As part of its annual Community Open House held on Sunday, Sept. 8, Camp Victory also held a ribbon cutting for its newly expanded and refurbished Welcome Center. The Welcome Center was expanded earlier this year as additional offices and a small camp store were added. The new addition includes space for two administrative offices and a store that sells Camp Victory t-shirts, pins, and other souvenirs. Other parts of the building were also refurbished and refreshed.

Camp Victory saw a record turnout of more than 400 people come out to the event to take part on rock wall climbing, zip lining, paddle boating and several other activities throughout the campground. Check out Camp Victory’s Facebook page for photos from the event.  

“From April to October, we are so happy to host thousands of special campers – kids with cancer, autism, diabetes, heart disease, spina bifida and more, all have their own week to come to summer camp and just enjoy being kids,” explained Kate Pacacha, Camp Victory’s resource development associate. “Everything here is accessible to all abilities.

“We are very fortunate to have an army volunteers and many generous donors, both individuals and companies, so we started having an annual open house to thank our neighbors for their support. We’re a very small, efficient staff – just two full-time year-round people, and four part-time year-round people. But we needed a little more room to grow. We work hard to keep costs to our campers at a bare minimum yet give them an incredible experience at a facility unlike any other in the state.”

WBRE-TV also came to the event and put together this news story.

From ChamberChoice

Effective Jan. 1, 2020, final regulations issued by the IRS, Department of Labor, and Department of Health and Human Services will permit employers to offer Individual Coverage HRAs (ICHRAs) that reimburse an employee for purchasing individual coverage and comply with the employer’s obligations under the ACA Employer Shared Responsibility rule.

Also effective Jan. 1, 2020, new regulations create a class of HRAs called Excepted Benefit HRAs (EBHRAs) that can be used solely to reimburse excepted benefits, including limited scope vision or dental benefits, up to an annual $1,800 inflation-adjusted limit.

Individual Coverage HRA (ICHRA)

Effective January 1, 2020, employers of any size may offer ICHRAs that reimburse individual market premiums without violating the ACA provided they operate the ICHRA according to the following rules:

• The individual covered by the ICHRA must be enrolled in individual market insurance coverage and verify this enrollment to the employer.
• The employer (or plan sponsor) may not offer a choice between ICHRA and group health coverage to any given class of employees – a class of employees (or all employees) may only be offered ICHRA coverage or
traditional group health coverage, but not both.
• The ICHRA must be offered in a nondiscriminatory manner to all members of the same class; members of the same class must receive the same benefits as other members under the same terms and conditions.
• ICHRA participants must be able to opt-out of the benefit at least once annually (to preserve eligibility and access to the Premium Tax Credit for individual coverage, if applicable.
• The employer (or plan sponsor) must notify employees of the ICHRA option at least 90 days before the beginning of the plan year.

Excepted Benefit HRA (EBHRA)

Effective Jan. 1, 2020, new regulations confirm that employers may offer EBHRAs to employees if the employer offers the given class of employees traditional group health insurance. Therefore, employees offered an ICHRA or QSEHRA may not participate in an EBHRA. Additional rules include:
• The individual covered by the EHBRA must be offered, but does not need to have enrolled in, traditional group health coverage
• The EBHRA must not be considered an integral part of the group health plan.
• The EBHRA’s maximum annual reimbursement is capped at $1,800 (this amount is indexed to inflation, so employers can expect it to rise in the future).
• Employers (or plan sponsors) must make the EBHRA available to similarly situated individuals under the same terms and conditions.
• Coverage must be limited to excepted benefits, including:
i. Accident only coverage
ii. Disability Income
iii. Limited Scope Dental & Vision Plans
iv. Long Term Care Plans
v. Certain Health FSAs

ICHRAs and EBHRAs open up a lot of new opportunities to employers and may offer a way to reduce overall healthcare spending. However, given that neither of these HRA categories currently exists, there is limited guidance on to what degree these will result in cost savings and what additional compliance issues could be raised by the actual implementation of either option.

*This article gives a basic overview of recent regulation as in effect on the date of the article. Please be aware that the determination of the requirements and the application of these rules to each employer may differ due to a number of variables. Nothing in this article should be construed as legal advice.

From Central Susquehanna Community Foundation

The Bloomsburg Area Community Foundation (BACF) recently awarded $9,600 to local nonprofits during its competitive grantround, which included grants to six different Chamber members. The awards were granted through the Bloomsburg Area Community Foundation Fund. The Foundation focused its funding on organizations that invest in community programs ad projects within Bloomsburg and surrounding areas. Grant recipients received the awards during the BACF annual luncheon on Sept. 5.

This year’s grant recipients include:

• AGAPE Love from Above to Our Community – (W.I.N.) Women in Need, $700
• Bloomsburg Fire Department – Thermal Infrared Camera, $700
• Central Susquehanna Sight Services, Inc. – 2019/2020 Preventing Blindness in Our Community Initiative, $500
• Coalition for Social Equity – Organization Support in Honor of Isabelle Tarr, $1,000
• Columbia Child Development Program – Increase STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) Materials for 2-5-year old’s, $750
• Wesley United Methodist Church (Community Friendship Meal) – Restock the 2019 Emergency Pantry, $700
• Eos Therapeutic Riding Center – Purchase new Copier/Printer, $1,000
• Exchange Arts, d.b.a. The Exchange – Bringing the Blues to Bloomsburg Town Park, $500
• Friends of the Columbia County Traveling Library – Filling the Gaps: Updating the Children’s Book Collection at the Traveling Library, $550
• Orangeville Public Library – Expansion of the Orangeville Library for Children’s Room Addition, $1,000
• Pennsylvania Pets, Inc. – Bloomsburg Area Spay/Neuter Program, $700
• The Arc Susquehanna Valley – Social Recreation Programs for the Differently Abled in Bloomsburg, $500
• The Children’s Museum, Inc. – Outdoor Classroom Improvements, $300

The Bloomsburg Area Community Foundation is an affiliate of the Central Susquehanna Community Foundation, which helps administer BACF’s grant investments. Nonprofit organizations that provide programming in the Bloomsburg community and surrounding areas are encouraged to apply during the 2020 competitive grantround, which can be done online when the grantround is opened. 

2019 BACF board members included John Thompson, chair; Fred Gaffney; Paul Reichart; Rick Vanderpool; Kristin Austin; C. Cleveland Hummel, Lauren Martz, Fred Trump, Pam Young

From PA Chamber of Business & Industry

As the summer comes to a close, the PA Chamber is looking forward to a busy fall as lawmakers return to session and we work on finalizing the details for the 35th Annual Chamber Dinner.

As I noted in last month’s column, workforce development and addressing the Commonwealth’s jobs skills gap continue to be a major focus for the Wolf administration, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and especially the business community. As a cornerstone of the PA Chamber’s mission, our organization – through our Start the Conversation Here initiative – has been working to bridge the gap between Pennsylvania employers’ current and future employment needs and the skills of today’s workforce. Pennsylvania’s diverse employment needs across a wide range of industries provide ample job opportunities. However, the state continues to have people without jobs and job opportunities without the people with the skills to fill them. Despite the good paying, in-demand careers that the skilled trades provide, they still tend to get overlooked by graduating students and their families. Over the past three years, we have been pleased to team up with the mikeroweWORKS Foundation as it works to help change the negative perception about skilled trades jobs – which are vitally important to the economy and must be filled in order to close the skills gap.

At the end of August we were pleased to announce that 24 Commonwealth students have been awarded a total of $75,000 in mikeroweWORKS Work Ethic Scholarships. Since 2016, the PA Chamber Educational Foundation – with the support of the Commonwealth’s business community – has helped contribute nearly $195,000 towards the work ethic scholarship program, and approximately 94 Pennsylvania students have been awarded work ethic scholarships to attend technical schools within the state. Several of this year’s scholarship recipients will be profiled in an upcoming issue of the PA Chamber’s magazine, Catalyst. The PA Chamber is currently raising funds to continue to support its Start the Conversation HERE initiative. More information on the PA Chamber’s far-reaching workforce initiative is available online.

This month also marks the start of the fall legislative session. Over the summer a number of issues that could impact the business community have been bandied about by the Wolf administration and lawmakers, including: charter school reform, regulating greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, a severance tax on natural gas, a minimum wage increase and property tax reform. We are urging lawmakers to continue the positive momentum of the state’s strong 2018-19 fiscal year by enacting pro-growth policies and cautioning against implementing policies that will increase the cost of doing business in the Commonwealth and hurt the state’s overall economic climate. With legislators scheduled to return to Harrisburg in mid-September, we are closely monitoring these and other issues that will have a strong impact on businesses across the state.

• This year will mark the fifth year that local organizations and communities have joined forces to help fight pediatric cancer and raise funds to benefit the ThinkBIG® Pediatric Cancer Fund. The Going Gold initiative, which began in 2015, continues to expand. To date, this initiative has raised $42,800. This year’s remaining Going Gold kickoff events are scheduled for tonight, Sept. 4 at 6 p.m. at Marley’s Brewery & Grille in Bloomsburg; and Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 6 p.m. at Brendan’s Towne Tavern in Lewisburg.

  

  Members of the Going Gold Committee recently announced events being held throughout September 2019 to raise awareness about pediatric cancer and support the ThinkBIG® Pediatric Cancer Fund.
  L-R: Colleen Phillips, Service 1st Federal Credit Union; Cassandra Niglio, ThinkBIG Pediatric Cancer Fund; Colby Wesner, ThinkBIG Pediatric Cancer Fund; Jace Rovenolt, Old Forge Brewing Company; Carol Tevis, ThinkBIG Pediatric Cancer Fund; and Kelly Miller Barrick, Lewisburg.

  Each event will feature a proclamation, entertainment, and much more. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend.  Going Gold shirts will be sold during the events for $15. In September, shirts will also be available at any Service 1st Federal Credit Union location, while supplies last. Marley’s and Old Forge have collaborated on a special brew called Gold Dust pale ale for this year’s Going Gold initiative. $1 from each pint of Gold Dust purchased throughout the month will be donated to this cause. Additionally, Rusty Rail Brewing Company is donating $1 from every goblet of their Fool’s Gold that is sold during September. All proceeds will benefit the ThinkBIG Pediatric Cancer Fund. Additionally, other events throughout the month of September will also benefit ThinkBIG, including at Chamber members Columbia Colonnade and Nickle Plate Bar & Grill. See the complete list of events and ways to support this initiative.

• Camp Victory will host its annual Community Open House on Sunday, Sept. 8, from 12-3 p.m. This free afternoon of family fun includes its rock climbing wall, zip line and paddle boats on the pond as well as hot dogs, ice cream, drinks, an arts and crafts project, a moon bounce, wagon rides and live music. at 1 p.m., there will also be a ribbon cutting to celebrate the recent expansion of the Welcome Center. 

• Service 1st Federal Credit Union held its 26th Annual Charity Golf Tournament on Friday, Aug. 23 at Frosty Valley Resort. During the tournament, Service 1st presented three local charities with donations totaling $60,000. “Every year, I am amazed by the generosity of our golfers and sponsors,” said Bill Lavage, President/CEO, Service 1st.  “To raise $60,000 to donate to three charities is wonderful.  A heartfelt thank you to everyone who was a part of our outing.” Funds raised were combined with those from Service 1st’s Eighth Annual Charity Duck Derby on Aug. 3 and were presented during the tournament to Bridges Out of Poverty, Geisinger’s Janet Weis Children’s Hospital, and the Mifflinburg Hose Company. Since 1994, Service 1st’s Annual Charity Golf Tournament has raised $513,500 to benefit area charities. This year’s tournament included 137 golfers, numerous volunteers, sponsors, and fellow credit unions.

• The PPL Foundation has awarded the Children’s Museum
  

  Standing with plans for renovations. (L-R): Tracie Witter, PPL Regional Affairs Director; Kathy Beidler, President Museum Board; Susan McGarry, Arch Central Architects; Diana Hughes, Member Museum Board; Mary Osborne, Treasurer Museum Board; Valynn Boy, Vice President Museum Board, Shawna Meiser, Museum Director

  $50,000 for improvements in ADA accessibility, exhibits, and building infrastructure. The funds will be used to enhance visitor and workplace accessibility through the addition of an entrance ramp and ADA compliant workstations and check-in desk. A rotating exhibit space is planned in the first room of the Museum. This space provided a secure and controlled environment which allows the Museum to obtain on-loan exhibits from other institutions and individuals. The funds will also improve the building’s HVAC system to increase efficiency and comfort of visitors.

More than 400 businesses and organizations belong to the Chamber to receive benefits and support efforts to strengthen their businesses and our region. Increased membership allows us to offer additional programs and benefits, have a stronger voice in advocacy and be involved in more activities and initiatives in our communities. The Chamber welcomes its newest member, the Pennsylvania State Shotgunning Association, to help us fulfill our mission.

The PA State Shotgunning Association’s (PSSA) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to foster national And international amateur competition in shooting sports, particularly trapshooting. Due to the very expensive nature of competitive shooting sports and limited facilities for participation, it is necessary to provide facilities and equipment to foster these sports. PSSA’s mission includes the promotion of American-style trapshooting, which is the preeminent trapshooting sport in the world. The PSSA is the governing body of the sport of American-style trapshooting in Pennsylvania. PSSA’s homegrounds are located in Elysburg and are home to the largest State Shoot in the United States and several events each year. For additional information, call 570-672-9747, visit its website, or email. 

A group from Kawneer that went through the first management & leadership certification program this past spring.

The program developed to help people build basic management and team leadership skills will begin sessions Sept. 17. This five-module management and leadership certificate program is appropriate for existing leaders, managers, and supervisors; or those who are new or emerging in any business sector. The Chamber collaborated with Bloomsburg University to launch the program this spring with applications for the fall cohort due this Friday, Sept. 6.

Professional course materials include assessments, activities, and other learning enhancement components to help each participant individualize their learning experience. Participants will receive a certificate from Bloomsburg University upon completion and will have identified personal development goals to provide to their employers.

The five, three-hour modules are: supervisor effectiveness; effective communication for managers; conflict management; navigating a multi-generational workforce; and being a great mentor or coach.

For additional information, including a program application, see the informational packet, or call 570-784-2522. The program qualifies for WEDnet funding. For eligibility information, visit wednetpa.com or contact Jennifer Williams at 570-389-4004.

From Penn State World Campus

Note: Employees of all Columbia Montour Chamber members, their spouses and dependents are eligible for a 5% discount on tuition through the PSU World Campus.

Today’s engineers need to be equipped to meet the ever-changing demands of a modern society and to understand how to innovate and better streamline processes. In order to meet these needs, Penn State will offer a new online degree — master of engineering in industrial engineering — beginning in fall 2019 to meet these requirements.

This 30-credit master of engineering program, offered online through Penn State World Campus in partnership with the Harold and Inge Marcus Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, allows students from diverse engineering backgrounds to develop their skills in industrial engineering and in focus areas of their choice.

“The curriculum has been developed to allow engineers to develop strategic skills that will broaden their professional horizons and equip them with specialized knowledge in focus areas they are interested in,” said Robert Voigt, professor of industrial engineering and graduate program coordinator for the department.

The program is intended to be flexible to suit the needs and interests of the students in the program. It features courses in areas such as product innovation, service system engineering, advanced manufacturing processes and systems, organizational excellence and human factors.

During the last semester, students will use the skills they acquire throughout the program to identify and complete a capstone project to solve an industrial problem typically based on their workplace needs. 

“This program is great for those who want to earn their graduate degree but can’t make it back on campus,” said Andris Freivalds, Lucas Professor of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering. “There is great flexibility with online education as it allows professionals to work and study.”

Applications to begin the program in spring 2020 admission will be accepted through Dec. 1. This program is designed for working professionals who a hold bachelor’s degree in engineering and want to enhance their knowledge and skills to advance their careers. 

Visit the industrial and manufacturing engineering graduate programs page for more details about this online master’s degree.

Representatives from area nonprofit organizations (and a few from outside Columbia and Montour Counties as well) had an opportunity to meet and interact with potential volunteers and future board members at the Chamber’s inaugural Mixer with Nonprofits on Aug. 28, held at Maria Joseph Continuing Care Community’s Meadows Community Center in Danville. This event, which the Chamber anticipates will likely become an annual event, was open to the public and anyone that was interested in learning more about the many nonprofits in our community, their work and mission, and their needs. 

Attendees had an opportunity to enjoy hors d’oeuvres prepared by Maria Joseph’s food services staff, as well as beer from Turkey Hill Brewing and wine provided by the Susquehanna Heartland Wine Trail. Prior to the event, the 2019-20 Leadership Central Penn class, a program of the Foundation of the Columbia Montour Chamber, held its orientation program, and class members were then able to meet with several of the nonprofits that attended the event to learn more about them and get ideas for which one to pick for their service projects. The LCP class is annually divided into small groups of 4-5 individuals, all of which must complete an eight-hour service project for a nonprofit of their choosing. 

Thank you for the 29 nonprofit organizations that attended this event. 

Chamber Members
AGAPE
Bloomsburg Public Library
Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble
Children’s Museum
Camp Victory
Cats in Bloom
Columbia Child Development Program
Danville Child Development Center
The Exchange
For The Cause
Greenwood Friends School
Hand in Hand Family Resource Center
Hope Enterprises
Maria Joseph Continuing Care Community
N4Cs
Ronald McDonald House of Danville
United Way of Columbia and Montour Counties
Weis Center for the Performing Arts

Non-Members
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Montour County
Berwick Theater and Center for Community Arts
DJ Choices
Eos Therapeutic Riding Center
Galt Foundation
The Gate House
Good Samaritan Mission
PFLAG Danville
The 3B’s

From PA Chamber of Business & Industry

The General Assembly’s return to Harrisburg for the fall session is just a few short weeks away.  On behalf of our broad-based membership, the PA Chamber is preparing by urging lawmakers to prioritize legislation that will reverse negative perceptions about Pennsylvania’s business climate and help businesses of all sizes grow and succeed.

A new study offers the latest proof that the Commonwealth has its work cut out for it in terms of attracting jobs and capital against surrounding states.   Financial rating website WalletHub recently ranked the Commonwealth a very dismal 45^th in the country for its “2019 Best and Worst States to Start a Business,” and third from the bottom in terms of the state’s overall “business environment.”   Unfortunately, these rankings take away from the positive things about Pennsylvania that we should be able to celebrate and tout – for example, a recent Bloomberg study ranked PA No. 1 in terms of having the nation’s most diverse economy.

Through our member-driven advocacy efforts, the PA Chamber is prioritizing a more competitive business tax climate as lawmakers come back this fall.  This will start with comprehensive tax reforms, including the reduction of a 9.99 percent Corporate Net Income Tax rate that is among the nation’s highest.  We’re also tackling Pennsylvania’s burdensome regulatory environment – which consists of more than 153,000 regulations on the state’s business community – by supporting legislation that would streamline and update antiquated regulatory policies.  We’re working toward an equitable justice system that provides fairness and predictability; as well as labor laws that balance the needs of both employers and workers.  And, we’re fighting back against misguided efforts to stymie business growth – including leading the opposition against a government-mandated wage increase and a targeted additional severance tax on natural gas companies operating here in PA.

When lawmakers come back to session in September, the PA Chamber is continuing our push to get these important initiatives enacted.  Doing so will send the right message to the nation’s business community that Pennsylvania has a lot of attributes that make our Commonwealth great, including: a prime geographic location, a diverse economy, extensive natural resources and a dynamic citizenship that we’re working to prepare for 21^st century jobs through a number of workforce development efforts.