Geisinger has partnered with eight local chambers of commerce to launch Meals in Spring and give back to the restaurants in the community hit hard by the pandemic.
As part of the program, more than 23,000 Geisinger employees can redeem a $10 meal voucher at more than 250 participating restaurants across 12 counties through June 30.
“Our local chambers of commerce were among the first organizations that came to us during the early days of the pandemic offering help,” said John Grabusky, senior director of community relations. “They collected N95 masks and gloves, organized sewing groups for homemade masks and they were behind many donations of pizzas, sandwiches, coffees and snacks that started to flow into our facilities. Now, it’s our turn to help them by supporting our local restaurants with Meals in Spring.”
Studies have shown that for every $100 spent at locally owned businesses, $68 stays within the community. By patronizing local restaurants, Geisinger employees are contributing to the local economy, which benefits their friends, neighbors, school districts and nonprofit organizations in their communities.
Participating chambers of commerce include Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce, Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce, Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce, Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce, Clinton County Economic Partnership & Visitors Bureau, and Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce.
The Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center (NEPIRC) Promotes Marla Hager to Senior Business Advisor
The Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center (NEPIRC) proudly announces the promotion of Ms. Marla Hager to the position of Senior Business Advisor. Ms. Hager joined NEPIRC in December 2016 and, since that time, has introduced small and mid-sized manufacturers throughout Luzerne and Columbia counties to consultative services, training programs and other resources that allowed them to create and retain 2,200 full-time manufacturing jobs while strategically investing more than $29.7 million in regional expansion and modernization. Over the course of her tenure with NEPIRC, Ms. Hager’s clients have increased their top-line revenue by nearly $45 million, retained $184.5 million of at-risk sales and recognized $13.5 million in operational savings as direct outcomes of the NEPIRC engagements that she facilitated on their behalf.
In her elevated role at NEPIRC, Ms. Hager will remain responsible for cultivating and maintaining positive relationships with new and existing NEPIRC clients across Luzerne and Columbia counties while also mentoring other members of NEPIRC’s Business Advisor team and playing a more active role in NEPIRC’s long-term growth strategy.
Ms. Hager holds a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from the University of Scranton.
Clients wanting to congratulate Marla on her achievements, and manufacturers wishing to connect with her to discuss how NEPIRC can grow their business, can contact her at Marla@NEPIRC.com or 570.819.8966 x 122.
Retention Numbers Climb Nearly 20% for Bloomsburg University Act 101 Students
Students in Bloomsburg University’s Act 101 program have seen increasingly strong retention numbers over the last several years. Since 2017, Act 101 students have increased their first to second year retention rates by nearly 20 percent (45 to 63.7 percent).
The Act 101 Program is a comprehensive academic support program targeting first-generation, low-income Bloomsburg University students. Act 101 students are provided intensive, engaging, and enriching opportunities to develop the skills to help them achieve academic excellence. Students in the program come from households with incomes of double the federal poverty level or lower.
Ralph Godbolt, director of the Office of Access and Success and interim dean of students, has put a lot of hard work into helping the students.
“Our team here works hard to give these students a chance to be successful,” Godbolt said. “We provide to them the academic, cultural, and social interaction they need.”
Participants of the Act 101 program are strongly encouraged to participate in the Emerging Scholars program, a program developed and implemented by Godbolt. “The Emerging Scholars Program is a comprehensive academic support program targeting first-generation BU students who are demonstrating risk factors that will increase the likelihood of not completing a four-year college degree,” said Godbolt. “Through the Emerging Scholars Program, we provide opportunities for students to develop the skills that will assist them in achieving academic success. The success of the Emerging Scholars Program directly impacted the strong first to second year retention rates of Act 101 students.”
As part of the Emerging Scholars Program, Godbolt and his small team provide eight hours a week of study hall time, compassion-centered academic advising, and community engagement opportunities. They also provide opportunities to engage in yoga and mindfulness activities and weekly ‘rap sessions,’ where students engage in intense conversations about ongoing matters in their lives.
“The rap sessions help in building a close relationship between the student and counselor,” Godbolt said.
The Office of Access and Success oversees the Act 101 program. The office develops and implements academic, social, and cultural programming designed to assist students to develop the skills necessary for college persistence and graduation.
Programs of the Office of Access and Success include Act 101, Emerging Scholars, the Office of Diversity and Retention, Board of Governors, SEE Yourself Healthier and Happier, and the Out of the Classroom: Into the Community initiative.
Open Letter to Chamber Members from 1847Financial and The Fluffy Sheep
Chamber Members Mark Lupashunski from 1847Financial and Jackie Dietz from The Fluffy Sheep wrote open letters to the Chamber and its members:
I have been in the insurance and Financial Services business since 1990. The last 10+ years renting office space in Berwick with my business partner, Andrea Empie. We had been looking to find new space to move our business closer to downtown Berwick. One day Andrea told me that she saw a building for rent at 109 N. Mulberry Street in downtown Berwick.
Once I saw the building I remembered going there as a patient of Dr. Ali Alley many years ago. When I called the phone number on the sign, Mrs. Alley answered and I was surprised to hear that the Alley family still owned the building. They were pleased to hear that a native to Berwick was interested in the renovation of the old building. We came to terms and signed a sales agreement in January 2020 and were supposed to close on the building in 6 weeks. Then everything was put on hold due to COVID-19.
We finally were able to finalize the sale in late May. The building had been rented to various businesses over the years and was in need of renovation. After 4 months of demolition and hard work by many local contractors, we were open for business on October 1st.
The building had more space than we needed for our practice so we were able to make some space available for another business. We put an ad in the local paper and the first called happily agreed to lease the space to start her new business, The Fluffy Sheep.
We are happy to join the Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce and are glad to be able to open our business in downtown Berwick during some very difficult times to do business and are looking forward to a bright future.
Sincerely,
Mark C. Lupashunki
The Fluffy Sheep aims to be more than just a yarn shop. By offering a selection of locally made products, we support the endeavors of our local economy & community. We look forward to offering classes and a regular open craft night in the near future.
Sincerely,
Jackie Dietz
From Greg Dudkin, President, PPL Electric Utilities
Here in Pennsylvania you can shop for your electricity supply. Just like you would shop for a car, you compare different offers and choose what is right for you at the lowest cost. Then, if your home or business is part of our service territory in Eastern or Central Pennsylvania, PPL Electric Utilities (PPL) delivers the electricity to you.
Because we are delivering the electricity, we have no vested interest in which supplier you choose. But we do care whether you are paying a reasonable rate for electricity.
We’ve been monitoring the rates shopping customers pay compared to the default rate, which is the rate charged if you do not choose a supplier.
We’ve found many of our residential and small business customers are paying more for electricity through their supplier than they would have on the default rate. For customers paying more than the default rate, over a one-year period, our residential customers paid about $97 million more and small business customers paid $34 million more.
This is alarming. The data really made me stop and take a step back. The goal of deregulation is to save customers money. And that is obviously not happening. Where did it go wrong?
One of the biggest issues I find is that suppliers have limited accountability to be transparent with customers. Deceptive marketing tactics are used to attract customers.
I am sure we all know someone – or you yourself – who received a phone call or letter claiming to provide a new and better rate. Often these solicitations are disguised as a PPL-endorsed communication, using our logo or stating that the call is about your PPL bill. You may be told that if you switch now, you can get $300 gift card rewards.
If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Those gift cards they offer you are often short-term discounts to mask higher rates. And the low rates they offer you are often teaser rates. They only last a short while and then they skyrocket. We refer to it as the “bait and switch.”
Suppliers are intentionally vague in hopes you won’t understand the long-term cost increase or aren’t monitoring your electric bill closely. In fact, there are over 26,000 PPL customers paying double the price of default energy.
Suppliers are arguing that residential and small business shopping customers are willingly paying $131 million more than the default rate for value-added products, like renewable energy. Even if we assume that all customers paying above the default rate are purchasing renewable energy, we still find that over 205,000 PPL residential shopping customers are paying approximately $93 million more based on our estimate of a market-based renewable rate of 1 cent per KWH above the default energy rate.
These practices are harmful and must be monitored.
Look at what happened in Texas – or, better yet, what happened here in Pennsylvania during the 2014 polar vortex. Pennsylvania customers were baited into paying variable rates – or rates that change by the hour, day or month. When the extremely cold weather hit, those customers saw price spikes.
Just like the Texans who are now saddled with thousands of dollars in utility bill balances, the same may happen again if things do not change.
So, what can be done about all of this?
I believe we must critically evaluate the current electricity retail market and put customer protections in place. We need restrictions around introductory, promotion, and teaser rates. Suppliers need to be held accountable and be transparent.
We should also reject any proposals that allow suppliers to aggregate and send a consolidated electric bill to customers directly. Giving suppliers full control over bill communication puts customers at a disadvantage and makes it more difficult for the utility companies like PPL to protect customers.
As we continue to advocate for our customers, it’s critical you continue to shop smart. Read the fine print, be aware of deceptive marketing tactics and check your electric bill regularly to see how much you are being charged.
For more information on shopping, check out pplelectric.com/shopsmart.
From The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce: World Kinect Energy Services is the Chamber’s partner in helping members find the best solutions for their electricity, natural gas, and liquid fuels. There is no cost or obligation to get a quote, even for non-member organizations. Click here for more information.
On April 12th, Pennsylvania entered Phase 1C of the state’s vaccine rollout. This phase includes Pennsylvania state employees, federal government workers and employees of all county and local government levels. Effective April 13th, Governor Wolf announced that all Pennsylvania adults are eligible to schedule an appointment.
Residents should continue to use the Department of Health’s Vaccine Provider Map to find a vaccine provider nearest them. The department will continue to update the map as the federal government increases the number of pharmacy chains receiving vaccine through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Partnership.
Columbia County EMA is assisting Susquehanna Valley Medical Specialties with COVID-19 vaccination appointments.
Those wishing vaccinations should call 570-389-5735 Monday through Friday only between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Provide name, date of birth, address and phone number.
Someone from Susquehanna Valley Medical Specialties will call back to schedule an appointment. The clinic expects to experience a large volume of inquiries and asks callers to allow ample time for a call back. Callers who are not contacted within 72 hours are asked to call again.
People without internet access can contact the Health Hotline by calling 1-877-PA-HEALTH (1-877-724-3258).
More than 425 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 Donald Geise & Son Construction, Inc.
Based in Danville, Donald Geise & Son Construction was founded in 1985. They offer a variety of services including: new construction, remodeling, and custom design work. The company is a certified green builder that incorporates green building materials and methods as a matter of standard practice.
For more information on the Donald Geise & Son Construction Inc. visit its website, Facebook page or call 570-274-1521.
MARC Application to Montour County Zoning Hearing Board
Notice is herby given that the Zoning Hearing Board of Montour County will hold a public hearing on a request filed by MARC.
The applicant desires to secure a special exception to allow unpowered watercraft for rental to the public at the Montour Preserve and offer for rent or sell fishing, boating, and picnic supplies as deemed appropriate by MARC. The Montour Preserve is located in Anthony Township, Montour County, and is presently zoned public/semi-public.
Interested persons should make arrangements to appear at the hearing which will be held at the Montour County Administration Building, located at 435 East Front Street, Danville, PA, on April 19th at 3:30pm. Please note that social distancing and masks will be required.
Spring Graduation to be held in person at Redman Stadium
Bloomsburg University is thrilled to announce plans to host in-person commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2021! The ceremonies will be held outdoors (rain or shine) at Redman Stadium from May 14 to 16. Each ceremony will follow the appropriate COVID-19 safety guidelines from the CDC, the PA Department of Health, and Gov. Tom Wolf’s office.
NEPIRC to Offer Legal Aspects of COVID-19 Vaccination for Employers Webinar Part 2
Since Part 1 of this webinar aired in February, there have been many developments and updates regarding COVID-19 vaccination that have been reported. During Part 2 of this no-cost webinar series, Attorney James Devine will cover these developments in detail for small to mid-sized manufacturers. The webinar will be held on May 5th from 10:00-11:30 am.
If you have a question you’d like to ensure is covered during this event, please submit it to Chelsey@NEPIRC.com by Friday, April 23rd. We will once again prepare a complete Q&A document after the webinar airs that will be available for download on the NEPIRC website.
Register here.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce & PA Chamber of Business & Industry strongly oppose the Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO Act, H.R. 842), which passed the House of Representatives in early March and is now being considered by the Senate. The bill would force employees to pay union dues regardless of whether they support a union, threaten private ballots in union elections, and strip workers of their independent contractor classification.
The PRO Act would effectively overturn right-to-work laws that have been democratically passed in 27 states. If it becomes law, workers who choose to opt of out paying unwanted union dues could be fired. Under this legislation, independent contractors would lose flexible work arrangements and see fewer earning opportunities. It would also encourage “card check” voting where union organizers would approach individual workers and demand that they publicly sign a card in favor of the union. Additionally, employers would be stripped of fundamental legal rights, losing their standing in cases before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
“A bill cannot be ‘pro-worker’ if it harms employees, threatens job creation, and undermines our economic recovery,” said Suzanne Clark, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “The PRO Act would threaten worker privacy, force employees to pay union dues or lose their jobs, and trample free speech rights. The Chamber will fight to ensure this wish list of union-sponsored priorities fails in the Senate and never becomes law.”
“The ‘PRO Act’ that unfortunately passed the U.S. House is a radical piece of legislation that would upend decades of established labor law, significantly stacking the deck in favor of unions,” said Gene Barr, president & CEO of the PA Chamber. “This bill also clearly exposes the schism between unions and workers. Make no mistake, this legislation is anti-worker. It weakens workers’ rights by undermining the right to a private ballot during union elections; forces employers to turn over to unions their workers’ personal contact information – including cell phone numbers and home addresses – even if an employee objects; and prevents workers from decertifying a union they grow to oppose.”
To help employers better understand the implications of this sweeping legislation, the PA Chamber will host a free webinar on Tuesday, April 13 at 11 a.m. Presented in partnership with McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the program will provide an overview of the legislation, how employers should prepare and how the business community can work together to push back against this misguided proposal.
Register for the webinar at the PA Chamber’s website.
Additional information including a link to the legislation is available at www.uschamber.com/stop-the-pro-act.
From PA Chamber of Business & Industry
As progress continues on the state’s vaccine distribution effort, the Wolf administration last week updated its mitigation order to strongly encourage, but no longer mandate, telework for businesses. Organizations choosing to conduct in-person operations are still required to implement safety measures to help prevent the spread of the virus – including social distancing, masking and following gathering and occupancy guidelines.
In a statement announcing the order revision, Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Davin said, “We’ve made significant progress in our battle against COVID-19, so we must continue abiding by all guidelines and orders, including masking and social distancing when out and about. The best way to support our local businesses is to create a safe environment for everyone so that we can combat the virus’s spread, which will help position us to bounce back easier and faster long term.”
Prior to this change, telework was mandated except in circumstances where it was not possible. The updated telework order went into effect on Sunday, April 4. Sunday also marked the lifting of restrictions for the restaurant industry – including increasing capacity limits to 75 percent and allowing for bar seating and service.
More information on the updated orders can be found here.
All businesses in the retail food services industry, including restaurants, wineries, breweries, private clubs, and bars, are permitted to provide take-out and delivery sales of food, as well as dine-in service in both indoor and outdoor seating areas so long as they strictly adhere to the requirements of the guidance, as required by this guidance, including:
- Alcohol can only be served for on-premises consumption.
- Take-out sales of alcohol for the purposes of off-site consumption are permitted subject to any limitations or restrictions imposed by Pennsylvania law.
This guidance applies to all restaurants, private event spaces and wedding venues with food service, licensed clubs, and bars, regardless of whether the business operates within a larger facility such as a hotel, casino, convention center, conference center or similar large venue.
Private event spaces and wedding venues which do not offer food service are not subject to this guidance, but must follow all applicable provisions of the commonwealth’s Guidance for Businesses Permitted to Operate During the COVID-19 Disaster Emergency to Ensure the Safety and Health of Employees and the Public.
No business is required to conduct in-person operations, and should not do so if the business is unable to do so in accordance with all applicable guidance.
All businesses and employees in the restaurant and retail food service industry authorized to conduct in-person activities pursuant to this guidance must follow all applicable provisions of the Guidance for Businesses Permitted to Operate During the COVID19 Disaster Emergency to Ensure the Safety and Health of Employees and the Public, including provisions requiring the establishment of protocols for execution upon discovery that the business has been exposed to a person who is a probable or confirmed case of COVID-19.
For additional details on guidance, visit here.