From ChamberChoice

As you plan for summer picnics, hiking, camping and other outdoor activities, be prepared to encounter bugs. Here are some tips on how to recognize, treat and avoid common bug bites and stings.

Identifying Bites and Stings
Knowing what certain bugs’ bites and stings look like can help you treat them more effectively.

• Bees and wasps—The site of a bee or wasp sting will be red, swollen, and possibly painful or itchy. Wasps sting multiple times, while bees sting only once, leaving their stingers behind. If you are stung by a bee, remove the stinger carefully with a scraping motion to avoid injecting further venom, then disinfect the area. To reduce swelling, apply ice. Acetaminophen can be used to reduce the pain.

• Ants—Ant stings produce itchy lumps, followed by blisters within a few hours. Disinfect the area, and to avoid a bacterial infection, do not break the blister. Oral antihistamines or cortisone creams will reduce itching.

• Mosquitoes—Mosquito bites cause red, itchy bumps. To relieve the itching, apply calamine lotion. For severe swelling, take an oral antihistamine.

• Ticks—Ticks are often embedded in the skin. If a tick is no longer present, the area around the bite may be red. After spending time in wooded areas, thoroughly check yourself for ticks. To remove a tick, place tweezers at its head where it is attached to the skin and gently pull. Disinfect the area. In some regions, ticks may transmit Lyme disease. It is also important to check your pets for ticks after they have been outside. Save the tick in a jar for several weeks so that you can bring it to the doctor or vet if you or your pet become ill.

Seeking Medical Attention
If you exhibit any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

• Swelling larger than two inches in diameter around the bite site
• Swelling of the face, tongue or throat
• Difficulty breathing
• Chest pain or heart palpitations
• Joint pain
• Muscle stiffness or spasms
• Rash or hives
• Fever, nausea or vomiting
• Severe headaches

Preventing Bites and Stings
The following tactics can be used to avoid bites and stings:

• Limit exposure to high-risk environments such as marshes, stagnant water and heavily wooded areas.
• Avoid outdoor activity during peak mosquito times (dawn, dusk or after a heavy rain).
• Wear light-colored protective clothing such as long pants, long-sleeve shirts, socks and shoes.
• Use caution when drinking from open beverage containers, and keep food covered to avoid ant, bee and wasp stings.
• Keep window screens in good repair.
• Use insect repellent. Be sure to follow directions carefully, especially for use on children.

From PA Chamber of Business & Industry

In a nearly unanimous vote last week, the state House passed a measure (H.B. 3) to create an authority that would operate a state-based health insurance exchange for individual market plans under the Affordable Care Act.

The legislation advanced with broad bipartisan support in light of President Trump’s Executive Order that provides greater flexibility and cooperation with states in implementing their own healthcare programs.  Since the EO was signed, the Center for Medicaid Services has issued new guidance for states seeking more flexibility through waivers – a move that has allowed for greater innovation in seeking solutions to reduce healthcare premium costs.  The PA Chamber supports H.B. 3 to help bring stability and lower costs in Pennsylvania’s health care sector.

Before the bill passed in a 198-1 vote, the PA Chamber sent a memo to the House expressing support and thanking elected officials for reaching consensus on this important issue. “The creation of a state based exchange coupled with a reinsurance program that is properly managed and remains solvent can benefit many individuals,” the memo stated. “We commend the Administration and legislative leadership for their commitment and swift legislative action.”

The bill now awaits consideration by the state Senate.  

The Chamber was able to participate in a ribbon cutting for Service 1st Federal Credit Union’s new Elysburg branch on the morning of June 19. The Chamber joined local officials, several neighboring businesses, Kornerstone Custom Builders – the contractor that completed the renovations on the building, and several members of Service 1st’s leadership team and branch staff on hand to celebrate the opening of the credit union’s 12th branch location.

Now through next Saturday, June 29, there is a Grand Opening Celebration going on at the branch in which individuals are invited to stop by to enjoy refreshments and a chance to win great prizes. Service 1st’s Elysburg branch is open Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Friday 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m., and Saturday 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. 

Later this year, on Thursday, Oct. 10, the Elysburg branch will also host a Chamber Business After Hours. 

• The Danville Child Development Center’s June newsletter is now available.

• Susquehanna Steam Electric Station (SSES), which is operated by Talen Energy, was recently recognized by the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) for an innovation that helped improve the reliability and efficiency of the plant, so it can keep generating clean energy 24/7. 
  

  Russel Karshick, Senior Technology Specialist at Susquehanna Steam Electric Station accepts the Stations’ TIP Award from NEI’s Susan Perkins

  Representatives from SSES were presented with a Top Innovative Practice (TIP) Award at NEI’s annual Nuclear Energy Assembly (NEA) event held earlier this month in Washington, D.C. The NEI presents TIP Awards to recognize the most remarkable efforts aimed at making the current fleet more efficient, reliable and cost-competitive.  The awards highlight new solutions that teams at nuclear energy companies are using to drive the industry forward.”  SSES was one of 10 winners out of 85 total submissions. SSES’ use of 3D printing technology to create solutions for obsolete parts in-house earned it a TIP Award. Learn more about this achievement by viewing the NEI Website or by checking out Susquehanna’s informational video.

• The Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) has named PPL Electric Utilities as the 2019 SEPA Power Players Investor-Owned Utility of the Year. Now in their eleventh year, the SEPA Power Players Awards honor utilities, their industry partners and individual thought leaders, providing the vision, models and momentum for the electric power industry’s smart transition to a clean, modern energy future. Chosen by an independent panel of judges with diverse experience in the electric power industry, PPL Electric Utilities and winners in six other categories will be celebrated at an awards gala on Monday, July 29, co-located with SEPA’s Grid Evolution Summit in Washington, D.C. PPL’s award was a recognition of the company’s comprehensive plan and strategy to prepare for the future by creating the next generation of advanced distribution management system functionalities through its Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS). This system dynamically manages distributed energy resources (DER) connected to PPL’s grid to optimize power quality, while encouraging the adoption of DER like solar. The DERMS enables PPL to host more interconnected DER because it leverages these resources to counteract some of the negative impacts that DER can have in high penetrations. Those impacts can include high line voltage or over-operation of capacitor banks.

• The Ronald McDonald House of Danville invites all to join them in celebration of 38 years of service with a “Luau Party” on its patio on Monday, June 24, from 4-7 p.m. There will be a special guest appearance from Boomer, the Williamsport Crosscutters’ mascot, from 5-6 p.m. The Pine Barn Inn will be among the organizations on site with prizes and food samples for guests. Guests are also welcome to donate any gift cards for RMHD guests. Donations can be brought to this event, or dropped off prior in a special donation container at the Chamber office. For information, visit the Facebook event page. To register for this event, contact Ginnetta Reed by email or at 570-271-7937.

• The Children’s Museum will host Families with Special Needs Night on Friday, June 28, from 6-8 p.m. at the museum located at 2 West 7th St., Bloomsburg. This evening is specially for families with special needs individuals and features a reduced number of visitors, space and freedom to explore at your own pace, adapted exhibits, a quiet area, fun craft and sensory activities and an opportunity to network with other families. This quarterly event is free to all families with special needs members. 

• Elmcroft Senior Living will hold an Open House on Saturday, June 29 from 1-3 p.m. at its location at 2050 West Front St., Berwick. Attendees can meet Elmcroft’s welcoming staff, tour its model apartments and learn more about this senior living community. There is no cost to attend. RSVP by calling 570-759-3155, and see the event invitation for more information. 

• The Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit will host a Business & Education Summit on Wednesday, July 10, from 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at Milton Area High School, 700 Mahoning St., Milton. This event will feature a presentation with Mark C. Perna on groundbreaking strategies that are changing the education and workforce development paradigm nationwide and more. There is no cost to attend. For more information, see the flyer, and register online. 

• The Bucknell University Small Business Development Center will hold its annual Celebration of Small Business breakfast on Friday, July 26 at 8 a.m. This annual event celebrates entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial leaders and also features awards. There is no cost to attend. Register online or call 570-577-1249. 

• The Regional Impact Fund of the Central Susquehanna Community Foundation recently announced its second competitive grantround of $50K for projects that address current areas of unmet needs throughout the CSCF’s service area, which includes Columbia and Montour Counties. This year’s grantround will consist of an exciting new application process and opportunity for the public to get involved. Interested nonprofits will first submit a Letter of Inquiry introducing their organization, needs, service area, and budgetary request. Those proposals selected by the CSCF Grants Committee will then be invited to submit a full application and participate in The Nonprofit Narrative on Monday, July 29, at 8:30 a.m. at the Danville Area High School auditorium. The Nonprofit Narrative is a platform for these groups to share their grant requests and stories of regional impact—the joys, challenges, dreams and requests each face as they serve our neighbors, communities, and region at large. For more information on the Regional Impact Fund, competitive grantround or The Nonprofit Narrative, visit csgiving.org/rif. 

• The Bucknell University Small Business Development Center invites interested business in need of website development to connect with Bucknell students in the “Markets, Innovation, and Design 300” class in the Freeman College of Management. Each semester, these students make websites free of charge for local small businesses. These projects provide a hands-on learning experience for the students while bringing new ideas to these organizations. In early September, the students will be introduced to this assignment and divided into teams. Then the teams will have the liberty to choose with which businesses and organizations they would like to work. By early October, each student team will meet with their client to learn about the specific needs and goals of the organization and the purpose that the site should serve. Over the course of the semester, the students will then design and build the website with an online website software program, incorporating text and photographs provided by the organization. If your business or organization is in need of a website, or if it would benefit from a redesigned site, then please fill out this online form by Aug. 15 to ensure your organization is considered. Additional information is available on this form. 

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, YES! Math and Literacy Center, to help us fulfill our mission.

YES! Math and Literacy Center provides assessment and individualized instruction to high school students with a focus on helping students in grades 9-12 enhance their test-taking skills and prepare for taking SAT and ACT exams. The locally-owned center will offer its first locally-taught SAT prep course beginning on July 19. Classes will be held at the Central Susquehanna Community Foundation at 725 West Front St., Berwick. For more information, visit the YES! website, email the owner or call 508-808-9497.

The Chamber was on hand on June 13 as Tri-County Lumber broke ground on its new design center, which will be called Forest & Field. It will be located in the Columbia County Business Park on Alliance Park Dr. in Lightstreet and directly next to the Fairfield Inn & Suites.

This design center will be a 10,000-square foot showroom with interactive kitchen and bathroom displays, and spots for customers to meet with builders, architects and designers. There will also be a lounge area and conference rooms. Construction is scheduled to get underway in the next month, and the project is scheduled to take about a year to complete.

From ChamberChoice & Smart Business Pittsburgh

Benefits costs and employee expectations continue to rise. So, the expertise offered from your benefits broker is a critical consideration.

“Most employers struggle to maintain insurance coverage and a healthy financial bottom line. Historically brokers earned your business by representing the lowest price. But in today’s employee benefits landscape, you need experienced representation that delivers beyond the lowest price insurance plans. Premium and fee pricing differentiation represented by agents and brokers is largely marginal.

“Today, the balance between coverage and cost is achieved by differentiation in consultative services, supplemental benefits and complementary products and services,” says Dennis Spingola, vice president of operations at JRG Advisors.

Smart Business spoke with Spingola about getting the most from the employee benefits broker relationship.

What can a consultative broker offer?

A consultative broker can do much more than just place your coverage. A consultative broker is a partner who learns about your challenges and needs, and supports you with a variety of resources and services.

Serving in an advisory role, a consultative broker develops the customized multiyear strategic plan to achieve your objectives now and into the future. The plan may include streamlining HR operations, implementing wellness platforms, and accessing data to support plan designs and funding alternatives. Above all, a consultative broker is your partner, educational resource and champion of your initiatives and requirements.

What is an example of a results-driven strategy?

An alternative premium funding arrangement is a popular strategy that supports health risk management and wellness initiatives. A consultative broker will carefully consider the many options of funding to ensure there is a plan to meet long-term goals for the business, while minimizing disruption to the workforce.

The inclusive funding approach can lead to informed, engaged and healthier employees and family members. Not only does this curb the costs of health care, it can lead to less absenteeism due to illness, more productive employees and improved morale. The consultative broker can combine the funding arrangement that works for you with a wellness program that includes everything you need to implement, monitor and measure outcomes.

How might a consultative broker handle risk management and HR support?

Proper management of Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and Affordable Care Act compliance requirements is of significant importance. The consultative broker will remove the burden of complicated mandates and mitigate the risk of costly fines associated with a Department of Labor audit. Education is paramount in this area, so timely bulletins explaining new and changing rules and regulations are key. Working with a consultative broker who makes available an ERISA attorney is another differentiator for peace of mind and reduced overall costs.

HR responsibilities and benefits administration can be daunting. HR professionals are asked to do more than ever before. A consultative broker provides access to employee newsletters and benefits announcements, as well as sample documents and expert advice for crafting policies, forms, benefits summary statements, handbooks and more. Providing technology for online 24/7 access to an array of resources, coupled with an employee self-serve benefits portal, is a game changer.

Employers are faced with a variety of issues when it comes to running a successful enterprise. Choose a benefits professional who is consultative and equipped to provide the range of solutions and creative strategy that solves your challenges and supports your business objectives.

Insights Employee Benefits is brought to you by JRG Advisors

From PA Chamber of Business & Industry

A severance tax initiative that was introduced by the Wolf administration in February and is opposed by the PA Chamber was formally introduced as legislation last week.  Gov. Tom Wolf’s office issued a press release touting H.B. 1585 and S.B. 725 as a way to pay for numerous community projects throughout the Commonwealth that address infrastructure, blight, environmental cleanup and more.  However, the plan calls for $4.5 billion in immediate taxpayer-funded borrowing that would be paid back over decades through another punitive tax on the state’s natural gas industry – a move that could result in gas companies slowing their growth or reducing their presence in Pennsylvania, costing jobs and billions of dollars in economic opportunity.       

Furthermore, the state’s existing impact tax has already generated $1.7 billion, which has been allocated toward the same types of projects that Restore PA would fund.  Rather than Harrisburg lawmakers determining how the money is best spent, the impact tax is distributed at the county level and has helped to fund important community projects in all 67 counties.

The PA Chamber is now in its fifth year of leading a coalition of broad-based and diverse advocacy groups against an ill-advised tax on the state’s burgeoning natural gas industry.  Through the website,  www.StopNewEnergyTaxes.com, we are leading the charge to keep the existing impact tax structure in place and highlighting the voices of various business and community stakeholders who recognize what Pennsylvania stands to gain by encouraging the industry to remain competitive. 

Legislative leaders are also not keen to the concept of a targeted tax on the natural gas industry, with Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, R-Centre, telling Capitolwire last week that the issue will not be addressed as part of the budget negotiations this month and will likely be discussed in the fall while lawmakers consider alternative options to investing in the state’s infrastructure.  “To me, this whole Restore PA thing is more about him [Wolf] getting a severance tax” than it is about infrastructure, Corman told the media outlet.  

Corman also noted that the hotly discussed topic of whether to raise the minimum wage – another Wolf administration proposal that the PA Chamber stands opposed to for the negative impact it would have on the business community – will also very likely not be a part of the 2019-20 budget discussions

Every child deserves an equal opportunity to a quality educational foundation that will prepare them to grow, learn, and succeed.

Infant and toddler brains form and grow from the millions of neural connections made every second. At no other time will the brain develop with such speed or intricacy. In fact, all later learning, behavior, and health depend upon this time according to the Harvard Center on the Developing Child.

Today, more than 50% of children birth to age five in Pennsylvania are in the care of someone other than their parent for at least 10 hours per week.  While a child’s parent is their first and most important caregiver, it is essential that their family has access to an affordable, high-quality child care program.  In Columbia and Montour counties, only 16% (197) of eligible children under the age of five are being served by the Commonwealth’s child care subsidy program.  And less than eight percent of those children are enrolled in high quality child care programs.

Inadequate child care costs the Commonwealth $2.5 billion annually in lost earnings for both families and businesses and lost tax revenue to local and state governments according to a report released in April by the PA Early Learning and Investment Commission and Ready Nation PA.

With increased access to affordable, high quality programs, we can ensure the healthy development of our youngest citizens and give their parents peace of mind while they are contributing to the economy with gainful employment. 

It’s time to act – 77% of Commonwealth residents support increased funding for child care programs, while 82% believe the government needs to do more to make high-quality programs affordable for families.  We urge our legislators to invest $50 million additional state dollars in high-quality child care so every child in Pennsylvania can “start strong”.  Additionally, our legislators can also support Governor Tom Wolf’s budget proposal to use federal funds to increase capacity. By doing so, an additional 1,000 infants and toddlers will access high-quality child care programs.

The United Way of Columbia and Montour County Early Learning Investment Committee

Tammy Benscoter, First Columbia Bank & Trust
Jeffrey Emanuel, Foundation of the Columbia Montour Chamber
Fred Gaffney, Columbia Montour Chamber
Bryne Lewis, SEKISUI SPI
Adrienne Mael, United Way of Columbia and Montour County
Holly Morrison, Central Susquehanna Community Foundation
Candy Ryan, Bloomsburg University
Diana Verbeck, Danville Child Development Center
Cassie Weaver, Columbia Child Development Program

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, Walmart, to help us fulfill our mission. 

Previously a member that the Chamber is excited to welcome back, Walmart is the largest retailer and employer in the United States, and the largest retailer in the world as well. It is also one of the largest employers (#8 as of 4Q 2018) in Columbia County. The Bloomsburg Walmart Supercenter is located at 100 Lunger Dr., just off the Buckhorn exit off I-80, and is open 24 hours. On Tuesday, June 25, it will begin offering online grocery shopping with free grocery pickup. Additionally, there are currently a limited number of coupons at the Chamber office for discounts on this new service. The Chamber will also be on hand for a ribbon cutting to mark the launch of this service at the Bloomsburg store on Tuesday, June 25 at 8 a.m. Walmart’s Bloomsburg Supercenter can be reached at 570-389-5750, or visit its website or Facebook page.