From PA Chamber of Business & Industry

State lawmakers took action on a number of energy-related bills last week – the most notable of which was a disapproval resolution regarding the Wolf Administration’s plan to have Pennsylvania join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a hotly debated CO2 budget trading program for power plants.

As RGGI has moved through the process, the PA Chamber has regularly communicated to lawmakers, the Independent Regulatory Review Commission and the Environmental Quality Board the need to guard against displacing generation to non-RGGI states in the 13-state PJM grid, to protect our state’s industrial base and our lead role as an electricity exporter, and to be explicit about the costs of entering into the initiative.

In a memo to the Senate, the PA Chamber urged the disapproval resolution’s advancement, since the final-form RGGI regulation from the Environmental Quality Board does not meaningfully address the concerns that have been raised by the business community. Having passed the Senate, the House also has the longer of 10 session days or 30 calendar days to pass the resolution and present it to Gov. Wolf. As it is likely he will veto the resolution, a two-thirds majority vote in the General Assembly would be needed to override the governor’s veto – an action that could be anticipated in the first quarter of 2022 or later.

House and Senate lawmakers also took action last week on identical bills in their respective chambers that would allow business and individual energy consumers to choose the utility and energy source that best meets their needs. Senate Bill 275 and H.B. 1947 – which are both known as the “Energy Choice Act,” would offer consumers the continued assurance that municipal government will not unduly interfere with their ability to make their own energy choices. The PA Chamber sent memos to the state Senate prior to its passage of S.B. 275 and to the House Local Government Committee before committee lawmakers voted to advance H.B. 1947, voicing support for the measures.

Lastly, the PA Chamber sent a memo last week to lawmakers on the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee urging a “yes” vote on H.R. 148, which urges the federal government to reduce Renewable Fuel Standard volume requirements to provide relief to refiners in southeastern Pennsylvania. This bipartisan measure was crafted with recognition to the significant financial burdens refineries face as they work to produce transportation fuels to a number of industries.

“Gov. Wolf has filed a hardship waiver with the federal Environmental Protection Agency requesting relief from these onerous federal mandates, and members of Pennsylvania’s federal delegation in both parties are supporting this request for reform,” the memo stated. “Business and labor groups are also aligned in supporting this request for relief, and we ask you to join the 47 members of the Pennsylvania State Senate who earlier this year passed a similar resolution.”

Community Giving Foundation: Bloomsburg Foundation Awards 2021 Grants

The Community Giving Foundation announced grant awards totaling $12,050 to local charitable nonprofits and government agencies through their recent competitive process. These awards were granted through the Bloomsburg Unrestricted Fund and the Hartman / Robbins / Stroup Fund.

Community Giving Foundation: Bloomsburg administers a total of 9 endowed and pass-through funds investing over $13,000 annually to local nonprofits and students. These funds include scholarship, donor-advised, field of interest, designated, agency, and unrestricted funds. Bloomsburg held a celebratory breakfast on September 8, 2021 at Monty’s at Bloomsburg University to recognize grant and donor stories of community giving. 

2021 Competitive Grant Recipients 

• AGAPE Love from Above to Our Community—Women in Need, $1,000
• AGAPE Love from Above to Our Community—Heating and Electric Utility Assistance to Residents of Town of Bloomsburg, $700
• Central Susquehanna Opportunities, Inc. “A Community Action Agency”—Greater Bloomsburg Area Utility Assistance Program, $1,000
• Central Susquehanna Sight Services, Inc.—2021/2022 Preventing Blindness in Our Community Initiative, $500
• Coalition for Social Equity—Organization Support in Honor of Isabelle Tarr, $1,000
• Columbia Child Development Program—Preschool Curriculum Studies and Nonfiction Theme Books, $780
• Columbia County Historical & Genealogical Society—Press Enterprise Digitization of Newspapers, $600
• Family Service Association of NEPA—PA 211 NE/Help Line, $500
• Friends of the Columbia County Traveling Library—Books for Librarians: Developing a Professional Book Collection, $640
• Hand in Hand Family Resource Center—Chromebooks, $420
• HCSC Blood Center dba Miller-Keystone Blood Center—Enhancing the Well-Being of the Bloomsburg Community Through Volunteer Blood Donations, $500
• Millville Borough—Little Fishing Creek Area Swimming Pool Roof and Operations Project, $500
• Orangeville Public Library—Summer Reading 2021, $550
• Ronald McDonald House of Danville—Share-a-Night Program: Giving the Gift of Togetherness, $500
• Single Mothers Individually Living Empowered, Inc.—PHYS-KIDS, $350
• The Children’s Museum, Inc.—Bees and Butterflies in Bloom, $610
• Transitional Housing and Care Center of Columbia and Montour County—Road to Independence, $1,000
• United Way of Columbia and Montour County—Bloomsburg Area Tutoring Program, $900

The Good Samaritan Mission Holds Grand Opening 

The Chamber helped celebrate the grand opening of The Good Samaritan Mission on Ferry Street in Danville on Saturday, October 23^rd, with a ribbon-cutting. With over 100 people coming out to show support, the morning was filled with jam-packed activities including the ribbon-cutting, a tribute to Sandy O’Rourke, basket raffles and tours. The Good Samaritan Mission is the only faith-based, nonprofit mission serving adults and children in the Montour County and surrounding areas. The mission’s foundation was built on with Board of Directors and nearly 100 volunteers who donated countless hours to keep the program running.

“We are so excited about the beauty of this place and the blessing that we have here. We’re really excited about what’s going to happen with this place.” said Carin Wharton, Executive Director.

The Good Samaritan Mission is open Tuesday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. Visit www.gsmdanville.org

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Grant Programs Directorate (GPD), in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), invites houses of worship, faith-based, community, and nonprofit organizations to participate in  Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) webinars.

The NSGP provides funding support through a competitive process for physical and other security enhancements to nonprofit organizations, which includes houses of worship, faith-based and community organizations and promotes emergency preparedness coordination and collaboration between public and private community representatives, as well as state, local, tribal, and territorial governments.

FEMA is committed to providing ongoing engagement and expanding outreach through federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial partners to vulnerable, underserved, and/or underrepresented populations. Last year, FEMA held 18 virtual events reaching over 5,000 participants from more than 369 nonprofit organizations. GPD is offering webinars for all nonprofit organizations interested in learning more about the NSGP, including priorities, eligibility, and application process.

Each webinar will present the same content, including:       

• Lessons Learned: A Summary of the FY 2021 NSGP
• What to Do Now: Preparation for the FY 2022 NSGP
• Physical Safety/Security: Vulnerability Self-Assessment Information and Tools
• Open Forum: Moderated Questions and Answers Session

Thursday, November 4, 3 PM ET – Zoom Webinar Link: https://fema.zoomgov.com/s/1611127317  Audio/Video Meeting ID: 161 112 7317 – Audio only Meeting ID: 682616

Monday, November 8, 3 PM ET – Zoom Webinar Link: https://fema.zoomgov.com/s/1611127317 Audio/Video Meeting ID: 161 112 7317 – Audio only Meeting ID: 682616

Friday, November 19, 3 PM ET- Zoom Webinar Link: https://fema.zoomgov.com/j/1618883651  Audio/Video Meeting ID: 161 888 3651 – Audio only Meeting ID: 964693

Attendees must register 10-15 minutes prior to the event. If you are unable to join or the event is at capacity, please join the next available offering.

Additional information related to the NSGP can be found at www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/nonprofit-security.

The vulnerability self-assessment tool, plus other helpful safety and security information for nonprofit organizations, can be found at the Hometown Security website at www.cisa.gov/hometown-security.

The CSIU’s Digital Literacy Program provides adults with free access to computers and the internet — as well as hands-on training — to learn how to use a computer; use technology to find, and keep, a job; search the internet efficiently and evaluate information; and understand responsibilities as a digital citizen.

Training includes keyboarding and “mousing” skills, understanding operating systems and managing files, searching the internet, using online job boards, applying online, and understanding the impact social media use can have on their ability to get and keep a job.

The CSIU’s Digital Literacy Program provides free training as well as open computer lab sessions, to adults in the community who need to use technology to search and apply for jobs or who want to improve their technology skills and knowledge to get a better job. Adults who want to learn technology for a variety of other reasons – to help their children with school work, take online courses, use the Internet safely and securely, avoid scams, or learn how to locate the most relevant and reliable information on the web — are also welcome. 

Working with community partners, the CSIU Digital Literacy Program provides free access to computers and the internet in several locations across the region on a set schedule each week. Computer labs are staffed by knowledgeable and experienced professionals ready to assist members of the community. 

The computer lab is located at the Bloomsburg Children’s Museum and is staffed by a knowledgeable and experienced Digital Literacy Specialist. Full details about the available training and services can be found at www.csiu.org/digital .

Bloomsburg Children’s Museum

2 W 7th Street, Bloomsburg, PA 17815 
Mon: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.  
Tues: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.  
Thurs: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Governor Tom Wolf has issued an executive order (VIEW HERE) designed to protect workers. The order impacts for-profit employers seeking financial assistance from the Commonwealth. Wolf was joined at a news conference in Pittsburgh on Thursday, October 21^st by Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Secretary Jennifer Berrier, Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Dennis Davin, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Rep. Jessica Benham and other legislators, workers and labor leaders.

The order directs DCED to verify a business receiving an offer of state financial assistance provides its workers paid sick leave and pays no less than the minimum wage for state employees before making a financial incentive offer. The $13.50 minimum wage for state employees and contractors will reach $15 on July 1, 2024, under an executive order the governor signed in 2018.

The governor also announced that L&I will make publicly available a list of bad actors that violate labor laws, misclassify their workers, owe unemployment compensation back taxes or fail to carry requisite workers’ compensation insurance.

During the announcement, Wolf urged the legislature to pass S.B. 13, sponsored by Sen. Vince Hughes, and H.B. 1035, sponsored by Rep. Mike Zabel, which would provide paid sick leave to workers in Pennsylvania. The administration estimates that 400,000 Pennsylvania workers lack paid sick leave.

PA Chamber President and CEO Gene Barr issued the following statement in response to the governor’s announcement.

“We appreciate the governor’s intent and urge his administration to solicit input from employers to help avoid unintended consequences.

For example, requiring strict wage and benefit standards for employers to qualify for state aid may not impact larger corporations but could pull critical lifelines from small businesses already struggling through pandemic and workforce crises.

The governor has also called for public shaming of employers who violate labor laws.  We certainly support holding accountable those who skirt the law, harming employees and creating an unfair advantage over law-abiding competitors.  At the same time, policymakers should recognize that violations are often unintentional and eventually remedied. Employment laws and regulations are notoriously complicated; such as similar federal and state laws that include subtle differences creating what’s known as the ‘compliance trap.’ 

The governor mentioned employers owing unemployment compensation back taxes, but some may not even be aware they owe, especially after the chaos of the last year and a half.  We would hope a public list of ‘bad actors’ only incudes companies who violate the law and willfully fail to comply after exhausting appeals or any administrative resolution process.”

State Senator John Gordner was recognized by the National Foundation for Unemployment Compensation and Workers’ Compensation for having spearheaded efforts and legislation that have protected and preserved the integrity of Pennsylvania’s Unemployment Compensation system. Gordner was honored with the “UI Integrity Award 2020” at a national conference last week. PA Chamber Director of Government Affairs Alex Halper nominated Sen. Gordner and presented him with the award.

Pennsylvania’s UC system experienced significant strain during the Great Recession and early recovery period. In December of 2008, then-Gov. Ed Rendell convened a UC Advisory Board on which Senator Gordner served in his capacity as then ­Chairman of the Senate Labor and Industry Committee. Despite tremendous pressure, and often on an island among legislative appointees, Senator Gordner remained a stalwart advocate for pursuing a balanced approach that did not disproportionately burden employers.

In early 2011, Senator Gordner introduced legislation that would eventually become Act 6, which allowed Pennsylvanian claimants to remain eligible for federally-funded extended UC benefits, but also included important reforms sought by the employer community which collectively saved the UC Trust Fund over $100 million annually.

By mid-2012, Pennsylvania had borrowed nearly $4 billion from the federal government, the second largest UC debt in the country and greater than comparably-sized states with higher unemployment rates. Costs for employers were increasing by hundreds of millions and an even more precipitous financial cliff was fast approaching.

Senator Gardner’s years of working on UC public policy, establishing himself as the authority among his legislative colleagues, and cultivating relationships with a broad range of stakeholders would culminate in June 2012 with passage of Act 60 of 2012. This ambitious legislation, sponsored by Senator Gordner, included a range of cost-saving measures that put Pennsylvania’s trust fund on a path to solvency. It also authorized the Commonwealth to sell bonds in the private market to pay off the federal debt immediately – a fairly novel concept at the time, but a strategy that would avoid additional federal tax increases that were scheduled to go into effect.

On January 8, 2020, Gov. Tom Wolf announced that Pennsylvania employers had paid off the bond in full and the additional tax being collected to service the bond was no longer being assessed as of Jan. 1. The careful stewardship of the Pennsylvania UI trust fund after the Great recession of 2008-2009 and the measures taken with the leadership of Senator Gordner put Pennsylvania in a much better position to respond to the pandemic recession of 2020.

Photo caption: Roger Geiger (left), National Foundation Board member, and Alex Halper (center), PA Chamber Director of Government Affairs, presented Senator John Gordner with the UI Integrity Award 2020.

The Chamber helped celebrate the grand opening of The Good Samaritan Mission on Ferry Street in Danville on Saturday, October 23^rd, with a ribbon-cutting. With over 100 people coming out to show support, the morning was filled with jam-packed activities including the ribbon-cutting, a tribute to Sandy O’Rourke, basket raffles and tours. The Good Samaritan Mission is the only faith-based, nonprofit mission serving adults and children in the Montour County and surrounding areas. The mission’s foundation was built on with Board of Directors and nearly 100 volunteers who donated countless hours to keep the program running.

“We are so excited about the beauty of this place and the blessing that we have here. We’re really excited about what’s going to happen with this place.” said Carin Wharton, Executive Director.

The Good Samaritan Mission is open Tuesday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. Visit www.gsmdanville.org

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is making $25.5 billion in new relief funding available to healthcare providers. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of HHS, administers the provider relief programs on behalf of HHS. HRSA has created a single application portal to make the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) Rural payments and Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Phase 4 General Distribution payments. The deadline to file for these funds is October 26, 2021, by 11:59 PM. Since the application process requires several validation checks, it is best to start the process now.

Who Is Eligible?

HHS has expanded the types of healthcare providers that are eligible for the PRF and ARP Rural payments. Providers that have not received payments in the past may now be eligible.

Eligibility for PRF payments includes:

• Providers or suppliers who bill Medicare fee-for-service (Parts A, B, and C), Medicaid (fee-for-service or managed care) and/or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
• Dental service providers
• State-licensed or certified assisted living facilities
• Behavioral health providers
• And others

Eligibility for ARP Rural payments includes:

• Providers or suppliers who bill Medicare (Parts A, B, and C), Medicaid (fee-for-service or managed care), and/or CHIP, and operate in or serve patients in a rural area, including:
• Rural health clinics and critical access hospitals
• In-home health, hospice, or long-term services
• And others

How Are Payments Determined?

PRF base payments are determined by changes in operating revenues and expenses from July 1, 2020, through March 31, 2021. Smaller providers will be reimbursed for a higher percentage of changes in operating revenues and expenses. There will also be bonus payments based on the amount and type of Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP services provided.

ARP Rural payments are based on the amount and type of Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP services provided to rural patients from January 1, 2019, through September 30, 2020.

It is worth noting that providers can receive funding from both PRF and ARP Rural payments, which can be used for changes in operating revenues and expenses dating back to January 1, 2020.

Here is the link to access the Application.

Here is the link to access the Instructions.

Bend-Fab’s standing steal metal roofing will give you the peace of mind that your roof is destined to last without the need for constant upkeep. Bend-Fab custom rolls its standing seam panels on-site and offers custom metal bending utilizing its 21-foot computerized metal break.

At Bend-Fab, they’ve installed standing seam metal roofing on healthcare offices, churches, government buildings, office buildings, restaurants, stores, and hotels, as well as residential homes throughout the Susquehanna Valley. No project is too small for their team.

Visit Bend-Fab’s website at www.bend-fab.com for more information. They can be found in Milton at 2733 State Route 45.

Bend-Fab joins 415 members of The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce to receive benefits and support the Chamber’s efforts to enhance the region.

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