Chambers of Commerce Service Corporation (CCSC) is pleased to announce that Penn National Insurance has declared a 5% dividend for the ChamberChoice Business Insurance program. Members, who placed their insurance coverage with Penn National Insurance during the 2020/2021program year and remained active chamber members and policyholders through the end of the program year, will receive a dividend check during the month of June. This year’s dividend totaled over $1.16 million. Over the past 10 years, Penn National Insurance has returned an average of 6%in dividends each year, and an aggregate total of $12.2 million to the business community.
The ChamberChoice Business Insurance program is just one of many benefits that CCSC offers its member chambers. The partnership between Penn National Insurance and CCSC was designed to provide a value-added membership benefit that would help Chambers attract and retain members.
An important aspect of this group insurance program is preventing loss and controlling claims costs. Because dividends are based on the group’s collective loss experience, a business that may have had a significant loss may still be eligible to receive a dividend.
The program is sold exclusively through local, independent agents who can offer chamber members a variety of coverages and pricing on property and casualty insurance, including business owners, commercial auto, property, general liability, inland marine and workers’ compensation. Dividends are paid on all of these coverages. In addition, through safety consulting, Penn National Insurance and local independent insurance agencies encourage member businesses to develop safety practices to substantially reduce or eliminate workplace injuries.
Contact the Chamber for a list of members that represent Penn National to learn if you can save through this program.
With Pennsylvania’s June 30th budget deadline just over a week away, leaders in the Senate and House are attempting to come to an agreement with the Wolf administration on a fiscally responsible budget. For the first time since 2001, discussions to not have to include borrowing, tax increases, or delayed payments. Senator John Gordner, Representative David Millard, and Alex Halper with the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry provided an overview of this year’s discussions at The Chamber’s Spring Legislative Breakfast held June 16th at the Pine Barn Inn.
Ha
lper began with an overview of Pennsylvania’s fiscal position. Tax revenues for the current fiscal year are $5.5 billion ahead of projections. Additionally, $2.6 billion in American Rescue Plan funds remains unallocated. The state’s Rainy Day Fund, which can be tapped during revenue shortfalls, is at $2.7 billion, up from just $100 million a couple of years ago. Senator Gordner expects a portion of the surplus funds to be added to the Fund.
Legislative leaders are cautious not to use these unanticipated funds for ongoing costs. The Independent Fiscal Office is already projecting a budget deficit for the 2023-24 fiscal year. Senator Gordner also noted that following the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, many school districts used stimulus money to plug holes in their budgets. The next year, $1 billion was no longer available statewide.
Instead, Gordner anticipates some of the excess funds will be used for one-time investments, including paying down the $200 million owed to the Federal government for unemployment compensation, which will avoid increases for employers. Other potential uses of funds include bonuses for front line staff at nursing home and long term care facilities, child care incentives, investments in mental health, including school issues, and the property tax and rent rebate program. Gordner is the prime Senate sponsor of Growing Greener 3, which would make investments in state parks and forests, clean water efforts, and water and sewer projects. Representative Linda Schlegel-Culver, who will represent Montour County as part of the 108th District beginning next year, is the prime sponsor of the legislation in the House. Representative Millard has sponsored legislation to allocate $3 billion to establish a Rebuild Pennsylvania Fund for one-time projects.
The top priority for the PA Chamber in this year’s budget is reducing the state’s Corporate Net Income tax rate from 9.99%, which is the second highest in the nation. Senator Gordner expects that the budget agreement will include a revision to the tax code to reduce that rate. Other priorities for the PA Chamber are allowing small businesses to defer personal income tax liabilities through like-kind exchanges of certain property, and reforming the Unemployment Compensation system to reduce fraud and abuse.
While Governor Wolf has called for an increase in the state’s minimum wage to $15 per hour each year that he’s been in office, Gordner and Millard were confident that the final budget deal would not include an increase. Both cited market conditions that have led to increased starting wages including many unfilled positions at the $15 mark. Halper pointed out that another way the governor is attempting to increase wages specifically for hospitality workers is through an increase in the tipped wage, though that also appears to be off the table.
Senate and House Republican leaders, who are in the majority, are in agreement on a budget framework, according to Senator Gordner. “We are optimistic that between now and June 30th, we will get it done,” said Gordner. “If we do not get it done with the governor, I can assure you that the House and Senate will pass a fiscally prudent, fiscally responsible budget.”
While not part of the budget discussions, Senator Gordner has been outspoken on PennDOT’s plan to begin tolling nine interstate bridges beginning next year, including the I-80 bridges over Nescopeck Creek in lower Luzerne County. At the breakfast, he noted that the plan was introduced prior to the passage of the federal infrastructure bill in late 2021. As part of that package, Pennsylvania will receive over $3 billion for roads and bridges over 5 years. He joins other legislators and the No P3 Bridge Tolling Coalition in calling on PennDOT and the Wolf Administration to abandon the bridge tolling plan based on this additional funding.
The event was sponsored by Montour Solar One, the proposed solar facility in northern Montour County. The partnership between Talen Energy and Pattern Energy recently withdrew its application for a conditional use permit to clarify a number of details, and expects to resubmit it soon. “We intend to be a good neighbor, and an active part of the community for decades to come,” said Dave D’Onofrio, community liaison for the project.
The next edition of the Business Matters tab, the Chamber’s quarterly publication with the Press Enterprise, will be published on Wednesday, July 13th. This edition helps to keep the public up-to-date on Chamber news and business happenings in the community. Business Matters gets sent to over 21,000 readers of the Press Enterprise. Members can place ads in the publication to increase their exposure. The advertising deadline is Wednesday, July 6th.
For more information or to become a part of this special publication, call Taryn Crayton at 570-317-5157 or Michelle Boone at 570-441-2771
Last week, members and non-members gathered at the Press Enterprise in Bloomsburg to network, catch up with business leaders, tour the building and printing presses, and enjoy refreshments from Ponduce Farms. Representatives were on hand to talk about the various services offered by Press Enterprise, beyond production of the daily paper. Attendees also had the opportunity to win free business card printing and other raffles.
Bring Your Dogs to Celebrate the Official Opening of the Bloomsburg Dog Park
It’s the dog days of summer! Bring your pups to celebrate the official opening of the Bloomsburg Dog Park. The location is between East 13th & Catherine Street on Saturday, June 18th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. There will also be a plethora of local vendors at the park to make the day more enjoyable.
United Way of Columbia and Montour Counties is Hosting Summer Recovery Picnic
On Thursday, June 16th at 11:00 a.m., the United Way of Columbia and Montour Counties is sponsoring the Summer Recovery Picnic at the Briar Creek Lake in Berwick. The event’s main goal is to bring the community together to uplift and support those in recovery and celebrate the dedication of service providers and community members who make recovery in all its forms possible. In addition to free food, live music, and personal stories of recovery, community organizations will be present to share resources for individuals and families who may be experiencing substance use disorder. This event is FREE and open to the public.
Click here to reserve your spot.
LCP is a nine-month program designed to educate, involve, and motivate a select group of area residents for positions of leadership. The goals are to seek a diverse group or individuals with an interest in assuming effective leadership roles in their organizations and our communities. Participants in the program are chosen based on their commitment to the community and their demonstrated leadership potential. Click here to learn more and apply.
The No P3 Bridge Tolls Coalition held a rally on Wednesday, June 8 on the front steps of the State Capitol Complex in Harrisburg to call on the Wolf Administration and PennDOT to scrap the tolling proposal and work with organizations and stakeholders to find sustainable and equitable long-term solutions to funding Pennsylvania’s infrastructure needs. While a Commonwealth Court Judge has issued a temporary injunction on the process, PennDOT has appealed. The rally included remarks from state legislators, county officials, statewide business organizations, local chambers, and economic development entities who oppose Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s P3 Major Bridge Tolling Initiative.
The following individuals spoke at the rally:
Sen. Wayne Langerholc, Jr., Chair, Senate Transportation Committee
Sen. Scott Hutchinson, Chair, Senate Finance Committee
Sen. Devlin Robinson, Vice Chair, Senate Law & Justice Committee
Sen. Lisa Baker, Vice Chair, Senate Labor & Industry Committee
Rep. Donna Oberlander, House Majority Whip
Rep. Sheryl Delozier, Chair, House Children & Youth Committee
Rep. Doyle Heffley, House Transportation Committee
Cumberland County Commissioner Jean Foschi
Cumberland County Commissioner Vince DiFilippo
Rebecca Oyler, President & CEO, Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association
Greg Moreland, Pennsylvania State Director, National Federation of Independent Businesses
Katherine Hetherington Cunfer, Greater Reading Chamber Alliance
John Stroup, former Mayor of Clarion
John Zurgarek, White Haven Borough Council
Video from the event is available on Facebook. (link to: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=3302906893319226 )
The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce is a member of the No P3 Bridge Tolls Coalition and offered comments at a recent public hearing related to the Nescopeck Creek Bridges in lower Luzerne County.
Regulations passed in 2019 permit employers regardless of size to offer an individual coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA) as an alternative to offering a traditional health insurance plan. The versatility of an ICHRA, employees can utilize pre-tax dollars to purchase health care coverage or pay for qualified medical expenses, such as out-of-pocket costs like deductibles and coinsurance.
Although an ICHRA is available for groups of any size, it’s up to each employer to determine if the ICHRA presents a strategy that will work for their particular circumstances and benefit objectives. Over the first two years of its existence, these programs have become increasingly popular as an alternative to the traditional, direct contribution model.
An employee who elects to participate in an ICHRA offered through their employer must enroll (along with any covered dependents) in either individual health care coverage (through the Marketplace or through a private plan) or in Medicare Parts A (Hospital Insurance), Part B (Medical Insurance) or Part C (Medicare Advantage). Short term plans and limited benefit programs like dental or vision do not fulfill these coverage requirements.
It is necessary that coverage in one of the required programs start by the time the employee’s individual ICHRA begins. And if the employee and any dependents are already enrolled in individual health insurance coverage at the time their ICHRA becomes effective, there’s no need to change that coverage. Likewise, if someone is already enrolled in Medicare Part A, Part B or Part C, their enrollment will satisfy the ICHRA requirement.
The Columbia-Montour Chamber of Commerce offers its members access to My Benefit Advisor as a solution for employee benefits, including voluntary offerings. For more information about My Benefit Advisor, visit our website at cmcc.mybenefitadvisor.com or contact Stephen Lylo at (800) 377-3539.
More than 80 chamber of chamber professionals and business leaders from across the Commonwealth gathered in Harrisburg on Tuesday for the 2022 Chamber Day at the State Capitol. The annual event, co-hosted by the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry and the Pennsylvania Association of Chamber Professionals, included policy discussions with key public officials and provided an opportunity for chambers to advocate on behalf of the employer community to improve the Commonwealth’s business climate.
“Chamber Day provides an invaluable opportunity for our chamber community partners and local business leaders to come together and collectively advocate for a pro-growth agenda to improve Pennsylvania’s economic climate,” said PA Chamber President and CEO Gene Barr. “Chambers of commerce play a critical role representing employers in their respective regions and advocating for policies that will help businesses and communities across the Commonwealth thrive.”
The day opened with welcoming remarks from Speaker of the House Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster, and proceeded with a series of panel discussions focusing on a range of topics including transportation and infrastructure; workforce development and the 2022 elections. Attendees were also briefed on the status of state budget negotiations from House Appropriations Committee Democratic Chair Matt Bradford, D-Montgomery; and Republican Vice Chair Jesse Topper, R-Bedford; and were provided a state economic overview from PA Independent Fiscal Office Director Matthew Knittel.
“We value the opportunity to come together as a chamber community each year during the budget process to discuss issues of importance to employers,” said Fred Gaffney, President of the Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce and PACP Board Chair. “Thank you to the PA Chamber for their tremendous support and assistance with this annual event.”
Berwick Area YMCA Announces Community Phase of Capital Campaign
At a groundbreaking ceremony for a new gymnasium, The Berwick Area YMCA announced the start of the community phase of fundraising for their planned capital project. The new gymnasium is Phase 1 of the $5.5 million expansion. Phases 2 and 3 include new wellness facilities to better meet the needs of community health, expanded parking and a new STEM activity lab to better prepare youth with 21st century job skills. “We began planning for this moment almost immediately after our last capital expansion in 2010” said Berwick Y CEO Nick Pajovich. “We knew that to truly meet the needs in our community, we needed to continue to grow and develop more programs. To date we have raised $5.1 million dollars which equals 94% of our $5.5 million dollar project cost. This project is all about uniting our community and inviting the residents to join us in this exciting campaign that will ensure we can help even more people on their journey for a better life and give children the best start possible. .We need our community’s help to reach our goal so we can complete all three phases of the project. The opening of the new facilities will be a transformative moment for the community.”
Since the last capital expansion, YMCA membership has grown and the Y no longer has the space to accommodate the need for services and can no longer expand any new programs. The Berwick Y is now the largest provider of childcare services in the county, as well as one of the largest providers of anti-hunger programs. “We identify community needs and develop programs and solutions that meet those needs,” said Pajovich. “These new facilities will allow us to expand programs that prevent chronic disease, develop other healthy lifestyle initiatives that will impact the health of our community, ensure that kids and teens have a safe place with positive role models, expand our anti-hunger programs to reduce food insecurity among kids and families in the community and create opportunities for seniors to stay active and social. The improved parking will eliminate barriers to seniors and the disabled and allow more people access to our programs, and the new STEM lab will give youth and teens the opportunity to discover skills and talents that will serve them for a lifetime. The possibilities of what we can accomplish with these new facilities are truly endless.”
To help the cause, the Community Giving Foundation has provided a challenge grant to the project. In addition to the $250,000.00 they have already committed, the Foundation will match, dollar for dollar, the next $50,000.00 pledged to the campaign. To support the campaign, contact the YMCA. Donations are also being accepted through the Berwick Area YMCA webpage, www.berwicky.org.