlier, cyberattacks can happen at any time and companies should be prepared and implement the necessary security measures to combat the various stages of a cyberattack. In the case of the Colonial Pipeline cyberattack, this attack was perpetrated with a compromised user password. Although there is no approach that can fully prevent cyberattacks, companies that implement the right security measures, train employees on security best practices, and closely monitor the network or system can drastically reduce their likelihood.
If you have any questions regarding this article or would like to discuss cybersecurity related topics further; be sure to visit McKonly & Asbury’s System and Organization Controls Services page as well as their Cybersecurity Services page at macpas.com and don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions.
McKonly & Asbury is a leading regional accounting and business advisory services firm that serves as trusted advisors and valued business partners, providing a range of services from their offices in Camp Hill, Lancaster, and Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. McKonly & Asbury’s industry-specific solutions meet the intricate needs of clients, providing services to Affordable Housing, Construction, Employee Benefit Plans, Family-Owned Business, Healthcare, Manufacturing and Distribution, Nonprofit, and Technology industries. For more information, visit www.macpas.com.
You can also subscribe to McKonly & Asbury’s blog at www.macpas.com/subscribe to keep up-to-date on the latest business and financial information across a variety of industries as well as upcoming webinars and presentations to help your business profit.
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Submit Your Content for Business Matters
The Columbia Montour Chamber is pleased to continue its partnership with the Press Enterprise for Business Matters, a quarterly print tab publication distributed to the newspaper's online and print readership. March 29 is the deadline for content submissions ahead of the April 4 publication. Don't miss the chance to advertise to this wide audience.
Submit content to the Chamber by emailing stories, pictures, and testimonials here.
LEADERSHIP CENTRAL PENN (LCP) IS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE CLASS OF 2023-24
Leadership Central Penn (LCP) is a nine-month program designed to educate, involve, and motivate a select group of area residents for positions of leadership. The program seeks a diverse group of individuals with an interest in assuming effective leadership roles in their organizations and our communities so as to equip them with a better sense of the community and an enhanced leadership and professional development experience. Participants in the program are chosen based on their expressed commitment to the community and their demonstrated leadership potential.
Check out the flyer to learn more.
Click here to apply online.