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Regional bank agrees to $354M sale

Camp Hill-based LinkBancorp opened in 2018 following a round of consolidation that took out several banks in Central Pennsylvania. Now, with bank mergers again on the upswing, LinkBancorp is on the sell side. Alexandria, Virginia-based Burke & Herbert Financial Services Corp. has agreed to buy the bank in an all-stock deal valued at $354.2 million. The transaction, expected […]

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$243M deal would boost Fulton in North Jersey

Lancaster-based Fulton Financial Corp. has agreed to buy a New Jersey bank in a deal poised to expand Fulton’s business in lucrative markets outside New York City. The all-stock deal for Rutherford, New Jersey-based Blue Foundry Bancorp is valued at $243 million and expected to close in the second quarter of 2026. The combined bank would do business […]

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Fulton, PNC maintain top spots for market share

For the second year in a row, Lancaster-based Fulton Bank wears the crown as home to the most bank deposits in Central Pennsylvania. Nonetheless, its market share shrank slightly as deposits grew overall in the region, according to the latest data from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Total deposits as of June 30 were nearly $55.2 billion […]

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Federal shutdown freezes SBA lending

The shutdown of the federal government is stalling a critical pipeline for loans to small businesses. Like the rest of the government, the U.S. Small Business Administration has been closed since Oct. 1. As a result, the agency is unable to formalize its guarantee to repay loans if small-business borrowers cannot. The guarantees encourage lenders to […]

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Lancaster developer raising capital, mulling IPO

A Lancaster-based developer has tapped an investment banking firm in a bid to drum up capital and expand its portfolio of projects. Developer Elevare Corp., formerly known as OZFund Inc., hopes to raise $50 million from investors and eventually become a public company, according to its founder and CEO, Jeremy Feakins. The company’s investment banker is San […]

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Mid Penn doubles up on deals

Mid Penn Bancorp continued to expand its South Jersey footprint with the acquisition of community bank 1st Colonial Bancorp, Inc. in a combined stock and cash deal valued at $101 million. Twenty-four hours later, Mid Penn agreed to acquire Sarasota, Florida-based Cumberland Advisors in a deal that is expected to bring approximately $3.3 billion new […]

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Credit union CEO: ‘Getting everything in place’

Over the last two-plus years, Michael Wilson has been putting his stamp on Members 1st Federal Credit Union, one of the largest credit unions in Pennsylvania. As chief executive, he is spearheading the credit union’s adoption of new technologies, including artificial intelligence and stablecoin – a form of digital currency that companies will be allowed […]

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Lawsuit targets credit union over data breach at vendor

A local lawsuit related to a data breach at insurance and employee benefits brokerage Alera Group has prompted a local lawsuit. The lawsuit is not targeting Illinois-based Alera, however. It was filed last month against Members 1st Federal Credit Union, based in Hampden Township, Cumberland County. Filed in Cumberland County by a Members 1st employee, the lawsuit […]

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Ephrata bank buying Maryland lender

After years of steady growth in Lancaster, Lebanon and Berks counties, the parent of Ephrata National Bank is crossing state lines. ENB Financial Corp. said yesterday it agreed to buy Cecil Bancorp, a small bank in northeastern Maryland. The cash deal, valued at $30.8 million, is the first bank acquisition in ENB’s history, which stretches back to 1881. […]

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Investor ups stake in Harrisburg bank

A family trust affiliated with George E. Norcross III, a New Jersey business leader and political power broker, has been steadily boosting its stake in Harrisburg-based Mid Penn Bancorp as the bank expands in Philadelphia and New Jersey. Indiana Pacific General Trust, whose beneficiaries are Norcross’s son and daughter, disclosed last year that it held a 6.2% stake […]

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Customers chief to retire

A titan of Pennsylvania banking is passing the baton. Jay Sidhu said Friday he plans to retire on Jan. 1 as chairman and CEO of Customers Bancorp, a Berks County lender that he transformed over a period of nearly two decades. The 73-year-old executive plans to remain the bank’s executive chairman. But he is handing the […]

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Bank buys Lititz insurance agency

The insurance division of Harrisburg-based Mid Penn Bancorp has acquired Charis Insurance Group, an insurance agency based in Lititz. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 2017, Charis is led by president Matthew Snavely. He has been named a managing director of Mid Penn’s insurance unit, MPB Risk Services LLC. “Charis Insurance Group has built […]

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Deal to bring Wayne County bank into Central PA

A northeastern Pennsylvania bank is swooping into Central Pennsylvania. Norwood Financial Corp., the Honesdale-based parent of Wayne Bank, has agreed to pay roughly $54.9 million for Coatesville-based PB Bankshares, the parent of Presence Bank, a lender active in this region. The cash-and-stock deal, which requires regulatory approval, is expected to close in late 2025 or early 2026. Wayne […]

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Heller spreads blame for collapse of ATM network

Investors have spent nearly a year blaming Daryl Heller for the crackup of an ATM network that allegedly cost them hundreds of millions of dollars. In a court filing last month, Heller dished out some blame of his own. He alleged that people managing the ATM investments misappropriated funds that should have gone to investors, […]

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Suit targets Penn State Health retirement plans

In a class-action lawsuit filed in late June, a Penn State Health employee alleges the health system mismanaged employee retirement plans, diminishing their returns and overpaying vendors. The suit argues that the plans included investment choices with subpar returns and that they paid too much for certain administrative vendors in breach of the health system’s fiduciary responsibility […]

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Measure aims to limit overdraft fees in PA

State lawmakers are proposing legislation that would cap fees for customers who overdraw their accounts at banks and credit unions. The goal is to protect lower-income consumers from the fees, according to state Rep. Benjamin Sanchez, a Montgomery County Democrat who is sponsoring the legislation. “Sometimes they fall into a cycle where they’re struggling to […]

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Scranton-area bank eyes first Lanco branch

A Scranton-area bank is seeking permission to open what would be its first branch in Lancaster County, according to a regulatory update from the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. Dunmore-based Peoples Security Bank & Trust Co. is looking to open the branch at 2343 Oregon Pike in Manheim Township, on the site of a retail plaza […]

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One year later: Nonprofit startup poised for major milestone

Just over a year ago, Drew Mousetis began pitching the idea of direct employee ownership to anyone willing to listen. Now, he and the Lancaster-based nonprofit he leads, the Tandem Center for Shared Business Success, are poised to land their first convert. “There’s a lot of buzz out there about Tandem, and people want to […]

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Court halts college’s bidding process amid legal challenge

A state appeals court has barred a Philadelphia-area community college from putting a project out to bid after a regional contractor group raised legal questions about union-friendly requirements attached to the process. The $1 million project — for construction of an advanced HVAC training lab at Bucks County Community College — was put out to […]

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York construction company names CEO, co-COOs

For the first time in six decades, the Kinsleys are turning to a non-family member to lead their flagship construction business. But it is someone with a long history with the York-based company founded in 1963 by the late Robert “Bob” Kinsley. The new CEO at Kinsley Construction is Jason Stouffer, who began working at the company […]

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York apartments getting updates

Philadelphia-based Mission First Housing is pouring about $9 million into the renovation of an affordable apartment building in York, the fourth rehab project for the nonprofit developer in Central Pennsylvania. In 2018, the nonprofit bought four affordable apartment complexes in Lancaster and York counties and has been working to spruce them up ever since, said Mission First […]

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Inch & Co. wins preliminary nod for York-area housing plan

York County developer Inch & Co. cleared an early hurdle in its new plan for a tract in suburban York that has been at the center of controversy for more than three years. At a meeting last night, supervisors in Manchester Township voted 4 to 1 to conditionally approve a preliminary plan for 83 detached single-family […]

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Hospital-to-apartment conversion blessed by Harrisburg planners

At a meeting last night, Harrisburg’s planning commission unanimously approved a proposal to put 130 apartments in a former hospital in the city’s uptown neighborhood. The plans, pitched by an affiliate of Philadelphia-area developer Pennmark, represent the next step in the potential rebirth of a sprawling former healthcare campus in the 2600 block of North Third […]

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Court spurns contractor’s appeal over civil penalties

The state’s high court this week rejected an appeal from a State College contractor accused more than four years ago in a high-profile case of wage theft. The contractor, Glenn O. Hawbaker Inc., challenged a state agency’s authority to bar it from state contracts based on alleged violations of Pennsylvania’s prevailing wage laws. In March, a lower […]

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Camp Hill restaurant proposal, other West Shore projects join hunt for state funds

One of Camp Hill’s most foreboding properties could be the key to a more prosperous future for the West Shore borough’s main commercial thoroughfare. Financial adviser Tony Conte and attorney Brian Hinkle are hoping to convert the former Masonic Temple at 2211 Market St. into a full-service restaurant with liquor license. The project aims to […]

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Lanco firms seek state funds for HQ upgrades, other projects

Some of Lancaster’s highest-profile companies are hoping to persuade state officials that their plans to upgrade corporate headquarters deserve a dose of public funding. Manufacturer Armstrong World Industries, event technology company Clair Global and flooring maker Ecore International are among applicants statewide angling for funds from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, or RACP, a grant program that backs projects statewide. […]

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Lancaster developer raising capital, mulling IPO

A Lancaster-based developer has tapped an investment banking firm in a bid to drum up capital and expand its portfolio of projects. Developer Elevare Corp., formerly

Officials vie for funds to revive York city landmarks

Officials in York hope state funding can help them revive two city landmarks — a dilapidated church and a downtown post office that has been mostly vacant for more than a decade. Economic development agencies in York are seeking $4 million for the Post Office and $3 million for the church through a competitive state […]

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Harrisburg’s tallest building poised for partial apartment conversion

As state workers prepare to exit Harrisburg’s tallest office tower, a developer is hatching plans to rip out the cubicles. Harristown Development Corp. wants to put 81 apartments in a portion of the 22-story office building, which is at 333 Market St. The city’s planning commission signed off on the $23 million project at a […]

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York design firm snags smaller neighbor

York-based architecture, engineering and design firm Warehaus has acquired a smaller neighbor with a client base spanning Pennsylvania and Maryland. The neighbor is West Manchester Township-based Johnston and Associates, founded in 1988 by Eric Johnston and specializing in all areas of land development, including zoning and environmental permitting. “This is an exciting milestone for our team,” Warehaus president, […]

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Deal broadens reach of Harrisburg-area engineering firm

A regional engineering firm based in the Harrisburg area is expanding its reach in Central and eastern Pennsylvania. Herbert Rowland & Grubic Inc. in Swatara Township has scooped up Becker Engineering LLC, a smaller firm based in East Lampeter Township, Lancaster County. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. But HRG is retaining Becker’s office at […]

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Groundbreaking for the Gardens at Millbourne

A ceremonial groundbreaking was held on Wednesday to mark the commencement of work converting the private grounds of the Appell family into a public garden. Louis and Jody Appell were well-known in the York community for their philanthropy and their passion for horticulture. The Powder Mill Foundation was established by Louis J. Appell, Jr. in […]

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Perry County concrete plants sold

A pair of concrete plants in Perry County are under new ownership. Bedford County-based New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co. Inc. bought the Duncannon-area plants as part of its acquisition of Marstellar Holding Co., which also owned a heating oil delivery business. Both Marstellar Concrete and Marstellar Oil are now part of New Enterprise, according to a person who answered the phone […]

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Plastics recycler cleans up at York ballpark

Fans at WellSpan Park this summer found new places to pitch their plastic spoons, water bottles and other plastic items. The home of the York Revolution baseball team set up bins to collect plastics under a partnership with CRDC Materials, a Costa Rica-based plastics recycler with an operation in York city. CRDC takes the plastic to its plant, shreds […]

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Lanco firm picks up two businesses

EHC Associates, an environmental services contractor based in Upper Leacock Township, Lancaster County, has acquired two companies for undisclosed terms. The first is ecoservices LLC, an

Apartment project eyed at York mall

Over the last few years, the York Galleria mall has replaced retail anchors with a mini casino, a gym and a self-storage facility. Could an apartment building be next? This spring, developers pitched local officials on plans to erect a four-story, 98-unit apartment building on an underused parking lot in front of the self-storage facility. […]

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Data center boom could squeeze labor supply, raise costs

Data centers need a lot of electricity. But they also need electricians — and pipefitters and steelworkers and HVAC specialists and general laborers, among others — to get them up and humming. Thus, the boom in data center construction is likely to squeeze the supply of labor in areas like Lancaster, where data center projects […]

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Apparel distributor shuttering York County warehouse

A specialty clothing distributor is shuttering a warehouse and laying off 128 workers in northern York County just over a year after taking over the building from its former owner. In a notice to state and local officials, Illinois-based S&S Activewear said it plans to close its distribution center at 600 Industrial Drive in Fairview Township by […]

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Distributor clears path to employee ownership

There were times it seemed too complicated to pull off. But after five years, the owners of Lancaster-area logistics business Founders Market & Co. found a way to start selling company shares to their employees. The owners — Scott Martino, Matt Stargel and Alex Thompson — began contemplating some form of employee ownership after they took […]

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New visa policy could have local impact

Confusion is giving way to a bit of clarity as employers wrap their heads around a new Trump administration policy enacting steep fees on visas allowing foreign-born workers to hold jobs in the U.S. When the policy was announced on Friday, employers worried they might have to pay to bring current visa holders back into the […]

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Regional jobless rates tick up

As uncertainty over tariffs froze customer orders in the spring, JLS Automation in York County laid off 10% of its workforce. Business began to come back over the summer, JLS president and CEO Craig Souser said in an early August interview. The York-area company, which employs about 130 people, assembles automated packaging lines for food companies. “It’s […]

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GOP lawmaker sets sights on ‘reasonable’ wage hike

A higher minimum wage could be moving to the front burner in Harrisburg thanks to a Republican state senator who is hoping for action on the issue this fall. It is not a new issue for the lawmaker, state Sen. Dan Laughlin of Erie County. He has backed increases in the past. But with economic […]

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Higher water, sewer rates sought

The York Water Co., which serves more than 212,000 people in Adams, Franklin, Lancaster and York counties, is asking state regulators for permission to raise rates for water and sewer service. Under the proposal, residential water customers would pay an additional $14.16 per month, while sewer service would go up by an average of $35.85 […]

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Effort underway to boost downtown Harrisburg

State lawmakers, city officials and the Capital Region Economic Development Corp. are launching a joint effort to revive downtown Harrisburg, which has yet to recover fully from the Covid-19 pandemic. The partners plan to assemble a steering committee that will begin work “immediately” on a downtown revitalization plan. “Everyone agrees that we need to provide some […]

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Chamber plan ‘a starting point for collective action’

Pennsylvania’s economy has been shaken by the rise of manufacturing in China and a shift in the U.S. population to the South and Southwest. But there are still levers the state can pull to boost its fortunes, and that’s where the focus is for Luke Bernstein, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business […]

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Economic uncertainty weighs on regional M&A

Regional dealmakers came to life in the second half of 2024 as interest rates came down. Nonetheless, the volume of mergers and acquisitions in Central and southeastern Pennsylvania fell last year for the third year in a row, according to an annual report by professional services firm RKL LLP. This year began on an active note, according […]

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Shapiro, lawmakers ramp up push for energy plan

State lawmakers yesterday began to put some legislative meat on the bones of an energy plan unveiled in January by Gov. Josh Shapiro. The lawmakers issued a series of memos seeking sponsors for elements of the six-point plan, which is designed to lower prices, speed up construction of new power sources and encourage environmentally friendly forms […]

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Tariff uncertainty rattles factory sector

When tariffs took effect last week, leaders at JLS Automation decided to hold off a few days on importing a piece of equipment due in from Canada. It was not the threat of the tariffs as much as it was the potential for congestion at the border as shippers tried to avoid the extra charges, said Craig […]

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Tariffs to hit billions in PA trade with Canada, China, Mexico

President Donald Trump is firing the first shots in a long-expected trade war that will affect billions of dollars of goods flowing in and out of Pennsylvania. Over the weekend, Trump signed executive orders imposing tariffs of 25% on goods from Mexico and Canada, and 10% on goods from China. Energy imports from Canada will […]

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Despite headwinds, deals reshape region’s corporate players in 2024

High interest rates hampered mergers and acquisitions for much of 2024, as did uncertainty over the outcome of the presidential election. Nonetheless, Central Pennsylvania saw plenty of dealmaking over the last year. The roundup below includes the usual suspects like banks and insurance brokerages, but it also features companies that make hammocks, home runs and […]

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What would it take to end PA taxes on overtime?

President-elect Donald Trump made hay during the campaign with pledges to end taxes on tips and overtime pay. It’s unclear whether the proposals will gain traction in the U.S. Congress, given their potential cost. But the debate is likely to play out in Harrisburg, as well. In recent weeks, Pennsylvania lawmakers have floated proposals to […]

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DoorDash touts results of pilot benefits program for PA drivers

App-based food-delivery service DoorDash disclosed yesterday the results of a pilot benefits program introduced for the company’s Pennsylvania drivers. The program addresses concerns that independent contractors such as DoorDash drivers lack the workplace benefits enjoyed by employees, such as retirement plans and health insurance. Under the program, the company has been contributing 4% of eligible drivers’ […]

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Palmyra-based distributor cutting HQ, warehouse staff

A Palmyra-based specialty distributor plans to lay off about 100 people working at three locations in Lancaster and Lebanon counties by the end of this year. The move stems from an expected decline in business and resulting corporate restructuring, according to a layoff notice from the company, DAS Companies Inc. Efforts to reach the company yesterday […]

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Ports strike could spell supply-chain pain

Companies in Central Pennsylvania and beyond are bracing for a strike that could upend supply chains across the U.S. Workers who load and unload cargo at ports on the East and Gulf Coasts are poised to go on strike at midnight tonight, an outcome that looks increasingly likely to Peggy Stewart, international operations officer for Nexterus, […]

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Startups supporting seniors, caregivers draw spotlight

By 2030, the youngest baby boomers will be 65 years old. With 74 million people in this group, coupled with a worsening physician shortage, the need for tech innovation to address care gaps is critical. To address this need, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central and Northern Pennsylvania (Ben Franklin CNP) hosted the AgeTech Techcelerator […]

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Plastics recycler cleans up at York ballpark

Fans at WellSpan Park this summer found new places to pitch their plastic spoons, water bottles and other plastic items.

Lititz yogurt maker closes seven-figure seed round

Painterland Sisters, an organic yogurt maker based in Lititz, just raked in a seven-figure sum from a bevy of investors, according to company spokesperson Chloe Schwartz. Schwartz declined to share the precise amount raised in the seed funding round, which was disclosed yesterday. But the money will provide working capital to support innovation and operations for […]

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West Shore startup lands venture funding

Mark Small and Brad Curran quit their day jobs in 2022 so they could devote more time to their Mechanicsburg-based startup, which is developing cutting-edge strength-training equipment. The company, Poseidon Strength, closed its first sale in May 2024 and has now landed its first financing outside of friends and family. York-based venture capital firm White Rose Ventures has […]

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Spring Grove firm tees up software for national sales

After nearly a decade of fine tuning, a Spring Grove software company believes its main product is ready for prime time. CFA Solutions debuted an early version of the software — designed to root out errors in the manufacturing process — in 2017. The company spent the last few years testing it with local manufacturers. But […]

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York winemaker partners with Harrisburg-area distiller

The expanded opportunity to sell canned cocktails in Pennsylvania has lured another player into the market. Carl Helrich, owner of York County-based Allegro Wine Co. LLC, has become a minority partner in Spring Gate Spirits LLC, a Harrisburg-area distillery founded by entrepreneur Martin Schoffstall. Helrich has been named president of the distiller, and its operations are moving […]

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Urban greenhouse firm tied to York project among winners in new PA grant program

Local farms and businesses — including a Harrisburg-area company involved in an urban greenhouse in York — landed thousands of dollars in state grants from a new program designed to spur innovation in agriculture. The grants were unveiled yesterday by state officials during a press conference at a Lancaster County farm. Why is this happening: […]

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Startup aims to bring soccer back to Harrisburg

Professional soccer is returning to Harrisburg’s City Island. A startup called Capital City Sports Group is launching a team called the Capital City Islanders that will compete this spring in a division of the United Premier Soccer League, a semiprofessional development league. The idea was born from conversations among people who missed seeing outdoor pro soccer in […]

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Regional lawn-care company sold

Green Image Lawn Care, a regional lawn-care company with offices in York and Lancaster counties, has been acquired by LawnPRO Partners, a platform backed by HCI Equity Partners, a private equity firm based in Washington, D.C. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Green Image is led by Luke Zimmerman and Ryan Freed, who are continuing to […]

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Regional home services franchisee expands into NJ

Matt Buckwalter and Frank Horvath first met about a decade ago as fellow franchisees for One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing and Mister Sparky Electric. Now, they are co-workers. Buckwalter’s Lancaster County-based company, Punctual Pros, has acquired Horvath’s — Horvath Home Services, which does business in Ocean and Monmouth counties in central New Jersey. The acquisition is the […]

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West Shore electrical contractor changes hands

Harrisburg-area business owner Anthony Worrall has added a third company to his portfolio. The owner of Reynolds Restoration Services and IT services company Everound has acquired SECCO Electric, a commercial contractor based in Lower Allen Township, Cumberland County. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. In an interview, Worrall said he was interested not in supercharging growth or changing SECCO, […]

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State authority rolls $1M into new venture fund

A new venture fund in Central Pennsylvania is closer to its fundraising goal thanks to an investment this week from a state authority. The Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority has poured $1 million into the fund, Keystone Innovation Fund II, a joint venture between York-based White Rose Ventures and State College-based 1855 Capital. The fund is on track to close by […]

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Virtual-assistant biz makes third acquisition this year

The virtual-assistant business has been a source of real-world growth for Zirtual, a portfolio company of Lancaster-based investment firm PennSpring Capital. Zirtual closed Friday on the acquisition of Double, a virtual-assistant business based in Brooklyn, New York. It’s the third deal this year for Zirtual since it was acquired by PennSpring in December. People hire virtual assistants to help […]

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Lancaster cleaning firm sweeps up opportunities in M&A

Alan Chachapoya, the managing director of DSC Solutions, a Lancaster County-based commercial cleaning company, is seeing opportunities where others do not. Chachapoya recently bought Guaranteed Property Services, another Lancaster-based company in the same industry. Founded in 1997, Guaranteed Property Services operates Guaranteed Carpet Services, C&S Cleaning, and Personalized Commercial Cleaning. Mike Graybill, the owner of Guaranteed Property Services, will join the […]

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Lancaster manufacturer stakes growth on acquisitions, innovations in outdoor gear

When Tom “Dutch” Ressler strung up his first hammock during a through-hike on the Appalachian Trail in 2003, the equipment he carried was not always optimal. “Staying dry was a challenge,” he said. So, when he returned home to Lancaster, Ressler started fashioning his own gear. The DIY adventure led him to launch his own […]

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Lancaster software startup merges with industry peer

In a union billed as a merger of complementary technologies, Lancaster-based software startup AutoOps has joined with Boston-based Steer, which develops and sells customer relationship management software to auto repair shops. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed, but Steer plans to retain the leaders, employees and office of AutoOps, which makes software for scheduling auto repairs, according […]

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Building a national brand from a West Shore base

Soon after founding West Shore Home nearly 20 years ago, B.J. Werzyn envisioned turning the home-remodeling business into a nationwide brand. It was not a vision that was readily embraced, given the company’s humble beginnings in an industry long dominated by local contractors. “When you’re one location here in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, with 50 employees and […]

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Lanco startup builds on viral moment: ‘You don’t want it to just be that’

When you’re shipping a $100,000 engagement ring, you don’t take any chances. That’s how Simone Kendle found herself on a plane to Toronto over the Memorial Day weekend. “Delivery person” may not be part of the job description for Kendle, the CEO of Wove, a startup custom jewelry company founded and based in Lancaster. And […]

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Can regulators prevent sticker shock over data centers?

State regulators are crafting guidelines designed to address one of the chief risks of the data center construction boom — that Pennsylvania residents and businesses get stuck with a hefty tab for building out the substations and power lines that feed electricity to the centers. The guidelines, proposed by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, are currently […]

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Ephrata plaza sold

Lititz-based S&S Singh Partners paid $6.2 million for Ephrata Commons, a 54,810-square-foot shopping center at 385 N. Reading Road in Ephrata, according to county deed records. The seller was an affiliate of New Jersey-based Heidenberg Properties, which paid $6.1 million for the center in 2016, according to county deed records. Heidenberg was represented by Chris Munley, Colin Behr, […]

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Brown Plus

Ryan Harshman and Matt Harvey. They have been named principals at regional accounting firm Brown Plus. Harshman, based in the firm’s Frederick, Maryland, office, was an audit senior manager. He is now an audit principal. He has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from the University of Maryland. Harvey works remotely from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and […]

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NJ operator mulls bid for senior living campuses in Central PA

A second suitor is eyeing a bid for the assets of SpiriTrust Lutheran, a York-based nonprofit senior living provider that filed for bankruptcy in November amid rising costs and declining revenue. The potential bidder is Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey, which has been managing SpiriTrust’s campuses under an agreement inked in February 2024, according to court […]

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Fulton Bank

Gordon Roder has been named treasurer of Lancaster-based Fulton Bank. Roder previously held leadership roles at Third Federal Savings & Loan, Flagstar Bank and ABN AMRO. Roder will oversee Fulton’s corporate treasury and asset liability operations and guide the bank’s management of market and liquidity risks while advancing its long-term growth strategy. His hiring is not the only executive […]

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Regional bank agrees to $354M sale

Camp Hill-based LinkBancorp opened in 2018 following a round of consolidation that took out several banks in Central Pennsylvania. Now, with bank

York County Community Foundation

Cathy Bolliger has been named director of grantmaking for the York County Community Foundation. Bollinger, who has worked at the foundation since 2014, will lead its grantmaking operations from application review through impact measurement, ensuring that every stage of the process advances long-term, equitable progress for York County. During her tenure at the foundation, Bollinger […]

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Penn State Health

Mumtaz Darbar has been named executive vice president and chief transformation officer at Penn State Health, a new role for the regional health system based in Derry Township, Dauphin County. Darbar was previously the system’s chief clinical and academic integration officer, a post she took in 2023. In her previous role, Darbar led efforts to […]

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Trustee seeks liquidation of Heller assets in lieu of reorganizing

The independent trustee overseeing the bankruptcy of Lancaster County business owner Daryl Heller wants to convert Heller’s case from a Chapter 11 reorganization to a Chapter 7 liquidation. It’s a matter of the finances, according to a filing this week by the trustee, Fred Stevens of New York-based law firm Klestadt Winters Jureller Southard & Stevens. […]

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Boyer & Ritter

Thomas Grossman is joining regional accounting firm Boyer & Ritter as a manager in the firm’s dealership group. An experienced accountant and CPA, Grossman recently worked as senior controller for a Philadelphia-area automotive dealership. He worked for another dealership, as well, over a career of nearly two decades. He also worked as a supervisor for […]

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Carlisle-area steel fabricator sold

Ritner Steel, a steel fabricator based in Middlesex Township, Cumberland County, has been acquired by Cranbrook Partners & Co., a Troy, Michigan-based investment firm that aims to grow the companies in its portfolio. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Cranbrook executives did not reply to emailed questions about the deal, which closed on Dec. 8. […]

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Giant closing ecommerce fulfillment centers in Lancaster, other PA locations

Carlisle-based grocery chain The Giant Co. is closing ecommerce fulfillment centers in Lancaster and four other places in Pennsylvania as it changes its approach to delivering groceries ordered online, a service known as Giant Direct. Giant is dropping its centralized model in favor of a store-based approach, according to company spokesperson Ashley Flower. Giant employees […]

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Jobless benefits bill clears final legislative hurdle

Tweaks to jobless benefits in Pennsylvania are heading to the governor’s desk. The state House yesterday followed the Senate in approving legislation that makes it easier for victims of domestic violence to qualify for unemployment benefits and delays benefit cuts that were scheduled to take effect next year. The changes drew bipartisan support, with Philadelphia-area Democratic […]

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Penn State Health

Penn State Health executives John Goodyear and Tara Gardne have been promoted to regional leadership roles for the health system, which is based in Derry Township, Dauphin County. Goodyear has been named regional COO and vice president for Cumberland County hospitals Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center and Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center. He […]

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Court upholds $55M sewer sale amid conflicting takes on customer impact

In 2022, state utility regulators approved the $55 million sale of a Chester County sewer system. A state appeals court overturned the approval in 2023 over concerns that the transaction would boost costs for customers. In a ruling yesterday, Pennsylvania’s highest court reversed the appeals court and approved the deal between Aqua Pennsylvania‘s wastewater arm and the […]

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Land, retail space sold

Fortune Investment Properties LLC paid $2 million for a 57-acre property at 151 Wolfs Bridge Road in Middlesex Township, Cumberland County, according to county deed records. The seller was Carlisle Aerie #1299 Fraternal Order of the Eagles, which used the site as a picnic grounds. The property includes a 6,630-square-foot event center, an additional 1,500-square-foot […]

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Barley Snyder

Maria Di Stravolo Elliott has been named chair of the construction industry group at Lancaster-based law firm Barley Snyder. Elliott, a partner at the firm, previously chaired the group and returns to the role with extensive experience guiding clients through complex construction and real estate matters. She succeeds partner Christopher A. Naylor, who now leads […]

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Warehaus

Dan Creep and Erin Himmelberger have moved into director roles at Warehaus, a York-based design and engineering firm. The promotions allow company co-owners Troy Bankert and David Koratich to focus on their executive leadership roles. Bankert is president and CEO, while Koratich is COO. Creep, who has worked at Warehaus for more than two decades, has […]

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Jobless benefits bill clears final legislative hurdle

Tweaks to jobless benefits in Pennsylvania are heading to the governor’s desk. The state House yesterday followed the Senate in approving

Court upholds $55M sewer sale amid conflicting takes on customer impact

In 2022, state utility regulators approved the $55 million sale of a Chester County sewer system. A state appeals court

PA Senate OKs bill to delay cuts in jobless benefits, ease access for domestic violence victims

State lawmakers from both parties are backing legislation that would make it easier for victims of domestic violence to qualify for unemployment benefits and delay benefit cuts that were scheduled to take effect next year. The measure, which passed in the Senate this week, was designed initially to help people who might be forced by a […]

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Feds take aim at PA highway funds over CDL claims

The U.S. Department of Transportation is threatening to withhold $75 million in federal highway funding earmarked for Pennsylvania after accusing the state of illegally issuing commercial driver’s licenses to what the agency describes as “dangerous foreign drivers.” The warning comes days after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested an illegal immigrant from Uzbekistan who was […]

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Lancaster, developer forge deal over data center standards, community benefits

At a press conference yesterday, Lancaster Mayor Danene Sorace unveiled an agreement between the city and Chirisa Technology Parks, the Virginia-based company spearheading development of data centers on the site of former printing plants in the city. The 32-page community benefits agreement requires Chirisa to meet standards in areas such as noise, power and water usage for […]

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PA budget a billion-dollar miss for business

After more than four months of gridlock, state lawmakers and Gov. Josh Shapiro sealed the deal yesterday on a state budget. The nearly $50.1 billion spending plan for the fiscal year that began in July delivers tax savings for lower-income state residents and pours $25 million into the childcare sector, which suffered from lapses in state […]

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Inch & Co. wins preliminary nod for York-area housing plan

York County developer Inch & Co. cleared an early hurdle in its new plan for a tract in suburban York that

Judges retained, mayors elected

The ayes have it. By a margin of roughly three to two, Pennsylvania voters retained three state Supreme Court justices yesterday, preserving the court’s Democratic five-to-two majority. Justices Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty and David Wecht each garnered more than 2 million “yes” votes on the question of whether they should remain on the bench for […]

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PA judges at center of high-profile retention race

Pennsylvania voters will decide tomorrow whether to retain three Supreme Court justices in what has become one of the state’s most expensive and partisan judicial races ever. Those arguing in favor of retention, including Gov. Josh Shapiro, warn that “no” votes could jeopardize abortion and voting rights. Those arguing against retention argue that the three justices in question […]

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Federal shutdown freezes SBA lending

The shutdown of the federal government is stalling a critical pipeline for loans to small businesses. Like the rest of

Attorney general pushing forward with power-line fight

Pennsylvania’s top lawyer plans to press ahead in a lawsuit over controversial power lines proposed for York and Franklin counties even after a federal court ruled in favor of the company behind the project. The decision by Attorney General Dave Sunday opens a new chapter in the four-year-old legal battle over the power lines, proposed […]

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Camp Hill restaurant proposal, other West Shore projects join hunt for state funds

One of Camp Hill’s most foreboding properties could be the key to a more prosperous future for the West Shore

Lanco firms seek state funds for HQ upgrades, other projects

Some of Lancaster’s highest-profile companies are hoping to persuade state officials that their plans to upgrade corporate headquarters deserve a

Officials vie for funds to revive York city landmarks

Officials in York hope state funding can help them revive two city landmarks — a dilapidated church and a downtown

Money sought for high-profile Harrisburg-area projects

Developers are applying for state funds to upgrade some of the capital region’s largest underused buildings. They include an idled steel mill in Steelton and two vacant office towers in downtown Harrisburg — former state offices at 333 Market St. and the former federal building at 228 Walnut St. The state funds would come through […]

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City residents receptive to data center rules

Lancaster city residents voiced cautious optimism about proposed rules regulating data centers within the borders of one of the region’s most populous municipalities. But they worried the new zoning regime would be too late to govern data center proposals already on the table for the city. “I’m very happy to see the direction we’re heading […]

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Court orders further review in case over medical cannabis testing

In a 5-2 ruling last week, the state Supreme Court upheld the authority of state regulators to issue rules for testing medical marijuana products before they hit the shelves. The ruling overturns a 2023 decision by Commonwealth Court that found regulators had exceeded their authority. Nonetheless, Pennsylvania’s top court sent the case back to the lower […]

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Budget gridlock strains childcare programs

Childcare providers were already struggling to keep up with the demand for their services. Then came the deadlock over the state budget, which has lasted nearly three months. For each week without a state budget, providers in Central Pennsylvania are missing out on about $1.1 million in state subsidies, according to Christy Renjilian, executive director […]

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Co-founder pitches deal to take rehab chain private

Robert Ortenzio is looking to put the rehab company he cofounded with his late father back into private hands. Ortenzio proposed this week to buy out shareholders in Select Medical Corp., which is based in Mechanicsburg but operates healthcare facilities around the U.S. In a letter to the company’s board, Ortenzio described himself as “uniquely positioned” […]

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Uncertainty surrounds shopping for health plans

Projections suggest that rising costs will dissuade Pennsylvania residents from buying health insurance through the state’s Obamacare exchange, known as Pennie. Those forecasts will now face a real-world test. Pennie’s open enrollment period starts tomorrow, Nov. 1, for people who want coverage in place for 2026. Enrollment through Pennie has been growing over the last […]

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Penn State hails ‘transformative’ $50M gift to children’s hospital

A New York state business leader and philanthropist has bestowed $50 million on Penn State Health Children’s Hospital in what is being described as a “transformative” gift. But the gift, announced yesterday, is about more than just money. The 156-bed hospital in Derry Township, Dauphin County, is joining a new alliance of children’s hospitals named […]

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Double-digit spike ahead for health plan costs

After warning for months that the cost of Obamacare health plans would be higher next year, Pennsylvania regulators delivered the final numbers this week. The spike for small businesses is not quite as high as the initial forecast, according to the Pennsylvania Insurance Department, which approves the premiums. But the jump is higher than projected […]

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Health systems settle lawsuit over alleged ‘no poach’ deal

Geisinger and the former Evangelical Community Hospital have agreed to pay $28.5 million to settle claims they forged a secret agreement not to poach each other’s workers, allegedly stifling competition in the labor market and depressing wages. Danville-based Geisinger, now owned by Kaiser Permanente, is paying $19 million, while Lewisburg-based Evangelical, now part of WellSpan Health, is paying $9.5 […]

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Double-digit premium hikes sought for ACA plans

Health insurers are asking for double-digit rate hikes for plans sold in Pennsylvania on the market created by the Affordable Care Act. State insurance regulators said Friday that insurers are proposing average premium increases of 19% for individual plans and 13% for small-business plans in 2026. Officials warned in June that hikes were coming as part […]

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Hospital union eyes strike vote as contract deadline looms

Negotiators from WellSpan Health and a union representing workers at a Chambersburg hospital are set to meet today ahead of a deadline for reaching a new labor agreement. If the talks conclude with no deal, the union said Friday it will hold a vote tomorrow that could pave the way for a strike by roughly 1,450 workers […]

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Regional health plans back initiative to cut red tape

Health insurers covering tens of thousands of people in Central Pennsylvania have joined a national effort to reform practices that critics blame for blocking access to medical care. That would be the need for prior authorization, which involves securing approval from a health insurer before getting treatment. Insurers have been working over the years to […]

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WellSpan, hospital union negotiating new deal

Contract talks are underway between WellSpan Health and a union representing workers at WellSpan Chambersburg, one of the health system’s hospitals in Franklin County. The two sides have been negotiating a new labor contract to replace one set to expire at the end of this month. Wages are a major issue for the union, SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania, […]

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Agency sounds early warning on ACA premium hikes

State insurance regulators are joining other observers warning about higher costs next year for the tens of thousands of Pennsylvania residents who buy health insurance in the market created by the Affordable Care Act. Insurers have begun to propose premiums for ACA plans next year and the Pennsylvania Insurance Department said yesterday that insurers are […]

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Health authority warns tax-credit expiration could cost PA residents

Enhanced federal tax credits help Pennsylvanians afford private health insurance in the market established more than a decade ago by the Affordable Care Act, or ACA. But the enhanced credits are slated to expire at the end of this year if the U.S. Congress does not extend them. If the credits lapse, the average Pennsylvanian […]

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Weis wants part of Rite Aid pharmacy biz

Weis Markets, whose pharmacy business has been growing by double digits, is making a play for pieces of Rite Aid. Legal filings in the Rite Aid bankruptcy case reveal that Sunbury-based Weis is among those bidding for the pharmacy chain’s assets. A Weis spokesperson declined to comment, and legal filings offer no details. But Weis joins […]

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For-profit healthcare deals under fire

Gov. Josh Shapiro and allied lawmakers are taking aim at the role of private equity in healthcare, arguing there is a need for action after the fallout from hospital closures in suburban Philadelphia. They are pushing legislation that would give state officials greater say over deals between nonprofit healthcare providers and all for-profit buyers, not […]

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State authority backs fund focused on life sciences

A state authority is awarding $2 million to a new venture capital fund that aims to sink the money into Pennsylvania’s life sciences sector, an area that state officials have targeted for growth. The fund is Neovate Life Sciences GP 1 LLC, launched by Neovate Capital Partners, which has offices in Pittsburgh, London, Boulder, Colorado, and New […]

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Device maker settles federal charges

Diopsys Inc., a medical device company based in Middletown, has agreed to pay up to $14.25 million for allegedly violating state and federal laws by submitting false claims to Medicaid and Medicare, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey. Diopsys, which was formerly based in New Jersey, developed a device […]

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Audit: Lapsed UPMC recordkeeping led to Medicaid overpayments

Due to recordkeeping lapses by UPMC Health Plan, a state agency reimbursed the health insurer for Medicaid recipients who were not eligible for the program, including some who had died, according to an audit released yesterday by the office of Pennsylvania Auditor General Tim DeFoor. The resulting overpayments to UPMC totaled $357,048 in 2022, according to the […]

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House panel to vote on healthcare violence bill

Just over a month after a deadly attack at UPMC Memorial hospital in York County, state lawmakers are poised to take up legislation addressing violence in the healthcare workplace. The legislation, House Bill 926, is scheduled for a vote March 25 in the House Labor & Industry Committee. Advocates note that healthcare workers are more likely than others […]

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Regional nonprofit in ‘startup mode’ to tackle employer health costs

It may be more than 30 years old, but the Central Penn Business Group on Health is in startup mode. The Lancaster-based nonprofit has hired a new CEO, and it is mulling new approaches to help area employers contend with rising healthcare costs, perhaps by applying analytics and other technologies. “The employers are looking for more,” said […]

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NJ operator mulls bid for senior living campuses in Central PA

A second suitor is eyeing a bid for the assets of SpiriTrust Lutheran, a York-based nonprofit senior living provider that filed

Trustee seeks liquidation of Heller assets in lieu of reorganizing

The independent trustee overseeing the bankruptcy of Lancaster County business owner Daryl Heller wants to convert Heller’s case from a

Local law firm hit by data breach

A data breach struck a Lancaster law firm this fall, exposing personal information on about 2,200 people, according to a notice filed with the Maine Attorney General’s office. Law firm BCGL LLC discovered the breach in October after identifying suspicious activity in its network, according to the notice, which the firm filed this month. The firm said it […]

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Court halts college’s bidding process amid legal challenge

A state appeals court has barred a Philadelphia-area community college from putting a project out to bid after a regional

Food processor settling water pollution claims

Hanover-based food processor Hanover Foods Corp. has agreed to pay a civil penalty and take other measures to settle water pollution claims lodged by a regional environmental group and echoed by state and federal regulators. The Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association sued Hanover Foods in 2021 in federal court over wastewater discharges. State and federal regulators joined the suit […]

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Court rejects winery’s last-ditch appeal over closure order

The lengthy legal battle over a York County winery may have come to an end. The state Supreme Court declined yesterday to hear an appeal from Moon Dancer Vineyards & Winery over a county court’s order that the venue close, according to an update on the case’s online docket. How did we get here: The winery in Lower […]

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Court spurns contractor’s appeal over civil penalties

The state’s high court this week rejected an appeal from a State College contractor accused more than four years ago

NYC attorney named to oversee Heller assets

A federal court has officially named a trustee to oversee the assets of Daryl Heller, the Lancaster County business owner who declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February after the collapse of an ATM network he led. Heller also faces federal charges alleging he defrauded investors in the network, which did business as Paramount Management Group. The trustee […]

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Court orders further review in case over medical cannabis testing

In a 5-2 ruling last week, the state Supreme Court upheld the authority of state regulators to issue rules for

Judge blocks hearing on data center appeal

In a one-page order issued yesterday morning, a Lancaster County judge agreed to block Lancaster’s zoning hearing board from considering issues related to multibillion-dollar data center projects in the city. The board was scheduled to hold a hearing Monday to air the appeal of a city resident who questioned how the data centers were being […]

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Zoning spat deepens over Lancaster data center

The developers behind a data center taking shape at the site of a former printing plant in Lancaster are pushing back in a fight over zoning for the facility. In a legal filing this week, the developers are asking a Lancaster County judge to rule in a dispute over whether the data center was classified […]

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Creditor cites criminal case in Heller bankruptcy

The indictment of Daryl Heller on federal fraud charges is spilling over into his bankruptcy case. A creditor in the bankruptcy case is citing the charges, filed earlier this month, as grounds for the court to appoint a trustee to oversee Heller’s finances or even to convert the case to a Chapter 7 liquidation. Heller filed […]

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Regional law firm sets CEO succession

After a decade leading the law firm he co-founded in 2015, James Saxton is preparing to take on a new role. Saxton plans to step down as CEO of Lancaster-based Saxton & Stump at the end of this year and become its chairman, where he will continue to work on strategic initiatives for the firm. The next […]

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Embracing change, creating value

James Saxton was working as a healthcare attorney at the law firm Stevens & Lee when he partnered with Christopher Stump to start a new firm in Lancaster in 2015. But the law was not Saxton’s only focus. “I was a big, big believer in marketing and business discipline,” he said. Saxton has put those […]

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Operations of troubled apartment complex handed to receiver

An independent receiver is now overseeing the beleaguered Governor’s Square apartments in Uptown Harrisburg. Under a court order finalized in late August by a Dauphin County judge, Midtown Asset Consulting LLC is taking over daily operations of the 222-unit affordable apartment complex, whose owner filed for bankruptcy more than two years ago. Midtown Asset’s first step is […]

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Lawsuit targets credit union over data breach at vendor

A local lawsuit related to a data breach at insurance and employee benefits brokerage Alera Group has prompted a local lawsuit.

Feds lodge civil, criminal charges against Heller

Federal authorities have filed a pair of complaints against Daryl Heller alleging that the Lancaster County business owner defrauded investors in an ATM network that operated as a ponzi scheme. The charges, from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, echo accusations made over the […]

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York County winery cleared to reopen

A York County winery is back open after facing yet another court order to shut down. In a brief decision Friday, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court cleared Moon Dancer Vineyards & Winery in Lower Windsor Township to reopen while it pursues its appeal of a long-running case over its right to operate. Lower courts have consistently ruled […]

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Carlisle-area steel fabricator sold

Ritner Steel, a steel fabricator based in Middlesex Township, Cumberland County, has been acquired by Cranbrook Partners & Co., a Troy,

Local hatmakers struggle to survive despite decades of adaptation

One of the region’s oldest hat factories is closing, and a second could follow. The family owners of F&M Hat Company Inc. in Denver, Lancaster County, have been winding down the 113-year-old business over the last year, according to fourth-generation co-owner and president Ash Fichthorn. He called the decision “bittersweet.” But, he added, “We’re at peace […]

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Lawsuits follow CEO’s exit from Lanco flooring maker

When Brian Carson moved on this year from Lancaster County-based flooring manufacturer AHF Products, a press release described his six-year tenure as “highly successful.” The former CEO’s departure is proving highly litigious. Carson, AHF Products, the company’s current private equity owners and its former owner are embroiled in a series of lawsuits filed in the wake […]

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Lanco fabricator changing hands

Structural fabricator Dutchland Inc. is undergoing a change in ownership three years after the Lancaster County company landed in the arms of private equity. In late 2022, Dutchland was acquired by Lexington, Kentucky-based MiddleGround Capital and folded into Lindsay Precast, now based in Gainesville, Florida. MiddleGround has now agreed to sell both companies to investment firm TJC, formerly known as The Jordan Co. […]

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Mount Joy packaging maker sold

After more than 40 years in business, the sibling co-founders of a Mount Joy packaging company decided to hand over the reins. Founded in 1983, Phoenix/Packaging has been acquired by Elkhart, Indiana-based Welch Packaging Group Inc. Welch was not the only buyer interested in Phoenix, according to John Davidson, a co-founder and vice president of marketing for Phoenix, […]

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York county firm strikes deal for Ohio paper plant

Spring Grove-based papermaker Pixelle Specialty Solutions LLC has found a buyer for an Ohio plant it closed over the summer. Pixelle has agreed to sell the plant in Chillicothe, Ohio, to U.S. Medical Glove Co., an Illinois-based company that makes medical gloves. In a news release, Pixelle said it expects $5.5 million in net proceeds from the sale […]

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Delays plague federal funding for factory services centers

Mantec, a York-based nonprofit that assists manufacturers across Central Pennsylvania, is facing an uncertain financial future for the second time this year. The uncertainty stems from a slowdown in federal funding for its sister centers in other parts of the U.S., as well as the government shutdown this week, according to Mantec president and CEO […]

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Capital-area firm sheds another Florida unit

Harrisburg-based manufacturer MITER Brands is continuing to retool its operations following a $3.1 billion acquisition last year. The company said this week it divested a brand known as NewSouth Window Solutions, a Florida-based retailer selling windows built for hurricane-prone regions of the Southeast. MITER sold the business to Window Nation, a Fulton, Maryland-based company specializing in residential sales and […]

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New chief to run paper company in turnaround mode

A Spring Grove paper maker is tapping a new CEO as it works to turn around its finances. Pixelle Specialty Solutions has named Julie Schertell as its CEO. She succeeds Ross Bushnell, who led the company for two years but is leaving for undisclosed opportunities. He is staying on through September as an adviser to Pixelle’s board. The […]

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Capital-area company consolidating Florida operations

A Harrisburg-based manufacturer of windows and doors is closing two plants in Florida but opening another one as it looks to focus on its best-selling products. MITER Brands is shutting down Miami-area plants in Hialeah and Medley that employ about 440 people, according to a company spokesperson. It is relocating production of high-demand products to other […]

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Lanco flooring maker closing Kentucky plant

Flooring manufacturer AHF Products is closing a factory in Somerset, Kentucky, and moving production to other facilities. The decision follows an internal review finding that consolidating production is the best way to match the company’s factory capacity with the current and projected demand for its products, according to a company release. The Kentucky plant employs […]

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Lebanon lumber business files bankruptcy amid sales slump

After announcing layoffs last month and trying unsuccessfully to find a buyer for its operations, a Lebanon County lumber company filed for bankruptcy this month. Based in South Annville Township, Weaber Inc. saw annual sales climb above $100 million in the late 2010s, according to the company’s bankruptcy filing. But sales plunged over the last two […]

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Firm consolidating in former TE/AMP plant

When electrical components manufacturer SESCO outgrew its Mont Alto plant in the mid-2010s, the company leased a second facility in Waynesboro. The company has operated in both buildings for a decade, according to SESCO founder, owner and president David Souders. But now, SESCO’s 87 employees are poised for a reunion. The company is buying a former TE Connectivity plant […]

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Manufacturer buys playgrounds specialist

Lancaster-based flooring maker Ecore International has purchased an Ohio-based company that specializes in playground surfacing. Based in Copley, Ohio, near Akron, Pro-Techs Surfacing LLC sells, designs and installs the surfacing. Terms of the transaction — Ecore’s second in as many months — were not disclosed. Pro-Techs, which employs 22 people, does no manufacturing. But the company’s sales and installation […]

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Utz closing plant amid efficiency drive

Hanover-based snack food company Utz Brands Inc. plans to wind down operations at a plant and warehouse in Grand Rapids, Michigan, as part of an ongoing effort to concentrate production at its larger, more efficient factories. Manufacturing at the Grand Rapids plant is slated to end by Jan. 30, followed by the end of warehouse operations on […]

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Slowdown prompts more layoffs for lumber company

Less than a month after deciding to close a lumber operation in northwestern Pennsylvania, Weaber Inc. is consolidating operations in Lebanon County and laying off 145 workers. The lumber company is vacating a distribution center at 25 Keystone Drive in South Annville Township and shifting work to its headquarters location at 1231 Mount Wilson Road, also […]

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Lancaster flooring maker buys firm with Chambersburg plant

Lancaster-based flooring manufacturer Ecore International has acquired a firm based in New York state with operations in Franklin County. The company is HTI Recycling, a tire collection, recycling and crumb rubber manufacturing company based in Lockport. The deal also includes HTI subsidiaries D&G Heavy Equipment Leasing and Edge Rubber Recycling, which has a plant in Chambersburg. Terms of the deal were […]

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York-area confectioner buys West Shore firm

A York-area candy company has more than doubled its factory footprint after taking over a peer based in Lower Allen Township, Cumberland County. After six decades of family ownership, The Warrell Corp. and its 230,000-square-foot plant have been sold to Wolfgang Confectioners, which operates out of a150,000 square-foot facility in Loganville. Terms of the transaction, which closed […]

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West Shore Home inks $50M deal for Beaver Stadium naming rights

Over the last few years, Mechanicsburg-based West Shore Home has been striving to build a national brand in the historically fractured home improvement business. The company took a major step yesterday toward raising its profile: A 15-year, $50 million deal with Penn State University to stamp the West Shore Home name on Beaver Stadium. The venue is […]

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Merger unites Lancaster marketing firms

Two Lancaster-based digital marketing agencies have come together as one. But for now, they are continuing to operate under their existing names. The firms are YDOP and WTM Digital, which offer similar services but for different clients. YDOP, which trademarked the term “near-user marketing,” works primarily with companies around ther U.S. seeking locally focused digital marketing. WTM Digital, […]

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Harrisburg marketing firm files bankruptcy

Merit Marketing, a Harrisburg-based advertising and marketing firm, filed last month for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, setting it on a path to liquidation. “The economic times are such the company is unable to survive and operate profitably,” Merit owner Adam Vasquez wrote in an email to biznewsPA. Vasquez has owned the company since 2015, when the […]

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CPA giant snaps up Harrisburg’s Andculture

Harrisburg-based Andculture is poised to become part of Chicago-based accounting and advisory firm RSM US LLP. RSM said Thursday it has reached an agreement to buy Andculture, which specializes in marketing strategy, design and technology, Terms of the deal were not disclosed. But it is expected to close June 1, according to a press release. RSM was […]

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Regional marketing firm changes hands

Fourteen years after launching her own marketing agency, Julie Lando-Cross has sold it to one of her first employees, Lissa Taylor, the agency’s COO and creative director.

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NJ operator mulls bid for senior living campuses in Central PA

A second suitor is eyeing a bid for the assets of SpiriTrust Lutheran, a York-based nonprofit senior living provider that filed

Bankrupt senior living provider eyes $41M asset sale

The assets of SpiriTrust Lutheran are heading to the auction block after the regional senior housing provider filed for bankruptcy protection in November. The York-based nonprofit has reached a tentative agreement to sell its senior living campuses and apartments to Concordia Lutheran Ministries, a senior living provider based in Butler County. SpiriTrust operates six retirement campuses and three […]

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Pioneering tiny home development in Lancaster County sold

Entrepreneur Abby Shank began developing a tiny home community near Elizabethtown in 2017 at the dawn of what became one of the hottest trends in residential real estate. Nearly a decade later, the 73-home Tiny Estates LLC community in Mount Joy Township has a new owner. A New Jersey-based partnership called Tiny Estates Lancaster LLC paid $6.1 million last […]

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Camp Hill fund buys York-area warehouse

A York-area warehouse with several tenants changed hands this week at a price of $13.2 million. The seller was an affiliate of Stewart Properties, part of the York-based Stewart Companies group. The buyer was Opes Capital, a Camp Hill-based real estate investment fund that formed at the beginning of 2025. The off-market deal was facilitated by Michael Curran, president and […]

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York firm scoops up West Shore apartments

One of the West Shore’s largest apartment complexes has changed hands. York-based property manager The Apartment Gallery has acquired The Overlook, a 288-unit complex at 150 Erford Ave. in East Pennsboro Township, Cumberland County. “Multifamily is always a stable investment opportunity, especially in high barrier- to-entry markets like Central Pennsylvania with good workforce fundamentals,” said Mike Maxwell, […]

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Money sought for high-profile Harrisburg-area projects

Developers are applying for state funds to upgrade some of the capital region’s largest underused buildings. They include an idled

City residents receptive to data center rules

Lancaster city residents voiced cautious optimism about proposed rules regulating data centers within the borders of one of the region’s

Sheriff’s sale looms again for former Harrisburg Catholic school

After dodging the auction block in July, the former Bishop McDevitt High School in Harrisburg is once again facing a sheriff’s sale. The sale is scheduled for the morning of Oct. 16, according to legal filings and the Dauphin County sheriff’s office. The sheriff’s office initially scheduled a sale in July. But it was postponed. At the […]

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Housing market shifting as sales slow

After years with sellers in charge, the local residential real estate market is slowly regaining its balance, a shift underscored by recent data on home sales. The numbers for August show steady growth in the number of homes on the market and a slowing pace of price increases. “This is probably the best balance we’ve […]

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Former Heller offices sold to wealth advisory

A partnership affiliated with Daryl Heller, the business owner charged with defrauding investors in an ATM network, has unloaded office space in downtown Lancaster. In a court-approved transaction, Premier Prince Street LLC sold just over 16,000 square feet of office space at 415 N. Prince St. for $2.8 million, according to York-based ROCK Commercial Real Estate. ROCK agent Patten […]

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Plans sought for Penn State York after campus closes

Leaders in York County are kicking off a seven-month process that they hope ends with a master plan for reusing the Penn State York campus, which is scheduled to close in less than two years. This week, the York County Economic Alliance issued a request for proposals from consultants interested in assessing the campus and crafting the […]

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Harrisburg-area golf course sold to data center developer

A suburban Harrisburg golf course is preparing to swap drivers for data. The Dauphin County General Authority voted yesterday to sell the Dauphin Highlands Golf Course for $45.6 million to a Texas company planning a data center on the 228-acre property in Swatara Township and Steelton. But there’s time for a few more rounds of golf. The […]

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Firm consolidating in former TE/AMP plant

When electrical components manufacturer SESCO outgrew its Mont Alto plant in the mid-2010s, the company leased a second facility in Waynesboro. The

Firms snag Rite Aid real estate in Central PA

Local and national firms are poised to pick up some of Rite Aid‘s real estate in Cumberland and York counties following an auction held last week as part of the pharmacy chain’s bankruptcy. Two of the properties changing hands are industrial space on the West Shore. Which ones: One is a 78,200-square-foot industrial space at 451 […]

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York-area plaza fetches $16.4M

A Singapore-based real estate investor has scooped up a shopping center in Dover Township, York County. United Hampshire US REIT said it paid about $16.4 million for the roughly 61,000-square-foot Dover Marketplace, which is anchored by a GIANT grocery store. It’s at the corner of Carlisle and Palomino roads, south of Dover Borough. The plaza is the investor’s […]

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A landowner’s pivot to data

A regional developer toiled for nearly a decade to bring a mix of uses to an 84-acre tract in Fairview Township, York County. Now, the company, Fairview Crossroads LLC, is hoping to plant a data center on the site, which is off Lewisberry Road, west of Interstate 83 and south of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. “It’s been […]

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Data center boom redefining industrial real estate

A few years ago, the phrase “industrial real estate” likely conjured an image of massive warehouses spreading across the open fields of Central Pennsylvania. Now, the phrase might just as easily bring up images of data centers — buildings packed with computer servers composing your emails and delivering answers to your ChatGPT queries. The announcement of more […]

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Sheriff’s sale postponed for former school

The owner of a former Catholic school in Harrisburg has three more months to avoid a forced sale of the property. A sheriff’s sale of the former Bishop McDevitt High School was scheduled for this morning. But according to a notice from the Dauphin County sheriff’s office, the sale has been pushed back to Oct. 16. […]

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Giant closing ecommerce fulfillment centers in Lancaster, other PA locations

Carlisle-based grocery chain The Giant Co. is closing ecommerce fulfillment centers in Lancaster and four other places in Pennsylvania as

Chicago restaurateur taking former Iron Hill spots

Life could be returning to Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant locations in Hershey and Lancaster following the regional chain’s sudden bankruptcy in October. Chicago-based Ciao Hospitality Group is taking over leases at the two locations and plans to reopen them within a few months, according to Ciao CEO Jeff Crivello. What to name the venues is still up in […]

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Regional home improvement biz sold

Renewal by Andersen of Central PA, an independently owned retail affiliate of Minnesota-based door and window manufacturer Andersen Corp., has been acquired by another Andersen affiliate, St. Louis-based The Birner Group. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The Central PA Andersen affiliate was owned by Joe Zisman, who is retiring after five decades in the industry, […]

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Weis picks up scrips from 11 Rite Aid stores

Weis Markets has won court approval to take over prescriptions for customers at 11 Rite Aid stores in Pennsylvania and New York, according to a spokesperson for the Sunbury-based grocery chain. The stores include Rite Aid locations in Dover and Hanover, as well as Altoona, Brodheadsville, Fogelsville, Honesdale, Montoursville, Mountain Top, Wellsboro and Williamsport, Weis spokesperson […]

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Weis wants part of Rite Aid pharmacy biz

Weis Markets, whose pharmacy business has been growing by double digits, is making a play for pieces of Rite Aid. Legal

Rite Aid files bankruptcy, preps for sale

Rite Aid said yesterday it is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the second time in two years. While the pharmacy chain emerged as a smaller, leaner company after its last trip through bankruptcy court, it is bracing this time for a sale. “While we have continued to face financial challenges, intensified by the rapidly evolving […]

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Discount retailer to reopen across region

Big Lots is coming back to Central Pennsylvania. The retail brand’s new owner, North Carolina-based Variety Wholesalers, plans to reopen more than two dozen former Big Lots in Pennsylvania over the next two months, including locations in Cumberland, Lebanon, Lancaster and York counties. Variety is reopening three Big Lots on May 1 in Dunmore, Eynon and […]

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CEO departs Mechanicsburg-based donut chain

Four years after taking the helm at Duck Donuts, Betsy Hamm has resigned. Hamm had led the Mechanicsburg-based donut shop franchisor as CEO since it sold a majority stake in April 2021 to NewSpring Capital, a private equity firm based in Radnor. “Duck Donuts appreciates Hamm’s leadership she provided throughout her years with the company,” said a company […]

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Ollie’s loads up on stores from bankrupt rival

OIlie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings is grabbing another clutch of former Big Lots stores in a bankruptcy auction. Pending court approval and price adjustments from landlords, the Harrisburg-based discount retailer will pay $188,838 for seven Big Lots leases, according to court filings. Two of the locations are in Florida and two are in Missouri, with one each […]

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Discount retailer buys former Big Lots leases

Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings is scooping up leases for seven former locations of its bankrupt rival, Big Lots. The stores include one each in Georgia, Illinois and Louisiana and four in Wisconsin, according to court documents. The price is about $620,000, subject to potential adjustments by the landlords. “These stores are the right size, located in […]

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Harrisburg-area mall sold for $8.8M

A Massachusetts-based developer is acquiring the Colonial Park Mall, an aging retail complex that local officials hope to see rejuvenated. A partnership headed by the developer, Zi Qian “John” Zhang, paid nearly $8.8 million for the mall, which is at 4600 Jonestown Road in Lower Paxton Township, according to county deed records. Zhang is still […]

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Ollie’s to roll out loyalty credit card

Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings Inc. is launching a co-branded Visa credit card in partnership with Los Angeles-based fintech Sunbit. The card is designed to build on Ollie’s loyalty program, Ollie’s Army, which has about 14 million members. The card’s features include a $10 statement credit for signing up and extra Ollie’s Army points on purchases at Ollie’s and […]

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Lanco startup builds on viral moment: ‘You don’t want it to just be that’

When you’re shipping a $100,000 engagement ring, you don’t take any chances. That’s how Simone Kendle found herself on a

Ollie’s poised to buy stores from bankrupt retailer

A court order is paving the way for Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings Inc. to purchase 11 stores in Texas from discount retailer 99 Cents Only Stores, which filed for bankruptcy in April. A Delaware bankruptcy judge this week approved Ollie’s as a stalking-horse bidder for the properties as part of a court-supervised sale, meaning the company is […]

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Shippensburg-area plaza sells for $6.6M

A buyer with a growing portfolio of Pennsylvania shopping centers has added another one. A partnership led by Leo Ullman of New York-based retail developer Vastgood Properties paid $6.63 million at the end of April for Shippensburg Marketplace, according to Brad Rohrbaugh, executive vice president and retail director for York-based Bennett Williams Commercial. Rohrbaugh and […]

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Feds target hiring practices at Sheetz

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is suing Sheetz, arguing that the company’s use of criminal background checks in hiring is discriminatory. The agency noted that Sheetz was not motivated by race in making hiring decisions. However, the agency claims that the convenience-store chain’s hiring practices disproportionately screened out job applicants who are Black, Native American, […]

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Apple auto biz to be sold

The Stewart Companies has agreed to sell its Apple Automotive dealerships to a Lehigh Valley company, as the York-based holding company focuses on its other businesses, The buyer is Allentown-based Ciocca Dealerships, which operates 42 dealerships and 12 collision centers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, including in the Harrisburg and State College markets. Apple operates 10 dealerships, six collision […]

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Regional fireworks retailer sold

One of Pennsylvania’s most illuminating companies is under new ownership. Keystone Fireworks, which has stores across the region, has been acquired by Argonne Capital Group, a private equity firm based in Atlanta. The transaction closed earlier this year, according to an Argonne spokesperson, who declined to provide additional details. Financing was provided by Alignment Credit, a New York-based […]

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Can regulators prevent sticker shock over data centers?

State regulators are crafting guidelines designed to address one of the chief risks of the data center construction boom —

Local law firm hit by data breach

A data breach struck a Lancaster law firm this fall, exposing personal information on about 2,200 people, according to a

Lancaster, developer forge deal over data center standards, community benefits

At a press conference yesterday, Lancaster Mayor Danene Sorace unveiled an agreement between the city and Chirisa Technology Parks, the Virginia-based company

Is there a middle way for data centers? Team PA bets on it

Advocates embrace data centers as engines of economic opportunity and a symbol of Pennsylvania’s appeal to high-tech industries, drawn, in part, by abundant supplies of energy. Critics are fighting back, citing the centers’ potential harm to the environment and quality of life in the communities where they are being proposed. Team Pennsylvania is hoping to […]

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Harrisburg-area golf course sold to data center developer

A suburban Harrisburg golf course is preparing to swap drivers for data. The Dauphin County General Authority voted yesterday to sell the

Data center plans provoke debate over impact, process

At a meeting last night, developers shared more details on their plans for a $15 billion data center complex near Carlisle. Residents shared a barrage of doubts. Over two hours, they questioned how much water and electricity the centers would use. They questioned how the developers picked the 700-acre tract of farmland in Middlesex Township where […]

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Costs seen mounting for data center tax exemption

In 2022, Pennsylvania waived sales taxes for computer equipment purchased for use in data centers, provided the centers met certain requirements. Following a slew of announcements about new data center projects around the state, the price tag for that exemption may be going up. The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue is revisiting its forecasts on the […]

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Data center boom redefining industrial real estate

A few years ago, the phrase “industrial real estate” likely conjured an image of massive warehouses spreading across the open fields

Developer details data center plans

One of the companies behind a $6 billion data center project in Lancaster is filling in some of the blanks surrounding the project. Early reports indicated data centers would be constructed at two former printing plants, at 216 Greenfield Road and 1375 Harrisburg Pike. The developers are Virginia-based Chirisa Technology Parks and New York-based Machine Investment Group, […]

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Where’s the data? Firms mum on York County data center plans

It’s been a week since New Jersey-based investment firm Energy Capital Partners announced it was planning a $5 billion data center in southern York County. But the precise location remains unknown, even to the manager of Peach Bottom Township, where the data center is widely expected to be built. “Your guess is as good as mine,” township […]

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Demo approved, sites confirmed for Lancaster data centers

The dust is still settling on the flurry of announcements for massive data and energy projects proposed this week for Pennsylvania. Actual dust could soon start flying on one of those projects — a $6 billion data center investment in Lancaster. The city has issued demolition permits for the first phase of the project, according […]

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Big tech showering billions on local data, energy projects

Major tech companies yesterday disclosed billions of dollars in new investment in Central Pennsylvania, though some key details remain to be filled in. Data center giant CoreWeave said it plans to sink $6 billion into developing a data center in Lancaster in partnership with a company that recently acquired two former printing plants in the city. A […]

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Amazon bringing more data centers to PA amid growing concerns over cost

The data center boom made a big bang yesterday in Pennsylvania. Tech giant Amazon said it plans to invest at least $20 billion to build data centers in Pennsylvania, starting with a pair of locations in eastern Pennsylvania. The Shapiro administration described the company’s move as the largest private-sector investment in state history. “This is not just […]

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Authority tees up potential golf course sale amid data center demand

A suburban Harrisburg golf course is the latest plot of land in the region to draw attention from developers of data centers, power-hungry computing facilities that are vital to the growth of artificial intelligence. Would-be buyers with data centers in mind have shown an appetite for the Dauphin Highlands Golf Course, according to Jeanette Krebs, […]

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Heller-linked IT firm sells unit to California company

A California tech firm has acquired portions of a Lancaster-based IT company co-founded by Daryl Heller, the business owner at the center of a legal vortex. The Lancaster company is AVAIL Technology Solutions, which traces its roots to a venture called Premier Management Group. Premier was founded in 1990 by Heller and entrepreneur Bob Horst. But the […]

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Spring Grove firm tees up software for national sales

After nearly a decade of fine tuning, a Spring Grove software company believes its main product is ready for prime

PA sites on short list for deep-pocketed startup

Pennsylvania is one of three states where a prominent data-center startup is looking to site facilities, according to a LinkedIn post earlier this week from Sarah Friar, CFO of OpenAI, one of the companies backing the startup. The Stargate Project — also backed SoftBank, computer company Oracle and investment firm MGX — iburst out of the gate last month with […]

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Sale of York fiber company finalized

The sale of United Fiber & Data, a York-based fiber optic company co-founded by former members of the rock band Live, has been finalized. The deal had been held up by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, which had some questions about the transaction. But in a Jan. 10 letter, the agency signed off on the company’s sale […]

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Regional bank agrees to $354M sale

Camp Hill-based LinkBancorp opened in 2018 following a round of consolidation that took out several banks in Central Pennsylvania. Now, with bank

Leadership resolutions for the New Year

Column by Richard Randall As 2025 comes to an end, leaders will naturally be thinking about how to position their

Pennian Bank

Suzy Teter has joined Pennian Bank as an assistant vice president and relationship banker based in the bank’s Lemoyne office. Teter, who lives in Duncannon worked most recently serving as a financial center manager for Mid Penn Bank. “Suzy’s commitment to serving as a trusted resource to businesses and organizations, as well her dedication to […]

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New chief to run paper company in turnaround mode

A Spring Grove paper maker is tapping a new CEO as it works to turn around its finances. Pixelle Specialty

Winery loses appeal in fight to stay open

A state court rejected an appeal from a York County winery fighting orders that it shut down. The decision last week by Superior Court of Pennsylvania forestalls one of the last legal avenues available to Moon Dancer Vineyards & Winery in its long-running battle with neighbors who want the venue to cease operations. The neighbors — Amanda […]

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Museum complex slated for $55M upgrade

The State Museum of Pennsylvania is getting a facelift. State officials yesterday unveiled plans for a $55 million makeover of the 62-year-old museum complex on state Capitol grounds. The goal is to modernize exhibits, displays and storage areas, while creating an environment matching the expectations of 21st-century visitors. Planned changes include creation of a large-scale […]

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State House advances controversial tax policy

State lawmakers are plowing ahead once again with tax changes that have long drawn the ire of business lobbyists but never made it into law. The changes would subject more corporate profits to taxes in Pennsylvania by curtailing the ability of companies to report those profits in other states. Two committees in the Democratic-controlled state […]

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Barley Snyder

Alice Solomon has joined the Malvern office of Lancaster-based law firm Barley Snyder. With a background in environmental, energy and land use law, she is a member of the firm’s real estate and litigation practice groups. Before joining Barley Snyder, Solomon worked at an environmental law firm based in the Philadelphia suburbs. She has a […]

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Consumer advocates want do-over for price-spiking power auction

Consumer advocates in Illinois, Maryland and New Jersey are asking federal regulators to rerun an auction that is sparking a hike in electricity prices set to take effect in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest — including Pennsylvania — starting June 1. At issue is the auction process used by regional power grid operator PJM to set the price of electricity […]

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Elizabethtown beverage brand, distributor sold

T.J. Foltz founded Humankind Beverage in 2011 with a goal of funneling profits from sales of bottled water into a charity bringing clean water to poverty-stricken areas of the world. He’s hoping to make a lot more sales now that the Elizabethtown-based brand — and its regional distribution arm — have been acquired. The buyer is Odeko, a […]

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West Shore warehouse complex moves forward

Developers have acquired land off the Carlisle Pike in Cumberland County where they plan to build three warehouses. The warehouses will span nearly 2 million square feet under plans approved in 2023 under the previous owner of the property, part of Hempt Farms in Silver Spring Township. The developers — a joint venture between New York-based Rockefeller […]

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Work advancing on $22M hotel in Columbia

It was a groundbreaking six years in the making, and developer Don Murphy wasn’t going to let steady rain or thunderstorm warnings stand in the way. Murphy and about 100 other people huddled in and around a tent yesterday to mark the start of construction on a new hotel at the intersection of Walnut and […]

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Investors sue bank for alleged faulty oversight of Lancaster ATM operator

The flurry of litigation around defunct ATM operator Paramount Management Group and its former principal, Daryl Heller is thickening. Investors in the ATM network are suing a South Dakota bank that signed off on Paramount’s financial condition, alleging the bank should have warned them about shortcomings at the Lancaster-based ATM company. A company that sold ATMs to […]

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Sale of York fiber company finalized

The sale of United Fiber & Data, a York-based fiber optic company co-founded by former members of the rock band Live,

York insurance agency hews to independent path

It wouldn’t be a story about an insurance brokerage if it didn’t start with the volume of calls asking if the company is for sale. “It’s five a week,” said Mike Harter, CEO of McConkey Insurance & Benefits in Springettsbury Township, York County. But despite a wave of consolidation sweeping through its industry, McConkey is […]

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Court backs realty tax exemption

The owner of a Gettysburg-area hotel prevailed in a court case that turned on questions of when to apply a state tax on real estate transfers. At issue was a transfer of properties between entities controlled by the same owner. State tax collectors argued that transfers in 2018 by Kunj Harrisburg LLC, which operates the Eisenhower Hotel […]

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Regional lawn-care company sold

Green Image Lawn Care, a regional lawn-care company with offices in York and Lancaster counties, has been acquired by LawnPRO Partners,

York-area brewer taps into downtown Lancaster

York County-based South County Brewing is planning to take over the former Pressroom restaurant in downtown Lancaster. The spot at 26 W. King St. will be the third for South County. Founded in 2011, the brewery also has locations in Fawn Grove and York Township in York County. When is this happening: The roughly 22,000 square-foot venue […]

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