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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 manage their calendars, […]

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Deal boosts insurance arm for regional bank

Mid Penn Bancorp has snapped up a Dillsburg-area employee benefits firm as it seeks growth for its insurance unit.The Mid Penn unit, which does business as MPB Insurance and Risk Management, started in June 2020, primarily in property and casualty products, according to Rory Ritrievi, chair, president and CEO of the Harrisburg-based bank.The acquisition of Commonwealth Benefits Group, […]

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Chase plans Carlisle Pike branch

Chase Bank, the retail banking arm of financial services giant JPMorgan Chase, is seeking permission to open a branch on the edge of Hampden Commons, a shopping plaza along Carlisle Pike in Hampden Township, Cumberland County. The bank is leasing a former M&T Bank branch at 5528 Carlisle Pike, according to Brad Rohrbaugh, retail director for York-based Bennett Williams Commercial, […]

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Regional bank to cut six branches post-merger

Orrstown Financial Services is planning to shed six branches as it seeks to wring cost savings from its recent merger of equals with PeoplesBank parent Codorus Valley Bancorp.The closures, expected to take place in the fourth quarter, will result in a one-time pre-tax charge of $534,000 but yield annual pre-tax savings of about $1.7 million, according to a securities […]

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Lanco wealth advisory bought by Texas firm

Another local financial advisory has landed in the arms of a larger business.Rodgers & Associates Wealth Advisers, based in Manheim Township, Lancaster County, has been acquired by Bluespring Wealth Partners, an Austin, Texas-based firm that has scooped up more than two dozen wealth management firms since it was founded five years ago.Rodgers & Associates referred questions […]

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Fulton to shutter 19 branches

Fulton Financial is closing 19 branches in southeastern Pennsylvania, South Jersey and New York City three months after the bank’s emergency acquisition of failed Philadelphia lender Republic First Bank, a deal that deepened Fulton’s reach in the state’s largest market. Lancaster-based Fulton is closing 13 of its own branches and six former Republic branches, according to Fulton spokesperson Stephen […]

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Adams, York county banks forge $73.5M deal

After a run of more than 20 years, Traditions Bank in York County has agreed to be acquired by ACNB Corp., a Gettysburg-based institution aiming to push eastward into York and Lancaster counties.The all-stock deal, expected to close in the first quarter of 2025, is valued at $73.5 million. The combined bank would have assets of $3.3 billion and […]

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Orrstown cutting jobs post-merger, but execs see growth ahead

Orrstown Financial Services is shedding about 135 jobs as part of its recently closed merger with Codorus Valley Bancorp, with the majority of the cuts landing in back-office areas such as marketing, technology, finance and risk management, according to bank executives.The cuts stem from overlapping operations of the two banks, Tom Quinn, Orrstown’s president and CEO, said […]

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Stake in Rock Lititz company poised to change hands

Goldman Sachs Alternatives, a private equity arm of New York-based finance giant Goldman Sachs, has agreed to purchase a majority stake in TAIT, a live-entertainment production company based at Rock Lititz in Lancaster County. The seller is private equity firm Providence Equity Partners , which has had a stake in TAIT since 2019. Terms of the deal, which is […]

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PennSpring-backed firm scoops up virtual paralegal service

Zirtual, a portfolio company of Lancaster-based investment firm PennSpring Capital, is branching out.The virtual-assistant service has acquired Del.Trust, a company that offers virtual paralegal services to attorneys and law firms nationwide. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.Del.Trust founder Jaclyn Foster is joining Zirtual as president of its newly established paralegal services division.“She is the ideal leader […]

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Select Medical’s workplace health unit files for IPO

Concentra, the occupational health subsidiary of Mechanicsburg-based rehab chain Select Medical, filed last week for an initial public offering of stock, though many of the details remain to be filled in — including the timing and share price for the IPO. Nonetheless, the filing presents a fairly detailed overview of Concentra, its operations and its outlook on the […]

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Startup nonprofit in Lancaster aims to persuade

Drew Mousetis understands the benefits of employee ownership.As a lead consultant for employee-owned software company Cargas in Lancaster, he enjoyed a sense of financial security that allowed him and his wife to purchase a new home in Lancaster Coujnty where they are raising their four young children.“You just can’t really put a value on that,” […]

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House panel OKs controversial swipe-fee legislation

In a party-line vote, a House panel approved legislation on June 12 to exempt Pennsylvania sales taxes from so-called swipe fees — the fees assessed to process transactions involving credit cards.Fourteen Democrats on the committee voted for the legislation, House Bill 2394, while 11 Republicans were opposed.The exemption would mean that on a $1 purchase in […]

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Banks, retailers spar over swipe-fee legislation

Pennsylvania banks and credit unions are pushing back on proposed state legislation that would exempt the sales-tax portion of retail purchases from so-called swipe or interchange fees — the fees charged by financial services companies for processing credit card payments. The fees are typically 1% to 3% of a transaction. Under the exemption, on a […]

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Lanco financial firm merges with Denver peer

The slowdown in home lending has challenged banks and mortgage brokers over the last year. But it has created opportunities for the firms that offer them advice and technology to improve their operations.It is those opportunities that helped spur a merger for Teraverde, a financial software and consulting company based in East Hempfield Township Lancaster County. The […]

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Inch & Co. launches $20M real estate fund

The founders of Inch & Co. are looking to raise $20 million from investors interested in backing the York-area company’s forays in multifamily housing.For the last 15 years, the company has leaned on its own resources, buttressed by capital from friends and family, said Jeff Inch, a co-founder and co-owner of Inch & Co.“Now it’s time […]

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Bank to form holding company

Lancaster County-based Bank of Bird-in-Hand is seeking shareholder and regulatory approval to form a holding company, a common step for banks as they grow. The holding company would be called GELT Bancorp Inc., incorporating the Amish word for money. The bank also uses the word for its mobile branches, called Gelt buses.Existing bank shareholders would become shareholders in […]

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Regional benefits firms merge

Lemoyne-based insurance and benefits agency Gunn-Mowery is expanding its footprint in York CountyThe firm has acquired Central Penn Benefits, an insurance and benefits agency in West Manchester Township, York County.Terms of the transaction, which closed May 1, were not disclosed. But Central Penn Benefits will continue to operate under its own name and from its existing office as […]

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State funds boost projects in York, Adams, Lancaster, Lebanon

Developer Ben Sutton has been working for more than a year to bake new life into a former bakery plant in West York.This week, he secured a key ingredient: a low-interest state loan and accompanying grant totaling nearly $2.5 million in all.“It was the missing part,” Sutton said in an interview with biznewsPA. “Now, we […]

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Inch taps construction vet for ops/finance chief

Inch & Co. Holdings, a York County construction and real estate development firm, has hired Mike Benshoof as its first-ever chief operations and financial officer. Benshoof, a construction industry veteran, was most recently president of Berks Homes, a regional home builder with offices in Mohnton, New Cumberland and State College.“We’re very, very happy to have him […]

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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 you say, […]

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Firms partner on $18.6M apartment project in Lebanon

Lebanon-based construction company Arthur Funk & Sons Inc. is teaming up with a Wisconsin-based developer to build a 48-unit affordable apartment complex on a roughly five-acre plot along Mount Pleasant Road in South Annville Township, Lebanon CountyA formal groundbreaking is scheduled for July 15, but site work already is underway, said Matthew Padron, managing director of […]

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House OKs expansion to prevailing-wage law

A controversial effort to tweak Pennsylvania’s prevailing-wage law has cleared a key hurdle.The Democratic-controlled state House this week passed a bill containing the tweaks on a vote of 125 to 77, sending it to an uncertain future in the GOP-controlled Senate.What are the tweaks: The legislation, House Bill 2153, would apply prevailing wages for the […]

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Harristown undertaking $750K reno project

An affiliate of the nonprofit developer Harristown Enterprises is carving up a pair of vacant rowhomes at 104 and 106 Walnut St. in Harrisburg into four apartment units, ranging in size from 910 square feet to 1,690 square feet. The Harristown affiliate, Charming on Walnut LLC, bought the two Depression-era buildings in December 2023 in a […]

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Proposed tweaks to prevailing wage spur debate

Contractors and some lawmakers are pushing back against efforts to change how Pennsylvania officials apply prevailing wage law, which sets a floor for wages on publicly funded construction projects.Their target is legislation before the state House and Senate that critics argue will drive up costs for public works.“It’s simply the wrong solution for Pennsylvanians,” state […]

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High court to hear dispute over prevailing wage

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case involving application of prevailing wages to a $17.2 million build-to-lease project for a State Police barracks and training center in Luzerne County.Administrative rulings sought to apply prevailing wages to the project, based on the notion that the state’s 20-year lease for the property essentially paid […]

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York developer names CEO as founder moves to CFO

After 15 years of leading York-based Royal Square Development and Construction, Josh Hankey is stepping into a new role at the company he founded in 2009.Hankey is poised to become CFO and pass the CEO baton to Dylan Bauer, who joined Royal Square in 2014.In an interview, Hankey said the two executives had been giving thought […]

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Retirement community plans $27M building project

Senior-living provider Landis Homes plans to erect 35 villa-style residential units on the western edge of its campus in Manheim Township, Lancaster County. The $27 million project reflects continuing demand for retirement living — 34 of the units have already been pre-sold — said Corey Hamilton, CFO for the nonprofit.The units, mostly two-bedrooms, will range in size from […]

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Nashville twin in works for Rock Lititz

Rock Lititz, the live-entertainment campus in Lancaster County, is erecting a twin in Nashville, the longtime capital of country music and home to the Grand Ole Opry.Rock Lititz announced May 1 that it broke ground last month on Rock Nashville, a 40-acre campus that will feature 514,000 square feet of rehearsal space for touring musicians, as […]

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WellSpan breaks ground on first of three ‘mini hospitals’

As they broke ground yesterday on a new “mini hospital” in southern York County, WellSpan Health officials identified the next two locations for the small-format medical centers: the Carlisle area and northern York County.The regional health system is opening the three mini hospitals — in partnership with Texas-based specialty operator Emerus — to bring inpatient […]

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First Dauphin branch in the works for F&M Trust

The chief banking subsidiary of Chambersburg-based Franklin Financial Services has broken ground on a new branch at 4765 Linglestown Road in Lower Paxton Township.It will be F&M Trust‘s first free-standing, full-service branch in Dauphin County. “It’s a natural progression of our growth and activity in the capital region, specifically Dauphin County,” F&M Trust president and CEO Tim Henry said […]

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West Shore distributor sells stake to PE firm

R.F. Fager Co., a West Shore distributor of plumbing, heating, roofing and other supplies, has a new partner.New York-based private equity firm Tenex Capital Management has made an undisclosed investment in the company. Efforts to reach R.F. Fager and Tenex were not successful, But in a statement to trade publication PE Hub, Tenex managing director Gabe Wood said, […]

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Insurers sue local contractors over recycling-plant fire

On March 8, 2022, a fire ripped through a Penn Waste recycling facility in Manchester Township, York County, knocking it out of commission. Now, three Penn Waste insurers are suing local contractors involved in building the facility and installing its sprinkler system.The insurers, which include Connecticut-based XL Insurance, are seeking to recover $26 million in damages from York-based Kinsley Construction, York-based Susquehanna […]

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Engineering firm opens MD, western PA offices

A Harrisburg-area engineering firm has added two new offices, including its first-ever location in Maryland.HRG has opened offices in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, and Hagerstown, Maryland, hoping to make greater inroads in both areas. The additions bring the firm, based in Swatara Township, Dauphin County, to a dozen offices, with 10 in Pennsylvania and one each in […]

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Shapiro labor directive triggers blowback

Business groups are decrying a recent directive from Gov. Josh Shapiro designed to increase the state’s use of project labor agreements, deals that generally require the use of union labor on public projects.Issued last week, the directive calls on state agencies to review contract solicitations for capital projects to determine which ones would be good fits for […]

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Deal brings Gannett Fleming a bigger piece of Texas

Everything is bigger in Texas, including spending on roads, bridges, pipes and other infrastructure.“It’s the place to be in our world,” said Bob Scaer, CEO of engineering firm Gannett Fleming. “And you can’t penetrate that by hiring a person to start growing. The only way in is acquisition.” For Camp Hill-based Gannett Fleming, that acquisition was […]

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Budget delivers big win, some misses for business

State lawmakers last week delivered a tax cut long sought by Pennsylvania’s business community. But in adopting a $45.2 billion budget on July 8 for the current fiscal year, they left out other sought-after provisions.The headline news is the immediate cut and subsequent phase-down of the state’s corporate net income tax, which had been 9.99%The […]

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Podcast: Pain at the pump

You don’t need a headline to tell you that fuel prices are high. But you can listen in to the latest edition of the York County Economic Alliance podcast produced in partnership with biznewsPA. Richard Farr, executive director of rabbittransit, describes how of one of Central Pennsylvania’s largest public transit providers is adapting. Mark Wisniewski, […]

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Podcast: Business leaders talk early childhood education

Listen in as a panel of experts discusses the importance of quality, affordable and accessible childcare in the region: Tony Campisi, chairman of Glatfelter Insurance Group; Andrea Heberlein, executive director of the Pennsylvania Early Learning Investment Commission; Jim Hoehn, regional president pf PNC Bank; and Heather Miller, chief education officer at the York Jewish Community […]

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York leaders revive grant program for early childhood ed

Business and childcare leaders in York County have raised more than $500,000 for a grant program designed to improve the quality of early childhood education in the county, replacing a state program that was cut during the pandemic.Leading the charge have been Anthony Campisi, chairman of York-based Glatfelter Insurance Group; Pete Brubaker, president of York-based […]

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Widener law class grapples with pandemic’s legal fights

The Covid-19 pandemic has fueled a range of legal battles in Pennsylvania. Those battles are now the subject of a seminar at Widener University Commonwealth Law School.

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The region’s top real estate deals of 2021

The past year in Central Pennsylvania real estate was punctuated by some high-profile deals, as well as a torrid market for warehouses and other industrial properties. Here’s a look at what transpired in 2021.

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State lawsuit over PCBs advances

A state court has delivered a partial win for Pennsylvania in a year-old lawsuit seeking damages from ag giant Monsanto and related enitities over PCBs.An 84-page Commonwealth Court ruling on Dec. 30 swept aside six of Monsanto’s nine objections to the state lawsuit, paving the way for the next phase of litigation.Judges, however, did uphold two of the […]

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Armstrong Flooring mulls sale amid debt, supply chain challenges

Armstrong Flooring, one of Central Pennsylvania’s largest manufacturers and a long-time staple in the Lancaster economy, said late Friday it is considering a sale or other strategic alternative.Company leaders had been working to set Armstrong Flooring on a more profitable path, which included cutting down on its product portfolio and moving to a new, smaller headquarters in the […]

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A look back at M&A in Central PA

The past year has been a busy one for mergers and acquisitions in Central Pennsylvania. Take a closer look at the action in this month-by-month recap for 2021. Unless otherwise indicated, the deal terms were not disclosed.January:U-GRO Learning Centres, a Derry Township-based preschool chain, was purchased by Michigan-based Learning Care Group, one of the country’s […]

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A $195M wish list for Central Pennsylvania

Every year, developers and local officials around Pennsylvania ask for funding from a state program called the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, or RACP.Last year, projects in Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon and York counties took home more than $39 million.But grants are not guaranteed. The program is competitive and many projects walk away empty-handed. This year, […]

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A return to not-quite normal

As people trickle back into the workplace around Central Pennsylvania, it may feel like a return to normal. But the feeling could be deceptive.The return to the workplace is a change. And while the change is welcome, people still need time to adjust.“It’s not like you can just pick up where you left off,” said […]

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Venture firm takes root in York

Martin Fedorko did not cross the finish line the first time he tried to create a venture fund in York County. But he came away with valuable lessons he is applying to his latest effort: White Rose VenturesMost importantly, he learned that York County’s would-be investors are indeed interested in backing local companies. They just […]

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Surveys: Business outlook optimistic but tempered by expectations of slow growth

As elected officials debate another government-led kickstart to the U.S. economy, business leaders are optimistic about their own prospects but resigned to slower growth overall.That’s the gist of two recent surveys gauging the outlook of executives who have spent the last six months grappling with the crippling impact of a pandemic that has taken more […]

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York venture fund adds to portfolio

A York-based venture fund has added to its portfolio of regional startups as it aims to bolster entrepreneurship in Central Pennsylvania.Founded in 2020, White Rose Ventures disclosed an inaugural round of investments in four companies earlier this year.At the end of last week, it unveiled investments of nearly $1.3 million in three more startups.Which are: ReturnLogic, Evermind and TEAMology.Based in Carlisle, ReturnLogic is a software firm […]

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Lebanon startup readies medical device for market

When Seth Pheng began working at a medical cannabis dispensary in 2019, the longtime pharmacist noticed two things.One was that people really were coming in for the medicine, not for the marijuana.Two was that it was an industry crying out for standards similar to what he was used to in the traditional pharmacy business.Three years […]

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Harrisburg-area firm agrees to sale

Ritter Insurance Marketing, a Harrisburg-area firm that provides products and services to independent insurance agencies, has been sold.Dallas-based Integrity Marketing Group said May 18 it has agreed to buy Ritter, which employs about 280 people in Susquehanna Township and at satellite offices around the U.S.Terms of the deal were not disclosed. But Craig Ritter, an owner and […]

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Hershey-area startup acquired by Pittsburgh firm

A Pittsburgh-based life sciences company has acquired Fathom Pharma, a Hershey-area startup focused on developing safer pain medications.As a result of the deal, Fathom is now a subsidiary of Consegna Pharma. Other terms of the transaction were not disclosed.Together, the two companies hope to develop innovative products that treat overdoses, addiction and pain.They rely on […]

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Lancaster entrepreneurs aim to tackle school-based mental health challenges

Barbara Grimm, above left, worked with David Cooper to create the School Responder app (photos/submitted). During more than a decade working in the Lampeter-Strasburg School District in Lancaster County, Barbara Grimm saw a growing problem. More and more students needed help grappling with behavioral health issues, said Grimm, who worked in a variety of administrative […]

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Fledgling venture fund makes first investments

After raising roughly $10 million, a startup venture fund in York has disclosed an inaugural round of investments.Martin Fedorko, left, and Alexa Born founded White Rose Ventures in 2020 (photo/submitted).White Rose Ventures has plowed $1.73 million into companies in Lancaster, Harrisburg and YorkThe firm also unveiled a nonprofit, Braided River Collective, designed to support entrepreneurs around the region.They […]

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New venture aims to streamline project subcontracting

Shortages of labor and materials are giving companies headaches.Michael Bistline is hoping to bring some targeted relief through a new venture launched this month by his Harrisburg-area business, Phillips Workplace Interiors.The venture is called Condivx and it aims to serve as a one-stop shop for general contractors looking for subcontractors at a time of high […]

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Youth-soccer franchisor adds outside investor

The founders of Middletown-based Soccer Shots are hoping an outside investor can help kick their company into new territoryThe investor is Susquehanna Private Capital. The Bala Cynwyd-based private equity firm has taken an undisclosed ownership stake in Soccer Shots, whose franchisees provide soccer programs for children ages 2 to 8. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. But […]

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Giant, Harrisburg U team up on new ag research center

Seeded by a $1 million donation from grocery chain The Giant Co., Harrisburg University is hoping to plant a new center for agricultural research in the capital city.

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Regional grocer grabs supply chain by the horns

For centuries, farmers planted seeds and fed animals – and then hoped they would find a market when their produce and livestock were ready to sell. Agribusiness entrepreneur Larisa Miller has been pitching a different model – and she found her first taker in Karns Foods, the Cumberland County-based grocery store chain.

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WellSpan seeks to make inroads with virtual primary care

In fall 2019, a pair of doctors from WellSpan Health set up a table at an insurance enrollment fair for the health system’s employees. Their goal was to recruit the first customers for a new online primary care practice.It took a bit of explaining even to an audience familiar with the ins and outs of […]

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Law firm program gives Black entrepreneurs a legal leg up

Jabron Taylor wanted to tempt local taste buds with something new. Inspired by the 2019 chicken war between Popeyes and Chick-fil-A, Taylor settled on a recipe based on the Nashville hot chicken sandwich, the signature dish of America’s country music capital but a rarity in Central Pennsylvania.Since November 2019, he and several partners have launched […]

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Feds OK Shapiro-backed deal on power prices

Federal regulators this week ratified a deal between Gov. Josh Shapiro and the operator of Pennsylvania’s electric grid to soften looming spikes in the cost of power.Rates already are set to jump this summer, largely due to growing demand and a dearth of new power plants.In the absence of the agreement, prices could have risen […]

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Penn State Health

Dr. Joseph MacDonald has been named vice president and chief medical officer of Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center in East Hempfield Township effective April 7. He succeeds Dr. Mark Jarowenko, the hospital’s initial chief medical officer, who retired at the end of 2024. Dr. Daron Kahn served as interim chief.MacDonald worked most recently as […]

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Chase Bank lines up another capital-area branch

As it seeks to boost its retail base nationwide, Chase Bank is planning to open its third office in the Harrisburg area.The branch is slated to open this fall at 2323 Linglestown Road in Susquehanna Township, a Chase spokesperson confirmed, saying more details would be available as the opening date approaches.The New York-based bank, an arm of JPMorganChase, […]

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Messiah University

Jon Stuckey has been named interim president of Messiah University following a vote last week by school trustees. He succeeds Kim Phipps, who is retiring at the end of June.Stuckey will serve as president until a permanent replacement for Phipps is found, according to Messiah, which has been conducting a national search.Stuckey has worked at Messiah […]

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Facing blowback, York County paper biz pauses plant closure

Following a fierce public outcry from elected officials in Ohio, Spring Grove-based papermaker Pixelle Specialty Solutions LLC is hitting pause on plans to close its factory in Chillicothe, about 100 miles east of Cincinnati.Pixelle said last week it planned to close the plant over the next several weeks.The move threatened to idle the 800 people who work there, […]

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Lancaster nonprofit juggles trio of housing projects

Chestnut Housing Corp., a nonprofit focused on affordable housing, is bringing one project to completion and shoring up funding for its next venture while laying the groundwork for a third.The project poised to open this summer is an eight-unit affordable housing complex called Milburn Apartments at 607-609 Rockland St. in Lancaster, according to Chad Martin, […]

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Office, retail spaces leased

Med-Legal Professionals has leased office space at 1250 N. Mountain Road in Harrisburg. The new location will support growing operations for the firm, which specializes in independent medical examinations and records retrieval. Nicholas Balint of NAI CIR represented the tenant in the transaction.Blue Mountain Thrift LLC leased 12,849 square feet of retail space at 6045 […]

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United Disabilities Services Foundation

The United Disabilities Services Foundation has hired Teresa Rineer as development director. She succeeds Larry Aubrey, who worked in the role for 15 years and is moving into a part-time position as donor relations and partnerships specialist.Rineer has worked on the Lancaster nonprofit’s accessing independence board since 2023 and was the major gifts officer. She […]

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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 to Bryan […]

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York County papermaker closing Ohio plant

Spring Grove-based papermaker Pixelle Specialty Solutions LLC said yesterday it is closing its plant in Chillicothe, Ohio, where about 800 people work. The move follows Pixelle’s sale earlier this month of a Wisconsin plant that employs about 260 people.“Each decision regarding Pixelle operations has been made after careful evaluation of what is best for the […]

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Federal cuts hit manufacturing services providers

The federal government has canceled contracts with organizations that assist small and midsized manufacturers in 10 states, cutting off a major source of funding.Pennsylvania is not one of the 10. Nonetheless, the cancellations raise questions about the fate of similar organizations in the Keystone State, including York-based Mantec. The nonprofit receives federal funding via a statewide entity […]

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Poole Anderson Construction

Chad Lakatosh has been named president of Poole Anderson Construction, a contractor with offices in Harrisburg, State College and Scranton. He succeeds John Lehmann, who has led the company since 2013.Lakatosh has worked at Poole Anderson since 2004, most recently as senior vice president of operations.The company’s recent projects include office renovations for WebFx, a digital marketing […]

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Harrisburg office sold

A Wormleysburg-based partnership called Vaughn Terrace LLC paid $1.55 million for a 15,814-square-foot office complex at 3300 N. 3rd St. in Harrisburg, according to county deed records. The seller was Robbins House Associates, a trust affiliated with longtime area construction executive Rick Reynolds.The office houses a contractor called SitelogIQ, which acquired Reynolds Construction and related entities in 2020. The office was […]

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Bank, business owner spar in court over loan

The owner of a Harrisburg-area flooring company and a regional bank are trading allegations in Dauphin County court over the status of a $4 million loan. Mid Penn Bank claims the loan is in default and is seeking a judgement of just over $4 million, plus interest, according to court filings. Scott Appel, founder of flooring manufacturer and […]

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McNees Wallace & Nurick

Harrisburg-based law firm McNees Wallace & Nurick has hired two attorneys for its York office.Lara Bream has joined McNees as of counsel in the firm’s litigation group, where she will also advise clients on matters related to special education and education law.Steven Ahlbrandt has joined as an associate in the real estate, construction and procurement […]

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Developer buys former Rite Aid, plans for Wawa

Hanover Eisenhower Developers LLC, an affiliate of New Jersey-based Paramount Realty, paid just over $3.4 million for a roughly 3.5-acre site housing a former Rite Aid in Hanover. Paramount hopes to erect a Wawa convenience store on the property at 301 Eisenhower Blvd. Rite Aid closed the store in 2023.The seller was Florida-based H F Real Estate Partnership, according to county deed […]

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Grant backs mixed-use project

A Harrisburg nonprofit has landed a $500,000 state grant for a mixed-use project in Harrisburg’s low-income Allison Hill neighborhood.The $3.3 million project calls for erecting a 15,000 square-foot building at the corner of South 13th and Market streets in Harrisburg, according to Tannon Herman, executive director of Wildheart, the community development nonprofit behind the project, dubbed […]

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Chain buys pair of store properties

Sheetz Inc. has purchased two York County properties where it has operated convenience stores for more than 20 years, according to county deed records. The seller was a Maryland-based firm called SEL Properties Inc. Altoona-based Sheetz paid nearly $3 million for a 2.2-acre parcel at 3200 Cape Horn Road in York Township, land that was put up for […]

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Guv signs off on new tax-appeal option

Pennsylvania taxpayers are poised to get a new avenue for disputing tax bills they don’t like. Under legislation signed into law yesterday by Gov. Josh Shapiro, state officials will be rolling out independent mediation as a way to settle tax disputes before they reach state courts.Under previous law, taxpayers interested in a settlement would negotiate directly with […]

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Pharma giant plowing millions into Lancaster County campus

Life sciences heavyweight GSK is investing up to $800 million into its Marietta-area campus with plans to boost capacity and produce cutting-edge vaccines targeting illnesses like pneumonia and meningitis.The project, described as the British company’s largest-ever investment in U.S. manufacturing, entails construction of a new 300,000 square-foot facility and refurbishment of an existing building, along with the […]

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State testing $10M program to boost housing supply

State officials yesterday unveiled a pilot grant program designed to fund mixed-use projects with a residential component.State officials see the $10 million program as a first step in addressing the shortage of affordable housing in Pennsylvania, a shortage that is drawing attention at every level of government.Funding is available for preparing sites for development, converting […]

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House OKs tax credits for new power generation

Companies that build or expand power plants in Pennsylvania stand to benefit from millions of dollars in tax credits under legislation approved in the state House.However, the companies would have to navigate complicated criteria to claim the credits, including requirements capping carbon emissions and setting minimum thresholds for capital spending.The legislation updates a $2 billion-plus […]

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PA revenue chief, state senator clash over tax-records request

A Pennsylvania state senator is escalating his dispute with the state revenue department over tax records related to an economic development zone in the Lehigh Valley.For the last few months, Sen. Jarrett Coleman has been seeking tax records related to a state-sanctioned improvement zone in downtown Allentown and questioning whether taxpayers are getting their money’s […]

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State opens portal for reporting data breaches

Pennsylvania’s attorney general has set up an online portal where companies in Pennsylvania will be required to report data breaches under amendments enacted this year to the state’s breach notification laws. Signed into law in June, the amendments require companies to report breaches that affect at least 500 Pennsylvanians starting Sept. 26.In preparation for the […]

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$450M project taking shape on former state hospital grounds

The grounds of the former Harrisburg State Hospital are heading for a makeover.The Pennsylvania Department of General Services yesterday unveiled plans to build a $450 million laboratory complex on the 30-acre property, which has been mostly vacant since 2006. The project includes a new $325 million, 300,000 square-foot joint lab to be shared among the […]

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In York speech, Trump pledges ‘pro-American overhaul’ to boost manufacturing

In a roughly 50-minute speech yesterday afternoon at a York factory, former President Donald Trump argued that, if elected for another term, he would usher in a U.S. manufacturing boom driven by higher tariffs, lower taxes, better trade deals and a reduction in energy costs.“Together, we will reclaim our nation’s destiny as the No. 1 […]

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York-area manufacturer resolves harassment claims

York County manufacturer AMZ Manufacturing has struck a deal settling federal allegations that it failed to take adequate action after two women complained about sexual harassment at one of its plants.The charges, filed last year, alleged violations of Title VII, the federal law barring discrimination based on race, color, sex, national origin or religion.According to the original charges, […]

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House OKs expansion to prevailing-wage law

A controversial effort to tweak Pennsylvania’s prevailing-wage law has cleared a key hurdle.The Democratic-controlled state House this week passed a

Grant swells funding for $75M Codorus Greenway project

Federal funds are boosting plans to transform the banks of the Codorus Creek in York.The York County Economic Alliance has landed a $15 million infrastructure grant to help pay for the transformation plan, known as the Codorus Greenway project.“It’s certainly a big chunk, and it definitely helps propel the project,” said Kevin Schreiber, CEO of the YCEA.The […]

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Health-equity proposal spurs questions from state lawmakers

Insurers could soon be facing a new requirement if they want to sell policies through Pennsylvania’s subsidized health insurance marketplace, known as Pennie.The operator of the marketplace is proposing a regulation that would require insurers to become accredited in health equity.The Pennsylvania Health Insurance Exchange Authority argues that health equity is a “well-recognized accreditation standard” […]

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Panel OKs rules for professional licensing of ex-convicts

A state review panel signed off June 20 on rules designed to make it easier for people with criminal records to earn professional licenses. The approval is one of the final steps needed before the rules take effect.The Department of State, which oversees professional licensing in Pennsylvania, first proposed the rules in 2022. They lay […]

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Revamp of Harrisburg’s former federal office building snags affordable-housing funds

A state agency is showering about $7.4 million on Central Pennsylvania developers and nonprofits aiming to alleviate the shortage of affordable housing and combat homelessness.The grants announced this month by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency range in size locally from less than $50,000 to an award of $500,000, which is being given to a construction company involved […]

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Accenture, a major state contractor, opens Harrisburg office

Accenture, which has landed some big-ticket state contracts, has opened an office in downtown Harrisburg at 20 N. Second St. The international professional services firm is leasing about 3,100 square feet on two floors of the building, which is also home to lobbying and communications firm Bravo Group.Accenture, which also has an office in Philadelphia, is […]

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House panel OKs controversial swipe-fee legislation

In a party-line vote, a House panel approved legislation on June 12 to exempt Pennsylvania sales taxes from so-called swipe

Banks, retailers spar over swipe-fee legislation

Pennsylvania banks and credit unions are pushing back on proposed state legislation that would exempt the sales-tax portion of retail

Panel to reconsider rules for licensing ex-convicts

State officials are taking another crack at finalizing proposed rules that would make it easier for Pennsylvania residents with criminal records to earn professional licenses in fields ranging from accounting and nursing to cosmetology and real estate. The Department of State, which oversees professional licensure, issued a revised version of the rules this month after an earlier draft was […]

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WellSpan to open ‘mini hospitals’ in York, Cumberland counties

WellSpan Health is partnering with a Texas company to open three mini hospitals in York and Cumberland counties that will focus on providing emergency care.The regional health system is still finalizing the locations of the new facilities, said Dr. Anthony Aquilina, executive vice president and chief physician executive for York-based WellSpan. But, he said, they will […]

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Lawsuit puts cannabis testing rule on hold

Companies that test, grow and process medical cannabis in Pennsylvania are suing to block a rule they say could cost them millions of dollars and ultimately raise prices for patients.The rule, which had been slated to take effect this week, alters the requirements for testing cannabis before and after it is processed into medication But […]

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Lanco practice eyes growth in telemedicine

A Lancaster County medical practice is bellying up to the browser bar.US Digestive Health at Lancaster is rolling out a telemedicine service that could become a template for sister practices in its gastroenterology network, known as US Digestive Health. The service builds on the network’s experience with telemedicine during the pandemic and its growing acceptance among both patients and providers, […]

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Can new fees fix EMS finances?

Many ambulance companies have opted for mergers and consolidations to offset the crushing financial pressures they face.In northwest Lancaster County, local leaders have come up with another option. They are proposing a regional authority that would levy fees on property owners to support an ambulance service. “There’s pushback on the fees,” acknowledged Marc Hershey, president […]

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Highmark hit by data breach

A phishing attack in December exposed personal information on about 300,000 members of Highmark insurance plans, including about 96,000 members in Pennsylvania.The Pittsburgh-based insurer disclosed the breach last week in a notice to the office of the Maine attorney general. In a statement, Highmark said it “immediately responded” to the incident and launched an investigation. So far, […]

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Drayer HQ sold to home-care provider

A Lancaster-area home-care company has purchased the corporate headquarters of Drayer Physical Therapy Institute in Swatara Township, Dauphin County.Druk Homecare Services, a home-care provider based in East Hempfield Township, paid $1.7 million for the 20,812 square-foot office building at 8205 Presidents Drive, according to county deed records. Druk plans to relocate to the second floor of the building […]

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State ends appeal in medical cannabis recall

State health officials have dropped a legal action seeking to reinstate their controversial recall of medical marijuana vapes.The move before the state Supreme Court doesn’t end the legal fight. It simply means the Department of Health is no longer appealing a lower-court ruling that put the recall on holdNonetheless, it was welcomed by the medical cannabis […]

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Rite Aid, WellSpan forge partnership to boost care

Under a partnership announced Aug. 15, Rite Aid and WellSpan Health plan to share data so they can better coordinate care for the roughly 100,000 patients they share in Central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland.They may eventually share space, with York-based WellSpan operating inside Rite Aid pharmacies, according to Chris Bohrer, senior vice president of payer and strategic initiatives for […]

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Insurers seek higher premiums for ACA plans

Health insurance premiums are set to jump for people and small businesses shopping for policies offered under the Affordable Care Act in 2023.Insurers are asking for an average increase of 7.1% on individual policies and 5.2% on policies for small groups, according to the Pennsylvania Insurance Department, which has to sign off on the premium […]

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Lebanon startup readies medical device for market

When Seth Pheng began working at a medical cannabis dispensary in 2019, the longtime pharmacist noticed two things.One was that people really were coming in

Hershey-area startup acquired by Pittsburgh firm

A Pittsburgh-based life sciences company has acquired Fathom Pharma, a Hershey-area startup focused on developing safer pain medications.As a result of the deal, Fathom is

Lancaster entrepreneurs aim to tackle school-based mental health challenges

Barbara Grimm, above left, worked with David Cooper to create the School Responder app (photos/submitted). During more than a decade working in the Lampeter-Strasburg School

Lancaster health lab rolls out welcome mat

After taking a break during the Covid-19 pandemic to focus internally, a Lancaster-based venture formed by some of the region’s biggest players in health care is welcoming its first outside partner in nearly two years: SkinIO, a Chicago-based company using technology to broaden access to dermatology screenings.People can use the SkinIO app to take pictures […]

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Federal team extending stay at York hospital

A team of 20 medical professionals from the U.S. military plans to spend another 30 days pitching in at WellSpan York Hospital as the facility contends with a spike in Covid-19 cases.

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Harrisburg seeks dismissal of apartment owner’s bankruptcy case

The city of Harrisburg is asking a federal court to dismiss the bankruptcy case of Uptown Partners LP, the Maryland-based owner of the Governor’s Square apartment complex in uptown HarrisburgIn a filing last month, the city argues that the deteriorating apartment complex is “unlikely” to find a buyer and that state court would be a better […]

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Employment provision under scrutiny in PA

Noncompete clauses were the focus when federal regulators moved to outlaw most of them earlier this year.But there are other employment provisions that can have the same “functional effect” as noncompetes, according to the Federal Trade Commission.And one subtype of those provisions is coming under scrutiny in Pennsylvania. They are provisions that require employees to […]

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Mixed ruling allows York County winery to reopen

The legal roller coaster continues for a York County winery fighting with neighbors over its ability to continue operating.In a ruling last week, a York County judge allowed Moon Dancer Vineyards & Winery to reopen this past weekend while the fight plays out in a state appeals court.It is the second time the winery has been allowed […]

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Apartment owner claims Harrisburg hampering bankruptcy sale

Harrisburg officials are allegedly hindering the sale of a beleaguered apartment complex in the city’s uptown neighborhood, according to claims raised in federal bankruptcy court by the complex’s owner, Uptown Partners LP. At issue is a list of roughly 600 crucial code violations at the affordable-housing complex, known as Governor’s SquareCity officials have not shared the list […]

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York County winery facing new orders to close

A York County winery overlooking the Susquehanna River is being forced to close for the second time this year following new rulings in a long-running legal dispute with neighbors who argue the winery violates restrictive covenants governing use of the property.Moon Dancer Vineyards & Winery must cease operations by July 18, according to an order filed […]

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Harrisburg law firm hires first-ever finance chief

McNees, a regional law firm based in Harrisburg, has named Sara Reohr as its CFO, a new leadership role for the firm. A CPA by training, Reohr was previously a vice president and division controller for Select Medical, a Mechanicsburg-based rehab chain.At McNees, Reohr will oversee strategic financial initiatives.“As a growing and evolving firm, McNees offers […]

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Court order allows winery to reopen amid land-use dispute

Moon Dancer Vineyards & Winery is poised to reopen this weekend following a court order rescinding an earlier ruling that closed the 50-acre winery and event venue overlooking the Susquehanna River in Lower Windsor Township, York County.The winery shut down June 9 after it lost a six-year land-use battle with neighbors who claim the business violated restrictive covenants […]

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Land-use fight shutters York County winery

Moon Dancer Vineyards & Winery, a winery and event venue overlooking the Susquehanna River in Lower Windsor Township, York County, was forced to close as of June 9 as the result of a court order in a six-year-old legal battle between winery owner Jim Miller and neighboring homeowners Matthew Balsavage and Amanda Perko. In a lawsuit […]

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Feds sue PHEAA over loan-servicing practices

In a lawsuit filed May 31, a federal consumer watchdog is alleging that the Harrisburg-based Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency misled student borrowers into thinking they still owed money after their student loans were discharged through bankruptcy. The crux of the lawsuit is a distinction between two types of student loans — those that can be […]

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Firms win fight over medical cannnabis recall

In a ruling handed down last week, a Pennsylvania court overturned an effort by health officials to recall hundreds of vaping products previously approved for use in the state’s medical marijuana program.The controversial recall, ordered in February 2022 by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, was tantamount to a regulation, according to the ruling in Commonwealth […]

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High court to hear dispute over prevailing wage

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case involving application of prevailing wages to a $17.2 million build-to-lease

Dauphin County winery files bankruptcy, seeks buyer

A Dauphin County winery and related businesses have filed for bankruptcy as they look for a buyer for their operations.Spring Gate Winery parent company Schoffstall Farm LLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on May 14 after experiencing six-figure losses in 2021 and 2022, according to a petition before U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.Based […]

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Bankrupty of Harrisburg apartment owner takes new turn

A new twist is complicating the bankruptcy case of Uptown Partners LP, the Maryland-based owner of Governor’s Square apartment complex in Uptown Harrisburg. The company managing the affordable-housing complex, Landex Management LLC, is asking the court to void its contract with Uptown Partners, arguing that the owner is not providing enough resources to manage the beleaguered property effectively.Uptown, […]

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High court rejects borough’s appeal over solar project

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court decided this week not to accept an appeal from Gratz Borough over a lower-court ruling that favored a company seeking to develop a solar farm in the northern Dauphin County municipality.The appeal followed a Commonwealth Court ruling last fall that the borough failed to properly advertise a meeting where it set stricter zoning standards for […]

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PA’s top court to weigh coverage of CBD oil in workers’ comp

The state’s top court has agreed to hear a case that turns on whether employers must pay for CBD oil and other over-the-counter products under Pennsylvania’s workers’ compensation program.The Pennsylvania Supreme Court will consider several questions, including whether workers’ comp law requires employers and their insurers to reimburse injured workers who buy CBD oil and other […]

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Feds settle with staffing firm over Covid-era data

An Atlanta-based IT staffing company has settled federal claims that it failed to protect confidential health information after Pennsylvania officials hired the company to oversee contact tracing during the Covid-19 pandemic. The company, Insight Global LLC, has agreed to pay $2.7 million to resolve allegations that its handling of data violated the federal False Claims Act, according […]

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Harrisburg law firms merge: ‘No other opportunities like this’

Ben Ried and John B. Zonarich entertained merger proposals from other law firms. But none seemed as right as the union they unveiled yesterday between their respective Harrisburg firms, Mette Evans & Woodside and SkarlatosZonarich LLC.“There were other opportunities,” Zonarich said in an interview with biznewsPA. “But there were no other opportunities like this.”Zonarich and […]

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Court backs heftier fines for defrauding consumers

In a case that drew national attention, Pennsylvania’s highest court backed a married couple seeking a bigger award after winning a lawsuit against an insurer they accused of engaging in fraud and negligence when it sold them a life insurance policy.In 2020, an Allegheny County jury found the insurer, Ameriprise Financial, liable for $120,570 in […]

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Utz selling plants, brands in $182.5M deal

In a bid to reduce debt and cut expenses, Hanover-based Utz Brands is unloading some of its snack brands and plants, including a facility in the Lititz area.In a deal valued at $182.5 million, the snack maker is selling plants in Manheim Township and Littletown, N.C. as well as the lease for a plant in Las Vegas, […]

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Vc firm ups investment in York-area food biz

A York County pretzel maker is looking to boost sales in both new and existing channels following a fresh infusion of venture capital. York-based White Rose Ventures has poured $500,000 into The Pretzel Co., which was founded in 2014 as York City Pretzel Co. White Rose previously invested $250,000 in the soft-pretzel maker, which is based in Manchester Township. […]

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York-area manufacturer makes acquisition

Flinchbaugh Engineering, an employee-owned contract manufacturer based in Hellam Township, York County, has purchased Billet Industries, a precision manufacturer also based in Hellam Township. Terms of the transaction, which took effect Jan. 1, were not disclosed. The acquisition reflects an effort by Flinchbaugh to diversify its business, according to a press release. The company makes […]

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Red Lion controls being sold for $345M

A Swedish company is hoping to strengthen its foothold in North America through the acquisition of Red Lion Controls, a specialty manufacturer based in Springettsbury Township, York County. HMS Networks has agreed to pay $345 million for Red Lion Controls in an all-cash deal slated to close in the first half of 2024. Red Lion Controls, which […]

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LANCO FLOORING MAKER BUYS NEWVILLE FIRM

Ecore International, a Lancaster-based company that makes flooring from recycled rubber, has purchased a Cumberland County company that collects and refurbishes old tires. The company, Newville-based Ameritread, fits in with Ecore’s goal of reusing and repurposing rubber products but also produces scrap that Ecore can incorporate into its own products. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. […]

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Lanco manufacturer sold to Texas private equity firm

A private equity firm focused on manufacturing has acquired ATI Corp., a family-owned company that makes equipment used in excavation and site preparation. Terms of the deal with Houston-based LDR Growth Partners were not disclosed. Based in East Earl Township, Lancaster County, ATI had been owned by Jansen Herr. The company — which employs more than 30 people […]

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NEW UNION VOTE ORDERED AT HERSHEY PLANT

To settle allegations that it violated federal law during a union election at a Virginia plant, The Hershey Co. has agreed to a do-over under a settlement with federal regulators. In the original election, held in early 2022, workers at the Stuarts Draft plant rejected joining the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union. But the […]

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Box maker eyes big investments in PA

One of the worlds’ largest recycled cardboard-box makers is planning to plow $500 million over the next decade into its Pennsylvania operations, which include a plant in the Carlisle area.The company is Pratt Industries, which has annual sales north of $6 billion and Australian-born businessperson Anthony Pratt at its helm. In a statement, Pratt said his company’s investment in Pennsylvania would […]

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Agency mulls deal for shuttered factory

A subsidiary of the Cumberland Area Economic Development Corp. is exploring an acquisition of a recently shuttered Carlisle factory.The subsidiary, called the Real Estate Collaborative LLC, has signed a letter of intent to buy the plant formerly operated by The Frog, Switch & Manufacturing Co. at 600 E. High St. in the Cumberland County borough.But first, the collaborative […]

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AMES parent to shutter local factories

Two capital-area factories are slated for closure as their parent company reconfigures its supply chain to boost profits in the face of slower sales and high U.S. overhead.New York-based Griffon Corp. said it plans to close Hampden Township and Harrisburg factories that make garden tools, wheelbarrows and other equipment for The AMES Companies, a Griffon subsidiary and longtime staple of […]

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Firm to boost production of semiconductor materials in PA

A supplier to the semiconductor industry is plowing $300 million into an expansion of its operations in Schuylkill County.The investment by supplier EMD Electronics includes construction of a 96,500 square-foot facility near Tamaqua, expanding the company’s production of specialty gases used in semiconductor and electronics production. The company’s investment is expected to create at least 68 jobs and […]

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Lancaster print plants to close

Citing a shrinking demand for catalogs and magazines — and rising costs for ink and paper — commercial printing giant LSC Communications is stopping the presses at its two plants in Lancaster County, laying off about 656 workersThe closure comes more than two years after LSC was rescued from bankruptcy by a Connecticut-based conglomerate called Atlas Holdings. Executives had […]

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Utz names next CEO

After steering one of the region’s largest private companies onto the public market, Utz Brands CEO Dylan Lissette is stepping into a new role.After 27 years with the Hanover-based snack maker, Lissette will become executive chairman of the company’s board on Dec.15.Utz’s new CEO will be Howard Friedman, currently COO of St. Louis-based Post Holdings, a consumer-packaged goods […]

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Harsco Headquarters sold to local developer

As it gears up for a move to Philadelphia, Harsco has unloaded its longtime Wormleysburg headquarters this year for $4.3 million.However, the roughly 42,000 square-foot building will remain a corporate headquarters.A partnership that includes Lemoyne-based Rhodes Development Group bought the building and plans to move there, along with two of its operating divisions, according to Larry Kluger, president and CEO […]

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York equipment manufacturer makes add-on acquisition

Graham Engineering, a York-based equipment maker, has purchased a Berks County company with a complementary business.Graham Engineering makes machinery used in producing — or extruding — plastic parts ranging from car bumpers to catheters.Its new acquisition, Birdsboro-based Kennedy Tool & Die, specializes in making molds and tooling used in plastics-manufacturing processes called blow molding, rim molding […]

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With jobs in limbo, judge OKs Armstrong Flooring sale

The bankruptcy case of Armstrong Flooring is nearing its end.U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Mary Walrath approved the sale yesterday of the company’s North American assets to Mountville-based flooring manufacturer AHF Products and Boston-based Gordon Brothers.An AHF spokesperson said yesterday the company hopes to close on the $107 million deal by next Friday, July 22.Then what: AHF will continue to operate […]

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Firms to pay $90M for overseas assets of Armstrong Flooring

After disclosing buyers for some of its operations in North America, Armstrong Flooring has unveiled deals to sell its remaining businesses.In a news release July 11, the company identified buyers for its operations in Australia and China.Who: The Australian assets — including a factory in Braeside, Victoria — are going to a group of companies identified as the Cowes […]

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Armstrong Flooring in $107M deal that preserves local operations

After two months in bankruptcy, Armstrong Flooring is on the verge of dealing its way out.The Lancaster-based manufacturer said yesterday it has agreed to sell its North American assets to a consortium that includes AHF Products, a former division of Armstrong Flooring.Mountville-based AHF and Boston-based Gordon Brothers have agreed to pay $107 million in cash and assume unspecified liabilities in exchange for […]

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Real Estate

Financing is among ‘biggest challenges’ for Lancaster rehab

Business owner Jared Mizrahi is planning a $5 million makeover of a mixed-use property in downtown Lancaster.He just needs to finalize the financing.A big piece came through last month in the form of a low-interest $1.4 million loan from the state’s Building Pennsylvania program, arranged by Lancaster-based EDC Finance.Mizrahi said he is hoping to close soon on […]

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York-area Sheetz site changes hands

The site of a future Sheetz store in York County sold at the end of July for a price of just over $3.8 million.The seller of the roughly 3.3-acre property at 4044 N. George St. was Molt LLC, a partnership headed by York-area restaurateur and real estate investor Themi Sacarellos, according to county deed records. The buyer was […]

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Apartment owner claims Harrisburg hampering bankruptcy sale

Harrisburg officials are allegedly hindering the sale of a beleaguered apartment complex in the city’s uptown neighborhood, according to claims

West Shore college aims to sell surplus land, buildings

Central Penn College is looking to unload surplus land, townhomes and office space in and around its 58-acre campus in East Pennsboro Township, Cumberland County, through an RFP process overseen by Lemoyne-based RSR Realtors.College officials hope the properties attract developers with proposals that enhance the campus and benefit students.Potential partners could include medical providers that align […]

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Former cabinet plant sold for $3.3M

A growing metal fabrication company in York County has purchased the former Wayneco Cabinetry plant, which has been idle since the cabinetry business shut down this spring.BMB Holdings LLC paid $3.3 million for the 81,000 square-foot facility, which is at 800 Hanover Road in Jackson Township, west of York city.The new facility is roughly three times the size […]

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Firms partner on $18.6M apartment project in Lebanon

Lebanon-based construction company Arthur Funk & Sons Inc. is teaming up with a Wisconsin-based developer to build a 48-unit affordable apartment

Carlisle apartment complexes change hands

A Philadelphia-area apartment owner has scooped up a pair of Carlisle-area complexes alongside nine other properties around the state.The Carlisle-area properties — the 93-unit Hanover Manor and 80-unit Carlwynne Manor — are the two smallest properties taken in the deal, which includes more than 3,400 units overall,The other properties are in Allentown, Reading, Horsham, Lansdale, […]

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Revamp of Harrisburg’s former federal office building snags affordable-housing funds

A state agency is showering about $7.4 million on Central Pennsylvania developers and nonprofits aiming to alleviate the shortage of

Accenture, a major state contractor, opens Harrisburg office

Accenture, which has landed some big-ticket state contracts, has opened an office in downtown Harrisburg at 20 N. Second St.

Developer eyes mixed-use project for 26-acre Lanco tgract

Apartments and a hotel could be coming to the former Shawnee Resort property along Oregon Pike in Manheim Township, Lancaster County. Property owners Surender Singh and Manjeet Kaur, doing business as Kirpa Estates LP, envision a mixed-use development on the 26-acre site incorporating apartment buildings, a hotel and other retail buildings, according to Matt Creme, their attorney, […]

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Pallet company buying Chambersburg-area facility for relocation

J&J Pallet and Recycling LLC is planning to purchase, upgrade and move into a 16,400 square-foot industrial building at 1690 Opportunity Ave. in the Cumberland Valley Business Park in Greene Township. The company, which sells recycled shipping pallets, is currently based in leased space at 1051 Sheffler Drive in Chambersburg.The company has been approved for […]

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York developer names CEO as founder moves to CFO

After 15 years of leading York-based Royal Square Development and Construction, Josh Hankey is stepping into a new role at the

Former school for sale amid dispute between owner, tenant with redevelopment plans

The former Bishop McDevitt High School in Harrisburg is on the market amid a dispute between its owner and its chief tenant, a development company led by a former NFL player.Owner Jeremy Hunter of William Penn Holdings Inc. announced the building was for sale in a Facebook post on May 24.The post has led to “many” […]

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Oregon Dairy property sold in leaseback deal

After a bruising legal battle to develop their land in Manheim Township, Lancaster County, the Hurst family has sold it to another developer.The family, which owns the Oregon Dairy supermarket and restaurant, sold the store’s land and building on May 10 to Jerry Horst and his sons, Mark and Chad, who operate Manheim Township-based Vanguard Development Group. The sale […]

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Harrisburg building eyed for makeover fetches $14.5M

Adam Maust poured millions of dollars over the last four years into the Atlas Building, an edifice in Uptown Harrisburg that had fallen into disrepair by the time Maust bought it in 2020.He is now passing the torch to a new owner, a Harrisburg-based nonprofit called the Pennsylvania Social Equity Land Trust, which paid $14.5 million […]

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Inch & Co. launches $20M real estate fund

The founders of Inch & Co. are looking to raise $20 million from investors interested in backing the York-area company’s forays

Bankrupty of Harrisburg apartment owner takes new turn

A new twist is complicating the bankruptcy case of Uptown Partners LP, the Maryland-based owner of Governor’s Square apartment complex in

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 Bennett Williams […]

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Technology

York County teacher turns entrepreneur

Teachers face a captive audience for their talents every day. But it’s not the kind of audience that can point them to the next networking event or business opportunity — or raise their professional profile.That’s what led York County teacher Erin Lapore to create Noble Space, a professional networking site designed with educators in mind.Erin […]

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West Shore firm partners with Wells Fargo to distribute new credit-application tech

For nearly two decades, Cumberland County tech company Versatile Credit has been making it easier for businesses to offer in-store credit. Its latest device, called Snap Sign, makes it as easy as pointing a mobile phone at a plastic sign.The signs are a secure, contactless alternative to in-store kiosks, tablets or paper applications that typically […]

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Investors pour $2M into Harrisburg-area startup

Data helps online retailers figure out what you want to buy, but it’s not foolproof. Sometimes, you buy things that don’t fit or don’t work — and back they go.But even when shoes or shirts make a return trip, there is data to be gleaned. That’s the premise behind ReturnLogic, a tech firm founded in […]

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Lancaster startup pivots to new market

A Lancaster startup is taking a new tack in distributing its product, an app that helps people improve their health through better eating, sleeping and exercising.The company, Fizika Group LLC, had focused on senior-living communities, said its founder, Martha Lester Harris. But the communities often have their own resources, like gyms and fitness programs, for […]

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How realtors may adapt to a changing landscape

Over the last few weeks, real estate agents have begun bracing for the end of a common practice in home sales.It’s not the 6% commission, which agents argue is something of a misconception. It is the ability to signal that a homebuyer’s agent will be paid from the proceeds of a sale along with the […]

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Insurers sue local contractors over recycling-plant fire

On March 8, 2022, a fire ripped through a Penn Waste recycling facility in Manchester Township, York County, knocking it

Engineering firm opens MD, western PA offices

A Harrisburg-area engineering firm has added two new offices, including its first-ever location in Maryland.HRG has opened offices in Fayette County,

Another delay in sale of Harrisburg apartments

It could be another four weeks before a bankruptcy court decides the fate of the beleaguered Governor’s Square apartment complex in uptown Harrisburg.The court had been scheduled to hold a hearing April 2 on a proposed sale of the 222-unit complex But the hearing has now been moved to April 30 at the request of the property’s […]

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Susquehanna dam operators oppose hydro project

Operators of the Holtwood and Safe Harbor dams are weighing in against a proposed hydroelectric plant along the Susquehanna River in an area known as Cuffs Run in Chanceford Township, York County.’The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is currently weighing whether to issue a permit allowing the developer, York Energy Storage LLC, to study the project’s feasibilty.Holtwood […]

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Shapiro labor directive triggers blowback

Business groups are decrying a recent directive from Gov. Josh Shapiro designed to increase the state’s use of project labor

Small housing group aims for bigger impact

About a dozen years ago, several members of East Chestnut Street Mennonite Church in Lancaster banded together to start a nonprofit focused on creating affordable housing, with a focus on people experiencing homelessness.Their first project was the purchase and conversion of a single-family home at 639 E. Chestnut St. Over the next decade, the nonprofit […]

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Court extends time for bankruptcy sale of Harrisburg apartments

A court hearing on the bankruptcy sale of Governor’s Square apartment complex in uptown Harrisburg had been scheduled for Feb. 29. However, it has been moved to April 2 per an order from Chief Bankruptcy Judge Henry Van Eck of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.Why is this happening: The complex’s […]

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Hershey looks to cut jobs, costs

The Hershey Co. plans to shed jobs this year as it battles higher cocoa prices and sluggish sales.The cuts will amount to less than 5% of the company’s roughly 20,000 workers worldwide, according to a Hershey spokesperson. “We do not expect significant disruption or impact to our employee base,” the spokesperson said, declining to detail […]

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Select Medical mulls spin-off of workplace health unit

Mechanicsburg-based Select Medical Holdings Corp. is preparing to spin off its occupational health services division, which does business as Concentra. Select Medical’s board approved the spin-off this week and expects the deal to close in late 2024. Select Medical shareholders would receive stock in Concentra in amounts yet to be determined but in a transaction that is […]

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York, Harrisburg firms on the move

The new year is poised to bring new digs to two local companies. Reynolds Restoration Services bought a flex property in suburban Harrisburg for its new headquarters. York County-based construction firm Wagman also has purchased a building for a new HQ, a property in Manchester Township, York County. Both companies said they are outgrowing their current spaces. Starting with: […]

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Highs donate real estate biz to family foundation

The High family is presenting a second major gift to their family foundation. The family’s ownership of Lancaster County-based High Real Estate Group is being transferred to High Foundation, the foundation announced on Dec. 20. The year-end gift follows the donation last year of High Industries, which was valued at nearly $115.2 million. The value of the real estate company was not disclosed but […]

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PLAN UNVEILED FOR SUBURBAN HARRISBURG MALL

A Maryland developer has revealed its vision for what will replace the Harrisburg Mall, a longtime suburban destination destined for the wrecking ball. Baltimore-based St. John Properties is proposing a roughly 550,000 square-foot development — dubbed Swatara Exchange — that includes a mix of retail and commercial buildings, with a smidgen of office space. While the plan calls for […]

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Court voids PA carbon-emission rules

A state court has tossed aside regulations that would have enrolled Pennsylvania in a multistate carbon-cutting program, regulations that were a climate-change priority for the former administration of Gov. Tom Wolf.At issue was whether the heart of the program — a market in which companies must buy credits to emit carbon — represented a fee or […]

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Brokerage buys capital-area advisory firm

A Harrisburg-area financial advisory has joined the wave of consolidation washing over the industry.Comprehensive Financial Associates, based in Susquehanna Township, has been acquired by insurance and benefits brokerage AssuredPartners, according to a press release from Wise Rhino Group, the M&A firm that advised Comprehensive Financial. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. But it also includes an […]

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Black-owned firms tapped for legal services program

McNees Wallace & Nurick has picked 10 small, Black-owned businesses to receive free legal services in the third annual installment of the Harrisburg-based law firm’s program to overcome barriers to business growth and success.The small businesses, introduced last week at a reception at the King Mansion in Harrisburg, hail from across Central Pennsylvania, as well as […]

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Podcast: Childcare challenges

The challenges for childcare providers have not eased since the pandemic. If anything, they have grown steeper, as providers struggle to retain and attract workers at a time of rising wages.But if business leaders have learned anything over the last few years, it is that working parents need access to quality childcare if they hope […]

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Land-use fights flare across Central PA

The ground may be cold but battles over land use in Central Pennsylvania are heating up.Residents and developers are clashing on several fronts across the region.Not surprisingly, proposed warehouses are among the sharpest points of contention.Large-scale solar projects have triggered outcries, as well.But disputes also have arisen over housing, most notably in Lancaster city, where a […]

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