Department of Health Acting Secretary Alison Beam announced that the commonwealth’s mask order will be lifted by June 28.  

“After reviewing the vaccination data for people 18 and over and discussing it with the COVID-19 Vaccine Legislative Task Force, we have determined that the commonwealth’s mask order can be lifted on June 28 or when 70 percent of adults get their second dose, whichever comes first,” Acting Secretary Beam said. “Pennsylvanians are realizing that they have the power to stop COVID-19 and they are stepping up to get vaccinated.”  

“Yesterday we hit a milestone with 70 percent of adults receiving at least one dose of vaccine,” she said. “That’s a strong indicator that we are on track to get at least that many getting both doses by the end of June.” 

“The Department of Health will continue to make getting a vaccine as convenient as possible by making it widely available and supporting equitable and effective efforts to reach every Pennsylvanian who wants it.” 

All Pennsylvanians age 12 and older are eligible to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine. People can find vaccination locations near them using Vaccines.gov, also known as Vaccine Finder.

Once the statewide masking order is lifted, Pennsylvania will continue to follow the CDC guidance for wearing a mask where required by law, rule, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance. The CDC requires individuals to wear a mask on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States, and in U.S. transportation hubs, such as airports and stations. In addition, all individuals should still follow guidance at workplaces, local businesses, long-term care facilities, hospitals, prisons and homeless shelters.  

1st Annual Kathleen Deegan Hughes Memorial Golf Tournament Raises Over $50,000 to help fight Adrenocortical Carcinoma (ACC)

 On Saturday May 8th, friends and family gathered at Frosty Valley Resort in Danville, for the 1st Annual Kathleen Deegan Hughes Memorial Golf Tournament. Service 1st Federal Credit Union was honored to be the primary sponsor for the event. The golf outing raised over $50,000 to fund research to one day find a cure for Adrenocortical Carcinoma (ACC).

“Our family is beyond grateful for the generosity and support from this amazing community,” said John Deegan, Kathleen’s brother. “The outpouring of love is a true testament to the impact that Kathleen had on every single person that she met.”

In addition to raising funds, the tournament celebrated Kathleen’s resilience and charismatic spirit. Kathleen, the youngest of four siblings, grew up in Danville and was a graduate of Bloomsburg University and a member of Service 1st. Kathleen died in January 2020 at the age of 29 after battling ACC.

John also shared Kathleen’s message, “Abnormal symptoms in your body are not something you should ignore. Seeing a doctor right away is worth your time. Following up on your health can change your life. Be proactive and make your health your top priority. Please share this message with your loved ones, because you never know… you could end up saving their life.”

Over 108 volunteers and golfers participated in the inaugural golf outing.

ACC is a rare cancer affecting less than one per one million people in the United States per year.

All proceeds from the Tournament benefited the ACC Warriors Fund.

If you would like to make a donation, payments may be made via check to the ACC Warriors, and mailed to: ACC Warriors c/o The Deegans, 30 N Glenbrook Ave., Danville PA 17821. To learn more visit: https://www.kathleenhughes.org/acc-awareness.

For more information, contact Service 1st today at 800.562.6049 or visit www.service1.org.

CPWDC Rebrands to Advance Central PA

 The Central Pennsylvania Workforce Development Corporation (CPWDC), the local Workforce Development Board (WDB) for the Central Pennsylvania region, announced today that it has rebranded to Advance Central PA. The rebrand to Advance Central PA reflects a very positive, forward-thinking organization that expresses how the local Workforce Development Board works tirelessly to move the Central Pennsylvania region forward.

As the premiere workforce development resource for jobseekers and employers, Advance Central PA’s mission is to be the leading vehicle for regional unification, coordination, integration, and alignment of workforce activities, resources, and initiatives to support economic sustainability, improve education systems, and develop and retain a quality labor force.

“We are excited about the new name and the new resources that we will provide as Advance Central PA,” said Erica Mulberger, Executive Director. “Our new name and identity reflects our commitment to leading a market-driven workforce system that meets the needs of employers and workers, and helps Central Pennsylvanians prosper.”

Along with the name change, Advance Central PA released a new logo design and new website that echo the Workforce Development Board’s continued progress in cultivating emerging industries, supporting existing businesses, and enhancing the skills development of the Central Pennsylvania workforce while taking advantage of strategic opportunities provided by swift economic change.

Visit www.AdvanceCentralPA.org to explore the new website, brand, and logo design.

Public comment welcome on transportation priorities plan

Starting May 24 through June 22, those living or working in eight counties have the opportunity to comment on a draft plan thatcentra prioritizes transportation investments in the region from now until 2045.

The SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) has created the draft 2021-2045 Long-Range Transportation Plan on behalf of its eight member counties: Clinton, Columbia, Juniata, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, and Union.

Through SEDA-COG, counties and municipalities in central Pennsylvania have a voice in the state’s transportation plans. Working together with SEDA-COG, groups and individuals representing local government, the business community, and non-profit organizations help to establish the region’s transportation priorities.

There will be a special opportunity to comment and ask questions at a 1-hour virtual public meeting and information session starting at 7 p.m. on June 3.

The meeting can be joined via teleconference or videoconference using the following credentials:

Teleconference: 312-626-6799; Conference ID: 963 9794 1377
Videoconference: https://zoom.us/j/96397941377

If accommodations are needed for those with special needs related to language, sight, or hearing, please contact the SEDA-COG MPO at 570-524-4491 a minimum of five days prior to the scheduled meeting date to allow sufficient time to arrange accommodations. 

Those who want to submit comments may send them via email to lrtp@seda-cog.org; fax to 570-524-9190; submitted online through https://bit.ly/345O8UQ; or mailed or dropped off at SEDA-COG, 201 Furnace Road, Lewisburg, PA 17837 (in care of Don Kiel).

Comments must be received by 4 p.m. June 22 and must include the name and address of the individual submitting the comment(s) to be considered in the update process by the SEDA-COG MPO.

The SEDA-COG MPO will consider adoption of the plan at a public meeting at 9:30 a.m. June 25 via teleconference and videoconference.

An electronic version of the draft plan is available at http://bit.ly/sedalrtp. Hard copies of the document are also available for review during normal business hours at the SEDA-COG MPO office, and other locations throughout the MPO’s eight-county region. A listing of these locations and their addresses may be viewed at http://bit.ly/sedalrtp, or may be requested by email at lrtp@seda-cog.org or 570-524-4491.

As a community and economic development agency, SEDA-COG enhances the quality of life and economic advantage for residents and businesses in 11 central Pennsylvania counties through its vital partnerships and initiatives. SEDA-COG also is an advocate for the interests of communities at the state and federal levels. For more information, visit www.seda-cog.org.

From PA Chamber of Business & Industry

Last week, Pennsylvania became the first state to put limits on gubernatorial emergency powers in order to restore checks and balances between the branches of government.  In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, state legislatures across the country have been considering restricting the scope and reach of gubernatorial powers during states of emergency.

In a ballot referendum, voters approved two changes to the state’s constitution as it relates to a governor’s emergency powers.  The first measure gives the General Assembly the ability to end or extend an emergency disaster declaration by a simple majority vote. The second measure would limit emergency disaster declarations to 21 days, but would allow the General Assembly to approve an extension via a concurrent resolution.  Prior to these changes, governors could issue an emergency declaration for up to 90 days and extend it indefinitely and the General Assembly could only end a declaration by a 2/3 majority vote.

Over the past year, the Republican majorities in the House and Senate were often at loggerheads with Gov. Tom Wolf over his administration’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.  The administration’s mitigation efforts – including the business shutdown order and subsequent waiver process; targeted restrictions for the hospitality industry and closure of in-person schooling – had been heavily criticized by legislative Republicans, who also accused the governor of acting unilaterally and without sufficient consultation of legislative and local leaders.  After several attempts to circumvent the governor’s orders legislatively – which resulted in vetoes by the governor – the General Assembly moved forward with the proposed changes to the constitution.  In order to amend the state constitution, the exact same legislative language must be passed by the General Assembly in two consecutive legislative sessions before going before the voters in a ballot referendum. 

The PA Chamber had supported the constitutional amendments as a way to restore checks and balances to the emergency declaration process.  In addition, The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors had joined with groups across the state in encouraging people to vote yes.

The governor had strongly opposed the constitutional amendments, but acknowledged last week the majority of voters disagreed with him.

“There’s no question that I opposed this…But the voters have spoken, and Pennsylvania wants to change the rules. And I think it’s incumbent upon us to the best we possibly can to make those rules work,” he said in an interview with the Associated Press.

This past Thursday the governor renewed his COVID-19 emergency declaration for the fifth time, but said he was engaged in conversations with the legislative leaders on a path forward.

rabbittransit has initiated a new designated stop service for the counties of Union, Snyder, Montour, Columbia and Northumberland. There are designated stops along currently traveled routes for rabbittransit’s shared ride public transportation. The cost is only $2.00 per trip.

Designated stops travel along the following routes: Bloomsburg-Danville, Bloomsburg-Bloomsburg Walmart, Danville-Northumberland, Mifflinburg-Lewisburg, Orangeville-Berwick, the Selinsgrove area, Selinsgrove-Lewisburg, and Sunbury-Selinsgrove.

Riders are required to schedule an advance reservation to ride. Reservations must be made by 12:00 pm the business day prior to the date of travel. To schedule a reservation, call the rabbittransit Call Center at 1-800-632-9063.

More information can be found here.

Work search requirements for individuals receiving unemployment benefits will restart no later than the week of July 11, with individuals to begin certifying on July 18 that they have looked for work during the previous week. Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Acting Secretary Jennifer Berrier made the announcement on Monday, May 24^th. Legislation is currently advancing through both the House and Senate that would reinstitute the requirement sooner. 

Under the current L&I timeline, beginning July 18, individuals receiving benefits through any unemployment program in Pennsylvania (including Unemployment Compensation, Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance) will need to certify each week that during the previous week they fulfilled the work search requirement by applying for two jobs and participating in one work search activity each week.

Eligible work search activities are:

• Attending a job fair
• Searching positions posted on the PA CareerLink® system or Internet job banks
• Creating or posting a résumé in the PA CareerLink® system or posting a résumé in other résumé-posting services
• Contacting colleagues, former co-workers or other individuals in similar professions or occupations to make known your availability for employment or obtain information about available positions, prospective employers or other employment opportunities
• Utilizing an employment agency, employment registry or school placement service
• Taking a civil service test or other pre-employment test
• Participating in a program or activity offered through the PA CareerLink® system. If you live outside of Pennsylvania, you may participate in these types of activities offered by your state employment service.

Unemployment program benefit recipients are also required to accept an offer of suitable work. Individuals are also required to keep a log of their work search activities, which is subject to audit. A form to log work search activities is on L&I’s website.

More information about work search, including answers to frequently asked questions, can be found on L&I’s website.

From McKonly and Asbury

Are you unsure if your company’s retirement plan requires an audit? According to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules, a retirement plan must be audited if it meets certain requirements as laid out by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), the federal law which establishes standards for retirement plans in the private industry and helps protect the interests of plan participants and beneficiaries. Although some plans are exempt from ERISA (e.g., governmental plans and church plans), a majority of plans are subject to its reporting requirements, including:

• Defined benefit plans
• Defined contribution plans (e.g., profit sharing plans, 401(k) plans, employee stock ownership plans, and 403(b) plans)
• Welfare benefit plans (insured or otherwise) providing health insurance, group life insurance, long-term disability income, severance pay, vacation benefits and other benefits
• Health Reimbursements Accounts
• Flexible Spending Accounts

The penalties for late filing of a properly prepared Form 5500 are significant: IRS penalties are $25 per day, up to a maximum of $15,000, and Department of Labor (DOL) penalties can run up to $1,100 per day, with no maximum. To avoid these penalties, you need to know if your plan requires an audit.

Generally speaking, only when your participant count exceeds 100 will you be required to conduct a benefit plan audit. However, there is one exception to this general rule. Under the “80-120 rule,” as it is commonly known, plans are allowed to file Form 5500s as “small” plans, and do not require an audit, as long as their plan does not exceed 120 eligible participants on the first day of the plan year. Once the plan has exceeded 120 eligible participants at the beginning of a plan year, the plan is considered to be a “large” plan and must have annual audits completed in succeeding years. If the plan would ever fall below 100 eligible participants at the beginning of a following plan year, the plan could then again file as a small plan and no audit would be required.

It is important to note that a company can easily have 120 or more eligible participants, but have less than 120 current employees, so the terminology of the 80-120 rule is key. Eligible participants include all employees who are eligible to contribute to the plan, not just employees that actually contribute or have account balances. Eligibility requirements vary from plan-to-plan and plan administrators should be knowledgeable of their plan’s definition of eligibility, constantly monitoring the number of “eligible” participants to ensure they do not require annual audits.

As mentioned above, retirement plans that are filed as “large” plans on Form 5500 must be audited by an external and independent accounting firm. These audits ensure that you are operating your retirement plan in accordance with DOL and IRS requirements. While you, as the plan owners, will always have fiduciary duty over your plan no matter its size, an external audit can provide that extra level of assurance that you are acting in your participants’ best interests.

For plans that do require annual audits, audited financial statements are required to be submitted with the Form 5500, Annual Return of Employee Benefit Plans, on the last day of the seventh month after the plan year end. There is an optional extension of 2 ½ months.

If your company is approaching the 120-participant threshold, it’s important to become familiar with the plan audit process. Financial statement audits of retirement plans are heavily compliance-driven. While the external accounting firm will audit the financial statements and disclosures, most of their time will be spent testing compliance. This includes:

• Participant eligibility
• Timing of contributions to the plan
• Plan compensation
• Disclosure of prohibited transactions
• Other compliance matters applicable to the plan

To prepare for your first audit, make sure you are compliant with your plan document and with DOL and IRS rules. In addition, begin to gather the myriad of documents that the auditor will request, including the plan document and amendments, participant data (census, contribution detail, distribution detail, loan detail, etc.), investment information details, payroll records, minutes of meetings related to the plan, nondiscrimination testing, and identification of any communications from the DOL. Finally, consider partnering with a fiduciary to administer your retirement plan. A fiduciary will help you comply with regulatory requirements and minimize the risk of future audits revealing problems with your plan. This will make your annual audits even easier!

If you have questions about the information outlined above, our seasoned and experienced employee benefit plan professionals are here to help. You can learn more about our Employee Benefit Plan services by visiting our website and don’t hesitate to contact Dan Sturm, Partner & Director of ERISA Services at dsturm@macpas.com.

More than 430 businesses and organizations belong to the Chamber to receive benefits and support efforts to strengthen their businesses and the region. Increased membership allows the Chamber to offer additional programs and benefits, have a stronger voice in advocacy and be involved in more activities and initiatives. The Chamber welcomes The Gate House Shelter.

The Gate House was founded in 1997 to provide safe shelter to homeless families. It provides a secure environment to residents in Montour and Columbia Counties. The support and emergency services that are provided are a direct solution to families who are facing personal crises to include but are not limited to; abandonment, divorce, illness, accidents such as fire, flood, rent increases, or evictions. 

For more information on The Gate House Shelter visit its website, Facebook page or call 570-275-6766.

The final phase of a COVID-19 relief grant is now open for eligible hospitality industry businesses through SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG), and they have until June 15 to apply or until the funds are spent – and then the grant program ends.

The seven counties that have remaining funds are Clinton, Columbia, Juniata, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, and Snyder.

Following are the remaining Hospitality Industry Recovery Program (CHIRP) funds per county, totaling $1.2 million:

• Northumberland: $539,401
• Snyder: $249,208
• Juniata: $173,435
• Mifflin: $116,456
• Columbia: $103,906
• Clinton: $21,440
• Montour: $13,420

SEDA-COG Executive Director Kim Wheeler said with the end of the new grant program approaching, she hopes more businesses will apply.

“We know there are more businesses in these counties that could use these free funds, so we urge you to apply as soon as you can. We understand that times are busy and stressful, so we are here to help you through the process,” Wheeler said.

Those with questions may contact SEDA-COG Grants Manager Betsy Lockwood at 570-522-7265 or elockwood@seda-cog.org.

For-profit hospitality businesses can apply until funds are spent or June 15 at the Community Giving Foundation’s website at https://csgiving.org/chirp/. Grants range from $5,000 to $50,000 to help alleviate 2020 revenue losses and pay for eligible operating expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eligible hospitality industry businesses must be for-profit businesses which include hotels, Bed and Breakfasts, restaurants, bars, taverns, catering companies, and food trucks. These businesses must fall within eligible industry codes which include the Accommodations subsector NAICS code (721) or Food Services and Drinking Places subsector (722) found here: https://www.naics.com/search/

Eligibility includes, but is not limited to, having fewer than 300 full-time employees; a net worth that does not exceed $15 million; a 25% reduction in gross receipts in 2020 compared to 2019; and be located within Clinton, Columbia, Juniata, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, or Snyder counties.

Priority will be given to businesses that did not already receive COVID relief funds; that were subject to closure following the disaster emergency declared by Gov. Tom Wolf on March 6, 2020; or had more than a 50% reduction in gross receipts from March 31, 2020 to Dec. 31, 2020 compared to the same time period in 2019. For a full listing of eligibility requirements and prioritization guidelines, visit www.csgiving.org/chirp

SEDA-COG contracted with 10 of its member counties to manage a total of $7.3 million in grants on their behalf. SEDA-COG receives the applications and determines eligibility and grant amounts. SEDA-COG also disburses the funds to awarded businesses.

The grant program was created from the law Act 1 of 2021, which was passed Feb. 5, 2021. Statewide, it provides $145 million in funding assistance to the hospitality industry businesses adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

As a community and economic development agency, SEDA-COG enhances the quality of life and economic advantage for residents and businesses in 11 central Pennsylvania counties through its vital partnerships and initiatives. SEDA-COG also is an advocate for the interests of communities at the state and federal levels. For more information, visit www.seda-cog.org.

Knoebels Amusement Resort Tied for Favorite Traditional Park

The National Amusement Park Historical Association has released the results of a 2020 survey of their members, ranking the top amusement parks in the nation on a variety of categories. Knoebels Amusement Resort tied with Kennywood Park for first place for Favorite Traditional Park. The Phoenix at Knoebels was also voted the nation’s favorite wooden roller coaster.

Bloomsburg University Held In-Person Commencement Ceremonies

 Bloomsburg University celebrated the achievement of 1,300 students who earned bachelor’s degrees and 200 students who earned master’s and doctoral degrees in five ceremonies.  The ceremonies were held outdoors at Redman Stadium on May 14th through the 16th. 

NEPIRC Will Hold a Rebroadcast of Legal Aspects of COVID-19 Vaccination for Employers Webinar

On Tuesday, May 25th from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. join the PA IRC Network (NEPIRC) for the rebroadcast of Legal Aspects of COVID-19 Vaccination for Employers Pt. 2, virtually through Microsoft Teams.  Register here.

On Tuesday, May 18^th, the Board of Directors of The Chamber of Commerce discussed two pieces of legislation and other efforts to help increase the region’s workforce. Filling open positions is a major issue for employers of all types and sizes. Factors keeping people from reentering the workforce include health concerns, school schedules, and the $300 per week federal unemployment bonus. The Board supports the following measures related to these issues:

State House Bill 406– Would reinstate the active work search requirement in order to receive unemployment benefits. The requirement was waived at the beginning of the pandemic.

State House Bill 596– Would require an individual to demonstrate health or safety concerns when refusing work or quitting work in order to receive unemployment benefits.

Eliminating the $300/week unemployment compensation bonus – The federal bonus was extended until September 6^th as part of the American Rescue Plan. At least 21 states are ending the bonus program prior to that date, though Governor Wolf has not indicated that he would do so. Legislation is being drafted that would end that benefit early in Pennsylvania.

Encouraging individuals to get vaccinated – The Chamber is partnering with Geisinger to encourage people to voluntarily get vaccinated by sharing information on social media and in other messaging. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has also developed resources to help employers communicate with their employees that are hesitant about the vaccine.

“Our area’s economy is getting stronger, but we could be doing so much better if area employers were operating at full capacity.” said Fred Gaffney, Chamber president. “People have done a lot to support one another and area businesses through the pandemic. Now, we all need to do our part to get out of it.”