Bloomsburg Fair Returns September 24 through October 2
The Bloomsburg Fair Association’s Board of Directors previewed the return of the Fair at its annual media luncheon held September 8th. This year’s event runs September 24th through October 2nd. The full schedule of events and ticket information are available at bloomsburgfair.com. Brochures are also available at The Chamber of Commerce, 238 Market Street, Bloomsburg, and the Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau, 121 Papermill Road, Bloomsburg.
Boy Scouts Sponsoring Community Day this Saturday
The Columbia Montour Council BSA is sponsoring Columbia Montour Community Day this Saturday, September 18th from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Bloomsburg Airport. Meet first responders, pilots, and enjoy activities, games and great food. The event is free to attend.
Community Giving Foundation Breakfast Celebrates Giving Stories
The Community Giving Foundation: Bloomsburg held its annual grant breakfast on September 8th to celebrate the impact of grant recipients and share stories of community giving from Foundation board, staff, and donors. The breakfast, held at Monty’s at Bloomsburg University, was a wonderful time of reflection on the Foundation’s presence in the Bloomsburg community and the many dedicated individuals, families, and organizations that make this work possible.
During the event, Bloomsburg Board member Tom Kapelewski spoke on the giving spirit that is evident through Foundation stakeholders and the philanthropic commitment of donors to Bloomsburg funds. Holly Morrison, Foundation president/CEO, shared Bloomsburg’s journey to affiliate with the Foundation and the excitement behind last year’s re-branding at the Foundation. Karri Harter, Foundation program associate, celebrated the good work accomplished in the Bloomsburg community through the dedication of area nonprofit organizations. Grant recipients from Bloomsburg’s 2021 competitive grant round were also recognized. Becky Stender, case manager with Central Susquehanna Opportunities, shared her organization’s experience with the Foundation and the services provided across our region because of local grants and donor support. Representing the BHS Class of ’86 Scholarship Fund, Leslie Temple spoke on creating a fund with the Foundation as a philanthropic partner to benefit future BHS graduates.
Click here to watch a video from the grant recipients as they say “thank you” to the donors that make these grants possible.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced significant enhancements to the COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, a federal disaster relief loan designed to support small business communities dealing with the pandemic, especially hard-hit sectors such as restaurants, gyms, and hotels. The SBA is ready to receive new applications immediately from small businesses looking to take advantage of these new policy changes.
Key changes being announced by the SBA include:
· Increasing the COVID EIDL Cap. The SBA has increased the COVID EIDL cap from $500,000 to $2 million. Loan funds can be used for any normal operating expenses and working capital, including payroll, purchasing equipment, and paying debt.
· Implementation of a Deferred Payment Period. The SBA will ensure small business owners will not have to begin COVID EIDL repayment until two years after loan origination so that they can get through the pandemic.
· Establishment of a 30-Day Exclusivity Window. To ensure Main Street businesses have additional time to access these funds, the SBA will implement a 30-day exclusivity window of approving and disbursing funds for loans of $500,000 or less. Approval and disbursement of loans over $500,000 will begin after the 30-day period.
· Expansion of Eligible Use of Funds. COVID EIDL funds will now be eligible to prepay commercial debt and make payments on federal business debt.
· Simplification of affiliation requirements. To ease the COVID EIDL application process for small businesses, the SBA has established more simplified affiliation requirements to model those of the Restaurant Revitalization Fund.
How to apply
Eligible small businesses, nonprofits, and agricultural businesses in all U.S. states and territories can apply. Visit www.sba.gov/eidl to learn more about eligibility and application requirements. The last day that applications may be received is December 31, 2021. All applicants should file their applications as soon as possible.
For additional information on COVID EIDL and other recovery programs please visit www.sba.gov/relief. Small business owners may call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard of hearing) or email DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov for additional assistance. The center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST. Multilingual representatives are available.
On Thursday, September 9th, President Biden announced a series of executive orders to combat COVID-19.
The orders include the following:
• Employers with more than 100 employees will need to require that employees be vaccinated or verify weekly testing
• Employers with more than 100 employees need to provide paid time off for vaccinations and recovery
• Federal employees are required to get vaccinated within 75 days or risk termination (which would remove the option for weekly testing in lieu of vaccination)
• Federal employee vaccination requirement are extended to federal contractors
• Medicare and Medicaid funding recipients are required to fully vaccinate their staff
• Schools are urged to set up regular testing based on community spread
• Free COVID testing will be expanded
A document summarizing the orders can be found here.
On Friday, September 10th, Seema Nanda, Solicitor for the U.S. Department of Labor, explained to a group of chambers of commerce that the orders related to private employers will be implemented via an OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) in a matter of weeks, not months. Once live, it is effective immediately, except for the 22 states that have a state plan (Pennsylvania is not among those 22 states). In those states, the state has 30 days to adopt an equally protective policy or implement the federal ETS. The public comment period will begin once the ETS is announced and thus effective.
The Chamber has expressed concerns to the U.S. Chamber and Congressman Dan Meuser’s office about the additional burdens and costs to employers and raised questions about enforcement and testing. The legality of the President’s orders is also being questioned. The U.S. Chamber is compiling questions/concerns to share with the Department of Labor. Those questions can be sent to vaccines@uschamber.com.
PA Chamber President and CEO Gene Barr issued a statement about various ambiguities in the plan.
“Our organization shares questions and concerns about this plan with the rest of the nation’s business community – including whether employers will have access to funding to help pay for expanded testing; how penalties for non-compliance will be enforced; and – perhaps most notably – whether liability protections exist for businesses acting in compliance with the latest round of OSHA standards,” Barr said.
The Chamber will provide additional details as they become available, though the Department of Labor did not indicate when those details might be released.
The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce welcomes Jeremy Clausen as its new Director of Marketing and Communications. Jeremy received his bachelor’s degree from Lock Haven University, followed by his graduate degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University. A native of Berwick, PA, Clausen returns to the area after spending the previous two and a half years working for Lehigh University and has over five years of experience working in the marketing and communications field. In his spare time, Jeremy likes to spend quality time with his family and is interested in podcasts, music and traveling.
He succeeds Allison Turayev, who left the Chamber in July to pursue other opportunities.
United in Recovery Celebrating Recovery Month
National Recovery Month is a national observance held every September to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the emergence of a proud recovery community, and the dedication of service providers and community members across the nation who make recovery in all its forms possible. United in Recovery, an initiative of the United Way of Columbia and Montour Counties, is participating with a number of activities throughout the month. Visit www.cmcuw.org/unitedinrecovery to learn more.
Central Susquehanna Opportunities Conducting Community Needs Assessment
The Community Needs Assessment is completed every three years. It provides the necessary information about the community and stakeholder needs so Central Susquehanna Opportunities can seek necessary funding, create/strengthen programs, and provide appropriate services to meet current needs.
Links to surveys for residents and service providers are on CSO’s website.
Bloomsburg Children’s Museum and Forest and Field Partnering to Offer Free Cooking Class
Learn to make traditional homestyle Italian food with Chiara Menini Whitmoyer who is from the Veneto region of Italy. Italian foods are simple. Italian recipes usually involve only 4-8 ingredients at any one time. The secret to great Italian cooking is the quality of the food, not the complexity of it. Pasta, sauces, bread, learn why traditional Italian food is revered around the world. Ages 12+ and adults are welcome. The program is being offered free through the Bloomsburg Children’s Museum and will be held at Forest and Field’s demo kitchen on Alliance Park Drive in Bloomsburg.
Music and Dance from Bali Comes to the Weis Center in Free Performance, Lecture/Demo Precedes Performance
Çudamani: Gamelan and Dance of Bali will perform on Tuesday, Sept. 14, 7:30 p.m. at the Weis Center for the Performing Arts at Bucknell University.
The performance is free, but tickets are required by calling 570-577-1000 or online at Bucknell.edu/BoxOffice.
There will be a pre-performance lecture and demonstration on Tuesday, Sept. 14 from 6:45-7:15 p.m. in the Weis Center Atrium facilitated by Music Professor Bethany Collier.
The performance is sponsored in part by the Candland family, Remembering Mary Candland. It is co-sponsored by Bucknell University’s Department of Music in partnership with the Bucknell University Gamelan Ensemble. This engagement of Çudamani is made possible through the ArtsCONNECT program Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Service 1st Federal Credit Union’s 27th Annual Charity Golf Tournament Raises $40,000
Service 1st Federal Credit Union held its 27th Annual Charity Golf Tournament Friday, August 27 at Frosty Valley Resort in Danville. During the tournament, Service 1st presented two local charities with donations totaling $40,000.
“Our annual charity golf outing was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic,” said Bill Lavage, President/CEO, Service 1st. “It was heartwarming to see the 150 people who golfed or volunteered at our outing this year. With their support, we raised $40,000 for two local non-profit organizations. It is a wonderful feeling to know we have all worked together to make this possible.”
Beneficiaries of the 27th Annual Service 1st Golf Outing included: Montour Area Recreation Commission (MARC) and Evangelical Community Hospital Children’s Health and Wellness Program.
“It is always great to see a community come together for a common cause of supporting local groups that benefit everyone,” said Jeff Balestrini, Chair, Service 1st Annual Charity Golf Tournament Committee and Chief Lending Officer, Service 1st. “Since last year’s golf tournament was canceled due to COVID-19, everyone seemed even more enthusiastic to support this year’s event. We are extremely grateful for everyone that helped us raise the proceeds that in turn are donated to these very worthy causes.”
Since 1994, Service 1st’s Annual Charity Golf Tournament has raised $553,500 to benefit area charities. In 2020, Service 1st made the difficult decision to cancel the golf outing due to the pandemic. This year’s tournament included 136 golfers, numerous volunteers, sponsors, and fellow credit unions.
B.U. Film Series Open to the Public
Dr. David Heineman of Bloomsburg University’s Department of Communication Studies will host a weekly film screening in conjunction with his “Persuasion in Popular Film” course, which examines relationships between popular film and culture, highlighting the role of cinema in constructing ideology, identity, and history. Screenings will be followed by Q&A and discussion and will occasionally feature guest experts. All screenings are on Tuesday nights from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in the Greenly Center Lecture rooms B and C. The screenings are free and open to the public. Masks will be required for everyone attending.
• Sept. 14 American Psycho (2000) (R)
• Sept. 21 Four Oscar-Winning Documentary Shorts (Nine From Little Rock (1964) / If You Love This Planet (1982) / Saving Face (2012) / Period. End of Sentence. (2018)) (R)
• Sept. 28 The Thing from Another World (1951) (NR)
• Oct. 5 Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) (PG-13)
• Oct. 12 It Happened One Night (1934) (NR)
• Oct. 19 1917 (2019) (R)
• Oct. 26 Suspiria (1977) (R)
• Nov. 2 Do The Right Thing (1989) (R)
• Nov. 9 The 13th (2016) (NR)
• Nov. 16 The Matrix (1999) (R)
• Nov. 30 Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) (R)
While the $1.2 trillion infrastructure plan recently passed by the U.S. House would provide much needed funding for Pennsylvania roads, bridges, and rural broadband expansion, Congressman Dan Meuser and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are not supportive of the $3.5 trillion spending bill that is now linked to it. That additional package includes higher tax rates for businesses at a time when employers are struggling with workforce shortages and supply chain disruptions. Meuser and the U.S. Chamber are advocating for the two bills to be voted on separately so that the hard infrastructure plan can move forward.
Congressman Meuser spoke about the negotiations regarding the two plans at a breakfast with Chamber members on September 2nd at Monty’s on Bloomsburg University’s Upper Campus. Laura Manion, Manager of the Great Lakes Region with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, also participated. Both were confident there are not enough votes in Congress to pass the larger spending plan.
Meuser stated that he “didn’t disagree with all of” the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan passed earlier this year under the Biden administration, as it provided additional funding for business assistance programs. Many mistakes were made at both the federal and state levels during the early days of the pandemic, according to Meuser, including mandating that businesses close. He advocated for an “open but safe” plan and pointed out to the Wolf administration the disruptions to supply chains for critical industries as a result of the shutdown.
To foster economic recovery, Meuser believes the U.S. needs to hold China’s “feet to the fire” regarding trade agreements to minimize disruptions to supply chains and help maintain U.S. competitiveness. He also discussed the need to be more self sufficient in energy and semiconductor production. Meuser is a sponsor of a bill being referred to as Chips USA that would support the production of semiconductors within the United States. Manion joined Meuser in advocating for the promotion of skilled trades as viable career paths and the importance of exposing middle and high school students to options.
With the $300 per week federal unemployment bonus payments ending on September 3rd, Meuser believes this will help to ease the workforce crisis. He pointed out that Pennsylvania’s 6.6% unemployment rate for July was significantly higher than the national rate of 5.4%, which takes into account states that ended the bonus payments previously. He also noted the importance of supporting child care to support working families and help develop the future workforce.
The Columbia Montour Chamber will continue discussions at the federal and state levels on policies to support a more robust workforce.
From the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
The road to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic remains uncertain for so many small business owners. You have taken on significant debt and made incredible sacrifices to reopen in an economy that looks vastly different from the one you knew before. Consumer behavior has changed significantly, and the need for digital transformation has never been more important.
To support you, we wanted to make you aware of a powerful new program created to help small businesses develop the knowledge and skills needed to accelerate their recovery and bounce back even stronger.
BackTo.Biz is a free, online learning program to help small businesses recover, pivot and grow. BackTo.Biz features a collection of 400+ individual video lessons, articles and tools from a diverse and renowned set of innovative entrepreneurs. The content is designed to help small business owners expand their knowledge and skills on a wide range of topics, including: hiring talent, selling online, building their brands, pivoting business models, creating new revenue streams, finding their ideal customers, managing stress and more.
You can view a short video trailer of the program at the link below and access all of the content for free at BackTo.Biz.
The program was funded by former Starbucks ceo and chairman emeritus Howard Schultz and the emes project llc, and co-created with CreativeLive, a global leader in online learning. To reach as many small businesses as possible and share additional best-in-class learning resources from top tier brands, BackTo.Biz has partnered with a coalition of non-profit and business leaders to raise awareness of the program, including Ascend, Chase, Community Reinvestment Fund USA (CRF), Facebook, Grow with Google, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, Intentionalist, Main Street America, Microsoft, Reimagine Main Street, Salesforce, Starbucks, Shopify, and CO— by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Our goal is to help America’s small businesses emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic stronger and more resilient.
Danville Heritage Festival This Weekend
The Danville Heritage Festival is a community celebration of all things Danville.
This year’s festival will be held in conjunction with the Danville Business Alliance’s Fall Arts & Crafts Festival, centered along Mill Street, with special events at other locations throughout the Danville community between Friday, September 3rd and Sunday, September 5th.
Enjoy living history presentations, historic tours of Danville, garden tours, live music, vendors, great food, fireworks, and much more.
A full schedule of events is available at DanvilleHeritage.com.
Bloomsburg Children’s Museum Partners with United in Recovery on “Hiding in Plain Sight” Temporary Exhibit
The Bloomsburg Children’s Museum recently partnered with United in Recovery, part of the United Way of Columbia and Montour Counties, to bring the “Hidden in Plain Sight” temporary exhibit to Bloomsburg
“Hiding in Plain Sight” is an exhibit, meant for parents and caregivers, that simulates a teen’s bedroom in which parents learn to identify objects that could provide critical insights about risky behavior. Amidst the clutter of clothing scattered on the floor, school supplies, and personal care products are items that can signal that a young person could be involved in risky, harmful, or even illegal activity. Visitors will have an opportunity to interact with the items on display.
Olivia Oden, Stigma Reduction & Education Coordinator for United in Recovery explains the importance of this exhibit.
“The ‘problem’ that our Hiding In Plain Sight exhibit addresses is substance use among young adults. Within the ‘teen’s bedroom’ that is set up, there are many places where one may hide illicit substances. Our exhibit strives to make parents and caregivers aware of not only where these hiding places are, but also of what challenges a teen may face when they use these illicit substances. We also provide resources and information for the family to take with them if interested, and the hands-on experience is a conversation starter for many individuals. This simulation is not meant to scare families and loved ones but be a conduit to have an open conversation on safety and prevention concerning illicit substance use among youth. “
The exhibit is currently open and runs through September 18th. Visitors can view the exhibit by entering a separate program space adjacent to the Museum’s exhibit galleries. The exhibit is open during regular Museum hours Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
For more information about United in Recovery please visit https://cmcuw.org/unitedinrecovery.
Berwick Breakfast Celebrates Giving Stories
The Community Giving Foundation: Berwick held its annual grant breakfast on August 24th to celebrate the impact of grant recipients and share stories of community giving from Foundation board, staff, and donors. The breakfast, held at Rolling Pines in Berwick, was a wonderful time of reflection on the long history of the Foundation in the Berwick community and the many dedicated individuals, families, and organizations that make this work possible.
During the event, Berwick Board chair Greg Martz shared his passion for the Berwick community and the giving spirit that is evident through Foundation stakeholders. Holly Morrison, Foundation president/CEO, spoke on her journey to partnership with the Foundation and the exciting opportunities that have come from the Foundation’s re-branding late last year. Christine Orlando, Foundation senior program officer, celebrated the good work accomplished in the Berwick community through the dedication of area nonprofit organizations. Grant recipients from the Berwick Health & Wellness Fund’s 2021 competitive grant round were also recognized. Dr. Bipin Chopra, executive director of the Columbia County Volunteers in Medicine Clinic, shared his organization’s experience with the Foundation as both an agency fundholder and grant recipient. As a new fundholder to the Foundation, Jodi Walp shared a touching tribute for her late husband and how her new donor advised fund will create a lasting legacy for their families by awarding grants in their names. Kara Seesholtz, Foundation chief advancement officer, closed the morning with a call for you to discover your own giving story—made easier through the Foundation’s new Giving Workbook.
The Foundation was honored and inspired by the uplifting community giving stories that were shared. Each joins together to create the story of the Community Giving Foundation.
The Exchange to Host “Catastrophes, Cataclysms, and Calamities: Dealing with Disaster”
Almost all of us have had to deal with disasters in our lives — sometimes a natural disaster like a flood, sometimes an intimate disaster between people. The Exchange Gallery at 24 East Main Street in Bloomsburg will be hosting an evening of music and stories from friends and neighbors about the disasters that they have faced on Wednesday, September 8th at 7 p.m. Musician Paul Loomis will share his homegrown songs, and Laurie McCants, Tim Pelton, Mary Lenzini Howe, Michael Howe, Kamran Shams, Tara MacNish, and Oren B. Helbok will tell their stories of floods, COVID, and other trials and tribulations that they have lived through.
Limited audience seating available: To make a reservation, call 570-317-2596 or e-mail Exchange@ExchangeArts.org.
McKonly & Asbury Named “Readers’ Choice” Accountant by Harrisburg Magazine
Harrisburg Magazine readers recently selected McKonly & Asbury as a “Readers’ Choice” Accountant winner. This long-standing award invites readers to participate in a 3-month poll to select the best local businesses in various categories.
“We are incredibly grateful to receive this award, and for the recognition by the community, which acknowledges our commitment to providing unparalleled accounting and business advisory services,” said Michael Hoffner, McKonly & Asbury’s Managing Partner. “This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our client-focused staff and their devotion to delivering value to our clients.”
McKonly & Asbury has been honored to be chosen in past years, both as “Simply the Best” and “Readers’ Choice” winners.
SEDA-COG Hires New Community Development Staff
SEDA-COG recently welcomed three new staff in the community development program.
Aaron Crawford joined the Community Development staff as a program analyst. He has experience in project management, public speaking, grant writing, and local government work. He graduated in April 2020 with a master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh in public administration, with a major in public and non-profit management, with a minor in urban affairs and planning.
Susan Martin was hired as a program assistant in the community development program. She has experience with housing programs through the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. Susan has an associate’s degree from Olean Business Institute.
Nadine Simpson joined the community development program as a program assistant. She is taking classes in environmental science at Southern New Hampshire University. She has experience in management and customer service experience.
SEDA-COG is a community and economic development agency in Lewisburg and is one of seven Local Development Districts in Pennsylvania. SEDA-COG enhances the quality of life and economic advantage for residents and businesses in the 11 central Pennsylvania counties through its vital partnerships and initiatives.
As employers of all types and sizes continue to struggle to fill open positions, The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce is joining other chambers from across the state in calling on agencies and officials for policy changes. Among the issues keeping people from reentering the workforce are UC fraud and extended benefits, child care, and skills training. Chambers will be discussing a unified platform and meeting with representatives of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, State Treasurer, Attorney General, and Auditor General next week.
While the $300 per week federal unemployment bonus payment is scheduled to end September 6th, employers are not seeing a rush of people applying for positions. Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate was at 6.6% for July, compared to a national rate of 5.4%. Attendance at the NPBC job fair held at the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds on August 28th was light and participating employers reported many incidents of people not showing up for interviews, performing poorly in interviews, and declining offers since the active work search requirement was reinstated. Legislation is being drafted that would make an individual ineligible for benefits if they discourage their own hire by such activities.
For parents, ever-changing school schedules throughout the pandemic and child care availability create work-related challenges. Affordable, quality early child care and education allows parents to be more active in the workforce now, and helps prepare children for a lifetime of learning and socialization. The Chamber has been a member of the Columbia Montour Early Learning Investment Committee since its inception in order to understand the challenges of providing quality child care and education and is developing an advocacy platform to encourage long-term improvements to the system.
People willing and able to reenter the workforce often need training to meet the needs of employers. Using funds from the federal recovery programs, The Chamber has assisted with the development of basic employability skills and skilled trades training programs. Employers have identified additional training needs and workforce funding policies need to be revised so that these programs can be sustainable and expanded.
Other opportunities to strengthen the workforce include people incarcerated in state facilities or on probation at the local level. The Chamber is in discussions about consistent programs to encourage and assist these individuals in entering the workforce and connect them with local employers.
“There is no magic bullet for solving the workforce needs of our employers, but we have to be more aggressive in dealing with the underlying issues,” said Fred Gaffney, Chamber President. “A coalition of chambers from across the state is amplifying the calls from our members for long-term policy changes in order to strengthen Pennsylvania’s economy.”
A new grant program for small businesses in Columbia County will begin accepting applications on Wednesday, September 1st. The Columbia County Commissioners are providing qualifying small businesses a grant to assist in covering the business’ operating expenses incurred in 2021. Operating expenses include but are not limited to: payroll, rent, mortgage, utilities, costs of goods, supplies, raw materials, etc. Grant proceeds may not be used to acquire another business entity. $1,250,000 will be made available for the Columbia County Commissioners Small Business Grant.
Eligible businesses must have experienced a net reduction in revenue of at least 25% in calendar year 2020 compared to calendar year 2019.
Grants will be awarded on a first come, first served basis until all grant funds are awarded. Grants are to be awarded in $4,000 increments. No awarded grant will exceed $40,000.
Additional details and the application link are available at csgiving.org/cccsbg.