From PA Chamber of Business & Industry
The U.S. Department of Labor recently sent a proposed rulemaking regarding “white collar” overtime exemptions to the White House Office of Management and Budget.
The proposed rule is intended to replace the final rule issued in 2016, which would have more than doubled the minimum salary level for exempt white collar employees from $455 a week (23,660 annually) to $913 a week ($47,476 annually). When the rule was initially issued, the U.S. Chamber led a lawsuit of 55 business groups that challenged the DOL’s redefinition of who qualifies as an “exempt employee,” and a federal court issued a permanent injunction that blocked the rule from taking effect. The Trump administration, which appealed that decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals and obtained a stay of the appeal, has long been expected to introduce an alternative, and more reasonable, overtime rule update.
The period for review by the OMB office is generally limited to 90 days, though that timeline could be extended 30 days by the OMB Director and indefinitely by the head of the rulemaking agency (in this case, the DOL). Employer advocates have expressed concern that inaction could lead the court to reverse the injunction if the DOL doesn’t finalize a new rule before the 2020 presidential election and President Trump doesn’t win a second term – a scenario that would result in a $48,000 salary threshold being implemented.
According to the National Law Review, while the department has pressed the pause button on this rulemaking since President Trump took office, Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta has repeatedly indicated that he favors some increase in the minimum salary threshold for exemption, which was last raised in 2004. The Trump administration has formally announced its intention to issue a March 2019 rulemaking and some policy experts anticipate that the DOL will set a salary level in the low-to-mid-$30,000’s, using methodology established in 2004.
As this has played out at the federal level, the PA Chamber was heavily engaged last year in combatting overtime rule changes at the state level. Last year, the Wolf administration proposed a more than 100 percent increase in the minimum salary threshold to qualify for “overtime exempt” status and also required regular increases to the threshold. The PA Chamber led an effort to solicit comments from businesses throughout Pennsylvania in response to this ill-advised proposal, and also submitted comments ourselves that outlined numerous concerns including the cost on businesses and the nonprofit community and the negative impact on employees who would be forced to transition from earning a salary to less flexible hourly positions. After the Independent Regulatory Review Commission reviewed these comments, it issued comments of its own that largely echoed the business community’s concerns and said that the state Dept. of Labor and Industry should work more closely with the legislature when undertaking such a significant and substantial rule change. The department will likely still submit a final proposed rule, which IRRC could opt to reject if its questions are not sufficiently addressed or directives not sufficiently adopted.
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The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) encourages businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters to apply for a disaster loan for physical damage before the Feb. 11 deadline. Anyone in the declared counties in Pennsylvania with damages caused by flooding on Aug. 10-15, 2018 should apply for the SBA disaster loan assistance.
The declaration covers Bradford, Columbia, Delaware, Northumberland, Schuylkill and Susquehanna counties and the adjacent counties of Berks, Carbon, Chester, Dauphin, Lackawanna, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, Montgomery, Montour, Perry, Philadelphia, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga, Union, Wayne and Wyoming in Pennsylvania; New Castle in Delaware; Gloucester in New Jersey; and Broome, Chemung and Tioga in New York.
Businesses and nonprofits can apply up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster damaged real estate, machinery, equipment, inventory, and other business assets. Loans for working capital, known as Economic Injury Disaster Loans, are available even if the business did not suffer any physical damage. Homeowners can apply up to $200,000 to repair or replace disaster damaged real estate. Homeowners and renters can apply up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged personal property including automobiles.
Interest rates are as low as 3.675 percent for businesses, 2.5 percent for private nonprofit organizations, and 2 percent for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. The SBA determines loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s circumstances.
Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase up to 20 percent of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements may include a safe room or storm shelter to help protect property and occupants from future damage caused by a similar disaster.
Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via the SBA’s secure website at DisasterLoan.sba.gov.
Additional details on the loan application process can be obtained by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or by sending an email. Loan applications can also be downloaded at www.sba.gov. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
The filing deadline to submit applications for physical property damage is Feb. 11, 2019. The deadline for economic injury applications is Sept. 11, 2019.
We’re pleased to introduce the 23 organizations and individuals that have been nominated for the Chamber’s 2019 awards. Congratulations to all of the nominees. Find out who will win each of these four awards by attending the Annual Meeting, sponsored by PPL Electric Utilities, on Tuesday, Feb. 12 at the Barn at Frosty Valley.
Nominees
Small Business of the Year (sponsored by First Columbia Bank & Trust)
For The Cause
Marr Development Inc.
Wild For Salmon
Large Business of the Year (sponsored by DRIVE)
Autoneum
First Columbia Bank & Trust
Knoebels Amusement Resort
North Shore Railroad
Service 1st Federal Credit Union
Williams
Community Progress (sponsored by Commonwealth Health Berwick Hospital Center)
Community Strategies Group
Danville Area School District
First Columbia Bank & Trust
Frosty Valley
Ken Pollock Ford Lincoln
Pretty Petals and Gifts by Susan
Quality Inn
Service 1st Federal Credit Union
Outstanding Citizen (sponsored by Berwick Industrial Development Association)
Linda Brown, Service 1st Federal Credit Union
Mark Gardner, M&T Bank
Rich Kisner, Community Strategies Group
Harry Mathias, Central Columbia School District
Josh, Jon and Marc Nespoli, For The Cause
Deb Swanson, Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital
The Montour Area Recreation Commission (MARC) manages several recreational areas in Montour County and coordinates the Humdinger races in March. The organization relies heavily upon the support of volunteers who work alongside MARC’s staff to maintain the parks and trails. On Wednesday, January 9th, MARC had the opportunity to bring together many of those supporters at the Montour Preserve to thank them for all they do.
10+ year MARC Board member recognitions: (L to R) Mike Mills, Bob Stoudt (Director) and Frank Dombroski
Special honors were presented to Mike Mills and Frank Dombroski for more than ten years of service on MARC’s Board. MARC also recognized Wayne Kashner as its 2018 Volunteer of the Year for his exemplary volunteer service caring for the North Branch Canal Trail.
MARC 2018 Volunteer of the Year Wayne Kashner (right) with Bob Stoudt, Director.
More information about MARC, including the 2018 Annual Report, is available at montourrec.com.
Member News
- A representative from the Wilkes University Small Business Development Center will be at the Chamber office at 238 Market St., Bloomsburg, this Friday, Jan. 18, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. for its monthly small business outreach day. Any current or aspiring small business owner is welcome to stop in and speak to Ray Haden, business consultant with the Wilkes SBDC, for advice and guidance on starting or running a small business. SBDCs provide free, confidential consulting services to current and aspiring small business owners. Anyone interested in meeting with him should contact Ray at 570-408-4340 or email to schedule a time between 10-3 on Jan. 18 to meet.
- The Geisinger Health Foundation recently made a $2,500 charitable gift contribution to Focus Central Pennsylvania, an economic development organization whose mission is to attract and support expansion of capital investment that creates quality career opportunities for the families of a seven-county area in Central Pennsylvania, which includes Columbia and Montour Counties. Focus proactively connects with site location consultants and companies looking to relocate or expand. This gift will support promoting the region for new corporate investment opportunities and creating career opportunities in the Focus Central Pennsylvania region. Geisinger Health invests philanthropic resources into people, programs and services, facilities, education and technologies to help ensure an excellent patient experience for all.
- Jazz vocalist Charenée Wade will bring her classic jazz sound to the Weis Center for the Performing Arts for a free performance on Wednesday, Jan. 23, at 7:30 p.m. in the Weis Center Atrium.
Jazz vocalist Charenée Wade
Tickets are not required. Known for expert vocal improvisation and her seriously swinging groove, Wade evokes a classic jazz sound akin to Betty Carter and Sarah Vaughan, two of her musical touchstones. A singer, composer, arranger and educator, Wade is a professor at the Aaron Copland School at Queens College and was just recently appointed to Peabody Institute.
- The St. Olaf Orchestra, featuring Sarah Chang on violin, will perform a free classical music concert on Thursday, Jan. 31, at 7:30 p.m. at the Weis Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are not required, and this family-friendly performance is suggest for grades 5 and above.
The St. Olaf Orchestra
Named “one of the best college orchestras in the nation” by Time magazine‘s Richard Ostling, the St. Olaf Orchestra is a full symphony orchestra known for its passionate music-making and professional-level performances. Founded in 1906, the ensemble has been heralded as one of the best collegiate orchestras in the country and was named the winner of the 2013 American Prize for Orchestral Performance among colleges and universities.
Violinist Sarah Chang
Recognized as one of the world’s foremost violinists, Sarah Chang has performed with the most esteemed orchestras, conductors and accompanists in an international career spanning more than two decades. While at the Weis Center, they will perform: Samuel Barber’s Overture to “The School for Scandal,” Missy Mazzoli’s These Worlds In Us, and Jean Sibelius’ Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47 featuring Sarah Chang on violin. After intermission, they will perform Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64.
- The Bloomsburg University athletics department will celebrate National Girls & Women in Sports Day on Saturday, Feb. 2 with a couple of opportunities for youth. There will be a free basketball clinic at 10 a.m., followed by a speed and agilities clinic at 10:30 a.m., and an activities fair at 11:15 a.m. There will be free pizza for all participants at noon, followed by free admission to that day’s women’s basketball game at 1 p.m., and a postgame autograph session. This clinic is open to all boys and girls in grades K-8. Register by calling 570-389-3907 or by email. For more information, see the flyer.
- Geisinger HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital recently unveiled its new name and brand as part of its Company’s name change and rebranding initiative. As of Jan. 1, the inpatient rehabilitation hospital is now known as Geisinger Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital. It will continue to provide the same high-quality, post-acute care for patients overcoming a variety of major illnesses and injuries. To commemorate the new name and brand, the hospital will be hosting a open community celebration event on Thursday, Feb. 7, from 3-6 p.m. The event will be held in the hospital dining room, located at 64 Rehab Ln., Danville. Tours and photo booths will be available for event attendees, and hor d’oeuvres will be served. RSVP prior to the event to 510-271-6110 or by email. Birmingham, Ala.-based HealthSouth Corporation launched its new name and brand on Jan. 1, 2018 and has been transitioning its 130 inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and 273 home health and hospice locations serving 36 states and Puerto Rico over the last year, which will continue through 2019. All of the Company’s post-acute care service locations in Pennsylvania will migrate to the Encompass Health name and brand on Jan. 1.
- Beginning the week of Feb. 11 and running through April 4, the United Way of Columbia and Montour County will once again offer 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.
- Knoebels Amusement Resort will hold its annual job fair on Saturday, March 2, from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., at the Elysburg Fire Department, located at 1 East Mill St., Elysburg. There are seasonal positions available in games, ride operations, food service, gift shops, grounds crew, security & first aid, admissions, crystal pool, campground, guest services, and more. If you have a particular interest or skill set, Knoebels has a job for you. Visit the Facebook event for more information.
The committee for Berwick, The Next Step continues to meet twice a month to enhance the downtown for the benefit of the entire community. The committee is working on a number of recommendations in the Building a Better Berwick report, which is available online. One of the recommendations is updating the Borough’s signage ordinance, to allow businesses to increase their visibility. Business people are being invited to provide input.
The committee is beginning the process of reviewing the ordinance, and will be making recommendations to Council. These updates may include allowing signage that is perpendicular to buildings, awnings, etc. Any changes would have to comply with PennDOT regulations. The Borough’s current signage ordinance is available here.
The committee is seeking input from businesses. Business people in the Borough are invited to provide their input through a brief online survey by Friday, Jan. 18.
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 River 105 & 103.5, to help us fulfill our mission.
The River can be found on the FM radio dial at both 105 (based out of Scranton) and 103.5 (based out of Berwick), and is owned by Bold Gold Media, an owner and operator of 13 radio stations serving the greater Scranton/Wilkes-Barre region as well as the Poconos and the Catskills/Hudson Valley region of New York. Bold Gold acquired 103.5 last year and continued the same music genre that had previously been featured – classic rock. Bold Gold Media can be reached at 570-344-1221 or visit its website.
Winners of BizQuiz, PFEW’s version of Jeopardy, celebrate on a busy Wednesday afternoon!
From Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week
Note: The Chamber is hosting a free informational breakfast for those businesses, students and parents that may be interested in learning more about this program on Wednesday, Jan. 23, at 7:30 a.m. at the Greenly Center, 50 East Main St., Bloomsburg (learn more).
There is an award-winning summer economics education program that for forty years has benefitted our local students. Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week (PFEW) immerses rising high school juniors and seniors in the world of business, allowing them to experience firsthand what you face each day. Offered by the Foundation for Free Enterprise Education, PFEW was founded specifically to teach students about the American private enterprise system and provide tools to help students become the great employees and employers of the future. PFEW annually holds five week-long sessions in July and August on the campuses of Lycoming College and the Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, Pa, serving nearly 2,200 students and 250 volunteers each year.
At PFEW, participants are grouped into management teams of junior executives who have been hired to turn around underperforming manufacturing companies. These teams, mentored by adult volunteers called Company Advisors, operate their firms for a computer simulated three-years, competing against other student companies. They formulate production and financial strategies, develop income statements and balance sheets, prepare marketing and advertising campaigns, all the while reacting to a variety of external factors. Sound familiar?
PFEW is designed to give every participant an idea of real-world relevant issues facing today’s businesses. Each day’s activities include four to five presentations from world-class speakers from across the nation who deliver talks that both inspire and motivate our young entrepreneurs for their futures. Does it work? Consider the following quote from 2018 PFEW graduate Maya Moktan from West Chester East High School: “I actively participate in DECA at East, and I am pleasantly surprised at the more in-depth analysis of business at PFEW… However, my favorite part of PFEW by far was the motivational speakers. Each and every one was able to leave a mark in my mind. Each speaker had their own story, and I was left awestruck and truly inspired. At some points, I was almost brought to tears!”
The Chamber proudly supports PFEW and encourages our local companies and civic organizations to provide sponsorship for our students and, if possible, volunteers for the sessions. Every student attends PFEW on a fully tax-deductible $625 scholarship (the actual value of the scholarship exceeds $1,500) which is provided by a local firm, foundation, civic organization, or individual. PFEW is also an approved Educational Improvement Organization through the PA Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program. Scholarship donors are prominently recognized in several publications circulated throughout the state, and each student wears the name of their sponsor on their photo ID badge throughout the week. Students write their sponsors after graduation to report on what they have learned.
The Foundation for Free Enterprise Education proudly announces that they have recently expanded their programming to include the Stock Market GameTM, an interactive in-school game for students in grades 4-12 that teaches them about the Stock Market and Securities Industry. For more information on how to support or get involved with SMG, please contact Jeremy Kropf, Technology and Projects Manager at 814-833-9576 ext. 4, or email.
If you would like to learn more about the award-winning PFEW program and how you can help, please call the Chamber directly or contact Scott Lee, vice president of marketing & development for the Foundation for Free Enterprise Education at 814-833-9576 ext. 8, or email. PFEW is open to all current sophomores and juniors in Pennsylvania and information on attendance, as well as program applications, can be found on the PFEW website. Questions can be directed to Amber Goss, Schools Manager for PFEW, by calling her office at 814-833-9576 ext. 6, or email.
The Chamber’s Board of Directors is recommending a slate of candidates to serve on the Board beginning April, 2019. Members will vote on nominations at the Annual Meeting, sponsored by PPL Electric Utilities, scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 12 at the Barn at Frosty Valley. Nominated to serve are:
Nominated to a 3-year term on the Board:
Holly Morrison, Central Susquehanna Community Foundation
Chris Stamatedes, PPL Electric Utilities
Sharon Wilkin, CSS Industries
Karen Wood, Service 1st Federal Credit Union
Nominated to a 1-year term on the Board:
Donna Coombs, GordnerCoombs Insurance
Sam Haulman, Service Electric
Tom Neal, Berwick Hospital Center
Nominated to serve as officers:
Vice Chair Dan Knorr, Bloomsburg University
Treasurer Denise Stone, Key Partners Realty
President Fred Gaffney
Karen Wood will serve the second year of a 2-year term as Chair.
Recommended to the Board Chair for 1-year appointment:
Mark Gardner, M&T Bank
Jim Micklow, Press Enterprise
Jeff Watson, Carriage Manor Builders
Members leaving the Board:
None
Nominating Committee members:
Denise Stone, Chair
Renee Gerringer
Elaine Woodland
In accordance with the By-Laws, any 15 members may nominate an alternate ticket, or tickets, by posting the same, over their signatures, at the Chamber office not later than five days prior to the Annual Meeting.