On March 5, The Foundation of the Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce hosted the 2019 Future Careers Expo.  This year’s expo featured 30 organizations and over 70 representatives from healthcare, manufacturing, law enforcement, education, conservation, amusement and more.  This event was an opportunity for area high school and middle schools students, and their parents, to meet with organizations to hear about opportunities today and for their future.  Over 140 students attended the event, held at Central Columbia High School, to speak to company representatives about the opportunities they offer, and the best educational and skills pathways to those careers.

Students attended from Berwick, Central Columbia, Millville, Warrior Run, Columbia-Montour Vo-Tech, Southern Columbia School Districts, as well as, Berwick New Story and Home School.  The room was electric with conversation about the endless possibilities offered in our area.  The Foundation is proud to share that we were also able to award five $100 Future Scholarships thanks to the Arconic Foundation to the following students:

• Michelle B – Central Columbia High School
• Sabrina D – Millville High School
• Zachary P – Central Columbia High School
• Lillian W – Warrior Run Middle School
• Archer Q – Berwick New Story

This year’s event was great success, thanks to the companies, students, parents and school districts participation.  The plan is to capitalize on the success of having this event at local high schools, and rotate this event to other districts in Columbia and Montour counties.  Look for information about next year’s event for your opportunity to participate. 

The Foundation would like to thank our sponsors for the event: Arconic Foundation, SEKISUI SPI, Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital, PPL Electric Utilities, Kawneer, USG, Williams, The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce, Bloomsburg University, Central Columbia School District, Central Susquehanna Community Foundation, Key Partners, M&T Bank, North Shore Railroad, Service 1st Federal Credit Union and Penn College.

Grant Application (pdf)

The Bloomsburg Area Community Foundation (BACF) announces grant opportunities for local nonprofit organizations serving the greater Bloomsburg area. This competitive grant round begins now and will continue into July. Approximately $10,000 is available in this grantround.

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, 2019.

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 by email.

From PennDOT

The State Transportation Commission (STC), PennDOT and our planning partners are excited to announce the beginning of the Twelve Year Transportation Program Planning Process. The STC recently released the 2019 Transportation Performance Report. It contains info about how PA’s transportation system performed over the last two years. We encourage you to read and share the report and then – Tell Us What You Think! 

The Open Public Comment Period for the 2021 Twelve Year Program Update is March 11 – April 26, 2019. The comments received during the Open Public Comment Period help guide statewide transportation planning and programming. 

You are an important stakeholder in transportation planning and we welcome your voice in this process.

Take the Transportation Survey: March 11 – April 26
Register for the Online Public Meeting: March 20 from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
*Registration is not required to attend the Online Public Meeting. 

For more information, visit www.TalkPATransportation.com 
Phone: (717) 783-2262 
Email: RA-PennDOTSTC@pa.gov 

From PA Chamber of Business & Industry

Numerous media outlets last week reported details on a new overtime eligibility rule expected to be proposed in the near future by the U.S. Department of Labor. 

The proposal would update the so-called “white collar exemption” rules, which dictate when an employee is exempt from overtime rules requiring time-and-a-half pay for any hours worked over 40 in a week.  Currently, an employee may fall under the white collar exemption if he or she earns less than $455 per week.  The proposed rule reportedly increases the “salary test” threshold to $679 per week.  The rule is also expected to stipulate that nondiscretionary bonuses and incentive payments, including commissions, may satisfy up to 10 percent of the salary test, provided such bonuses are paid annually or more frequently.

This proposal follows a 2016 rule proposed by the Obama Administration to increase the salary threshold to $913 per week and require regular increases thereafter.  This proposal was widely opposed by the employer community, which cited significant costs and the prospect of being forced to shift employees from earning a salary to ‘clock in, clock out’ hourly-based wages which reduce flexibility and may actually lead to less take home pay.  The U.S. Chamber of Commerce led a lawsuit opposing this rule, which was ultimately struck down by a federal court.

• Currently, and running through April 4, the United Way of Columbia and Montour County is again offering free basic tax help to low and moderate-income residents in the community. This program will be held Tuesdays and Wednesday from 2-6 p.m. and Thursdays from 4-8 p.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church, located at 130 W. 3rd St., Bloomsburg (use the rear entrance). No appointments are necessary, only drop-offs and walk-ins will be accepted. For questions, call the United Way at 570-784-3134 or email, and see the flyer for additional information.

• Commonwealth Health – Berwick Hospital Center will present a free six-week educational series titled “Six Weeks to Better Health” beginning today, March 13 and running each of the next five Wednesdays after that from 12-1 p.m. at the Hospital’s Conference Room 1 and 2, located at 701 East 16th St., Berwick. The final session in the series will be held from 5-6 p.m. on April 17. Titles of each session are: Living with High Blood Pressure; Why Do I need a Colonoscopy?; Living with Joint Disease; Solutions for Leg Pain and Swelling; Dealing with the Symptoms of Menopause; and Advanced Directives and Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST). For more information, see the flyer, and to RSVP, call 570-759-5337. 

• The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, through its special FARMERS CARE project, made its annual donation of food, household items and monetary donations to the Ronald McDonald House of Danville recently.
  

  Students from local Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapters made the delivery of donated good and funds to the Ronald McDonald House of Danville recently.

  FARMERS CARE demonstrates how Pennsylvania’s farmers care about their communities by collecting donations to support those in need. The total amount of food, households products and monetary contributions that have been donated to RMHD over the past 21 years is in excess of $378,000, including over $21,000 this year alone. Members of the PFB from the following counties conducted the 2019 drive for RMHD: Montour, Northumberland, Union, Snyder, Columbia, Lycoming, Bradford, Sullivan, Clinton, Tioga, Potter and McKean. 

• For The Cause is inviting area nonprofits, their boards and their prospective donors to a free 90-minutes conversations on smarter giving and fundraising strategies on Wednesday, March 27, from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Teen Center, located at 1130 Sixth Ave., Berwick. They’ll discuss how to recognize donors, maximizing gift impact potential, minimizing taxes, and more. Seating is limited, so please RSVP by March 22 by email. For more information, see the flyer.

• Bloomsburg University’s Professional U program will host a Marketing, Management and Communications Career Connections Expo on Thursday, March 28, from 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. in the Kehr Union Ballroom on the BU campus. Any employer looking to recruit business or communications students would benefit from participating. Employers interested in participating should call 570-389-3791 or email. 

• Employees of all Chamber members are invited and welcome to attend Bloomsburg University Professional U’s Don’t be Fooled by the Fork networking dinner on Monday, April 1, at 6 p.m. at Monty’s on the BU Upper Campus. This dinner is an opportunity for BU students to practice professional networking and dining etiquette in a social setting among alumni and professional volunteers. Chamber members are welcome to join this event as role models and table hosts, and impart your wisdom to current students as they learn how to conduct themselves in a professional dining situation. There is no charge to attend this event and the meal is complimentary, however donations are appreciated in the form of a plate sponsorship ($40) or table sponsorship ($280). Register and make any voluntary donations online by March 22.

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, Skatetown Hysteria, to help us fulfill our mission.

Skatetown Hysteria is a family-fun center located in Bloomsburg at 2845 Skatetown Rd., just off Route 11 and just behind the Press Enterprise building. It features roller skating, laser tag, a ballocity ball pit, ultimate inflatable, bumper cards, a video arcade and full snack bar. It features various specials, and is a top destination for birthday parties and also has a fundraising program to assist organizations with fundraising needs. It is open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and 5:30-8:30 p.m., Fridays from 6-10 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. and Sundays from 12-6 p.m. For more information, visit its website or Facebook page, call 570-784-3580 or email.

Cornell Williams, Jr. of Bloomsburg receives his $20 Gift Certificate at Reflections Redux on Feb. 27.

Downtown Bloomsburg businesses began offering a special “Thank you” to customers the first week of February.

Through a contribution from the Duane and Susan Greenly Foundation, participating businesses have been presenting $20 gift certificates to random customers.

One gift certificate has been given away every Monday through Friday since the program’s start on February 4. Downtown Bloomsburg, Inc. is administering the giveaway program.

The winners of the first month’s Giveaway are David Willis of Girardsville, Mike Huber, Bloomsburg, Emily Ferguson, Sinking Springs, Mr. Golden, Bloomsburg, Joelle Witner, Sugar Loaf, Kara Walsh, Millville, Kat Allegar, Rohrsburg, John Richardson, Catawissa, Helmut Doll, Danville, Daniel Smith, Saylorsburg, Chad Francis, Bloomsburg, Colleen Kane, Elysburg, Mike Takach, Orangeville, Elaine Pongratz, Bloomsburg, Tiffany Zucal, Bloomsburg, Carly Magill, Bloomsburg, Julie Sitler, Stillwater, Cornell Williams, Jr., Bloomsburg, and Jennifer Alaniz, Berwick.

This giveaway program will continue throughout 2019. For more information on the program, contact Mike Zarrett of Towne Camera by email.

A large group of local professionals were joined by a large group of Bloomsburg University students from the Ziegler Institute for Professional Development for an evening of networking and taking in a new art exhibit on its opening night at BU hosted the Chamber’s February Business After Hours at the Gallery at Greenly Center on Thursday, Feb. 28.

The 2019 Student Exhibition Series, which is currently on display at the gallery, is a juried show of three outstanding current students (pictured at right) that receive a professional experience in the gallery, the same as any professional visiting artist. In addition to checking out the new displays, which run through April 16, attendees also had an opportunity to meet several BU administrators, faculty and staff and learn about the university’s Professional U program, which connects students with alumni, employers, and opportunities integrating the academic experience with professional experience in “real world” settings. 

BU art students (l-r) Sarah Foster, Rowan Shaffer and Hannah Sheppard, whose work is on display at the Gallery at Greenly Center through April 16.

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 Hamilton Dental Care, located at 2 Audubon Ct., Bloomsburg, on Wednesday, March 20, from 5-7 p.m.  

The Chamber’s annual golf tournament will be held on Thursday, May 30, at Rolling Pines Golf Course & Banquet Facility. Beginning this year, the Chamber is also adding a Spring Social to this event in an effort to be more inclusive to the many non-golfers among our membership, as well as provide an additional opportunity for members to make business connections — all in a casual and relaxed environment.

For more information about the Spring Social as well as the golf tournament, including registration and sponsorship information, visit the event page or see the registration or sponsorship flyers.