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From PA Chamber of Business & Industry Among the notable budget hearings in Harrisburg last week included the House Appropriations Committee meeting with the Department of Community and Economic Development where Secretary Dennis Davin estimated no jobs would be lost if Pennsylvania raised the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour. According to a Pennsylvania Legislative…

The March edition of ChamberPack is overflowing with offers from members and information on the Chamber’s schedule of events. The bi-monthly mailing should arrive in your mailbox this week. Look for Chamber information about an opportunity for members to have exclusive savings on Hershey Park admission tickets, the upcoming Business After Hours at Service 1st…

SEDA-Council of Governments has reduced the cost of borrowing for an SBA 504 loan to further assist small businesses with the financing of their expansion needs. SEDA-COG will cover half of the 0.5% fee on the bank loan involved in the financing package for SBA 504 loans approved by the SBA this year. For example,…

Lawmakers on the House and Senate Appropriations Committees engaged in a somewhat tense exchange with Wolf administration officials last week as the first week of budget hearings kicked off. In the most widely reported budget hearing, Budget Secretary Randy Albright faced off with Senate Republicans in the first Senate Appropriations budget hearing. Over five and…

The Columbia-Montour Partnership for Community Development has engaged National Travel Center (NTC) to investigate the possibility of moving the Chamber and Visitors Bureau from fair share membership dues to a hybrid structure where the amount assessed to each constituent depends on the services provided. Under such a structure, members have the opportunity to determine the…

Congratulations are in order for the recipients of awards presented at the first combined Annual Dinner for the Chamber and Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau.  The event, sponsored by PPL Electric Utilities, was held at Rolling Pines Golf Course this past Thursday, February 11th. Mary Clapp received the Outstanding Citizen Award, sponsored by BIDA.  Geisinger-Bloomsburg Hospital was…

On Tuesday, Gov. Tom Wolf unveiled his 2016-17 state budget proposal to a joint session of the state House and Senate. The address was different than any other in the Commonwealth’s history, as the Governor gave it at the same time that parts of the current fiscal year’s spending plan remain unfinished. While the Governor…

On Monday, February 8th, Bloomsburg Town Council did not approve changes to parking meter enforcement times. The majority of Council members agreed to let a newly-formed sub-committee on parking discuss management issues and make recommendations. Members of the business community were on hand to restate their concerns and thanked Council for listening. Prior to two…

On Monday, January 25th, Bloomsburg Town Council voted to advance proposed changes to parking enforcement in the downtown. The Chamber and WHLM Radio presented results of polls that showed significant opposition to the plan. While increasing parking fees on Main Street was approved by resolution, a final vote on enforcement times is scheduled for February…

Members now have access to low interest loans of up to $20,000 through the Chamber. The maximum loan amount was recently increased from $10,000. Fixed and variable interest rates are also available. The changes were recommended by the Low Interest Loan Committee and approved by the Board in January. Funds loaned by the Chamber can…