Volume 4 | Issue 3 | March 10, 2021 |
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From the Desk of the Chairman
COMMUNITY & GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE
Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce
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Dear Members and Friends,
In preparation for this month’s Reporter welcome, I glanced back at some previous March issues to see what themes I referenced.
2017’s March letter was about preparing for the unexpected, and how a constant state of readiness can help business owners make better informed decisions when things don’t go the way they were supposed to. 2018’s was about embracing change, as I was passing the torch of Chairmanship of the Community and Government Relations committee. With change comes fear and uncertainty, but also such great opportunity.
If the last year (almost to the day I am writing this) has taught us anything, it’s that those two things hold true – change is constant, and much of that change is due to the unexpected. As individuals, I have been so impressed by the resilience, innovation, perseverance and grit I have seen from so many of my friends and neighbors. And as a community, we should be proud of the countless ways we have cared for and supported each other. I’m not sure any of us were prepared for the magnitude of the unexpected that we were dealt, but were collectively drawn to a mission of response that helped our entire region.
Now is the time to do some things differently, to take different approaches, to even shift business models and change the way we do business. Now is not the time to stop thinking creatively, looking for the positive, and supporting our community members. The unexpected can make us feel alone. But based on what I have seen from all of you over the last year, we won’t let anyone actually be alone.
As always, let the Community and Government Relations Committee help you navigate your way through change or the unexpected! We want to hear from you on what we can share with business leaders and elected officials. Let us know how we can best work with local officials to promote our business community and most importantly, our Members. Don’t hesitate to reach out to the Chamber at 610-444-0774 or to me directly at 610-925-4206 if you have questions or comments.
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Doug Doerfler, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, Committee Chairman
Community & Government Relations Committee
Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce
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COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE MEMBERS |
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Doug Doerfler, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, Genesis - Chairman
Donna Hosler Charlton, Office Elf Bookkeeping
Bob Cox, OAD Mid-Atlantic
Liz Ferry, Chamber of Commerce Greater Phila.
Christine Gordon, CRPC, Merrill Lynch
Alex Halper, PA Chamber of Business & Industry
Susan Hamley, CCCVB
James T. Horn, The Tri-M Group, LLC
Cheryl B. Kuhn, IOM, SCCCC
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John Lawrence, PA State Representative
Robert Listerman, BTR Security
MaryFrances McGarrity, CCEDC
Dennis Melton, Melton Architects
Ashley Miscevich, SCCCC
Tim Moore, Exelon Generation
Tim Phelps, TMACC
Christina Sappey, PA State Representative
James E. Turner, Chester Water Authority
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Senate Bill 69: Recovery-To-Work Pilot Program |
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Short Title: An Act establishing Recovery-to-work as a pilot program within the Department of Labor and Industry; and providing for local recovery-to-work pilot programs, for incentives to encourage business participation and for powers and duties of the Department of Labor and Industry.
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Posted: December 1, 2020 10:24 AM
To: All Senate members
Subject: Recovery to Work Pilot Program
The goal of the pilot program is to connect individuals in recovery with occupations through local workforce development boards. An important, yet often overlooked, side effect of this epidemic is the vicious cycle that many individuals fall into when trying to find, secure, and maintain steady employment with a history of a substance use disorder. Meaningful employment is essential to an individual’s long-term recovery as it provides a renewed sense of purpose and will help make for a healthier and more prosperous community.
The pilot program will be spearheaded by the Department of Labor & Industry with the assistance of the Department of Health, the Department of Community and Economic Development, the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, and the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. These departments will develop a plan for the local workforce development boards to work with the treatment and recovery community as well as local employers and training providers to offer job training and employment opportunities to individuals in recovery.
Since the local workforce development boards will be leading the implementation of the pilot program, the strategies will be locally focused to meet the needs of local employers and the local treatment and recovery community. Additionally, the legislation will provide incentives for businesses and training providers to participate in the program.
Pennsylvania is heading in the right direction with our continued attention to this serious epidemic. As we continue to focus on identifying risk-factors, treating those with serious substance use disorders and working to end the epidemic in the Commonwealth, we need to provide options for the future of those who we are helping.
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Senate Bill 147: Workers' Compensation Act |
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Short Title: An Act amending the act of June 2, 1915 (P.L.736, No.338), known as the Workers' Compensation Act, in health and safety, further providing for certification of safety committee.
Last Action: First consideration, Feb. 23, 2021 [Senate]
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Posted: January 6, 2021 01:28 PM
To: All Senate members
Subject: Incorporating Risks of Opioid Use into Workers’ Compensation Safety Committee Requirements
This legislation will require employers who have a certified safety committee as part of their workers’ compensation program to include information about the risks associated with the use of opioids.
Currently, the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Law allows employers to receive a discount of five-percent on their workers’ compensation insurance premium if they establish a certified safety committee within their workplace. Safety committees are to be developed for the purpose of hazard detection and accident protection. An employer must provide annual verification to the Department of Labor and Industry that the safety committee continues to be operative and meets the outlined certification requirements.
Under my legislation, an employer would need to incorporate material to employees on the risks associated with the use of opioids as part of their safety committee to be certified and receive the rate discount. We must continue to be vigilant in addressing our serious heroin and opioid epidemic from all angles using a multi-faceted approach. I see this small step to incentivize employers to educate their workforce as another tool in the toolbox to end this serious crisis.
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House Bill 262: Protection from Employer Required Mandatory
Medical Testing & Vaccination
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Short Title: An Act providing for the right of an employee or prospective employee to refuse to participate in an invasive medical test or vaccination required by an employer.
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Posted: January 13, 2021 03:56 PM
To: All House members
Subject: Right to Refuse Act (Former HB 2731)
This legislation is intended to enshrine the right to refuse invasive medical screenings and vaccinations in state law and provide civil damages for employees whose rights are violated. An employee’s body is their own, and employers should not be permitted to require invasive medical tests or vaccinations as a condition of employment.
Under this legislation, an employee would also be able to sue an employer for reinstatement, triple the amount of lost wages, reasonable attorney fees, and any other relief the court deems appropriate if the employee suffers discrimination or retaliation from the employer for refusing a invasive medical test or vaccination, or for informing other employees about the provisions of the Act.
Exceptions would be retained for some specific medical testing required by state or federal law, testing for illegal use of drugs (except marijuana), and testing necessary to comply with federal OSHA requirements.
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We encourage you to use the links below to contact your representatives and
build support around our pro-business efforts.
CONTACT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS:
2020 Legislation Enacted - PA General Assembly
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FROM OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS |
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Chester County Commissioners' Message - March 4th |
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As we continue to navigate the pandemic, the spotlight is now well and truly on the COVID-19 vaccination program. Nationally, state-wide, and here in Chester County.
Last week, we held a public update and a press briefing to share our COVID-19 vaccine numbers. Numbers that clarified that Chester County has not been receiving the vaccine doses that we have been requesting and that we deserve.
Our overriding message during our press briefing was an urgent call to the PA Department of Health to give Chester County our fair share of the vaccine. We aren’t asking for more than other counties in the state, based on population, but at the very least, the same amount of doses, given the large number of people who live and work here.
We also implored the State to recognize the value of county health departments in supporting the roll-out of the vaccine, and especially the planning and investment made by the Chester County Health Department, which can help tremendously in getting the vaccine to everyone in the county.
Our message, and the facts that support the message – that Chester County, along with Bucks, Delaware and Montgomery Counties are being short-changed on vaccine doses – were noted by Inquirer columnist Maria Panaritis. Her article, combined with the collective voices of the three of us and our colleagues in Bucks, Montgomery and Delaware Counties, are being noticed in Harrisburg. The communication lines with the PA Department of Health have opened up. State health officials have acknowledged the inequality in vaccine distribution to our region.
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Chester County Commissioners' COVID-19 Update
Press Conference February 25th
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CHESTER COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION |
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Planning Commission Releases 2020 Annual Report |
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While this past year proved to be a challenge on many levels, the Planning Commission quickly pivoted in mid-March to working remotely and holding virtual meetings with stakeholders by utilizing webinars, public hearings, and many municipal outreach initiatives to continue the implementation of the six goal areas of Landscapes3. The Chester County Planning Commission presented a summary of their yearly activities to the Chester County Board of Commissioners with the release of their 2020 Annual Report. View the report.
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Act 247 Online Submissions Now Required |
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The Planning Commission now requires all Act 247 proposals to be submitted through the online Chester County Self-Service (CSS) portal. The CSS portal allows for electronic submissions of land developments, subdivisions, ordinances, and plans, and makes the review submission process more convenient for municipal officials and staff, engineers, and solicitors. Additionally, this process helps to streamline the proposals and limit face-to-face interactions during the COVID-19 pandemic. View the portal to learn more.
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eTools Address Chesco’s Evolving Housing Needs |
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A greater diversity of housing types such as modern apartments, townhouses, condominiums, and carriage homes have popped up across Chester County in recent decades. While many of these options appeal to a specific demographic, additional types of housing must be considered throughout our communities in order to meet the needs of everyone. Learn more about how to implement housing diversity through affordably priced homes (such as manufactured homes and mobile home parks).
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For more information from the Chester County Planning Commission, please visit: Chesco Planning
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CHESTER COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (CCEDC) |
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CCEDC’s President & CEO Gary Smith Named to
Power 100 By Philadelphia Business Journal
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EXTON, PA – March 2, 2021 – Gary W. Smith, President and CEO of the Chester County Economic Development Council, has once again been named to the Philadelphia metro area’s listing of the Power 100 published by the Philadelphia Business Journal.
Smith is one of five leaders from businesses and organizations in Chester County named to the annual list. He is joined by Tim Buckley, Chairman and CEO of Vanguard Group; Steven Collis, Chairman and CEO of AmerisourceBergen Corp.; Christopher Fiorentino, President of West Chester University; and Paul Redman, President and CEO of Longwood Gardens. To read the full article, please visit CCEDC’s President & CEO Gary Smith Named to Power 100 By Philadelphia Business Journal
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For more information from the Chester County Economic Development Council, please visit: CCEDC
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TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT
ASSOCIATION OF CHESTER COUNTY (TMACC)
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For more information from Transportation Management Association of Chester County, please visit: TMACC
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PA CHAMBER OF BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY |
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State Minimum Wage Report Highlights
Actual Demographics of Minimum Wage Earners
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HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry President and CEO Gene Barr issued the following statement regarding the recent publication of the PA Department of Labor and Industry’s "2021 Minimum Wage Report."
“For years, advocates have politicized the minimum wage issue, touting it as the panacea to helping low-income Pennsylvania families out of poverty. However, the state Department of Labor and Industry’s 2021 Minimum Wage Report reveals important data that demonstrates why focusing on this policy is misguided. According to the report, 84 percent of minimum wage earners have no children; 34 percent have family incomes of $75,000, with 22 percent over $100,000; and nearly 70 percent are younger than 25 years old.
“Lawmakers should focus on developing thoughtful public policies that target assistance to low-income families and don’t risk negative impact on jobs. We continually hear from our broad-based membership – particularly small businesses – that these mandates have real-world consequences for both the employer and their workforce. A recent study by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found that an increase to $15 an hour would lead to the loss of 1.4 million jobs nationwide, around 500,000 more than the number of people the CBO projects will be helped out of poverty.
“The current proposal on the table would be especially difficult for restaurants, many of whom are barely surviving after business shutdown orders and capacity restrictions. The proposed elimination of the tipped wage system means many would somehow have to manage a roughly 240 percent increase in labor costs in just a few months. Advocates for this proposal are either disconnected from reality or indifferent to the plight of these struggling small business owners and their workers.
“No one disputes that some individuals benefit from mandated wage increases; but the fact is, others end up being hurt – including some of the very people advocates claim they want to help. We are urging lawmakers to put political differences aside and focus on alternative proposals that help struggling families and Pennsylvania’s small businesses. Read the full article, State Minimum Wage Report Highlights Actual Demographics of Minimum Wage Earners
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FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF PHILADELPHIA
ECONOMIC NEWS
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Recent Data on Mortgage Forbearance:
Borrower Uptake and Understanding of Lender Accommodations
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This research brief examines data relating to mortgage forbearance using responses to the January 2021 COVID-19 Survey of Consumers conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia’s Consumer Finance Institute. We study a national sample of 1,172 homeowners with mortgages, who reported the current and past forbearance status of their mortgage and other household credit accounts, discussed their familiarity with and understanding of lender accommodations that might be available to them, and provided their demographic characteristics. Respondents characterize their current employment and loan characteristics, as well as past difficulty making payments or disruptions in employment experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. To read the full article, please visit Recent Data on Mortgage Forbearance: Borrower Uptake and Understanding of Lender Accommodations
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Survey of Professional Forecasters - 1st Quarter of 2021 |
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The Survey of Professional Forecasters is the oldest quarterly survey of macroeconomic forecasts in the United States. The survey began in 1968 and was conducted by the American Statistical Association and the National Bureau of Economic Research. The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia took over the survey in 1990.
The Survey of Professional Forecasters' web page offers the actual releases, documentation, mean and median forecasts of all the respondents as well as the individual responses from each economist. The individual responses are kept confidential by using identification numbers. To read the full report, please visit Survey of Professional Forecasters - 1st Quarter of 2021
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Does CFPB Oversight Crimp Credit? |
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We study how regulatory oversight by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) affects mortgage credit supply and other aspects of bank behavior.
We use a difference-in-differences approach exploiting changes in regulatory intensity and a size cutoff below which banks are exempt from CFPB scrutiny. CFPB oversight leads to a reduction in lending in the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) market, which primarily serves riskier borrowers. However, it is also associated with a lower transition probability from moderate to serious delinquency, suggesting that tighter regulatory oversight may reduce foreclosures. Our results underscore the trade-off between protecting borrowers and maintaining access to credit. To read the full report, please visit Does CFPB Oversight Crimp Credit?
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For more information from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, please visit: Philadephia Fed
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SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA) |
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SBA Celebrates and Supports Women-Owned Small Businesses |
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SBA Reaches $200 Billion Milestone in Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program to Small Businesses and Non-Profits |
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WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration reached a milestone in the success of the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, which has provided U.S. small businesses, non-profits, and agricultural businesses a total of $200 billion in emergency funding.
“Following the enactment of COVID-19 emergency legislation, the SBA has now provided more than 3.7 million small businesses employing more than 20 million people with $200 billion through the unprecedented COVID-19 EIDL loan program,” Acting Administrator Tami Perriello said. “SBA remains committed to helping small businesses recover from the unprecedented economic effects of COVID-19.”
SBA is still accepting COVID-19 EIDL loan applications as the deadline to apply has been extended to Dec. 31, 2021. EIDL funding is used to pay fixed debts, payroll and expenses, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. This financial resource has allowed millions of small business owners across America to retain employees, continue operating and support their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. To read the full article, please visit SBA Reaches $200 Billion Milestone in Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program to Small Businesses and Non-Profits
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SBA Prioritizes Smallest of Small Businesses in the
Paycheck Protection Program
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The latest round of Paycheck Protection Program funding opened one month ago and already the Biden Administration has succeeded in making major improvements to the program’s implementation:
- For businesses with fewer than ten employees, the share of funding is up nearly 60%
- For businesses in rural communities, the share of funding is up nearly 30%
- The share of funding distributed through Community Development Financial Institutions and Minority Depository Institutions is up more than 40%
“The SBA is a frontline agency working to create an inclusive economy, focused on reaching women-owned, minority-owned, low- and moderate-income, rural, and other underserved communities in meaningful ways. While reported data illustrates we have made real strides in ensuring these funds are reaching underserved communities, we believe we can still do better,” says SBA Senior Advisor Michael Roth. “The important policy changes we are announcing further ensure inclusivity and integrity by increasing access and much-needed aid to Main Street businesses that anchor our neighborhoods and help families build wealth.” To read the full article, please visit SBA Prioritizes Smallest of Small Businesses in the Paycheck Protection Program
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How to Apply for PPP Loan Forgiveness |
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Did you take out a Paycheck Protection Program loan? Here are four steps to apply for forgiveness.
- Contact your lender and complete the form
- Compile documentation
- Submit the forgiveness form and documentation to your lender
- Communicate with your lender throughout the process
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For more information from the U.S. Small Business Administration, please visit: US SBA
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The Business Community Needs Regulatory Certainty Now More Than Ever |
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Fairness and transparency are essential in regulatory policy to enable businesses to invest and grow. These attributes are especially critical in a time of uncertainty when the economy is trying to recover.
Unfortunately, the new administration is rolling back policy that now, more than ever, is needed to advance smart regulations and fair implementation that allows businesses to innovate and reopen with confidence.
For example, on its first day in office, it rolled back two Executive Orders that ensured agencies used their enforcement powers fairly and provided the necessary guidance for businesses, individuals, and non-profit organizations to stay on the right side of the law. Executive Orders 13891 and 13892, issued in October 2019, promoted transparency and due process in the historically opaque and murky world of federal regulation. To read the full report, please visit The Business Community Needs Regulatory Certainty Now More Than Ever
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The Dirty Little Secret About Litigated Mergers |
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Today, legislators and economists are actively debating the government’s role in reviewing mergers. However, this debate is largely driven by a misleading narrative that the courts, through judicial precedent, have made it almost impossible for government agencies to block problematic mergers.
Earlier this month, Carl Shapiro and Howard Shelanski, two respected progressive-leaning economists, released a study about the Judicial Reponses to the 2010 Horizontal Merger Guidelines. The study unearthed some stubborn facts that clearly support the view that antitrust laws governing mergers work and work reasonably well.
Shapiro and Shelanski examined horizontal mergers that were challenged by the antitrust agencies and litigated before the courts during two time periods, from 2000-2010 and from 2010-2020. The reason for looking at these two decades comparatively is that antitrust agencies updated their thinking in the 2010 Horizontal Mergers Guidelines. It’s worth noting that both authors played a significant role in revamping these guidelines during their time at the agencies and make the case in support of how the guidelines have shaped merger review. To read the article, please visit The Dirty Little Secret About Litigated Mergers
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The Hazards of Hazard Pay Part II |
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As this blog recently noted, the issue of “hazard pay” is drawing increasing attention. Originally confined to the west coast, proposed legislation around hazard pay has now spread to additional jurisdictions such as Illinois and Massachusetts.
In some cases, these bills call for a minimum wage as high as $20 an hour. What they lack, though, is any suggestion on how to pay such a wage, even in industries with very thin profit margins. As seen in California and Seattle, unfunded hazard pay mandates have already caused businesses to close. While it’s understandable that politicians want to appear responsive to the dangers of the Coronavirus, at a time when more than 18 million people are collecting unemployment benefits it makes little sense to pursue policies that will add even more people to the rolls. To read the full article, please visit The Hazards of Hazard Pay Part II
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Federal and State Action is Needed Now to Revitalize
Local Infrastructure Projects
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Revitalization of the Brent Spence Bridge corridor has been a topic of discussion for decades. Currently the bridge is carrying twice the traffic it was designed for and is a notorious chokepoint for commuters. Between federal and state action there’s an opportunity to revitalize the Brent Spence Bridge corridor and invest in critical regional infrastructure projects this year. It’s time to stop talking and start acting.
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Suite 1
West Grove, PA 19390
610-444-0774
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