Central Penn College
Central Penn has a diverse population made up of more than 1,400 students from various walks of life. Their core values of scholarship, integrity, excellence, community and inclusivity ensures that they serve their students every day and offer them a one-on-one, well-rounded education that will provide them the opportunity to grow not only in their education and profession, but as individuals. Engago Inc. Engago Inc. works with companies and agencies, providing a gaming platform that delivers massive consumer engagement — engagement that converts to revenue using pre-built tools. Fresh Focus Sales & Marketing, LLC Fresh Focus Sales & Marketing is an independently owned and operated food sales and marketing agency specializing in deli/prepared foods, bakery and packaging. Gardners Candies Gardners Candies is over 100 years old and credits its success to James “Pike” Gardner’s philosophy of giving customers rich, quality products and great service, and striving to make the best even better. They take pride in celebrating over a century of providing pleasure, quality and happy experiences for candy lovers the world over. Their stellar reputation is built upon quality products at affordable prices and a commitment to customer satisfaction. Gourmet Egg Roll Company The Gourmet Egg Roll Company is a manufacturer of hand-rolled, authentic, restaurant-quality gourmet egg rolls. They make the best egg rolls — whether American regional classics, traditional Asian flavors, or innovative new profiles, their egg rolls deliver big on taste and the right price. Keystone Importers LLC When you choose to work with Keystone Importers, they treat you just like their wine makers and distillers treat their process — with care and respect. Their portfolio is carefully curated yet dynamically diverse, representing families and friends from all around the world who produce creative and matchless wines and spirits. Krispy Krunchy Foods LLC Krispy Krunchy Chicken is a quick-serve solution for convenience stores, truck stops, universities, casinos and big box retailers across the U.S. The store-in-store concept allows licensees to serve hand-breaded, mild Cajun-spiced fried chicken and all-white-meat tenders to its guests, to increase their in-store profitability and drive frequency. The full menu also includes a variety of sides and the brand’s trademark honey biscuits. Luca Software Luca is an AI-powered dynamic pricing and promotional engine for grocers, built by the ex-Uber pricing team. RiskLimiter by Gleason Technology RiskLimiter specializes in digitized operational and risk inspections focusing on quality control, compliance and auditing. Their turnkey platform allows clients to convert their paper inspections — including floor safety, food safety, and workers comp safety audits — to digital, allowing them to manage these processes in real time. This results in reducing the overall cost of risk. Rovertown Rovertown helps c-stores build branded apps that better connect with customers in an always-on world. RS Mowery For nearly a century, Mowery has been a trusted leader in the construction industry, offering design-build and construction management services to clients in manufacturing, food and beverage, and more. Whether it’s a retail fit-out or a cold-storage facility, they approach each project with excellence and innovation. Winery at Wyndridge Farm Wyndridge’s portfolio of farm-crafted beverages includes craft cider and beer, sparkling fruit wine and small batch of soda. Their team creates numerous year-round, seasonal and limited-edition releases. They are currently distributed in over 10 states, with a growing footprint.
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What are your top legislative priorities?
Voter ID is a big one. We have seen poll after poll showing overwhelming support for this idea. Many other states have Voter ID laws and putting that in place here in PA would go a long way toward restoring confidence for some voters in our electoral system. Also, as the committee chairman that oversees gaming in the Commonwealth, skill games regulation is another topic I’ve been working on. I think there is certainly momentum to establish a state tax and regulatory structure for these games in Pennsylvania, it’s just a matter of finalizing the fine print and details. What are the important issues facing your district? One of the big challenges we are facing is the population growth in our [district]. For instance, the 2020 census showed Lebanon County was the second fastest-growing county in Pennsylvania. We have seen the number of new housing developments skyrocket across the region in the last decade. Also, the number of warehousing facilities keeps increasing as well. Those two factors are in stark contrast to the agrarian traditions we have as agriculture is the largest industry in Central Pennsylvania. So, in response we have seen an increase in Farmland Preservation programs at the state and county levels to provide some balance to that growth. What are the biggest challenges for grocers in your district? Sadly, I think this industry is facing the same problems every business is in Pennsylvania — personnel. There has been a real shortage of labor across all industries these past several years. Also, the Governor’s desire to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour would be a real challenge for some in the industry. What are your biggest challenges and successes as a legislator? One of the biggest challenges has been not having enough time. The office gets invitations from so many organizations and businesses for me to visit. Literally every day could be filled with events, tours and meetings from members of the community. It’s frustrating that I cannot make them all, but we have been to as many as possible. Also, meeting everyone has been one of the most rewarding things about this job. Just last week I had to the opportunity to attend the 102nd birthday of a wonderful lady who was stationed at the Middletown Airfield during WWII. She is a living ‘Rosie the Riveter’ who repaired B-17 bombers and C-47 cargo planes damaged during the second world war. What is your favorite vacation destination? My older brother was a colonel for the U.S. Army Rangers stationed in Hawaii, and he recently was promoted to general. He now is based in Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg) in North Carolina, but before his promotion, my family and I took a vacation out to Hawaii to visit him. It was the first time we were able to take our sons there to see their uncle’s house. We had such a great time with him and his family and it is such an amazing and beautiful set of islands. It is a vacation I will never forget. What is your favorite food or meal to cook? About three years ago my wife bought me a Traeger Smoker as a gift. It certainly has become my favorite way to cook, and we particularly enjoy getting a few pounds of Bell & Evans wings (proudly produced in Fredericksburg, PA) and have family and friends over in the summer on the back porch. What do you like to do for fun? In my spare time, when I’m not working as a state senator, I run my family insurance business, Hoaster Gebhard & Co. in Lebanon. My wife and I also have two boys and we joke that our part-time jobs are driving them to and from all their afterschool sports practices and extracurricular activities. What is your greatest success as a legislator over the past few years? In December 2023, the governor finally signed our bill creating a financial literacy class for all Pennsylvania students. This half-credit course will give all high school students the understanding they need about topics such as credit and credit scores; savings and investments; college, home, and auto loans; and planning for post-secondary education and retirement. It really is a common-sense measure that will help all young people become more financially successful. I thought this legislation was critical because so many young adults are learning money management by making mistakes early on in their lives. Starting out in a financial hole is a real hinderance to personal and career success and this course will provide everyone practical skills to make the best decisions. Each year the governor and state legislative leaders lay out their sometimes competing and sometimes complementary visions for the fiscal year budget. Within these proposals PFMA identifies and advocates for line items and initiatives that would present a positive impact for association members, along with other proposals that could be made part of an overall budget agreement. Here is a rundown of what PFMA has identified as priorities in the 2024-25 budget cycle.
For 2024, accelerating the phasedown of the Corporate Net Income Tax Rate and implementing Net Operating Loss carryforward are two tax-related priorities for PFMA that could be part of an agreed state budget. In the 2022-23 fiscal year, Pennsylvania’s budget agreement included a tiered reduction in the state’s corporate net income tax rate, which had stood at 9.99 percent, the highest flat rate in the country. The rate was reduced one percentage point to 8.99 percent on January 1, 2023, and subsequent 0.5 percentage point cuts are scheduled to occur each year until the rate reaches 4.99 percent in 2031. PFMA supports accelerating the phasedown of the CNIT so the final 4.99 percent rate is achieved sooner. Additionally, PFMA strongly supports implementing NOL carryforwards, allowing businesses to carry losses forward and deduct them from future profits. This change would help Pennsylvania compete with other states that have more business-friendly NOL rules in place. Governor Shapiro’s 2024-25 budget proposal contemplates the regulation of two major sectors: games of skill and adult-use cannabis. PFMA’s priority in the context of these concepts is ensuring member businesses have the opportunity to participate on a level playing field in these areas if they choose. Given the contemplation of legalizing recreational cannabis, the association is highlighting the need for regulatory frameworks governing the safe sale of marijuana and related products such as Delta-8 at member locations. Following the successful passage of Organized Retail Theft legislation into law at the end of 2023, PFMA strongly supports funding in the 2024-25 state budget to establish and support operations of the new Organized Retail Crime Task Force under the Office of Attorney General. PFMA Loss Prevention Committee members are holding regular meetings with OAG staff to help guide and provide feedback on the work of the task force. Insofar as the 2024-25 state budget may address minimum wage, PFMA is advocating that any increase to the state minimum wage is weighed carefully and takes a reasonable approach. Relatedly as it pertains to the workforce, PFMA supports investment in the Child Care Works program to leverage millions in federal funding for child care assistance. PFMA also supports funding in the 2024-25 state budget to increase the minimum SNAP benefit and to administer the Summer EBT Program, both included in Governor Shapiro’s proposal, as well as funding for a statewide Healthy Food Financing Initiative. As budget negotiations coalesce leading into June, the association continues to meet with appropriators and administration officials to share insights and advocate on behalf of members on these priorities. If you have questions on any of these items please reach out to PFMA Association Services. PFMA is proud to be working with lawmakers on some of our priority issues this session, almost all of which have now been formally introduced as legislation. SNAP Distribution Schedule ReformIntroduced as SB 242 by Sen. Dave Argall (R-Schuylkill) and HB 2095 by Rep. Dave Madsen (D-Dauphin) Synopsis: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) disbursements are distributed in PA on a county-by-county basis according to three different schedules, which is complicated for recipients and challenging for businesses trying to meet stocking and staffing demands. This bipartisan proposal — a longtime PFMA priority— would expand and make uniform a single distribution schedule, easing these pressures and providing a better shopping experience for recipients. Sales Tax Collection Support for BusinessesIntroduced as SB 1225 by Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York) and HB 2278 by Rep. Paul Friel (D-Chester) Synopsis: The Commonwealth has historically incentivized timely and complete remittance of sales and use tax by offering businesses a vendor discount; in effect a 1 percent remuneration to help offset the administrative costs of collection. It has proven to be a mutually beneficial arrangement, with the small discount encouraging businesses to remain efficient collectors while presenting the state a reliable way to collect sales tax in all its forms. The longstanding arrangement of a 1 percent discount changed in 2016, when, as part of that year’s budget agreement, a cap was instituted on the amount back businesses can get for remitting sales tax collections of any amount to the Commonwealth. Since that time, no matter how much they remit, businesses are limited to the lesser of 1 percent of the tax collected or $300 annually. This bipartisan legislation would expand the discount and helps to offset a portion of the additional expense incurred by businesses when they collect state sales tax. Pharmacy Benefit Manager ReformIntroduced as SB 1000 by Sen. Judy Ward (R-Blair) and HB 1993 by Rep. Jessica Benham (D-Allegheny) Synopsis: For years, the anticompetitive practices of Pharmacy Benefit Managers — for-profit companies that manage prescription drug benefits on behalf of health insurers, Medicare Part D and other payers — have been impacting costs for both patients and independent and supermarket pharmacies. Their behavior has led to pharmacy closures, reduced access to medication, and negative health impacts. Fundamentally, this issue exists because PBMs have been allowed to operate without oversight at both the federal and state levels. The legislative proposals from Sen .Ward and Rep. Benham would direct the Insurance Department to develop a process for hearing and resolving pharmacy complaints against a PBM. PBMs would report to the department the amount of rebates and payments received from drug manufacturers, and how those rebates and payments were distributed by the PBM. The legislation would also limit or ban several practices by PBMs, including patient steering, spread pricing and retroactive recoupment of money paid by the PBM to the pharmacy. Ready to Drink Beverage LegislationIntroduced as SB 688 by Sen. Mike Regan (R-York) and HB 1750 by Rep. Robert Leadbeter (R-Columbia) Synopsis: Public opinion research continues to show that the vast majority of both consumers and non-consumers of RTD beverages believe they should be sold alongside other options like beer and wine. Unfortunately, it’s still not possible in Pennsylvania, frustrating retailers and consumers alike. Groceries, convenience stores and other retailers remain limited to selling only malt-based beverages and wine products. PFMA continues to work on legislation that would change that by allowing manufacturers to distribute RTDs through the PLCB network or approved licensees, who have shown themselves to be reliable partners in the sale of wine and beer, taking public safety and tax remittance seriously. Front-end register alcohol salesIntroduced as SB 117 by Sen. Judy Ward (R-Blair) Synopsis: This legislation would improve consumer access to wine and beer at grocery stores, convenience stores and other alcohol retail locations. Without changing any necessary restrictions on beer and wine licensing or adding licenses, SB 117 would allow restaurant licensees with a wine expanded permit the ability to sell wine and beer at any register, require ID card readers at these registers, and permit a sales clerk under 18 to operate these registers except when alcohol would be purchased. If alcohol is to be purchased, an employee 18 or over would then operate the register. In addition, the bill would allow customers to access beer and wine within the main store area. Other LegislationStill in the pipeline is legislation exempting sales tax from being subject to swipe fees. Rep. George Scott (D-Montgomery) is circulating a co–sponsorship memo in the House ahead of formal introduction of language.
Outreach to your local lawmaker is always effective in helping move the needle. If you are interested in advocating on behalf of your business on any of these issues please reach out to PFMA staff to talk more. |
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