U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

USG + U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION INDEX - 2020
 
March 31 - The USG + U.S. Chamber of Commerce Commercial Construction Index (CCI) is a quarterly economic index designed to gauge the outlook for, and resulting confidence in, the commercial construction industry.
Recognizing a need to highlight the important contributions of this sector to the nation's economy, USG Corporation and the U.S. Chamber partnered to produce this first-of-its-kind index.

Each quarter, contractors across the country are surveyed in order to better understand their levels of confidence in the industry and top-of-mind concerns. To read the full report, please visit  U.S. Chamber Q1 Commercial Construction Index.

For more information from the US Chamber, please visit:  United State Chamber of Commerce
PENNSYLVANIA CHAMBER OF BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY

BILL TO RELAX REGULATIONS, IMPROVE ECONOMY ADVANCES IN THE STATE HOUSE

April 13 -  Last week, the House State Government Committee approved legislation that would establish a process for the state Independent Regulatory Review Commission to review regulatory actions.
 
House Bill 1874  was authored in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in an effort to alleviate regulatory burdens and help the state's economy get back on track.  In the current version of the bill that was amended in committee, the legislation would allow for regulated entities to petition the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Documents to review a regulatory action including any policy guideline or permit. The Joint Committee would then determine if the action must be submitted as a regulation. Following this determination, entities would not have to comply with the requirements associated with the action unless they are approved by the Independent Regulatory Review Commission as a separate regulation.
 
The PA Chamber supports this measure, as it allows for greater oversite of how state agencies utilize regulatory actions.  This legislation enhances the Independent Regulatory Review Commission's ability to ensure that state agencies aren't overreaching in their interpretations of approved regulations in an attempt to achieve specific goals outside the regulatory process.
 
House Bill 1874 now awaits further consideration by the full House.

For more information from the PA Chamber, please visit:  PA Chamber of Business and Industry

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF PHILADELPHIA
ECONOMIC NEWS
TRI-STATE TRACKING
 
April 3, 2020 - The Philadelphia Fed has updated its monthly Tri-State Tracking series that provides statewide summaries of economic conditions using monthly and quarterly data of employment, housing, and personal income. The latest update includes monthly data for employment and building permits through February 2020, mortgage delinquencies through January 2020, and quarterly data for house prices and personal income through the fourth quarter of 2019.

Read the reports:

MOST CURRENT MANUFACTURING INDICATORS REACH LONG-TERM LOWS IN APRIL

April 16, 2020 - Manufacturing firms reported continued weakening in regional manufacturing activity this month, according to results from the  Manufacturing Business Outlook Survey. The diffusion index for current activity declined strikingly for the second consecutive month from -12.7 in March to -56.6 this month. The survey's future indexes, however, remained elevated, suggesting that respondents expect growth in manufacturing activity to pick back up over a horizon of six months. To read the full report, please visit:  April 2020 Manufacturing Business Outlook Survey

For more information from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, please visit:  Philadephia Fed

 
PENNSYLVANIA MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATION (PMA)
PMA PERSPECTIVE: PA ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATE

PMA's Carl Marrara interviews Joe Eddy, retired President and CEO of Eagle Manufacturing, about Shale Crescent USA's study showing $1.1 trillion in energy savings due to natural gas production in the PA-OH-WV tri-state region. David N. Taylor then hosts a newsmaker interview with Joe McGinn, Vice President of Public Affairs for Energy Transfer Partners, about the importance of the Mariner East II pipeline project and the ongoing efforts to build an energy hub in Marcus Hook, PA. To watch the video, please visit:  PMA Perspective: PA Energy Infrastructure Update .
   
For more information from Pennsylvania Manufacturer's Association, please visit:   PMA

 
TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT
ASSOCIATION OF CHESTER COUNTY (TMACC)

SEPTA - LIFELINE SERVICE SCHEDULE

New Lifeline service schedules, now in effect, focus on providing access for essential workers traveling to hospitals, grocery stores and other life-sustaining services. 
 
All other customers are urged to stay home unless traveling for urgent personal business such as medical appointments or food shopping. To view the updated schedule, please visit:  SEPTA - Service Schedule

For more information from Transportation Management Association of Chester County, please visit:  TMACC

 
THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR GREATER PHILADELPHIA
COVID-19 LEGISLATIVE UPDATES: ROUNDUP OF FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL ACTIONS
KEY TAKEAWAYS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
FEDERAL
  • The Payment Protection Program (PPP), a key pillar of the CARES Act, may require supplemental funding from Congress due to the current and projected small business demand for loans through the program.
  • The additional $250 billion for the PPP called for by Senate Republican leaders will be supported by Congressional Democratic leadership if it includes support to nonprofits, women-, minority-, and veteran-owned small businesses, PPE equipment and other resources for hospitals, state and local government support, and a SNAP benefit increase.
  • Congressional leaders are working with the White House on the fourth round of coronavirus response legislation in hopes they will have something ready for consideration when Congress returns from recess on April 20.
  • The Chamber issued a statement to our regional congressional delegation last week urging a balanced approach to the next phases of stimulus.
STATE
  • The Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee approved an amended Senate Bill 613 to provide a way for businesses that follow federal safety recommendations to reopen.
  • The Chamber coordinated the effort to have over 40 local chambers of commerce statewide sign a letter to Governor Wolf requesting that the Administration allow more businesses to operate under CISA and CDC guidelines.
  • The Pennsylvania House passed SB 327 to create a 23-member Interbranch COVID-19 Cost and Recovery Task Force to track and manage recovery plans.
  • Pennsylvania House Democrats are circulating a plan to reopen the Working Capital Loan program.
  • The Senate approved emergency measures (SB 841) this week to help local governments respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency through greater flexibility on property tax deadlines, allow local governments to conduct remote meetings, and authorize remote notarization activities.
  • A bill was introduced to aid businesses closed by the Governor's COVID-19 order to provide economic assistance similar to that provided by business interruption insurance, which does not typically cover governmental proclamations or pandemics.
LOCAL
  • The Kenney administration will submit a revised budget and Five Year Plan to City Council because of the economic impact of COVID-19.
  • The City has reached a tentative agreement on a one-year contract extension with District Council 47 and continues negotiations with District Council 33 and Local 22 are continuing.
  • The Chamber continues to host virtual gatherings with members of City Council to give Chamber members the opportunity to learn more about how Councilmembers are responding to COVID-19.
  • The City continues to provide resources for residents and businesses to stay informed during the COVID-19 crisis.
To review the entire update, please visit:  COVID-19 Legislative Updates

 For more information from Grow PA - Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, please visit:  Grow PA

 
CHESTER COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
NEW VISION PARTNERSHIP AWARDS

Funding has been awarded to seven municipal projects in the first round of the Vision Partnership Program (VPP) for 2020, which will help advance community projects such as comprehensive plans, ordinance updates, and other planning studies. Demand was high this grant cycle, with over $368,000 in support requested. Due to rollover funds from past cycles and projects coming in under budget, more $200,000 was available for projects, which enabled grants to multiple, but not all, applicants.

Awards were provided for Coatesville (zoning ordinance update), East Nantmeal Township (historic resource survey), London Britain Township (subdivision and land development ordinance update), Malvern (comprehensive plan), Phoenixville (comprehensive plan), West Bradford Township (open space, recreation, and environmental resources plan), and West Grove (comprehensive plan). The awarded projects will help these communities address existing challenges and identify their future visions and actions to achieve those, all within a context of public and stakeholder engagement.

Projects are anticipated to kick-off later in 2020. Congratulations to these seven municipalities on their planning project awards! To view the full article, please visit:  New Vision Partnership Award

For more information from the Chester County Planning Commission, please visit:  Chesco Planning

 
CHESTER COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
GLOBAL BUSINESS ADVISORY BOARD HELPS DELAWARE VALLEY COMPANIES WITH AN INTERNATIONAL FOOTPRINT

While it may come as no surprise that the Covid-19 pandemic has created a devastating impact on companies across the region; it has created especially unique challenges for those with an international footprint. Their supply chains and ability to serve their clients have been disrupted. Their international strategies have been completely turned upside down.

For businesses facing these challenges, the Global Business Advisory Board is here to help.
GBA is a key program of the Chester County Economic Development Council serving the interest of companies across South East Pennsylvania seeking advice, guidance, market entry and expansion into the international marketplace. To read the full article, please visit:  CCEDC Global Advisory Board

For more information from Chester County Economic Development Council, please visit their website:   CCEDC

 
WORLD TRADE CENTER OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA
US TRADE UPDATE: CANADA APPROVES USMCA

March 17 - All parties, the United States, Canada, and Mexico, have all now approved the USMCA.  This allows the deal to move on to the  next phase . 
During this phase, all three countries must work out how they will abide by the obligations outlined in the deal.  This phase will require parties to discuss internally and between each other and should take several months.  The Trump administration is aiming for an entry-in-to-force by  June . While this is not impossible it is very ambitious.  The USMCA is on course to be implemented, but it will take time before it is fully enacted. For more information, please visit:  Canada Approves USMCA

For more information from the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia, please visit:  WTCGP

 
U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
LOOKING FRESH AT SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISE EXPORTS TO CHINA

March 31 - The U.S. Government and  U.S. Small Business Administration
 are here to assist you with going global and increase sales to China or expand into other markets. As has been widely publicized, under the landmark U.S.-China Phase One Economic and Trade Agreement, China committed to importing no less than $200 billion of U.S. goods and services in specific areas on top of the amounts imported in 2017. 

U.S. small businesses should also know that China recently began accepting online applications for exclusions from China's Section 301 retaliatory tariffs on many of the U.S. goods that China has committed to purchase.  Applications for exclusions can be submitted by China-based importers. To read the full article, please visit:  A Fresh Look at Small and Medium Enterprise Exports to China

For more information from the U.S. Small Business Administration, please visit:  US SBA
Subscribe to The Reporter
The Reporter  is a pro-business e-publication developed by the Community and Government Relations Committee (CGRC) of the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce (SCCCC)

The CGRC collaborates with business leaders, industry professionals and government officials on relevant topics that are important to our members' bottom line, serve to keep members informed on emerging issues at the local, state and federal levels, and benefit the broader business community. All information contained in this e-publication is being provided to Chamber membership and the business community for information purposes only and the CGRC and/or the SCCCC does not necessarily endorse or recommend any of the opinions or positions expressed therein.

Although every reasonable effort is made to present current and accurate information, the CGRC and the SCCCC makes no guarantees of any kind with respect to the information provided. We look forward to providing newsworthy and timely pro-business facts, figures and information to our readers. Questions can be directed to the Chamber at 610-444-0774 or CGRC Chairman, Doug Doerfler (Genesis).