Join McKonly & Asbury on July 29th at 2 p.m. for its 2021 State and Local Tax Update webinar! Mark Heath, Partner and Director of Tax Services along with Lindsey Waltemyer, Manager and SALT Leader will be discussing the state tax implications of recent federal tax changes, including those changes related to COVID-19. Other topics to be covered include a discussion of states imposing new pass-through entity taxes; the various tax consequences of having employees working from home in other states; as well as voluntary disclosure agreements and when they can be beneficial to taxpayers. The webinar will round out with some state tax updates from the past year and will look at state comparisons and the trends in state taxation going forward.

During this webinar, attendees will:

• Gain perspective on how states are continuing to handle tax issues in the wake of Wayfair, Federal Tax changes, and COVID-19, including many states creating new pass-through entity taxes.
• Learn the tax consequences and considerations when allowing employees to work from home in various states.
• Understand the purpose of a voluntary disclosure agreement and the value it can provide.
• See how Pennsylvania compares to other states and what trends are coming forward in state taxation.

Register for the webinar here.

The order requiring universal face coverings was lifted statewide on Monday, June 28.  

“We are continuing to make progress toward stopping the spread of COVID-19 throughout the commonwealth, as many Pennsylvanians have taken responsibility for their own health and the health of their communities by getting vaccinated,” Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam said. “Even though the universal masking order will be lifted in a few days, businesses, organizations, health care providers and other entities maintain the option of requiring employees, guests or customers to wear a mask, regardless of their vaccination status.” 

The department continues to urge Pennsylvanians to follow CDC guidance for wearing a mask where required by law, rule, and regulations, including healthcare, local business and workplace guidance. For the protection of themselves and others, individuals who have not yet been vaccinated or are partially vaccinated are still encouraged to wear a mask when in public. 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 and other healthcare facilities, prisons, and shelters. 

“As we shift to wearing masks less often, it is important to remain resilient in the fight against COVID-19, just as we have done together over the last year and a half,” Acting Physician General Dr. Denise Johnson said. “The COVID-19 vaccines are the best tools we have to defeat COVID-19. Pennsylvanians are aware of this and have been getting vaccinated. If you have not already been vaccinated, there are plenty of options available near you. Getting as many Pennsylvanians vaccinated as possible will offer more protection against the virus for everyone and is the fastest and safest way for us to return to our normal activities.”  

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) vaccine tracker, as of Friday morning, June 25, 74.9 percent of Pennsylvanians age 18 and older have received their first dose, while 59.4 percent are fully vaccinated. The commonwealth ranks 8th among all 50 states for first doses administered by percentage of population.  

Additionally, individuals are reminded that public health measures such as isolation and quarantine are necessary to prevent the spread of infection. It is important for individuals who are sick to stay home unless seeking medical care or COVID-19 testing. Individuals who are identified as close contacts of a person with COVID-19 should cooperate with all public health recommendations, including quarantine, so that if they become infected, they will not spread infection to others.   

The universal masking order was originally issued on April 15, 2020, updated on November 18, 2020 and again March 17, 2021.  

For more information about Pennsylvania’s vaccination program, click here. 

Chamber members enjoyed the evening catching up with business connections at the Chamber’s Business After Hours at Tri-County Lumber‘s new bath and kitchen showroom, Forest & Field on June 23rd. Attendees were able to take a tour of the showroom that is located at 1072 Alliance Park Drive, while enjoying some delicious food, wine and beer.  

Tri-County Lumber’s Forest & Field is a 10,000-square foot showroom that features numerous kitchen & bath cabinetry and countertop displays, a window/door/millwork showroom, siding/decking/roofing displays, a customer lounge area, and a full working kitchen where regular demos and events will be held. It also has private office space and work areas for builders, designers, and architects to work with their clients.

Business After Hours provide regular opportunities to build business relationships while learning about the services offered by other Chamber members. The next Business After Hours will be hosted by Montour Solar One and is currently slated for Wednesday, July 7th.

Danville to Hold 35th Annual Spring Fling

Normally held the first Saturday in May, Spring Fling is an annual celebration of the foods, sites, and sounds that make Danville a special place. The streets of downtown Danville are closed to traffic for this family-friendly festival.  The event will be held this Saturday, June 26th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Downtown businesses, plus more than 200 vendors from central Pennsylvania and surrounding states converge for this fun outdoor event. The event is also a showcase of our nonprofit organizations, who demonstrate the giving spirit of the community by raising awareness and funds for their causes.

More information here.

Bloomsburg Children’s Museum Installs Pop-Up Exhibit at McBride Library  

Christine Curley (Director, McBride Memorial Library), Holi Sult (Children’s Librarian, McBride Memorial Library), Ginny Weibel (Director, Bloomsburg Children’s Museum) in front of the pop-up exhibit on the brain.

The Bloomsburg Children’s Museum has created a pop-up exhibit for the McBride Library that promotes healthy habits for good mental health and teaches visitors how their brains work. The temporary exhibit reflects a small part of the Museum’s new health and nutrition exhibit titled “The Superpower of You,” slated to open July 23rd.

Ginny Weibel, Director of the Bloomsburg Children’s Museum said the pop-up exhibit pays homage to the museum’s past.  “Thirty-six years ago, the museum actually started as a traveling organization. We moved around to different locations putting up temporary exhibits in schools and community centers for limited engagements,” said Weibel. 

Weibel explained the choice of topic for the pop-up exhibit.  “The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted a need in our community to better understand stress, anxiety, and depression, particularly in children and teens. We want people to have the knowledge and tools to take charge of their health and work towards developing healthy habits that strengthen both body and mind,” Weibel said. 

In the exhibit, visitors will learn about how the brain functions, how your senses work, tackle some brain games, and learn what you can do to take charge of your brain’s health.

Christine Curley, Director of the McBride Memorial Library emphasized this point. “Mental health plays a key role in our overall health. A child’s mental well-being is just as important as their physical well-being and deserves the same quality of support. We are very grateful for our partnership with the Children’s Museum in bringing this exhibit to our patrons, which not only gives our patrons a chance to learn more about mental health and how the brain works but also helps to connect them to valuable mental health resources.”  

Some of the resources available within the exhibit were provided by the United Way of Columbia and Montour Counties, United in Recovery. Olivia Oden, Stigma Reduction & Education Coordinator for United in Recovery, emphasized the importance of this message. “Providing evidence-based education for youth and families is a key part of prevention when talking about addiction. Substance use disorder is prevalent in many families within our community; learning about the disease from a scientific and biological approach is a great way to teach that it can happen to anyone, and how we can help our kids make healthy, positive choices,” Oden said.   

The exhibit was sponsored by Berwick Youth In Philanthropy, The Community Giving Foundation, and T-Mobile. You can visit the exhibit at the McBride Memorial Library from now until September 30th.  

For information on programs and operating hours of the McBride Memorial Library, please visit https://mcbridelibrary.org

For more information on the Bloomsburg Children’s Museum, please visit  https://the-childrens-museum.org/

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 Berwick Area United Way.

The Berwick Area United Way is a non-profit that is focused on strengthening the local Berwick community.  The organization is dedicated to the health and education of children, the financial stability of families, and the immediate emergency needs of its community members. 

For more information on the Berwick Area United Way visit its website, Facebook page or call 570-759-8203.

Edited from the PA Chamber of Business & Industry

A national workforce shortage is having a negative impact on businesses struggling to recover in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.  With unemployment rates higher than pre-pandemic levels, several states are choosing to withdraw from a federal unemployment compensation benefit enhancement program in order to incentivize more individuals to return to the workforce.  Notably, last week, Louisiana became the first state with a Democrat governor to pull back from the federal program.

In a statement, PA Chamber President and CEO Gene Barr called the current workforce shortage a “crisis” for the business community and urged Pennsylvania to scale back its participation in the federal benefit enhancement program.

“As evidenced by Louisiana’s recent decision to withdraw from the federal program, this isn’t a partisan issue,” Barr said.  “It’s simple math.  The private sector cannot compete against federal benefit enhancements that are in many cases paying individuals more than what they made in wages.”

A recent U.S. Chamber survey found a significant number of respondents – more than half – are not in a hurry to return to work and 16 percent say the money they are receiving from unemployment benefits and other government programs makes it ‘not worth looking for work.’

House Bill 508 would phase out Pennsylvania’s participation in the federal unemployment compensation enhancements and implement a Back-to-Work Bonus Program to incentivize individuals to return to work. The bill has passed out of committee and is currently awaiting consideration by the full House. While the PA Chamber is supporting the legislation, the Board of The Columbia Montour Chamber is opposing back-to-work bonuses as inappropriate and unnecessary.

With businesses across the Commonwealth continuing to struggle as the economy re-opens, more than 35 local chambers from across the state joined with the PA Chamber for the 2021 Chamber Day. The annual event, which is co-hosted by the PA Chamber of Business and Industry and the Pennsylvania Association of Chamber Professionals, provides a forum for constructive dialogue between local chamber officials and state policymakers on issues important to the state’s business community.

“State government has never had more of an impact on business operations than over the past fifteen months,” said Fred Gaffney, Chamber President and chair of the Chamber Day Committee. “We were glad to provide members the opportunity to hear from legislators and the Governor about the issues we’re working on. Clearly, Governor Wolf needs to hear directly from the business community about the challenges employers are facing.”

 In a departure from past Chamber Days, this year’s event was held virtually.  Over the course of two days, participants met with several state elected officials, including: Governor Tom Wolf; Senate Majority Whip John Gordner, R-Columbia; House Majority Whip Donna Oberlander, R-Clarion; Senate Majority Caucus Secretary and Prioritize PA leader Sen. Ryan Aument, R-Lancaster; House Majority Caucus Chair George Dunbar, R-Westmoreland; House Democratic Transportation Committee Chair Mike Carroll, D-Luzerne; Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Chair Gene Yaw, R-Bradford; House Economic Recovery Task Force Leader Rep. Aaron Kaufer, R-Luzerne; and Rep. Pam Snyder, D-Greene.  Panel discussions also included representatives from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Pennsylvania’s Independent Fiscal Office and the Associated Pennsylvania Constructors.

The event featured policy discussions on a variety of critical topics, including: the upcoming 2021-22 state budget; Pennsylvania’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic; transportation funding and energy policy on both the state and federal level.

From My Benefit Advisor

Employees and those looking for work in today’s environment have more options at their disposal than perhaps ever before.  There exists a wide range of occupations, employer locations, industry types and work arrangements available to each worker.  This allows an individual the ability to be more selective in choosing where they will work, why they want to work there and how long they plan to stay there.  And although each individual’s criteria is often unique and varied, there are many common concerns that tend to be shared among workers.  Understanding these common issues is a critical component of creating a workplace that attracts and sustains a vibrant and growing workforce.

The term “employer of choice” is often used to describe such a company and for the employer, achieving such a status can be very advantageous.  The benefits can include increased productivity, the ability to attract and retain top talent and a healthier workplace culture, all of which can help improve the company’s bottom line.    To become an employer of choice, the company leader(s) should fine-tune their corporate culture, branding, recruitment and retention strategies by targeting several of the following key aspects to set them above their peers:

• Job Security…employees want to be sure that their employer is in a sound financial condition and that they don’t need to worry about layoffs or downsizing.
• Opportunity for Growth…by helping employees map a strategic career path, employers of choice encourage their staff to develop their skills and careers by providing them with performance development planning, training opportunities and the resources needed to advance.
• Respect and Fair Treatment…It is not reality to expect employees and their employer to agree in all matters, but their differences of opinion should always be respected.  Employers should develop policies with fairness in mind, treating everyone equally and without bias.
• Recognition of Performance…employers of choice provide employee recognition to employees achieving performance successes and for those exhibiting positive, desired behaviors.
• Employee Input and Empowerment…Employees are more apt to feel invested in a company when they feel that leadership values their input into company processes, policies, and allow them to control their choices and make decisions.
• A Well-Rounded Benefit Package…The impact of the COVID pandemic has caused many employees to reconsider their priorities when it comes to choosing benefits.  Employers who have offered traditional benefit packages until recently are finding they may no longer be the employer of choice with an outdated benefit portfolio that doesn’t meet the evolving needs of their workers.  Inclusion of income protection (short- and long-term disability coverage), critical Illness and hospital indemnity programs, an expansion of mental health coverage and financial wellness programs could go a long way in helping your business stand out.

It’s no easy task to continually maintaining these programs while staying within budgetary restraints, but the employer who does so will not only win the loyalty of their employees, but better position themselves as an employer of choice going forward.

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 Tanya Ruiz at (800) 377-3539.

Bason Coffee is Turning 10!

June is Bason Coffee‘s birthday month and they want to give back to its customers to say THANK YOU! Thank you for your support through the past 10 crazy years. Whether it be supporting Bason Coffee at the Lewisburg Market, the Bloomsburg Fair or just being a regular at the store in Danville.

On June 19, Bason Coffee will have a parking lot event with food, beverages and fun for everyone. 

With that being said…. each Saturday in the month of June they will be doing something outside or in store.

June 19~ Parking Lot Event! Come enjoy a grilled cheese from the Grilled Cheese Cafe 2, grab a sweet treat from Four Girls Bakery, have the kids enjoy an activity from the Bloomsburg Children’s Museum, and for the parents enjoy a nice drink from Rock God Brewing. It will be a fun day for sure… did I mention anyone who shops in the store that day will be entered to win some prizes too?!

June 26~ Danville Downtown Spring Fling, come visit Bason Coffee down on Mill Street and see many other vendors as well. The Danville store will be open from 8:30a-3p.

What a whirlwind it was on Saturday, June 12 as they gave away 200 Chicken BBQ dinners for the community in 40 minutes with the help of Friendship Fire Company Station 10. The Chicken BBQ took place in Bason’s parking lot with Friendship Fire Company serving the meals. Friendship Fire Company also was fortunate to have folks make generous donations towards their new ladder truck.

Bason Coffee is celebrating its 10th birthday this month by finding ways to say thank you to all of the amazing customers. Come join the festivities this weekend and next as they continue to celebrate with its customers and community.

Bloomsburg Town Park Announces its 2021 Summer Concert Series

Wednesday, June 16 McNett Country- Traditional and Contemporary Country Music
Wednesday, June 23 Greenwood Valley Boys- Traditional Bluegrass music
Wednesday, June 30 Coast Two Coast- A trio playing music from the 50’s to the present
Wednesday, July 7 Memory Lane- Music of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s
Wednesday, July 14 BC Combo*- Bringing 30 years of experience & passion to Blues, Jazz, Swing, Folk, R&B & Soul
Wednesday, July 21 Clickard Consortium- A 10-piece ensemble playing swing to modern jazz
Wednesday, July 28 Gift, Troutman and Gift- vocal harmonies from the 40’s to the present
Thursday, August 5 64th Annual Ice Cream and Cake Festival with the Catawissa Military Band. Come and enjoy
this traditional community event with food, games, music, entertainment and fun for all!
All concert times are 7:00 – 8:30
* Sponsored in part by The Exchange

On Tuesday, June 15^th, Governor Tom Wolf’s administration certified the results of the May primary election, resulting in the end of the disaster emergency declaration in Pennsylvania. While the Legislature has extended some regulatory waivers until September 30^th, benefits afforded to establishments with liquor licenses, including drinks to go, have now ended. Three bills are now being considered in the Senate that would extend these benefits. The Chamber’s Board of Directors is supporting all three of the original House proposals.

• House Bill 1154 would allow licensed establishments to sell prepared beverages and mixed drinks for off-premises consumption permanently. The bill was introduced by Representative Kurt Masser and co-sponsored by Representative David Millard. It passed the House by a vote of 187-14 and Governor Wolf stated he would immediately sign the version passed by the House. A Senate committee added language that has now jeopardized the Governor’s support.
• House Bill 425, co-sponsored by Rep. Millard, would allow a licensed premises to be extended to outside serving areas that are immediately adjacent to or within 1000 feet of the licensed building through 2022. This bill passed the House unanimously and the language has now been incorporated into H.B. 1154.
• House Bill 427 would increase the discount of liquor to licensed establishments to 15% for a period of three years following the end of the disaster declaration. This legislation was also co-sponsored by Rep. Millard and passed the House unanimously.