Thank you to our E-NEWS Sponsors!
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June 24, 2020
12:00pm - 1:00pm
Virtual Town Hall with Gene Barr
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All welcome to attend!
FREE Event
We are thrilled to present a virtual town hall discussion with
Gene Barr
, President and CEO of PA Chamber of Business and Industry.
Gene is regarded as the
Voice of Business in the Commonwealth
. With over 1,000 members ranging from mom-and-pop shops to industry leaders, Gene overseas all operations of the PA Chamber, the state’s largest broad-based business advocacy association. Gene will discuss the newly launched Bring PA Back Initiative, advocacy efforts pertaining to COVID-19 pandemic, business resources, educational opportunities and more.
Since May 1st, Gene has been hosting weekly calls with Chamber’s throughout the State, providing a forum for Chamber Executives to work together to provide guidance, advocacy and programs to assist businesses during these challenges times.
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This program will include time for audience Q&A. Submit your questions when registering for the event.
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PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED
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A Message From The Chamber Office
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Dear Chamber Members and Friends,
I hope you are doing well. As you will see, this week's letter is filled with links to provide information about new State mandates, legislative updates, business grants and funding programs, and pertinent information to keep you informed during these challenging times.
On Tuesday, Pennsylvania employers were thrown into another confusing, difficult situation. PA legislatures passed
House Resolution (HR836)
to end shutdown. Social media was quickly flooded with messages that businesses could reopen. However, the Wolf Administration confirmed no action will be taken, and businesses must continue to follow the existing orders, color code phases, etc. The courts will ultimately decide this Constitutional question. In the meantime, employers should be cautious about expanding business operations beyond what is
currently allowed
under the Governor's order.
Some good news for small businesses...the
PA 30 Day Fund
provides
forgivable loans
for Pennsylvania-based small businesses and is eager to see an increase in applications from
eligible small businesses
in Montgomery County, particularly in applications from eligible minority and/or women owned businesses. The forgivable loan is intended to provide immediate financial assistance (within maximum 3 days).
A
$225 Million grant program
for small businesses impacted by COVID-19 was announced this week. The funds will be available through 3 programs; $100M for Main Street Business Revitalization; $100M for historically disadvantaged business revitalization program and $25M for loan payment deferment and loss reserve program. The program expects to begin accepting applications by the month's end
.
Download program details here
.
A well-deserved congratulations goes to
Sodiah Thomas
,
S&B Event Concepts and Catering
for recognition by Wish Upon a Wedding for efforts to support our community during these unprecedented times. Sodiah set up a food donation site at S&B Events and this week, they reached over 1,200 pounds of donated goods to
Daily Bread Community Food Pantry!
Montco Works has recruited the help of chambers of Commerce to conduct in-depth interviews with members to determine current and future workforce planning needs. We are
seeking members to participate in one-on-one interviews
(approx 20-30 minutes) this month. Contact Renee to request an appointment.
If your business hours and operations have changed, please send details to info@pvchamber.net and we will share on our website and social media platforms.
In closing, thank you for your continued efforts to shop small and support our local businesses. Every curbside pickup order and gift card purchased for future use helps our business owners survive during these challenging times.
Stay safe and healthy,
Renee Blomstrom
Executive Director
renee@pvchamber.net
610-489-6660
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Support Small Business, Friends and Neighbors!
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Small business is the backbone of our regional economy. Please look for ways to support these businesses during the pandemic. Please visit the
Chamber Directory
for a complete list of members. Consider purchasing gift cards for businesses that are not currently open (salons, restaurants, spas, retailers, etc) to support them now and use at a later date. Please call your senior neighbors and friends to lift their spirits and ensure they have food and proper medication. Contact the
Community Food Pantry
for updated hours of operation and needed supplies.
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Please
share your positive experiences
with others and on social media platforms to help promote and support our local businesses. Should you have a less than satisfactory experience, please be patient; relay your concerns privately with the store manager so he/she can evaluate the issue and consider ways to improve for future visits.
TOGETHER we will reset, restore and rebound our community!
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Supplies Needed for Phoenixville Hospital
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Phoenixville Hospital is in immediate need of the below Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) items for their staff:
* Masks: looped procedure masks, surgical masks, and N95 masks
Note to seamstress in our community: WE ARE ACCEPTING CLOTH MASKS!
* Gowns: surgical and Isolation gowns
* Eye ware: protective googles and face shields
* Disinfectant wipes and sanitizers
* Surgical gloves
Anyone wishing to contribute is asked to email PhoenixvilleHospitalPrograms@towerhealth.org to arrange delivery.
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Welcome our newest member!
Loci House LLC
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The following organizations joined the PV Chamber this past year!
Click on a business name for more information.
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Loci House LLC
Mary Allen - Kelly Williams Realty
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All Current PV Chamber Members can be found in the Directory on our Website
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PV Chamber COVID-19 Resource Hub
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Bookmark the PV Chamber's COVID-19 Resource Hub for up-to-date information for business owners, employers and residents.
- County, State and Federal Resource Links
- Member-to-Member Resources
- Gift Card Program
- Shop Local
- Brighter Side
- Event News
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Montgomery County Resource Hubs
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May 29, 2020 - Montgomery County unveils new website to provide reopening guidance as we move from Red to Yellow phase.
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Montgomery County COVID-19 Daily Press Releases can be viewed
here.
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PA Chamber of Business & Industry
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Bringing PA Back is an initiative of the PA Chamber to help businesses re-open prepared and stronger. The site contains resources to help prepare your workplace, welcome back employees and customers.
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Pandemic Unemployment Assistance
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Self-employed,
independent contractors, gig workers, and others not eligible for regular unemployment compensation can begin filing claims for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA).
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CARES Act Information and Resources
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IMPORTANT:
PPP funds are still available. Small businesses are encouraged to contact their banker for information.
President Trump signs law to change PPP rules, extending funds spending from 8 weeks to 24 weeks.
Read more here.
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The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act created a new employee retention tax credit for employers who are closed, partially closed, or experiencing significant revenue losses as a result of COVID-19.
NOTE: Borrowers cannot use PPP and tax credit. However, small businesses can receive EIDL and PPP funds, but they cannot be used to cover the same costs. Speak with your financial advisor for best option
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An open letter to state lawmakers expressed the
deep concern
Chamber leaders feel
with both the pace and process of reopening businesses in the SE PA region
. The letter, sent on
May 28, 2020
was singed by 24 Chamber leaders, including myself. The letter urges legislatures to work with the Governor to revise metrics for reopening and with the Chambers' assistance, develop guidance and support to help businesses reopen safely.
Read the letter here.
On April 3, 2020,
leaders from 50 Pennsylvania chambers
of commerce
signed a letter
to Pennsylvania
Governor Tom Wolf
requesting that the Administration allow more businesses to operate under CISA and CDC guidelines to ensure the critical infrastructure supply chains are protected during the COVID-19 crisis.
Read the letter here
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Now more than ever, we love sharing stories of great things happening in our community, reflective thoughts and positive vibes.
- Senator Bob Mensch is helping businesses around the community stay in touch during this time through his virtual meeting series, ‘Zooming Around the 24th District,’ in which the Senator meets one-on-one over Zoom with businesses around the District.
- S&B Events Concepts and Catering has been recognized by Wish Upon a Wedding for efforts to support our community during these unprecedented times. Sodiah set up a food donation site at S&B Events and this week, they reached over 1,200 pounds of donated goods to Daily Bread Community Food Pantry!
- Davinci's reopened this week, offering outdoor dining on their covered front porch and newly renovated patio. Takeout/no touch curbside pickup for food and drinks is also available along with family meal deals and date night dinners for two!
- Keenan, Ciccitto & Associates is offering a FREE Healthcare Power of Attorney / Advance Directive to all members of the Perkiomen Valley Chamber of Commerce
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Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who
BOOK NOW ~ SHOOT LATER
Celebrate your Amazing Achievement and your Bright Future.
We are still booking Graduation and Senior portraits for the Class of 2020 and Class of 2021. Give us a call Now at (610) 608-6095
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Dirk's Pest Management Specialists - Office Staff Position
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Purpose: To effectively and efficiently maintain a high level of organization within the office.
Responsibilities will include:
Schedule Routes/appointments; Generate daily route sheets/ work orders and invoices; Coordinate, scheduling and mailing termite renewal notices; Answer phones (with a smile); Enter all new customers / update current customer account information into the computer; Initiate and maintain customer accounts which include follow up; Communicate with technicians and sales staff of any changes to their work schedules and/or work; Add weekly Dirks Pest Management Specialist Facebook status; Responsible for account functions, including but not limited to accounts payable and accounts receivable; Issued Proposals for Termite Renewals/Service Plans
Qualifications:
Good written, verbal, follow up and telephone communications skills; Abilities to sell and communicate; Excellent human-relations skills- a sense of humor, a quick smile and a thick skin; Basic skills in reading, writing and math; Extremely flexible, adaptable, quick to learn new skills /knowledge and handle rapid change effectively; Excellent organizational skills with attention to detail; Good working knowledge of MS Word, Excel, Outlook and Power Point. Ability and eagerness to learn a robust pest control software (Pestpac); Must be a TEAM PLAYER- work as a competent member of the team and willingly provide back-up support for co-workers when appropriate and actively support team goals; The ability to self-start and work independently. Must be proactive!
To apply: send resume to office@dirkspms.com
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First Financial Group - Philadelphia is Hiring!
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First Financial Group - Philadelphia is looking to recruit Financial Representatives who have an entrepreneurial spirit and who are passionate about helping people live better financial lives. If you’re coming from a financial services background, we can help you take it to the next level. But, it doesn’t matter to us what your background is, as long as you have an entrepreneurial spirit, a passion for helping people, are self-motivated, and have character and integrity. First Financial Group Philadelphia is located in the heart of King of Prussia and provides the training, structure, and support to help you create financial security for your clients, while creating a better life for you and your family. Please contact Steven D. Earhart, President (FFG PA, NJ, DE), at steven.earhart@ffgadvisors.com, or by phone at
610-293-8330.
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Touching Hearts at Home is Hiring
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Touching Hearts at Home
is seeking Part-Time Employed In-Home Caregivers to provide one-on-one care for the elderly and disabled. We are a RAPIDLY growing home care agency and are looking for dedicated and compassionate Caregivers with a true calling to help others! Our Caregivers provide individuals with extra support to keep up with life's daily tasks. We value our clients AND those that serve alongside us! Our goal is to give our Caregivers the support, training, and confidence they need in order to be successful. Our territory spans across all of Montgomery County.
Call 484-854-9300
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We want to hear from you!
Please let us know about changes to your services, business hours and more and we will share with our follower on enews, social media and COVID-19 Resource page. Send business updates to info@vpchamber.net. Also, our partners at Dow have offered to share member promotions with employees at the Collegeville site. Send your updates
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SCORE Tri-County is seeking volunteers!
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Now more so than any recent time, our volunteers are hard at work side-by-side to assist small businesses through education and mentorship.
As our requests for assistance remain steady, so is the genuine need for more qualified SCORE volunteers. If you are recently retired or thinking about retirement and are looking for ways to give back to your community, then becoming a SCORE volunteer just might be a rewarding fit. Email us at tricounty@scorevolunteer.org.
We look forward to hearing from you because YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
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Summer Science Camp
July - August
Summer Science Academy features science-based day camp programs for children
ages three through 6th grade.
If you child enjoys spending time outdoors and learning about about nature, they will love summer camp at the Conservancy! All camps are held at the Conservancy's Brownstone Barn.
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Virtual Summer Lessons
July 6th - August 14th
Community Music School's 6-week private lesson summer schedule will continue in our virtual format from July 6th to August 14th. Virtual lessons can be scheduled flexibly depending on teacher availability.
In addition to individual lessons, we are offering a discounted package for students that sign up for the entire summer session at once (6 lessons).
E-mail info@cmsmusic.org for faculty availability or click
here
for more information.
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Ursinus Launches LIVE! on Main
LIVE! On Main is your virtual destination for music, arts and culture. Our neighborhood is full of talented musicians, creative artists, big-hearted restaurants, innovative entrepreneurs and experts on trending topics.
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Music on Main
September 6, 2020 @ 12:00pm - 5:00pm
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MUSIC ON MAIN,
ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 4TH HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2020.
Plans are underway to celebrate our 150th Anniversary and the opening of
Ursinus College's
new Commons building by turning Main Street into a festival venue, featuring more than 25 performances and something for everyone - rock & roll, pop, classical, jazz, country, R&B, rap, theater, dance, puppets and more than a few surprises.
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Integrate for Good
Community Heroes
September 10, 2020 @ 6:00pm - 9:30pm
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THE EVENT SCHEDULED ON APRIL 23RD HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2020!
Integrate for Good
is excited to present our Community Heroes 2020 Gala at Talamore Country Club. Bet with "funny money" and win fabulous prizes and raffles baskets! Keynote speaker,
Rohan Murphy
.
Proceeds from our Community Heroes 2020 Gala will benefit Integrate for Good and our Opening Doors on Campus initiatives at Ursinus College, Montgomery County Community College, Temple Ambler and Gwynedd Mercy University.
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September 19, 2020 @ 9:00am
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Lenape Challenge - New Date!
In keeping with the
Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy's
mission, this unique race celebrates the connection between land and water.5 miles on the trail plus 2+ miles on the creek
Two-person Team Race -OR- Solo Challenge
Location: Start at The Conservancy
Check-in opens: 7:30 am
Event start: 9:00 am
High-water date*: September 26
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Home Tutoring Services
With schools now resorting to virtual classrooms, are you worried about your child falling behind in their math? Even if schools are closed until the end of the school-year, LEARNING CAN'T STOP!
We are here to help! Discover how we can provide face-to-face interactive math instruction and meet your child's math needs with Mathnasium @Home.
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Donations Needed at Daily Bread Community Food Pantry
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Due to COVID-19, the number of families we support has grown considerably.
CURRENT NEEDS:
Any canned meat, cereal, juice, tomato products, spaghetti sauce, juice, jelly, and canned pastas. We also need personal care items: baby wipes, bars of soap, laundry/dish soap, tissues, and any cleaning products. For many of our families your donations are a lifeline. If they do not get it here they must go without! Thank you everyone for your kindness and support!
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NEW Escape Room "Among Thieves" is OPEN!
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Our new escape room "Among Thieves" is NOW AVAILABLE for
booking!
We have worked very hard to build an escape room we think you all will love and we are so excited to show you!
(Coming soon..."Among Thieves", Escape Trappe's 4th room!)
Escape Trappe,130 W. Main Street, Trappe. 610-489-3877.
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Ursius College Offering Business Assistance During COVID-19
During this unprecedented time, Ursinus College is committed to supporting the local community. We recognize that, while these are difficult times for many, small and medium sized businesses are uniquely affected by the quarantine.
Ursinus students seeking remote/virtual work opportunities can assist you with promoting your business, advertising your services, redesigning a business plan, driving commerce, promoting or building online platforms, and more. We believe this will not only help local businesses, but also provide learning and practical opportunities for our students. Possible projects may include: social media and online marketing, website building, payment processing, writing a business plan, and researching assistance for loans.
Please
fill out this form
with as much details as possible to indicate your interest. We will review the submission within 2 business days. Appropriate opportunities will be shared with our students within 5 business days or less. While we hope you will receive interest from our students, we cannot guarantee applications. Please note that Ursinus College reserves the right to determine the eligibility of a posting and to delete postings deemed unsuitable for our students.
Ursinus College values our local business partners and hopes to play a role in navigating through these difficult times. Please email Olivia Correll, Assistant Director for Employer Engagement, at ocorrell@ursinus.edu, with questions or for additional information.
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Montgomery County Updates
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MontcoStrong Small Business Grant Program Awards
THE COMPLETE LIST OF MONTCOSTRONG SMALL BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM ROUND 2 GRANT AWARDS HAVE BEEN POSTED. THE LIST AND GRANT AWARD INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND
HERE
.
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** NEW ** Montco Regional Business Survey
The purpose of
this survey
is to assess the needs of businesses in the Greater Philadelphia region in order to help us to develop guidance and resources to help you safely and speedily reopen after the COVID-19 business closures. Please note that these questions are NOT intended to reflect the specific timing of reopening, which will depend on decisions made by the Governor’s office. Survey will take approximately 5-10 minutes to complete. In addition, there are three optional sections relating to workforce, transportation, and finances that you may wish to complete.
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Take the US Census
As of 4/22/20, the countywide response rate was 61.2%.
You can view the latest response rate at the county and community level here.
Census results help determine how billions of dollars in federal funding flow into states and communities each year.
With just a 5% undercount in 2020, we could lose $72,336,780 annually in funding for Montgomery County
schools, infrastructure, Medicaid, SNAP, housing choice vouchers, head start, senior programs, and more!
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Montgomery County Call for Help to Supply PPE
Montgomery County is asking for donations for commercial masks, surgical masks and impervious (waterproof) gowns. Any business that has an interest in or capacity to turn their existing supply chain into the PPE output that the health care industry so desperately needs to please contact Montgomery County Commerce Department by emailing:
COVID19@montco.org
.
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MontcoStrong T-Shirts
MontcoStrong T-Shirts are for sale as a great initiative through our partners at
VFTCB
. The t-shirt fundraiser is to help support Montgomery County PA’s COVID-19 Response Fund, which was recently established to support local relief efforts in response to the coronavirus outbreak. The t-shirts can be purchased
here
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Small Business Gift Card Program
Help save your favorite local business one gift card at a time.
Support your local restaurants and shops by buying gift cards during the COVID-19 shutdown.
You'll help them get the cash they need now, so you can enjoy their business later.
This is a County-wide program that was developed through input from local chambers and key stakeholders.
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After 56 years of representing his company, State Farm Agent Larry Hoak, has decided to retire October 31st!
Property for Sale or Lease:
Office building with rented apartment on top at 363 E. Main Street, Collegeville.
Apartment building, 361 E. Main Street Collegeville (next door) has two residential apartments and a 3rd room commercial occupancy in the front
For more information, contact Paul Roberto at Weichert Realty 610-804-3218.
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We want to share YOUR upcoming events in E-News and Community Calendar.
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The PV Chamber Board of Directors encourages you to forward this email to friends and associates. For membership information contact Renee Blomstrom, Executive Director.
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521 W Main Street, Suite 103 | Trappe, PA 19426
Telephone:
(610) 489-6660
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FAX: (610) 454-1270
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