1 day Ago By Staff Report
Robert S. Carl Jr., president and chief executive officer of the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, will be among the leaders present for the Cumberland County Commission for Women’s Child Care Town Hall Part 2, a “business leader forum to focus on solutions to PA’s child care crisis.
” The gathering, according to an event release, is “in response to the overwhelming interest in the Cumberland County Commission for Women’s Child Care Town Hall” held last year. Part 2, scheduled for 11 a.m.
to 1:15 p.m. May 29 at the Members 1st Federal Credit Union George Nahodil Community Room, 5000 Marketplace Way, Enola, is free and open to the public.
Those wishing to visit may register online at https://form.jotform.com/250584253551153 .
According to the release, a PA Chamber and Early Learning Investment Commission survey found that 81 percent of employers had moderate or significant recruitment and retention issues due to a lack of affordable and available child care, with “an estimated annual economic impact of $2.4 billion in lost earnings, productivity and tax revenue due to gaps in Pennsylvania’s child care system,” according to a group called ReadyNation. Carl will act as a panelist at the session with other leaders including: Pamela Hill, CEO and owner of Signature Staffing; Ryan Unger, president and chief executive officer of Harrisburg Regional Chamber/CREDC; Michael Wilson, president and chief executive officer of Members 1st Federal Credit Union, and Katie Caples, director of Every Child Has Opportunities and also with Community Connections for Children.
Studies, according to the event release, have shown that investments in high-quality child care “are a win-win for companies and working families alike.” Brianda Friestat, president of the Cumberland County Commission for Women, said in the release, “Parents need more options for how to best balance home, work, and children. At CCCW, we’ve learned that access to reliable, affordable child care is necessary to build a successful workforce and strong economy.
” Described in the release as “a fierce advocate for state investments in child care teacher recruitment,” Schuylkill’s Carl said, “The child care crisis has reached critical levels and is affecting employers and working families alike. It’s a major economic issue that affects every business, family and community. We look forward to bringing stakeholders together to provide workable solutions for businesses.
” The Schuylkill chamber was recently honored for its efforts to address shortages in the workforce at child care centers by the Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children. It received the PennSEYC Voice for Children Award at the organization’s annual gala in Hershey Lodge. For more about the commission for women, go online to: https://www.
cumberlandcountypa.gov/57/Commission-for-Women. Chamber releases board election results POTTSVILLE — The Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce has released the election results for its board of directors for two-year terms beginning July 1.
Those elected include: Jack Barton, Jack Rich Inc.; Evelyn Datte, office of Congressman Dan Meuser; Joseph Drasdis III, Drasdis & Son; Mary Beth Dougherty, office of State Sen. David Argall, R-929 District; Debbie Yuengling-Ferhat, D.
G. Yuengling & Son Inc.; Doreen Hancock, M&T Bank Lori Guzick, Esquire, Willamsion, Friedberg & Jones, LLC; Angela Meck, The Farm Store; Patrick Moran, Schuylkill EMS; Jonathan Marsh, The Chopping Block; William Reppy, Orwigsburg Borough; Glenn Weist, Keystone Potato Products.
At-large directors, appointed by incoming Chair Savas Logothetides to one-year terms beginning July 1, in accordance with the by-laws, include: Nick Bagdonis, Quandel Enterprises; Maureen Donovan, Tamaqua Area Community Partnership; Bryan Kelly, Pioneer Pole Buildings Inc.; Tom Minick, Alvernia University Pottsville CollegeTowne; Cody Page, Wegmans; Terry Purcell, Lehigh Valley Hospital-Schuylkill; Dr. Cory Scherer, Penn State Schuylkill; Thomas Teles, Walmart DC7030.
Debbie Yuengling-Ferhat, D.G. Yuengling & Son Inc.
, is an executive committee member, selected by a committee of past-presidents/chairs as per the by-laws and ratified by the board of directors. For more, contact the chamber’s Anthony Merchlinsly via email to: [email protected].
NEPA Alliance webinar focus on small business SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — Penn State Schuylkill, LionLaunch and the NEPA Alliance will sponsor a live webinar via Zoom 10-11 a.m. May 29 titled, “NEPA Alliance 101, Discover How NEPA Helps Small Businesses Like You.
” The initiative will involve a live discussion about the ways the NEPA Alliance, an economic development organization, helps small businesses. Participants will include Stephen Ursich, alliance business development vice president, and Kara Smith, alliance government procurement manager. Attendance is free but registration is required.
For more information, email to [email protected]. Zoom session’s focus Generative AI/nonprofits POTTSVILLE — A Zoom virtual session is on tap for 11:30 a.
m. to 1 p.m.
May 28 titled “Generative AI Made Simple for Nonprofit Success,” the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce has announced. “This session is for everyone — whether you’re new to AI or looking to learn more about how it can make your work easier,” organizers said in a release. The chamber’s event contact is Cierra Abrachinsky, who can be reached by calling 570-622-1942 or emailing to cabrachinsky@schuylkillchamber.
com. Mahanoy announces street sweeping schedule MAHANOY CITY — With the borough’s street sweeping program about to launch for the 2025 season, residents are being alerted about no-parking restrictions from 5 a.m.
to 6 p.m. on streets that are scheduled for sweeping.
“Please refrain from parking on the street after the street sweeper passes as it may make multiple passes,” according to the sweeping program alert on the Mahanoy Area Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page. Leaders are in general agreement that clean streets are conducive to positive business climates in communities. The scheduled includes: -April 23, the south sides of the following streets: Center, Market, Pine, Mahanoy and Spruce and the south and north sides of South and Railroad.
-April 30, the north sides of the following streets: Center, Market, Pine , Mahanoy, Spruce and the north and south sides of Maple. -May 14, both sides of the following streets: First through 14th plus Main, Locust, Linden and Catawissa as well as A, B, C and D. Loans available for eligible projects POTTSVILLE — Firms looking to expand or to retain or add employees may be eligible for a loan of up to $25,000, according to a Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce flyer.
Business loans are available with the following criteria: Use of proceeds must be for job growth or retention and cannot be a working capital line of credit; use of proceeds could be to buy equipment, software programs for training purposes, CRE improvements and similar items; business must be located in Schuylkill County; collateral could be business assets and/or real estate. For more information call the chamber, Union Station, 1 Progress Circle, Suite 201, Pottsville, Pennsylvania 17901, at 570-622-1942. More information about the chamber is available online at www.
schuylkillchamber.com. MAEA sponsors multiple sessions POTTSVILLE — The Pottsville-based Northeast Pennsylvania Manufacturers and Employers Association offers myriad training and other sessions for regional employers, including: Virtual HR Roundtable, DEI initiatives in new administration, 11 a.
m. to noon April 22.Virtual executive and human relations leadership forum 11 a.
m. to 12:30 p.m.
April 29.Recognition for manufacturers/employers who demonstrated excellence in 2024 in May 6 banquet at the Mountain Valley Clubhouse, Barnesville.Your Employability Skills (YES) program recognition breakfast, 9-10:30 a.
m. May 8 at St. Nicholas Hall, Primrose.
MAEA summer golf outing, four-person scramble with 1 p.m. shotgun start, June 13, Mountain Valley Golf Course, Barnesville.
Training for busy schedules, April half-day sessions at Pottsville and West Hazleton sites, call for details.To register for programs, or for more information and pricings, call 570-622-0992. More information also is available at www.
nepmaea.com. Darlene J.
Robbins, MAEA president, can be reached by calling the aforementioned phone number or via email to [email protected]. Contacts also include Eileen Kuperavage, director of employer engagement, at ekuperavage@nepamaea.
com; Joan Trosterud, marketing and administrative coordinator, at [email protected] and Nichole Jenan, administrative assistant, at [email protected].
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