With businesses across the Commonwealth continuing to struggle as the economy re-opens, more than 35 local chambers from across the state joined with the PA Chamber for the 2021 Chamber Day. The annual event, which is co-hosted by the PA Chamber of Business and Industry and the Pennsylvania Association of Chamber Professionals, provides a forum for constructive dialogue between local chamber officials and state policymakers on issues important to the state’s business community.

“State government has never had more of an impact on business operations than over the past fifteen months,” said Fred Gaffney, Chamber President and chair of the Chamber Day Committee. “We were glad to provide members the opportunity to hear from legislators and the Governor about the issues we’re working on. Clearly, Governor Wolf needs to hear directly from the business community about the challenges employers are facing.”

 In a departure from past Chamber Days, this year’s event was held virtually.  Over the course of two days, participants met with several state elected officials, including: Governor Tom Wolf; Senate Majority Whip John Gordner, R-Columbia; House Majority Whip Donna Oberlander, R-Clarion; Senate Majority Caucus Secretary and Prioritize PA leader Sen. Ryan Aument, R-Lancaster; House Majority Caucus Chair George Dunbar, R-Westmoreland; House Democratic Transportation Committee Chair Mike Carroll, D-Luzerne; Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Chair Gene Yaw, R-Bradford; House Economic Recovery Task Force Leader Rep. Aaron Kaufer, R-Luzerne; and Rep. Pam Snyder, D-Greene.  Panel discussions also included representatives from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Pennsylvania’s Independent Fiscal Office and the Associated Pennsylvania Constructors.

The event featured policy discussions on a variety of critical topics, including: the upcoming 2021-22 state budget; Pennsylvania’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic; transportation funding and energy policy on both the state and federal level.

From My Benefit Advisor

Employees and those looking for work in today’s environment have more options at their disposal than perhaps ever before.  There exists a wide range of occupations, employer locations, industry types and work arrangements available to each worker.  This allows an individual the ability to be more selective in choosing where they will work, why they want to work there and how long they plan to stay there.  And although each individual’s criteria is often unique and varied, there are many common concerns that tend to be shared among workers.  Understanding these common issues is a critical component of creating a workplace that attracts and sustains a vibrant and growing workforce.

The term “employer of choice” is often used to describe such a company and for the employer, achieving such a status can be very advantageous.  The benefits can include increased productivity, the ability to attract and retain top talent and a healthier workplace culture, all of which can help improve the company’s bottom line.    To become an employer of choice, the company leader(s) should fine-tune their corporate culture, branding, recruitment and retention strategies by targeting several of the following key aspects to set them above their peers:

• Job Security…employees want to be sure that their employer is in a sound financial condition and that they don’t need to worry about layoffs or downsizing.
• Opportunity for Growth…by helping employees map a strategic career path, employers of choice encourage their staff to develop their skills and careers by providing them with performance development planning, training opportunities and the resources needed to advance.
• Respect and Fair Treatment…It is not reality to expect employees and their employer to agree in all matters, but their differences of opinion should always be respected.  Employers should develop policies with fairness in mind, treating everyone equally and without bias.
• Recognition of Performance…employers of choice provide employee recognition to employees achieving performance successes and for those exhibiting positive, desired behaviors.
• Employee Input and Empowerment…Employees are more apt to feel invested in a company when they feel that leadership values their input into company processes, policies, and allow them to control their choices and make decisions.
• A Well-Rounded Benefit Package…The impact of the COVID pandemic has caused many employees to reconsider their priorities when it comes to choosing benefits.  Employers who have offered traditional benefit packages until recently are finding they may no longer be the employer of choice with an outdated benefit portfolio that doesn’t meet the evolving needs of their workers.  Inclusion of income protection (short- and long-term disability coverage), critical Illness and hospital indemnity programs, an expansion of mental health coverage and financial wellness programs could go a long way in helping your business stand out.

It’s no easy task to continually maintaining these programs while staying within budgetary restraints, but the employer who does so will not only win the loyalty of their employees, but better position themselves as an employer of choice going forward.

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 Tanya Ruiz at (800) 377-3539.

Bason Coffee is Turning 10!

June is Bason Coffee‘s birthday month and they want to give back to its customers to say THANK YOU! Thank you for your support through the past 10 crazy years. Whether it be supporting Bason Coffee at the Lewisburg Market, the Bloomsburg Fair or just being a regular at the store in Danville.

On June 19, Bason Coffee will have a parking lot event with food, beverages and fun for everyone. 

With that being said…. each Saturday in the month of June they will be doing something outside or in store.

June 19~ Parking Lot Event! Come enjoy a grilled cheese from the Grilled Cheese Cafe 2, grab a sweet treat from Four Girls Bakery, have the kids enjoy an activity from the Bloomsburg Children’s Museum, and for the parents enjoy a nice drink from Rock God Brewing. It will be a fun day for sure… did I mention anyone who shops in the store that day will be entered to win some prizes too?!

June 26~ Danville Downtown Spring Fling, come visit Bason Coffee down on Mill Street and see many other vendors as well. The Danville store will be open from 8:30a-3p.

What a whirlwind it was on Saturday, June 12 as they gave away 200 Chicken BBQ dinners for the community in 40 minutes with the help of Friendship Fire Company Station 10. The Chicken BBQ took place in Bason’s parking lot with Friendship Fire Company serving the meals. Friendship Fire Company also was fortunate to have folks make generous donations towards their new ladder truck.

Bason Coffee is celebrating its 10th birthday this month by finding ways to say thank you to all of the amazing customers. Come join the festivities this weekend and next as they continue to celebrate with its customers and community.

Bloomsburg Town Park Announces its 2021 Summer Concert Series

Wednesday, June 16 McNett Country- Traditional and Contemporary Country Music
Wednesday, June 23 Greenwood Valley Boys- Traditional Bluegrass music
Wednesday, June 30 Coast Two Coast- A trio playing music from the 50’s to the present
Wednesday, July 7 Memory Lane- Music of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s
Wednesday, July 14 BC Combo*- Bringing 30 years of experience & passion to Blues, Jazz, Swing, Folk, R&B & Soul
Wednesday, July 21 Clickard Consortium- A 10-piece ensemble playing swing to modern jazz
Wednesday, July 28 Gift, Troutman and Gift- vocal harmonies from the 40’s to the present
Thursday, August 5 64th Annual Ice Cream and Cake Festival with the Catawissa Military Band. Come and enjoy
this traditional community event with food, games, music, entertainment and fun for all!
All concert times are 7:00 – 8:30
* Sponsored in part by The Exchange

On Tuesday, June 15^th, Governor Tom Wolf’s administration certified the results of the May primary election, resulting in the end of the disaster emergency declaration in Pennsylvania. While the Legislature has extended some regulatory waivers until September 30^th, benefits afforded to establishments with liquor licenses, including drinks to go, have now ended. Three bills are now being considered in the Senate that would extend these benefits. The Chamber’s Board of Directors is supporting all three of the original House proposals.

• House Bill 1154 would allow licensed establishments to sell prepared beverages and mixed drinks for off-premises consumption permanently. The bill was introduced by Representative Kurt Masser and co-sponsored by Representative David Millard. It passed the House by a vote of 187-14 and Governor Wolf stated he would immediately sign the version passed by the House. A Senate committee added language that has now jeopardized the Governor’s support.
• House Bill 425, co-sponsored by Rep. Millard, would allow a licensed premises to be extended to outside serving areas that are immediately adjacent to or within 1000 feet of the licensed building through 2022. This bill passed the House unanimously and the language has now been incorporated into H.B. 1154.
• House Bill 427 would increase the discount of liquor to licensed establishments to 15% for a period of three years following the end of the disaster declaration. This legislation was also co-sponsored by Rep. Millard and passed the House unanimously.

With workforce shortages causing businesses to reduce hours and services and outsource work, and the resulting supply chain issues, the Chamber’s Board of Directors is calling for an end to the $300 per week federal Unemployment Compensation bonus payments as soon as possible. Currently, the weekly bonus is scheduled to end in early September, though 26 states have opted to end the benefits sooner. Legislation is currently being considered in Harrisburg that would also end the bonus payments in Pennsylvania, and offer return to work bonuses. This week, the Chamber Board voted unanimously in opposition of reentry bonuses.

House Bill 508 would provide a $300 bonus after four and eight weeks of employment. Senate Bill 699 would provide a $1,000 bonus to individuals returning to work after four weeks of employment. In addition to the unanimous vote by the Board, the Chamber has received feedback from members of all sizes expressing concerns over the appropriateness of return to work bonuses.

“The UC bonus and stimulus payments have been disincentivizing people from returning to work for months,” said Chamber president Fred Gaffney. “With good paying jobs available throughout the state, the government needs to recognize that it is hindering economic recovery. Businesses should not have to compete with the UC system for employees.”

On June 14th, the town’s new parking application went live, which allows residents, employees and visitors to pay by smartphone.  Citizens now have the opportunity to download the free Pango Parking App and pay to park using a credit card. There will be a convenience fee to use the App. You will need to download the app from your App store or set up an account with Pango at www.mypango.com.  

• A Pay-by-Phone credit card option is available if you do not have a smartphone.
• Signs will be located throughout town to notify you in which Pango Zone you are parked. There will be 14 Zones throughout Bloomsburg.
• When you choose the zone in the App, the screen will advise you of the costs, time restrictions and choices for length of stay.
• You will be able to add time from a remote location as long as it does not exceed any
restrictions in that zone.
• If you drive multiple vehicles you can add them all in the App but must choose the correct
license plate when you pay to park. Enforcement is done by license plate.
• Meters will remain as a coin choice at many spaces. You do not have to pay the meter if you
choose to use the App. If you do not use the app you must park and pay at a meter.

From PA Chamber of Business & Industry

The state legislature flexed its new constitutional authority last week and voted to end Governor Tom Wolf’s ongoing COVID-19 Disaster Emergency Declaration.  The concurrent resolution received bipartisan votes in both chambers, with one Democrat joining all 28 Republicans and one Independent in the Senate and eight Democrats voting with all 113 Republicans in the House to approve the measure.

During floor remarks, Republicans argued that with a majority of the Wolf administration’s mitigation orders having already been lifted, an increase in the number of vaccinations and a decrease in COVID caseloads, an emergency declaration was no longer necessary.  The administration – which had strongly opposed giving the General Assembly the authority to end emergency declarations with a simple majority – and legislative Democrats raised concern over the future of programs and federal funding that tied to the emergency declaration.

To that point, the General Assembly also passed legislation – which the governor signed into law – that extends the regulatory flexibility the administration utilized over the past year as part of the disaster declaration.  This extension lasts until Sept. 30. 

May Primary Election voters approved two changes to the state’s constitution as it relates to a governor’s emergency powers.  The first measure gives the General Assembly the ability to end or extend an emergency disaster declaration by a simple majority vote. The second measure would limit emergency disaster declarations to 21 days, but allow the General Assembly to approve an extension via a concurrent resolution.  Prior to these changes, governors could issue an emergency declaration for up to 90 days and extend it indefinitely, and the General Assembly could only end a declaration by a 2/3 majority vote.  The PA Chamber had supported the constitutional amendments as a way to restore checks and balances to the emergency declaration process.

The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce is spotlighted in the latest edition of SECV8’s In Your Neighborhood program. Host Chris O’Rourke interviewed Chamber President Fred Gaffney about the organization’s activities since the pandemic began, and how the Chamber is looking to help members and the general business community going forward. 

The episode will air every Wednesday at 6:30 and 9:30 p.m., every Friday at 5:30 and 9:30 p.m., every Saturday at 1 and 4:30 p.m., and every Sunday at 1, 5, and 9:30 p.m. through the month of June.

Pennsylvania’s new unemployment benefits system is now online and accepting claims at benefits.uc.pa.gov.

The new unemployment system replaces a 40-year-old outdated mainframe that made filing for unemployment benefits complicated for users and processing benefits cumbersome for staff. The new system makes filing for benefits easier and faster for claimants. Staff will need less time to process claims, which is expected to help reduce the number of claimants waiting for their claim to be processed.

These changes will allow employers to:

• Receive important information and notices via a dashboard.
• View all notices of separations, dates of appeal hearings, and UC correspondence in real-time.
• Have greater oversight, faster response time, and better communication regarding changes in information.