UNITED STATES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE


SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS REPORT RECORD CONFIDENCE IN LATEST US CHAMBER SURVEY

DEC 03, 2019 - Despite economic uncertainty, looming trade wars, and political tensions, America's small businesses reported record-high levels of confidence this quarter, according to data from the latest 
MetLife & U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index. The overall Index score increased again this quarter to 71.3, up 0.6 points from the third quarter, marking the highest number since the Index's inception and the second consecutive quarter in which the Index reached an all-time high. But this overall optimism contrasts sharply with growing pessimism reported by small manufacturers in the Index-which may be being driven by uncertainty over growing trade tensions. 

The survey of 1,000 small business owners shows that more than 71% of them have a "strong outlook" of the small business environment and optimism about their own business health. What's more, the pace of small business hiring is hot: one in five (20%) small businesses report increasing their staff size this past year, the highest percentage in the Index's history.

Small businesses' robust view of their local economies is driving this optimism. The number of small business owners who have a positive outlook of their local economies increased three percentage points from Q3 to 59%. Not only do small businesses see strong local economies, more than half (57%) believe that the U.S. economy is in good health, continuing an overall positive trend since the Q1 2019 finding of 53%. Midwest small businesses rank as the most optimistic concerning the national economy, with 62% of business owners believing the economy is in good health.

Looking at demographic trends, minority-owned and millennial-owned business are driving hiring and investing plans with 36% of minority-owned small businesses having plans to grow staff compared to 27% of non-minority owned businesses. Additionally, more than half (51%) of millennial-owned businesses have plans to grow their staff. In comparison, just 25% of the Baby Boomer generation or older owners have plans to increase staff. For the complete article, please visit:  Small Business Owners Report Record Confidence


For more information from the US Chamber, please visit:  United State Chamber of Commerce

PENNSYLVANIA CHAMBER OF BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY


PA CHAMBER PUSHES BACK AGAINST MAYOR PEDUTO'S ANTI-JOBS COMMENTS

HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry President and CEO Gene Barr issued the following statement in response to Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto's comments against another petrochemical facility and the natural gas industry:
 
"Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto's recent comments condemning the region's energy and manufacturing sector are as misinformed as they are misguided. Regional labor leaders objected to his comments as an insult to skilled men and women in local trades, and let us add the business community's opposition to the content and tenor of his remarks as well.
 
"A 21st century economy is going to need a diverse array of energy and natural resources. Not only are oil, gas, steel and coal necessary inputs to the supply chain for the components of wind and solar arrays, the plastics that will be developed from the polyethylene derived from local shale gas can be used in medical devices, electronics and automotive parts. Given that Pittsburgh has established itself as a leader in health care, technology and transportation innovation, it is imperative these industries partner with continued advances being led by materials sciences manufacturers, including those in the petrochemical industry. Locally produced shale gas can also be used as a clean burning and reliable source of heat and electricity for hospitals, data centers and college campuses.  Also, it should be noted that through competitive markets and cleaner burning fuel, Pennsylvania businesses have significantly reduced CO2 emissions in not only just the southwestern Pennsylvania region, but in the entire Commonwealth.  Federally regulated air emissions have fallen statewide by more than 90 percent since 1990, according to state and federal data.
 
"Further, the Mayor is also hopefully aware that manufacturing activity and employment has ticked downward in the Pittsburgh region recently, and overall unemployment in southwestern Pennsylvania has gone up. Perhaps these economic indicators should persuade him to change course and instead pursue policies - and rhetoric - that encourages growth for the region and for the better of workers and job creators." For more information, please visit:  PA Chamber - Press Release


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


FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF PHILADELPHIA
ECONOMIC NEWS

Current Manufacturing Indexes Suggest Overall Growth in November
 
Manufacturing activity in the region continued to grow, according to results from the November Manufacturing Business Outlook Survey. The diffusion index for current general activity rose 5 points this month to 10.4. The survey's future indexes indicate that respondents continue to expect growth over the next six months. For the complete survey, please visit: 
 

Analysis: November Unemployment Rate Nowcasts
 
December 6, 2019 - Unemployment rates for November are expected to remain unchanged in New Jersey and increase in Pennsylvania and Delaware, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia's nowcasts. For the full report, please visit:
 
 
For more information from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, please visit:  Philadephia Fed

 
PENNSYLVANIA MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATION

PMA PERSPECTIVE: USMCA

In this episode, PMA Perspective discusses the importance of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Carl Marrara skypes with Ken Monahan, Director of International Trade Policy at the National Association of Manufacturers about the USMCA Agreement. David N. Taylor interviews Representative Fred Keller from Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District on his work in the U.S. House of Representatives. To watch the video, please visit:  PMA Perspective: USMCA


AFRICA OFFERS EXCITING NEW MARKET FOR MANUFACTURERS

Critics of the U.S. government's recent economic development push in Africa, "Prosper Africa," say we are too late to the game; that the competition from our adversaries of China and Russia already staked out a presence that precludes U.S. involvement beyond our historically lukewarm, inconsistent approach.

The U.S. might be playing catchup in terms of the calendar - launched in June, Prosper Africa is our first continent-wide, inter-government agency economic development plan. However, doing business on free market, and not government-controlled terms, is the unbeatable strength of the American effort.

As Ned Rauch-Mannino, Senior Advisor for Global Markets U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration (ITA) said our competitive edge is, "the American value proposition."  "We're looking for partners in both trade and investment," Rauch-Mannino said. "We are offering the superior value of transparent markets and free enterprise for driving growth."

The payoff for both Africa and American businesses, especially manufacturers, is staggering. To read the full article, please visit:  PMA: Africa Offers Exciting New Market


For more information from Pennsylvania Manufacturer's Association, please visit:  PMA

 
TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT
ASSOCIATION OF CHESTER COUNTY

'5G IS NOT THE TECHNOLOGY OF THE FUTURE, IT'S HERE' 
HOW 5G WILL POWER THE 4TH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is a new chapter in human development larger than all past industrial revolutions combined. It is enabled by extraordinary advances in technology, including autonomous vehicles, virtual traffic signals, and devices that will change in the way we live our daily lives. 
 
There are 19 billion devices currently connected to the Internet. By 2025, there will be more than 30 billion. Not only will individuals need to keep up, municipalities will as well.  
 
"If we don't see, embrace, and run with the technology, then our cities, our businesses, our college campuses will die, and it won't be a slow death, it will be a quick death," said Joseph Viscuso, Senior Vice President and Director of Strategic Growth for Pennoni.
 
Topics of discussion surrounding the implementation 5G technology run the spectrum from aesthetics to the growing concern for cybersecurity. The speakers at TMACC's Fall Breakfast touched on many of those points and provided a fascinating look into the future of our world.  To watch the full video, please visit:  TMACC Fall Breakfast: Transportation Innovation
 

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

 
THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR GREATER PHILADELPHIA

PA HOUSE UNVEILS TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE TASK FORCE REPORT

December 2nd, 2019 - Recently, the Pennsylvania House Infrastructure Transportation Task Force, chaired by Rep. Martina White (R-Phila), revealed its findings of the status of Pennsylvania's transportation system and its current funding m
echanisms. The announcement followed a Grow PA gathering at the Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry with Rep. White where attendees discussed the task force's efforts and the report findings.

The task force's report concluded that shortfalls in funding for transportation were substantial, including the shortages caused by the diversion of Motor License Fund revenue to the Pennsylvania State Police budget total $4.5 billion since 2012-13.
Other report findings included:
  • The gas tax increase passed in 2013 is failing to meet revenue projections due in part to an increase in more fuel-efficient vehicles, like hybrids and electric models.
  • Act 44 of 2007 required the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to provide PennDOT with $450 million annually for transportation capital needs. This forced the Turnpike to debt finance these payments leading to additional toll increases for 11 straight years and increased debt, now at $13 billion.
  • In July 2022, the turnpike's $450 million annual obligation to PennDOT will drop to $50 million per year until 2057 creating a large funding gap in the General Fund.
  • There are approximately 25,000 state-owned bridges in Pennsylvania, of which 23% are considered structurally deficient bridges that are safe to travel across, but at the end of their useful life.
  • Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are among the top 10 most congested cities in the U.S. In 2018. Philadelphia's growing traffic congestion costs bus and car passengers $152 million in annual time and transportation costs. Specifically, the task force recommended:
    • Expediting the transfer of state police funding to a General Fund obligation.
    • Giving counties and regions the ability to consider local solutions. Act 89 authorized local counties to impose a $5 additional vehicle registration fee to fund local transportation projects.
    • Consolidating the private sector permitting process for large projects to improve efficiencies to repair hundreds of roads and bridges simultaneously.
    • Providing PennDOT with the explicit authority it needs to implement the design-build method for certain sized projects, such as those larger than $100 million.
Read the  task force report and see the bills for implementing the report's recommendations. 
To read the full article, please visit:  PA House Unveils Transportation Infrastructure Task Force Report


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

 
CHESTER COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF CHESTER COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DISCUSSES AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LOW INCOME RESIDENTS

Residents of Chester County have a high quality of life, enjoying preserved open space, recreational amenities, and job and commercial service options. However, for many in the county, a barrier to a high quality of life is the high cost of homes.

Established in 1963, the Housing Authority of Chester County (HACC) works to provide low income residents with affordably priced housing options. Dale Gravett, Executive Director of HACC, attended the Chester County Planning Commission's board meeting on November 13 and discussed HACC's mission to provide, manage and develop quality affordable housing for individuals and families while promoting self-sufficiency and neighborhood revitalization.

Gravett noted that the County Commissioners appoint HACC's five member Board of Commissioners. HACC has an annual budget of approximately $20 million, with 60 percent coming from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). To read the full article, please visit:  Housing Authority of Chester County Discusses Low Income Options


UPDATING CHESTER COUNTY'S WATER RESOURCES PLANS

To ensure that all county residents are equipped with the information they need to respond to evolving water resources needs, the Chester County Water Resources Authority (CCWRA) is preparing to review and update the Watersheds integrated water resources plan and the County-wide Act 167 Stormwater Management Plan to ensure that these documents continue to provide timely and relevant guidance on current and future water resources issues. For a background summary of the current water plan documents, click  here. 
 
The CCWRA will be seeking comments from interested members of the public, municipalities, business and industry, agricultural operations, and conservation organizations to gather input on desired changes to incorporate into the updated plans. Throughout the next year, the CCRWA will host informational meetings and activities to gather comments from all stakeholders.  Meetings are planned for Fall 2019.  Please use this website to check for upcoming opportunities to provide comments. For more information, please visit:  Updating Chester County's Water Resource Plan
 


BECOME A 2020 CHESTER COUNTY CENSUS CHAMPION

Do you represent an organization in Chester County that could help promote the census? If so, we would like your organization to become a "Census Champion" whose outreach staff will conduct face to face meetings with hard-to-count groups. This is a voluntary program, but county staff can provide you with flyers, posters, and general guidance. For more information on becoming a 2020 Chester County Census Champion, please visit:  Chesco Planning Census Champion. We are especially interested in organizations that interact with the following communities or groups: 
  • Seniors
  • Farm Workers
  • Foreign Language Speakers
  • Immigrant Communities
  • Minority Communities
  • College Students 
  • Adult Literacy
  • Food Pantries
  • Houses of Worship
  • ESL Classes Immigrant Groups
  • Ethnic Grocery Stores
  • West Chester Boro.
  • The City of Coatesville
  • Kennett Square Boro.
  • Phoenixville Boro.


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

 
PA CAREERLINK OF CHESTER COUNTY

For a more information, please visit:  CareersUSA Job Recruitment


For more information from PA CareerLink of Chester County, please visit:  PA CareerLink

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 mportant 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, Tony Scheivert.