From rabbittransit

Planning a group trip to a farmers market, dinner theater, or concert? Let rabbittransit take you. Group trips are available seven days a week, including evenings. Qualified agencies like senior centers can schedule a trip at least three days in advance by emailing with the list of riders, date and pickup and drop-off times. Requests can be made many months in advance, which may be necessary if purchasing tickets to a show. There are two vehicle sizes available, both able to accommodate mobility devices such as wheelchairs or scooters. All riders must be registered in one of the shared ride programs. For more information or to download a reservation form, visit rabbittransit.org. To speak to a customer service representative, call 1-800-632-9063.

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. 

A new graduate business certificate offers students and professionals in any field the opportunity to earn a Penn State credential in core business management skills.

The graduate certificate in business management foundations is being offered online through Penn State World Campus and led by the internationally ranked Penn State Smeal College of Business. Applications for the new certificate program are being accepted now.

“In today’s world, some business is required in almost every job,” said Brian Cameron, associate dean for professional graduate programs at Smeal. “This is a core of business courses that are commonly needed by people from many disciplines. You can craft it into whatever is relevant for your goals.”

Students in the 12-credit program choose four of six core courses that are most relevant to their needs, Cameron said. Courses are asynchronous, allowing students to work on their own schedules, and the program can be completed in as little as eight months.

The courses are:

• Strategic Leading and Identity
• Global Strategic Management
• Financial Accounting
• Managing and Leading People in Organizations
• Financial Management
• Marketing in a Global Environment

These courses are applicable to many nonbusiness fields, said Cameron, who is the founding director of the Center for Enterprise Architecture in the College of Information Sciences and Technology.

“Almost every discipline needs a little bit of business today,” he said.

The credits from the certificate may be applied toward one of several master’s degrees offered online through World Campus and Smeal if students apply and are accepted into one of those programs: the Online MBA, the master’s in corporate innovation and entrepreneurship or the master’s in strategic management and executive leadership.

Visit the Penn State World Campus website for more information about the new certificate.

From PA Chamber of Business & Industry

Last week  Gov. Tom Wolf signed into law a nearly  $34 billion budget bill for the 2019-20 Fiscal Year; along with a bevy of other bills related to the spending plan.

This year’s budget spends $33.9 billion, a 1.8 percent increase in spending from the 2018-19 Fiscal Year.  Notably, it does not include new taxes or fees on business and individual taxpayers and does not include an increase in the state’s minimum wage, which the governor proposed in his February budget but has been consistently opposed by the PA Chamber and other coalition members.  The final budget agreement also does not include another punitive tax on the state’s natural gas industry, which had been proposed this year to help pay for the Wolf Administration’s “Restore PA” plan, to which the PA Chamber is also opposed.  This latest iteration of a natural gas severance tax was packaged with $4.5 billion in borrowing to pay for a multitude of projects that are already being funded in large part by the existing impact fee paid by the natural gas industry.

The budget bill includes millions of dollars more in funding for K-12 and higher education, including $10 million more for career and technical education to help to prepare students for skilled trade jobs.  There is also more money dedicated toward expansion of the state’s popular Educational Improvement Tax Credit program. The budget plan adds $250 million to the state’s Rainy Day Fund to help the Commonwealth withstand any future economic downturns. 

When the bill reached the governor’s desk, PA Chamber President Gene Barr issued a statement commending those at the budget negotiation table for reaching an on-time deal with no new taxes, which also makes smart investments in the EITC and Career and Technical Education programs. “We urge the legislature and the Wolf administration to build on this momentum and work together to enact pro-growth policies that will put the Commonwealth on a continued prosperous path,” Barr said, listing workforce development, regulatory and tax reform among the priorities that the PA Chamber will work with lawmakers to enact when they reconvene in the fall. 

• North Shore Railroad’s second quarter newsletter is now available. 

• The Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit will host a Business & Education Summit next 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. 

• Bloomsburg University’s IT Outreach Webinar Series will conduct its next webinar on Wednesday, July 18, at 1:30 p.m. This edition’s topic is “Two Key Ingredients for Successful Criminal Investigations: IT and Interviews,” and will be  given by Michael Huben, an instructor in the Zeigler College of Business. This event is free and open to the public. Register online and see the flyer for additional information. 

• The United Way of Columbia and Montour County’s United in Recovery coalition will hold a free assessment and treatment information on drug & alcohol on Tuesday, July 23, from 3-7 p.m. at the Reliance Fire Company, 501 West 3rd St., Berwick. 

• 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. 

Download the entire informational packet for the Fall 2019 cohort of the Management and Leadership Certificate Program from Bloomsburg University, in partnership with the Chamber. A program application with submission information is included on the last page.

Background: Members of the Chamber identified a need to train employees in team leadership and entry-level management roles. The Chamber and Bloomsburg University developed this five-session course, which is delivered at employers’ locations. Topics include supervisor effectiveness, navigating a multi-generational workforce, effective communication for managers, conflict management, being a great mentor or coach and more. Upon completion, participants receive a certificate from Bloomsburg University. The inaugural program offering was held in the spring of 2019, and 63 individuals participated, being broken down into three separate groups.

Atlantic Broadband showcased its various services and products for both business and residential customers, which have grown since the former Metrocast was acquired by Atlantic Broadband in early 2018, while also treating guests to a delicious buffet spread from Lucy’s Craft Catering and beer from Turkey Hill Brewing at June’s Business After Hours, held on June 19 at Atlantic Broadband’s Berwick offices.

Representatives from several of Atlantic Broadband’s current business customers along with a few dozen other Chamber members were on hand to enjoy the leisurely early summer afternoon. Several Atlantic Broadband branded items were also given away to attendees, while four lucky winners went home with Yeti products and Bose and Beats headphones.

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 held at Hope Enterprises, located at 543 Church St. in Danville, on Wednesday, July 17, from 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Leadership Central Penn, a program of The Foundation of the Columbia Montour Chamber, is currently seeking applications for its 2019-20 class. LCP is the Chamber’s community leadership program for working professionals, and seeks to identify and educate citizens from Columbia and Montour counties that exhibit leadership potential. Classes meet on the third Thursday of each month for a full day (approx. 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.) from September through May. There is also a program orientation in late August, which this year will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 28 prior to the Chamber’s Mixer with Nonprofits event. Area businesses and organizations are encouraged to nominate and sponsor employees. Individuals may also apply. The application deadline is July 31.

The 2019-20 class will be the 21st since LCP’s inception in 1993. The 2018-19 class, held its graduation last month.

Cost per participant is $1195. There is a $200 discount for Columbia Montour Chamber members, making their cost $995, while the cost for 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations is $845.

Application (.pdf)

Program Promotional Brochure (.pdf)

The Foundation of the Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce this year’s SCHOOL COUNTS Scholarship and Master’s Certificate Winners from the graduating classes of each of the eight high schools in Columbia and Montour Counties. Scholarship winners were awarded $100 and were randomly selected from seniors who successfully met the soft skills goals of the program. Additionally, students who successfully met the program goals each year of high schools were awarded a Master’s Certificate. 

Criteria for earning a School Counts! Certificate:

• Self Starter: Students must enroll at lunch or with a school counselor
• Work Ethic: Obtain a “C” or better in every class
• Dependability: Achieve at least a 95% attendance & punctuality rate (For a 180 day school year, that means no more than 9 absences and 5 tardies)
• Self Discipline and Positive Attitude: Demonstrate positive behavior with no out of school suspensions

If your company or organization employees or works with these students, you can have confidence in their mastery of these important soft skills.  In fact, they have the credentials to prove it!  If your organization would like to get involved with SCHOOL COUNTS, or any of The Foundation’s student workforce programs, please contact Jeff Emanuel, Director, at 570-784-2522 or email.

Congratulations to this year’s recipients:

Benton

• Matthew Farver (Scholarship)

Berwick

• Mariah Frankford (Scholarship)

Bloomsburg

• Rolin Bachert (Master)
• Iris Barrett (Master)
• Evan Long (Scholarship and Master’s Certificate)
• Chad Lyman (Master)

Central Columbia

• Jacob Berkey (Master)
• Elizabeth Deroba (Master)
• Sarah Esslinger (Master)
• Addison Gemberling (Master)
• Brendan Gregory (Scholarship & Master)
• Kaylee Hine (Master)
• Kaylen Martin (Master)
• Gracen Mott (Master)
• Justin Mungo (Master)
• Lauren Spicher (Master)
• Jadyn Uholik (Master)      
• Owen Yorty (Master)
• Emily Zimmerman (Master)

Columbia Montour Area Vo-Tech

• Bryce Bardo (Master)
• Hunter Baxter (Master)
• Haylea Bingaman (Master)
• Nicholas Campbell (Master)
• Natasha Farr (Scholarship & Master)
• Alexus Fetterman (Master)
• Haley Hendricks (Master)
• Branson Kester (Master)
• Maverick Kramer (Master)
• Aunide Lindner (Master)
• Dontay Payton (Master)
• Grace Six (Master)

Danville

• Kimberly Weller (Scholarship)

Millville

• Megan Boyles (Scholarship)

Southern Columbia

• Edward “Russell” Gleeson (Scholarship)

A large crowd of interested business leaders received an in-depth presentation on Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana law at a breakfast seminar held on June 27 at the Greenly Center, sponsored by WorkPlace Health, and co-organized by the Chamber and PA CareerLink Columbia/Montour Counties. The event featured breakfast from T.K. Witch and coffee from Bason Coffee.

Attorney John Kutner, who handles employment law and workers’ compensation matters at Weber Gallagher, a law firm based in Philadelphia, gave a 75-minute presentation that covered the basics of Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana law, which was passed in 2016 and implemented beginning in 2017, explored federal policy on the matter and areas where the two conflict, and also reviewed case law from other states that have legalized medical and/or recreational marijuana.

Since there have yet to be many major cases in Pennsylvania related to employment matters and medical marijuana, there still remains a large unknown with the law’s implementation being just two years old. Still, based on court rulings in other states that have similar laws, there were still lessons to be learned and advice to be taken for business leaders when crafting and adjusting workplace policies.

The entire presentation (approx. 75 minutes) can be viewed below, or by visiting the Chamber’s YouTube channel.

From PA Chamber of Business & Industry

Last session, the PA Chamber joined a bipartisan mix of business and labor groups; criminal justice reform advocates and lawmakers in the enactment of “Clean Slate” legislation.  This first-of-its-kind in the nation initiative allowed individuals with low-level, non-violent criminal offenses to have their records sealed from public view; giving them a better chance at securing a better paying job and housing, allowing them to become productive members of society and lowering their chances of heading back to jail. 

Our organization embraced this issue as one part of a broad strategy in closing Pennsylvania’s jobs skills gap; and one that also included protections the PA Chamber sought for employers from civil liability under certain circumstances.  Since “Clean Slate” became law, we have also stood alongside elected officials from both sides of the aisle in favor of additional “win-win” reforms that will facilitate employment among reentrants, while also helping employers find qualified job applicants.

This session, we’re working to implement reforms that will bring uniformity to occupational licensure boards’ decisions on whether to deny an occupational license based on a criminal record, including providing that a license may only be denied if the record is directly related to the occupation.  There are a number of careers that require such licenses – everything from auctioneers to barbers – and while training programs toward these jobs currently exist in corrections facilities, the individual is at the mercy of the board to determine whether they can pursue such a path upon their release.  Additionally, the PA Chamber is supporting bills this session that would make a number of reforms to the state’s probation and parole systems, making it easier for those who get out of jail to stay out – including providing for early termination of parole if the person completes certain educational or job training programs.

The PA Chamber wants Pennsylvania to have a world class workforce that’s equipped to compete with other states and nations in the 21^st century global economy.  Through our Educational Foundation, we are continuing to grow our robust workforce development initiative, Start the Conversation Here, that is educating students and their families, educators and employers about the skills and training necessary to enter into in-demand jobs; and we’re in the third year of awarding Work Ethic Scholarship dollars to students with a passion for pursuing a career in the skilled trades through our ongoing efforts with the mikeroweWORKS Foundation. 

However, closing the jobs skills gap will require a multi-tiered approach that engages the private and public sector and includes legislation like the criminal justice reforms we’re endorsing this session.  By working together, we can help to ensure that the next generation of Pennsylvania workers has the skill set, work ethic and opportunities that will make our state’s economy stand out among the world’s best.