2023 Small Business Advantage Grant The 2023 Small Business Advantage Grant is now accepting applications for at least $1 million in available funds. This grant program is offered through the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The purpose of this grant is to provide small businesses in Pennsylvania with grant funds for projects that increase energy efficiency, reduce pollution, or protect our waterways. Many different types of small businesses, from manufacturing to retail to agriculture, may be eligible for funding under this program. Funding is awarded first-come, first served so interested applicants should act fast! You are receiving this email because your agency, office or team may have clients, customers, or other constituencies that may be interested in applying for this funding. All program documents, including Program Guidelines and a Grant Calculator, are available on the Small Business Advantage Grant Website. There is also a link on the website to the online application system used to apply for the grant. Additionally, there are tutorial videos available for everything from an overview of the program to using the Grant Calculator for specific project types. Maximum grant awards will vary based on the attributes of a project as shown in the chart below. Projects will be eligible for more funding if they are located in Environmental Justice areas or reduce CO2e by at least 20 tons (as calculated by the Grant Calculator). 2024-2024 Funding LevelsProject AttributesWhichever is less, up to:All Eligible Projects50%or$5,000Eligible and located in Environmental Justice Area65%or$6,500Eligible and significant environmental savings65%or$6,500Eligible, located in Environmental Justice Area, and significant environmental savings80%or$8,000 Please share this information with your clients, customers, or other audiences. If you or they have any questions, feel free to contact me or my staff with any questions (Forest Edwards, foedwards@pa.gov 717-783-9640 or Caroline Zepp, czepp@pa.gov 717-772-5160). You can also send an email to RA-epAdvantageGrant@pa.gov.
Beware! Scam to Chamber Members. The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce was made aware of a person and/or company communicating with our members an offer for you to “purchase” our membership or event attendee list. Emails or communications like these are NOT from The Chamber. If you receive an email from a third-party company about buying contact information of our membership or event attendees, and the communication states “from The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce”—disregard the email or communication. The Chamber does NOT sell our membership lists or use any third-party companies to sell anything on our behalf. If you are interested in communicating directly with fellow members, it is safe and free for you to do so through the member portal. If you have questions, please feel free to contact Mari Potis (mpotis@scrantonchamber.com).
The Wright Center Celebrates Community Health Worker Awareness Week One of the fastest-growing careers in health care has nothing to do with direct medical care. Using their encyclopedic knowledge of local resources, community health workers (CHWs) help people meet various basic needs, including housing, utility bills, nutritious foods, clothing, insurance, transportation to and from medical appointments, and more. “Community health workers, they’re pretty much the foundation,” said Amanda Vommaro, CCHW, director of patient-centered services and supervisor of the community health workers at The Wright Center for Community Health. “We make sure the patients are getting their social needs met so that they’re able to address their health.” For example, a patient with financial difficulties may have to choose between buying food or medication, according to Vommaro. Connecting to a food pantry could help that patient afford the life-saving medication a doctor prescribes. “If you don’t have your basic needs met, you’re not really able to do anything else,” she said about patients. “When they’re not buying medication and taking care of their health, that’s where we come in.” As the health care world celebrates National Community Health Worker Awareness Week from Aug. 28 to Sept. 1, the need for CHWs is greater than ever. Employment of community health workers across the United States is projected to grow 12% between 2021 and 2031 – much faster than the average for other occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the demand for CHWs, according to Chelsea Wolff, a health educator with the Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center (AHEC). Thousands of people lost their jobs and found themselves navigating an often-overwhelming system to apply for unemployment, food stamps, rent and mortgage relief, and other aid from government entities and local social service agencies. President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan called for hiring 100,000 CHWs over 10 years starting in 2021 to support the prevention and control of COVID-19. But many entities that employ CHWs are having trouble filling the jobs, including The Wright Center for Community Health. It’s partly because people are not familiar with the position. “People are starting to know about it, but we have a long way to go,” Wolff acknowledged. AHEC hopes to help fill the need locally through training courses, some of which are held virtually for community members. The center began offering CHW courses in 2009, Wolff said. Since then, demand has soared for these specialty workers. The course covers the basics of what a CHW needs to know, from building an understanding of different cultures and health literacy to learning how to complete documentation and how to avoid job burnout. CHWs live in the communities they serve, so they become experts in knowing what resources are available and how best to connect clients to them, Vommaro and Wolff said. The AHEC classes feature many guest speakers, so trainees can begin building a list of local resources that provide help. “It’s helping to connect the dots and really building those contacts,” Wolff said. Vommaro said clients are often more comfortable talking to CHWs because of their shared community roots. “It’s just a different level of comfort when you’re talking to a community health worker because sometimes we’ve been in the same situation they are in; we’re people who live in their community,” she said. “It’s a little less intimidating than talking to their doctor.” For more information about the course, visit the AHEC’s website at NEPA-AHEC.org. AHEC also offers monthly informational sessions about CHWs every second Monday of the month. To learn more, go to PACHW.org/upcoming-sessions.
The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement Supports People Facing Hardships During a community-outreach project, Kara Seitzinger was handing out free back-to-school supplies at the South Side Farmers Market in Scranton on a sunny Saturday when she got an urgent call from a colleague at The Wright Center for Community Health Mid Valley Practice. The caller, a community health worker, explained the still-unfolding situation: A mother, homeless and pregnant, had come into the clinic in Jermyn needing food, diapers, and other essential supplies. The caller asked: Can we help her? Yes, said Seitzinger. Within hours, the woman received what she needed. The same day, Seitzinger and a group of volunteers distributed 85 school backpacks to families visiting the farmers market. It’s all in a day’s work for Seitzinger, executive director of public affairs at The Wright Center, and like-minded employees who volunteer with the nonprofit organization’s subsidiary, The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement (PCE). Oct. 23 is National Make a Difference Day, an annual observance during which people are encouraged to find ways to improve their communities. Motivated by a similar spirit, many of The Wright Center’s employees and resident and fellow physicians are active year-round, doing impactful projects with PCE to improve people’s health and well-being. PCE’s roots can be traced to an informal auxiliary started years ago by staffers at the Mid Valley Practice and funded by their donations. They sporadically passed the hat to help a patient or family with a pressing need. However, The Wright Center’s leaders soon recognized the profound need it filled in the community and formalized the initiative in 2020 to make it self-sufficient. Mary Marrara, a longtime community champion and a member of The Wright Center for Community Health Board, helped complete the paperwork to establish PCE officially. “The initiative to do patient and community engagement started with little bites, and then we folded in the auxiliary to launch what it is today,” she said. ‘We take care of it’ PCE strives to help people in the region overcome food insecurity and other negative social and economic determinants of health, such as inadequate housing, lack of educational access, and poverty. The Wright Center’s leaders recognize that addressing these basic needs is critical to improving patients’ health over the long term, said Seitzinger, who serves as advisor liaison to The Wright Center’s president and CEO. “Transportation has always been a huge problem for many of our patients,” said Seitzinger. “And, food insecurity has increased exponentially since the COVID-19 pandemic began and really rose again in the last six months as SNAP benefits were cut.” PCE seeks grants and conducts several fundraising events to fulfill its mission. The organization hosted its inaugural golf tournament in May, which raised more than $45,000. In August, proceeds from the second annual Road to Recovery Car Show at Nay Aug Park assisted patients of The Wright Center for Community Health’s Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence with transportation to and from appointments. Similarly, when possible, PCE helps community members get past short-term crises, as it was able to do for the pregnant, homeless woman who needed assistance. “People can come to us without worry,” said Marrara. We have people come to us privately, and we take care of it, but we maintain 100% accurate records. I want people to know – everything we do is checked and double-checked.” ‘The next step’ PCE relies on volunteers to chip in during food distributions, school backpack giveaways, and other events at The Wright Center’s primary care practices and other locations in the community. Seitzinger sees it as a win-win: Employees make a difference in the communities they serve, and they raise public awareness about the affordable, high-quality health care and preventive services available by visiting The Wright Center’s clinics in Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Wayne counties. “The Wright Center is federally funded, so in a sense, the community owns it,” said Seitzinger. “We’re trying to find ways to contribute to the community and get our staff out there to give back.” Looking to the future, Seitzinger envisions building more lasting ways for PCE to help the community, including adding a permanent food pantry and a dedicated clothing closet. “Having the ability to have a food bank or a clothing closet right there in the clinic, that’s the next step,” she said. Marrara echoed Seitzinger’s goals, noting that she’s excited to see how PCE will continue to grow over time. “I’m proud of what we have become,” she said. “And I would venture to say that a year from now, I’ll be even prouder.” For more information, visit TheWrightCenter.org.
The University of Scranton to Host Annual Volunteer Fair The University of Scranton will hold its annual Volunteer Fair for local nonprofit organizations from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12, on campus. The fair offers University students and student-led clubs interested in service projects and community-based learning sites a chance to meet representatives from nonprofit organizations in need of volunteers. There is no cost for a nonprofit organization to participate in the fair, however, registration is required. To register, email ellen.judge@scranton.edu or call 570-941-7429.
Waverly Community House Calls for Golf Tournament Volunteers The Waverly Community House is requesting volunteers for the Comm Classic Golf Tournament. If interested and available to volunteer on Monday, September 18th, from 11:30am until 4:30 pm, please call Kathy at The Comm office for more details: 570.586.8191
The University of Scranton Ranks Among Best Colleges in the Nation for 22 Years Marking the 22nd consecutive year, The Princeton Review selected The University of Scranton as one of the best colleges in the nation, and, for the seventh year, ranked Scranton among the “Best Science Lab Facilities” (No. 18) in the U.S. According to Princeton Review, students are impressed by the “recent improvements Scranton has been making, from laboratories and simulation spaces that impart vital firsthand experiences to ‘the gorgeous glass study rooms in the Loyola Science Center,’ and the cadaver lab to ‘academic buildings [that] are the greatest strength of the school because most have nice classrooms and places to study that foster learning.’” Students also boast about Scranton’s Alumni network that continues to look “for their Scranton successors, which helps explain the high 99% job-placement rate: as the school puts it, ‘more than 1,000 Scranton alumni are CEOs of their company or organization.’” Students also mention Scranton’s Jesuit ideals which permeate the course work and that “are designed to help students graduate with a ‘strong commitment to…ethics.’” Scranton is among just 14 percent of schools listed in the 2024 edition of the “Best 389 Colleges” guidebook to be selected and recommended by The Princeton Review as one of the top colleges in the country. The Princeton Review does not include an overall ranking of the schools selected as the best in the country, however they do publish rankings of schools in 50 categories based on results of their surveys of 160,000 students at the 389 colleges included in the book. Information from the surveys is also used in the profiles included about each school in the publication. In addition to Scranton’s ranking of “Best Science Lab Facilities,” The Princeton Review also ranked the school among the “Most Religious Students” (No. 22). The 2024 edition of the guidebook published online on Aug. 15.
Woodloch Secures 4th Title in 5 Years as USA TODAY’s #1 Family Resort in the U.S. For the fourth time in five years, Woodloch Pines, an all-inclusive family resort nestled in Pennsylvania’s picturesque Pocono Mountains, has been selected by USA TODAY as the number one family resort in the United States in the 2023 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. Woodloch Pines previously claimed this impressive accolade in 2019, 2021, and 2022. Additionally, sister property and destination spa, The Lodge at Woodloch, secured the number three spot as the 2023 best all-inclusive resort. Nominees are chosen by a panel of travel experts, a well-traveled and well-educated group who are not only experts in their fields and their cities but also discriminating in their tastes. These include a combination of editors from USA TODAY, editors from 10Best.com, and other professional contributors.“We are incredibly honored to be chosen as the number one family resort for the fourth time in five years. Woodloch has been in our family for over 65 years, and it is humbling to see our resort ranked among so many amazing properties and national brands,” said Brad Kiesendahl, CEO and President of Woodloch. “We are grateful beyond measure for the hard work and genuine hospitality of our staff members as well as our loyal and passionate guests who generously shower us with praise year after year,” he continued.To obtain more information or to book a stay, please visit woodloch.com, or call 1-800-Woodloch.
HNB Promotes Employee Thomas E. Sheridan Jr., President, and CEO of The Honesdale National Bank, has announced Skylar Groover has been promoted to Branch Manager of HNB’s Hallstead Office. In making the announcement Sheridan stated, “Skylar plays a vital role in our Susquehanna County community.” He continued, “She remains eager to learn and adapt to new challenges while remaining focused on providing incredible customer service to all.” As Branch Manager, Groover will be responsible for managing the daily operations of the Hallstead Office as well as connecting with customers to understand how to better serve the community. She is a graduate of Montrose Area High School and is working toward a degree in Marine Science with a focus in Geology. With just over two years of experience, Groover began her career in the financial industry in 2020 as a part-time teller at HNB. She went on to become a full-time teller, later accepting a position as CSR. She was promoted to Branch Supervisor in 2022. In commenting on her new role at the bank, Groover noted, “HNB has allowed me room to grow in my career while giving me the tools and leadership to be successful in all areas of banking.” She noted, “Every day I am able to help a customer, I leave work knowing I have made a difference and that is why I love going to work.” Outside of the bank, she is a Certified Master Scuba Diver, a member of the New Milford Rotary, loves golfing, and spending time with her family.
