Updated 3/21/22 at 9:00 a.m.
Business Operations
– The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) new masking guidelines focus less on positive test results and more on what’s happening at local hospitals. At the high level, it is recommended that everyone continue to wear masks indoors. In medium-level counties, individuals who are at high risk should continue to wear a mask. At the low level, individuals should stay up to date with vaccines and get tested if they’re sick, but do not need to wear masks indoors. Regardless of a county’s status, employers and businesses can continue to enforce masking policies.
As of 3/21/22, Columbia and Montour County are at low risk.
County status information is available on the CDC’s website.
These changes do not impact the requirement to wear a mask while on public transportation or an airline. Those requirements fall under a separate order.
– Click here for the latest guidance on quarantine and isolation from the CDC.
Vaccination and Testing
Vaccination
The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce is partnering with Geisinger in encouraging eligible individuals to get vaccinated. Click here for information.
Click here to find vaccination sites statewide.
Resources to help employers communicate with their employees about vaccination are available from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
SHRM, the Society for Human Resource Management, provides recommendations for developing a workplace vaccination strategy.
Testing
Geisinger offers both symptomatic testing and testing for travel. Visit here for details.
If you are exhibiting flu-like symptoms, contact your physician for a referral to a testing site.
Financial Assistance
Local programs
– The Chamber’s low-interest loan program is offering loans of up to $10,000 for members at 3% interest for 30 months, with interest only payments for the first 12 months. If you are interested in the Chamber’s loan program, contact Fred Gaffney at the Chamber of Commerce at 570-784-2522 as funds are limited.
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 Raceway Self & Mobile Storage to help us fulfill our mission.
Raceway Self & Mobile Storage has locations in Hughesville, Milton, and Bloomsburg. They provide solutions for moving, temporary storage, during construction, between housing, military deployments, or just extra space. For more information, visit their website.
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 State Farm- Laurie Powell to help us fulfill our mission.
Located in Berwick, State Farm- Laurie Powell provides insurance for: auto, home, business, property, life, health & more. For more information, visit their website.
As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, non-essential businesses have been ordered to shutdown in Pennsylvania. Many of these businesses that are affected are small businesses. The Chamber has created a website to sell gift certificates on behalf of members, with no cost or fees to the business. This website will provide a way for people to support our local businesses now despite them being closed or only partially operational. Participating members will receive funds for gift certificate purchases on a weekly basis. We hope to launch this website later this week with just a few members signing up. The attached FAQ sheet provides more details about the program.
If a member would like to have gift certificates available for purchase on the website, please email certificates@columbiamontourchamber.com.
In addition to the purchasing of gift certificates, the Chamber is encouraging the public to support local restaurants that are still offering take-out or delivery service.
From President Bashar Hanna
Bloomsburg University will deliver academic courses online for the remainder of the Spring 2020 semester, beginning March 23. We will allow students to continue to retrieve belongings from residence halls and academic buildings this week, through Saturday, March 21, with the knowledge that they should remove all their belongings. Students will have an opportunity to move out at a later date if they choose not to do so this week.
We are certain there are many questions regarding refunds and other financial matters. University leadership is working on a solution and will communicate the decision as soon as it becomes available.
We strongly discourage students from remaining in off-campus housing through the rest of the semester.
We implore students to take this situation seriously and to heed the guidance from public health officials.
Thank you for your e-mails and questions as they assist us in identifying information you’re requesting. While it is impossible to respond to the volume of individual e-mails at this time, we will do our best to include answers in these broader communications. This daily communication serves as the University’s official method of sharing updates relating to the Coronavirus.
As the new coronavirus disease 2019 (“COVID-19”) continues
to spread, many employees are wondering whether there
is coverage under their medical plan and whether they can
take a leave of absence. The following provides some highlevel
information intended to address these inquiries. This
information is up to date as of March 9, 2020, is general in
nature, and subject to change.
Link to the PDF.
- Bloomsburg University Extends Spring Break Due to Coronavirus Concerns
Bloomsburg University students are on Spring Break the week of March 9-13. As of Tuesday, March 10th, the University does not have any reported or confirmed cases of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). However, over health and safety concerns for campus and the surrounding community, spring break for students is being extended by one week, with classes anticipated to resume on Monday, March 23. During this extension, faculty will be provided training, both locally and remotely, specific to online course delivery methods. This will enable continuity of instruction if further delays of students’ return to campus become warranted. - Bloomsburg SYKES 4th Annual Easter Egg Hunt
Bloomsburg SYKES will be hosting their 4th Annual Easter Egg Hunt on April 11th, at 11am at Columbia Park in Lime Ridge. This is a free event, with 4 different age group areas (0-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12). All the candy is donated by Sykes 100+ employees and the prizes are bought from fundraisers that are done with the reps. - Bucknell SBDC, DRIVE, and Merck for a Ribbon Cutting for Startup Danville
Please join the Bucknell Small Business Development Center, DRIVE, and Merck for a Ribbon Cutting for Startup Danville on March 18, from 4pm – 5pm at 418 Railroad St, Danville, PA 17821 Startup Danville is a business incubator empowering entrepreneurs creating health, wellness, and technology innovations for the community. This project is supported by Merck’s Neighbor of Choice program, and partners Bucknell University’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and DRIVE in providing programming, services, and space to startup firms.
This ribbon cutting and grand opening event will feature media, elected officials, economic development partners, funding stakeholders, and is open to the public.
Facebook event – https://www.facebook.com/events/1418953954943303/SBDC RSVP – https://pasbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/26596
- Grant Opportunities for Local Nonprofit Organizations Serving the Greater Bloomsburg Area
The Bloomsburg Area Community Foundation announces grant opportunities for local nonprofit organizations serving the greater Bloomsburg area. Grants will be awarded from the Bloomsburg Area Community Foundation Fund and the Hartman/Robbins/Stroup Fund. This competitive grant round begins now and will continue into July. Approximately $10,000 is available.
Only 501(c)(3) nonprofit and governmental organizations are eligible to apply and 100% of requested funding from the above noted funds must be invested within Bloomsburg and surrounding areas. Individuals are not eligible to apply.
Grant applications must be completed and submitted through a web-based program. Prior to beginning the grant application process, applicants are encouraged to watch a short tutorial. Interested applicants can find the tutorial and instructions for completing grant application online by visiting www.csgiving.org, clicking on “Receive” and then “Apply for a Grant”. Look for information under the heading “Bloomsburg Area Community Foundation”.
Grant requests must be submitted online by 11:59 p.m. on May 28, 2020.
The Bloomsburg Area Community Foundation was created in 1996 from the interest paid back on a loan borrowed by Magee Industrial Enterprises from a Federal Urban Development Action Grant (UDAG). The Town of Bloomsburg invested this interest to create the Bloomsburg Area Community Foundation.
The Bloomsburg Area Community Foundation is affiliated with the Central Susquehanna Community Foundation (CSCF) and their grant process is administered by the CSCF. For more information, please contact Christine Orlando, CSCF Senior Program Officer, at 570-752-3930, ext. 2 or corlando@csgiving.org.
Bloomsburg University students are on Spring Break the week of March 9-13. As of Tuesday, March 10th, the University does not have any reported or confirmed cases of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). However, over health and safety concerns for campus and the surrounding community, spring break for students is being extended by one week, with classes anticipated to resume on Monday, March 23. During this extension, faculty will be provided training, both locally and remotely, specific to online course delivery methods. This will enable continuity of instruction if further delays of students’ return to campus become warranted.
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 Jim & Vera’s Hoagie Hut to help us fulfill our mission.
Jim & Vera’s Hoagie Hut offers a variety of hoagies, sandwiches, cheesesteaks, hoagie trays, desserts, and beverages. Visit their Facebook page for more information.
Adrienne Mael (right), President and CEO of the United Way of Columbia and Montour Counties recently welcomed Olivia Oden (left), as the organization’s new stigma reduction and education coordinator.
The United Way of Columbia and Montour Counties along with Geisinger Health Plan have joined forces on a two-year program for those struggling with substance use disorder. A $118,500 grant from Pennsylvania’s Commission on Crime and Delinquency enabled the United Way to hire Olivia Oden as their new stigma reduction and education coordinator as well as expand their current United in Recovery program. The Columbia Montour Chamber is a partner organization in United in Recovery to help individuals lead more healthy and productive lives.
“Through a cooperative agreement with Geisinger, Olivia is also an employee with the health insurance company which gives her access to its vast resources and network of providers,” said Adrienne Mael, President and CEO the United Way of Columbia and Montour Counties. The main goal of this program is to reduce stigma surrounding addiction, support individuals in recovery, and reduce opioid overdose deaths. Last year the country saw 192 overdose deaths per day, and Pennsylvania is the third-worst state impacted by overdose related deaths.
“We have to realize the disease of substance use can affect anyone,” said Oden. “One in three people are directly affected by substance use disorder or SUD, if not in their immediate family then someone they know.”
Oden’s outreach will include presentations to schools, health care professionals, civic organizations, and employers in an effort to change society’s view on those suffering from substance use disorder. In addition, the United Way is also hosting Recovery Resources Events throughout the year. These community events bring local and state organizations together in one place to offer a judgement-free atmosphere where those in recovery or active addiction can find free assessments, childcare resources, counseling and so much more. The United Way has developed a resource guide (link to attached file) to assist individuals struggling with substance use or other issues.
For more information on the United in Recovery program, upcoming Recovery Resources Events, or the United Way of Columbia and Montour Counties in general, visit www.cmcuw.org or call (570) 784-3134.