State-backed retirement plans, which have been proliferating around the U.S., appear to boost savings among workers, according to a study released yesterday. Workers are 20% more likely to contribute to a retirement savings account if they work at a business in a state that has an auto IRA program, according to the study, undertaken by […]
Tim Henry is planning to retire effective April 29 as president and CEO of Chambersburg-based Franklin Financial Services Corp., parent of F&M Trust. “It was time,” said Henry, who will turn 67 next year. The bank is in “great shape,” he added, making it a good time to step away. He also plans to leave his role […]
Mid Penn Bancorp is deepening its reach in southeastern Pennsylvania and South Jersey with the acquisition of a Bucks County bank that has been squeezed by high interest rates. Harrisburg-based Mid Penn has agreed to pay about $127 million for Bristol-based William Penn Bancorporation. The all-stock deal is slated to close in the first half of 2025, […]
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 […]
Traditions Bank earned record profits in 2020 and 2021. But when interest rates shot up between March 2022 and July 2023, the York-based bank ran into financial headwinds that called into question its ability to remain independent without cutting staff and trimming plans for growth. The resulting discussions among bank executives and directors led to the deal […]
An early retirement is throwing off leadership succession plans for one of the region’s largest banks. Craig Kauffman, who was in line to take the top job at Orrstown Financial Services next year, retired as of Sept. 30, according to a Sept. 25 securities filing from the bank. Kauffman, Orrstown’s COO, decided to retire due to personal reasons […]
PSECU is seeking permission to relocate its branch in Strawberry Square in downtown Harrisburg to a former FNB branch at 1249 Market St. in Lemoyne, according to a filing by the Department of Banking and Securities. The Harrisburg-based credit union picked the West Shore location, in part, because it is more accessible and convenient, said Adam Stewart, the credit […]
Mifflinburg Bancorp and Northumberland Bancorp, a pair of small community banks in northcentral Pennsylvania. said yesterday they are combining in a merger of equals valued at $34.2 million. The all-stock deal is expected to close in the first half of 2025. Mifflinburg Bancorp has assets of about $568.5 million and operates seven branches in Mifflinburg, Lewisburg, Millheim, Milton, […]
A seven-county swath of Central Pennsylvania has a new No. 1 when it comes to bank deposits. Lancaster-based Fulton Bank has eclipsed longtime leader PNC Bank for the top share of deposits in Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon and York counties, according to the latest data from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. As of June 30, Fulton had […]
Community First Fund has been awarded $40 million in new market tax credits, which it can use to support economic-development projects around the region. The credits are awarded annually by the U.S. Treasury on a competitive basis. Based in Lancaster, Community First was awarded $30 million in new market tax credits last year. Those credits are […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
Conewago Manufacturing LLC, an affiliate of Hanover-based contractor Conewago Enterprises Inc., has acquired Hanover Concrete Co., which has operations in Hanover, Gettysburg and Shrewsbury. Terms of the transaction, which was finalized on April 1, were not disclosed. David Albright, president of Hanover Concrete, is joining Conewago as vice president of ready-mix sales. The combined companies provide ready-mix […]
The state is pouring more than $1.3 million into a pair of renovation projects in York and Lancaster counties as part of a program to fund downtown revitalization. Lancaster-based nonprofit Community Basics Inc. landed $823,917 to rehab a 23-unit affordable-housing complex in Maytown called Three Center Square. The York County Industrial Development Authority is getting $504,050 to advance […]
Harrisburg’s planning commission unanimously approved a plan last week to subdivide the former Polyclinic Hospital campus last week, clearing the way for a developer to begin the first phase of a $45 million mixed-use project in the city’s Uptown neighborhood. The commission also approved a change to the property’s zoning from institutional to commercial neighborhood. […]
A local hotelier is planning to bring a startup hotel brand to Lancaster, York and other towns in Central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley. Shakher Patel, co-founder of Lancaster-based Destiny Partners LLC/Destiny Hospitality LLC has signed a franchise agreement with stayAPT Suites to open five of the brand’s extended-stay hotels. In an interview with biznewsPA, Patel said he hopes […]
York-area developer Inch & Co. has dropped its appeal of a zoning decision barring a warehouse on land it owns in Manchester Township and is focused instead on fine-tuning plans for housing on the tract, according to company co-owner Jeff Inch. The dropped appeal is the latest move affecting a 52.7-acre tract at the center of […]
A Harrisburg-area developer is sparring with a Lancaster County township and authority over sewer tapping fees assessed on a recent apartment project. In a lawsuit filed at the end of last year, the developer, an affiliate of Lower Paxton Township-based Triple Crown Corp., argues that the fees were excessive, and it demands a partial refund. “They […]
Local school officials declined to award a tax abatement for a recreational sports center slated for construction in North York. York-area developer Inch & Co. has been asking the Central York school board for local tax relief for the $34.5 million project, which is backed by WellSpan Health. But at a meeting Wednesday evening, the board’s three-member business […]
A regional beverage distributor is planning a $100 million-plus sales and distribution center in Lebanon County that will replace a smaller facility on the West Shore. ACCB Harrisburg RE LLC, a local subsidiary of Pittsburgh-based ABARTA Coca-Cola Beverages, is building the 240,000 square-foot center on a roughly 52-acre lot in South Lebanon Township. It would be the […]
The corporate headquarters of APR Supply, a distributor of HVAC and plumbing supplies, is moving from Lebanon to an office building in Manheim Township, Lancaster County. In a statement, company president and CEO Scott Weaver attributed the move to the company’s growth. APR has acquired several firms in recent years and now has about 475 employees […]
In a unanimous decision, the Manchester Township zoning hearing board rejected a request that they alter zoning rules for a proposed housing development along Pennsylvania Avenue south of Route 30. The board members said that -based developer Inch & Co. had not adequately justified its need for zoning relief. Inch proposed building 109 single-family homes on […]
Following a legal battle with local officials, San Francisco-based developer Prologis is taking the next step in its efforts to build a warehouse in suburban Harrisburg. The company shelled out $24.25 million for two tracts off Linglestown Road in West Hanover Township where it plans to erect the 1.1 million square-foot building, according to county deed records. […]
One of the nation’s largest apartment operators has scooped up a development-ready tract in northwestern Lancaster County. An affiliate of Greystar paid nearly $8.7 million for the tract, which is poised to house an 11-building, 280-unit apartment complex, according to county deed records. The seller was 1376 Campus Road Associates LLC, an affiliate of Catalyst Commercial Development, a West […]
Ripples from the data-center revolution are continuing to wash over Central Pennsylvania. The latest ripple is a $131 million project from PPL Corp. designed to upgrade power lines and build a new switchyard in southern York County. The project is designed to improve reliability of the electric system in light of growing demand, including from data […]
It has been nearly a year since the former Dentsply campus in York city changed hands, fueling hopes for the property’s redevelopment. Hopes are now turning into blueprints. Developer York Realty Partners LLC has outlined plans for 62 townhomes on a portion of the 17.3-acre campus. The townhomes, dubbed the Towns at York Creek, would rise on parking lots behind […]
Plenty of developers have likely wondered how cities and townships calculate the fees they charge for construction permits. Harrisburg-area developer Triple Crown Corp. took its questions all the way to Commonwealth Court, where it argued that fees charged by Lower Allen Township in Cumberland County for two apartment projects were unreasonable and unconstitutional. The case was […]
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, […]
Valley Supply Inc., a Mechanicsburg-area distributor of concrete accessories, fabricated rebar, chemicals and safety products for the construction industry. The company has been acquired by White Cap, a growing, Atlanta-based construction supplies distributor. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed, but Valley Supply will continue under its own name and existing leaders, Harvey Sipe and Linda […]
High-profile construction projects around the region are in line for millions of dollars in state funding under grant awards disclosed Friday. Beneficiaries include a proposed sports complex in North York, a residential project underway in Lancaster County and the planned makeover of Harrisburg’s former federal building. They are among more than 400 projects statewide awarded […]
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.
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 […]
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 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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
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 Ventures Most importantly, he learned that York County’s would-be investors are indeed interested in backing local companies. They […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Funk Construction kicked off construction yesterday at the site of a former Bethlehem Steel factory complex in Lebanon. The Lebanon-based contractor is partnering with developer common craft to renovate a former warehouse at 121 Schneider Drive in the city. The project will result in a 30,000-square-foot building dubbed Lebanon Steel Works, offering affordable space for local artists, craftspeople and […]
Mike Walsh has been named CEO of Keystone, an insurance brokerage platform based in Mechanicsburg. The promotion formalizes a succession plan the company announced in December. He succeeds Patrick Kinney, who will join Keystone’s board. Walsh, who became Keystone’s president in January, worked previously as president of commercial property and casualty at NFP, a subsidiary of insurance […]
A state House panel has approved legislation mandating the use of special software for businesses that are behind on their sales taxes. The legislation, House Bill 2300, cleared the House Finance Committee yesterday on a bipartisan vote of 23 to 3. The bill would authorize state tax collectors to mandate use of software that enables real-time […]
Mad Bridge Plumbing LLC, operating as 1 Tom Plumber, leased flex space at 3319 Derry St. in Harrisburg. The lease marks the company’s fifth location in Pennsylvania and one of nearly 65 nationwide. Amber Corbo of NAI CIR facilitated the transaction. A Community of Blessings leased 1,200 square feet of office space at 160 S. […]
Peter Kramer has joined McNees Wallace & Nurick‘s real estate group in the law firm’s Harrisburg office. Kramer represents residential, industrial and commercial property owners, developers and business owners in transactional and land use and zoning matters. He advises clients on zoning, subdivision and land development, development approvals, permitting, purchase and sale agreements, leases and […]
Column by Richard Randall A business can’t improve if its leaders don’t want to know about its performance problems. It
Effective May 1, Andrew Archambault is leaving his role as U.S. president for The Hershey Co. to pursue an undisclosed opportunity, according to a company spokesperson and a securities filing. A search for his replacement is underway Archambault joined Hershey in February 2025 as leader of its U.S. confections unit, the company’s largest division. He had worked previously […]
Gene Draganosky, the former CEO of York-based Traditions Bank, has been named interim CEO of the York Jewish Community Center. His appointment follows the departure of the nonprofit’s previous chief executive, Terri Travers. She left in March amid reports that the JCC lost a state license for one of its daycare programs. In addition to his executive […]
The Giant Co. is building a new store at 1717 W. Main St. in Ephrata Township, Lancaster County. The site was formerly home to Martin’s County Market, which was destroyed in a February 2024 fire. Giant is leasing the site for the new store, expected to come in at 39,000 square feet, according to a company […]
Ashley and Brian Grimm, a married pair of York-area leaders, are relocating outside of the area for a new opportunity offered to Ashley Grimm. She is stepping down as of May 14 from her role as vice president of human resources at The York Water Co., which employs about 130 people. Brian Grimm, president of the United […]
Public notices for a proposed amendment to Lancaster’s shade tree ordinance did not adequately explain what the amendment would change, a state appeals court said yesterday in striking down the measure. The ruling from Commonwealth Court upholds a 2024 decision from a Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas judge, who also found fault with the […]
A Mechanicsburg-area partnership has acquired a former CVSpharmacy that was converted into a four-unit strip center. The partnership, Arzoyi Real Estate LLC, paid $4.7 million for the 10,473-square-foot building at 3201 Market St. in Camp Hill, according to county deed records. The building had been owned by partnerships affiliated with regional developer Drew Bobincheck. He said he […]
Fulton Bank is embroiled in a legal dispute with a Washington, D.C., real estate investor who has been hit hard by the weakened office market in the U.S. capital. Lancaster-based Fulton sued the investor, David Schaeffer, in February over an alleged default on a $4.7 million loan associated with an office building about half a mile […]
Fewer state residents are enrolling in health plans sold under the Affordable Care Act in Pennsylvania. As of April 9, enrollment in the plans stood at 462,751, down nearly 5% from 486,577 at the end of the open enrollment period on Jan. 31, according to a spokesperson for Pennie, aka the Pennsylvania Health Insurance Exchange Authority. The authority […]
Digital marketing agency WebFx unveiled plans yesterday for renovating and expanding into a historic mansion along the Harrisburg riverfront. The Harrisburg-based company plans to spend $10.7 million on the project, which is unfolding inside the former Tracy Mansion at 1829 N. Front St. in the capital city. Based a block away at 1705 N. Front St., WebFx […]
A Canadian company has acquired Oleson Saw Technology, a saw-blade manufacturer in Manchester Township, York County. The buyer, Comact, provides equipment and services for wood-processing industries. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Comact plans to maintain the business, which employs about 35 people and makes blades used in sawmills, according to Comact spokesperson Anne-Marie […]
State consumer advocates and utility regulators want greater scrutiny of a proposed high-voltage power line crossing more than half the state, arguing that Pennsylvania residents could shoulder hundreds of millions of dollars in costs if the line is built. The roughly $1.7 billion power line, a joint venture between Chicago-based Exelon and Florida-based NextEra Energy Transmission, would carry […]
Craig Hoogstraten has joined the construction law group of McNees Wallace & Nurick. Based in the law firm’s Radnor office, Hoogstraten focuses on highway and transportation infrastructure projects, advising contractors and project stakeholders on construction agreements, risk allocation and regulatory compliance. He also handles complex real estate transactions including acquisitions, phased development, environmental due diligence […]
State lawmakers are taking another run at creating a state-backed retirement program for private-sector workers. Similar legislation cleared the Democratic-controlled House in 2023 but failed to move in the GOP-led Senate. The House is once again on the cusp of passing the legislation following its approval on Tuesday in a party-line vote by the House Commerce […]
Citing federal pullbacks in the area of consumer protection, the Shapiro administation yesterday unveiled a new hotline, website and email address for complaining about banks, insurers, student lenders and other financial services providers. State residents can now call 1-866-PACOMPLAINT, visit pa.gov/consumer or email [email protected] to report their concerns. Pennsylvania has its own set of laws designed to […]
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 […]
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 […]
Federal authorities are leveling pollution-related charges against Pro Diesel Werks, a vehicle service business with operations in Lebanon and Reading, as well the company’s owner and a service manager. They allegedy violated the federal Clean Air Act by disabling pollution control systems on diesel vehicles and tampering with their diagnostic systems, which are supposed to […]
The state is pouring more than $1.3 million into a pair of renovation projects in York and Lancaster counties as
Harrisburg’s planning commission unanimously approved a plan last week to subdivide the former Polyclinic Hospital campus last week, clearing the
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 […]
Pennsylvania’s top court has backed the right of injured workers to reimbursement for CBD oil as long as it’s included in a doctor’s plan for treating their injuries. The unanimous ruling from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court comes in a case that has been winding through administrative and legal processes since 2019. Among the issues was […]
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 […]
A state lawmaker is seeking support for legislation that would make it easier for regulated electric utilities to invest in and possibly own power plants, an idea recently floated by executives at Allentown-based PPL Electric Utilities. The concept responds to growing concerns that the electric grid is not adding enough new power to accommodate a surge in […]
Finanta, a nonprofit based in Lancaster, is expecting millions of dollars from the federal government this year to further its mission, which includes lending to businesses in poor communities. But the federal fund that provides those dollars is among several programs targeted for cuts or possible elimination under an executive order issued late Friday by President […]
State police broke up a bank-fraud ring that drained more than $3 million from accounts of customers at Members 1st Federal Credit Union, according to a criminal complaint filed in a Cumberland County magisterial district. The credit union, based in Hampden Township, Cumberland County, reimbursed the losses suffered by its members. News of the bust came […]
State officials yesterday celebrated the opening of three new stations for charging electric vehicles amid uncertainty over the federal funding that helped pay for them. The new stations — in Cumberland, Franklin and Susquehanna counties — are funded by a $7.5 billion program designed to make it easier for drivers nationwide to find EV chargers. […]
Revenue spiked nearly 90% for five statewide cyber charter schools as they attracted students during and after the Covid-19 pandemic. While the schools spent some of the money on gift cards, employee bonuses, lobbying and real estate, they were operating within the bounds of the law, according to an audit of the schools unveiled yesterday by […]
After nearly half a century, Harrisburg’s tallest building is set to lose its place as a destination for state employees. The state government is set to vacate the 22-story building over the next two years as part of a broader reshuffling designed to scale back its use of leased office space. The move reflects the […]
In a unanimous decision, the Manchester Township zoning hearing board rejected a request that they alter zoning rules for a
In a budget address yesterday, Gov. Josh Shapiro rattled off a series of ideas for the fiscal year that starts July 1. GOP lawmakers focused on the bottom line — a proposed budget of $51.47 billion that they decried as irresponsible and unsustainable. The governor and state lawmakers — along with plenty of lobbyists — […]
UPMC is facing a class-action lawsuit filed by a respiratory therapist who claims she was misclassified as an independent contractor when she worked at the health system’s Harrisburg hospital in 2022. The suit, filed last week in an Allegheny County court, claims the therapist should have been classified as an employee and paid overtime when she […]
Garden Spot Communites, a New Holland-based senior-living provider, is extending its footprint into the Philadelphia suburbs. The nonprofit has agreed to affiliate with Frederick Living, a senior-living community in Montgomery County. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. But it is expected to close in early 2024. Garden Spot CEO Steve Lindsey will lead the combined […]
Can Central Pennsylvania become a hub for innovations in telemedicine and other health care technologies? That’s the hope of a new consortium coming together to craft a plan for getting us there. The group includes a who’s who of local economic development agencies, health systems, colleges and private-sector players, including Lancaster-based Emerald Asset Management and Siemens Medical Solutions USA. […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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.
A state appeals court has halted the bidding process for work on a $325 million state laboratory near Harrisburg after a builders group challenged a labor requirement attached to the project. The requirement, known as a project labor agreement, would require contractors to use mostly union workers. But the Lancaster County-based Keystone chapter of the Associated Builders […]
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 […]
A York County winery wants another shot at convincing a state appeals court to take its side in a long-running dispute with neighbors who want to shut it down. Moon Dancer Vineyards & Winery is asking Superior Court to reconsider the case after judges ruled against the winery earlier this month. The appeal hinges on legal issues […]
A settlement has been reached in one of the myriad lawsuits involving former members of the rock band Live and their former business partner Bill Hynes. In this case, it’s a lawsuit in which Hynes sued band members Patrick Dahlheimer, Chad Gracey and Chad Taylor in late 2022 over their alleged failure to repay a […]
Time may be running out for Moon Dancer Vineyards & Winery, a York County venue wrangling with neighbors who want to shut it down, arguing that its operations violate local land-use restrictions. Superior Court of Pennsylvania, a state appeals court, sided with the neighbors — Matthew Balsavage and Amanda Perko — in a decision published last […]
Before Stephen Stoltzfus bought land in southern York County, he wanted to know whether he could operate a sawmill on the 12-acre plot where he also planned to move his family. The initial answers from Codorus Township seemed to be yes, so he settled on the property. But after several months, the township said no, forcing […]
Paramount Management Group, the defunct Lancaster-based ATM network headed by Daryl Heller, sold and resold the same ATMs to the network’s investors, accounting for sales of nearly $22 million, according to a report filed yesterday by a court-appointed examiner in Heller’s bankruptcy case. The report appears to bolster investors’ allegations that they were defrauded by Heller […]
Pittsburgh-based law firm Dickie McCamey & Chilcote has opened an office in Lancaster after plucking two attorneys from Barley Snyder. The office at 100 N. Queen St. is Dickie McCamey’s 20th overall and seventh in Pennsylvania. Staffing the Lancaster office are managing attorney and shareholder Luke Weber and associate Tasha Stoltzfus Nankerville. Weber chaired Lancaster-based Barley […]
After listening to both sides of a loan dispute yesterday morning, a Dauphin County judge outlined a potential truce and asked attorneys to put it in writing. Harrisburg-area flooring supplier Frontier Surfaces claims it is on the brink of financial collapse following efforts by regional lender Mid Penn Bancorp to collect on a $4 million loan to the company. […]
A state appeals court last week upheld a decision by local officials to deny a mixed-use development that included a proposed Sheetz store in Derry Township, Dauphin County. Dubbed Governor’s Crossing, the project was proposed for the southwest corner of West Governor and Fishburn roads south of downtown Hershey. But in November 2023, supervisors in Derry Township […]
A York contractor claims it has not been paid in full for work it performed earlier this year on a multimillion-dollar project to expand a local hospital. In a lawsuit filed Tuesday in York County court, Kinsley Construction LLC says it was hired by other contractors in 2024 to provide concrete for the foundation of a new […]
A regional bank allegedly relied on false premises to seize $1.6 million in inventory from a Harrisburg-area flooring company, according to a legal complaint filed by the company against the bank. The complaint, filed last week in Dauphin County court against Mid Penn Bank, is the latest salvo in a dispute over an alleged loan default by […]
Gratz Borough will not be getting another day in court for its long-running case against a proposed solar project – at least not in Commonwealth Court. In a short note last week, the appeals court said it would not reconsider arguments in a zoning-related dispute over the project. The decision is the latest legal setback […]
WellSpan Health and Inch & Co. reached a settlement in a lawsuit filed last week by WellSpan over a proposed sports complex on which they have been partnering, according to a WellSpan spokesperson and an Inch & Co. executive. The settlement includes transferring ownership of the sports complex site to WellSpan, according to health system spokesperson Ryan Coyle. […]
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 […]
A lawsuit is accusing one of Lancaster’s culinary stars of misappropriating money earned by the restaurant and bakery that he and a partner opened nearly a decade ago. The restaurant is Bistro Barberet & Bakery, which has garnered international acclaim since opening in 2015 at 26 E. King St. in Lancaster. In the lawsuit filed this […]
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 […]
Orrstown Bank is asking a federal bankruptcy court to delay a hearing on the sale of a New Jersey beach house owned by Daryl Heller, the Lancaster County businessperson at the center of multiple legal and financial disputes. Heller is seeking court approval to sell the house, which is under contract at a price of […]
Lancaster Log Cabins was born in Brecknock Township, Lancaster County, in 2016 and moved to the Gap area in 2020. It is planning to move once again, but company owner Dan Smucker hopes it’s the last time. Lancaster Log Cabins paid nearly $15.1 million this month for what Smucker hopes is its “forever home”: A 68.7-acre […]
After buying Lancaster County-based ATI Corp. in October 2023, a Houston-based private equity firm began investing in the manufacturer’s future. The investments have bolstered ATI’s sales force, production processes, and research and development, said Ryan Martin, a managing partner at the private equity firm, LDR Partners LP. Now, LDR is investing in ATI’s leadership. How: Through a […]
After the disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic, the job market is returning to normal for manufacturers in Central Pennsylvania, according to a recent survey by their regional trade association. However, manufacturers face an uncertain year ahead as they absorb the potential for new tariffs promised by President-elect Donald Trump. Depending on how they are applied, […]
A union representing workers at a Lancaster pork processing plant dropped labor charges it filed against Clemens Food Group, which bought the plant earlier this year and then closed it, idling more than 190 workers. The United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 152 filed a grievance in October with the National Labor Relations Boar alleging that Clemens […]
Federal regulators filed a lawsuit against a York-area manufacturer for allegedly firing an employee who had raised concerns about safety. In a lawsuit filed in late October, the U.S. Department of Labor accuses Red Lion Controls of terminating the employee after he refused to carry out a task that he felt was unsafe. The agency is seeking […]
GSM Industrial, an industrial fabrication and mechanical contractor based in East Hempfield Township, has acquired Annville-based Light’s Welding, a family-owned business specializing in the agricultural sector. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Light’s Welding was founded in 1948 by C. Alvin Light, growing from a local welding shop to a full-service fabrication and millwright business. “We’re […]
AHF Products is eliminating about 30 white-collar jobs, with less than half the cuts affecting its staff in Lancaster County. In a statement, AHF president and CEO Brian Carson attributed the move to a stagnant market for home improvements and soft demand for residential building products. Based in West Hempfield Township, the company makes vinyl and […]
Amid a projected slowdown in apartment construction, a Michigan-based cabinetry company plans to shutter a plant in Juniata County. Cabinetworks Group is closing the factory near Thompsontown and laying off 420 employees, a tally that includes 110 who were already laid off, according to a notice sent to state and local officials. The notice did not […]
Clemens Food Group announced Friday that it plans to close its recently acquired pork plant in Lancaster and lay off 193 workers while it continues to look for a buyer that will keep the factory going. However, the reassurances, are not swaying the union representing production workers at the plant, the former Kunzler & Company factory acquired by […]
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 […]
Klinge Corp., a York-area company making specialized shipping containers, has been sold. The buyer is Trane Technologies, an Ireland-based company that makes HVAC and refrigeration systems, and its transportation-focused subsidiary, Thermo King. Terms of the transaction, which closed Aug. 1, were not disclosed. In a statement, Thermo King Americas president Adam Wittwer described the acquisition as “a […]
When Utz Brands Inc. announced in fall 2023 that it was closing one of its plants in Hanover, executives were prepared to answer questions about how many people worked there, what would happen to them, where production was moving and when. They did not expect as many questions about the fate of the company store […]
Over the last decade, revenue doubled for Electron Energy Corp., a specialty magnet manufacturer in East Hempfield Township, Lancaster County. But if it wanted to keep growing, the company realized that it needed a partner, said Scott Murr, the company’s vice president of revenue operations. That partner, announced yesterday, is Magnetic Holdings LLC, which has taken a […]
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 […]
Union members voted overwhelmingly in favor of a strike at Hanover Foods if they cannot agree on a new contract with the Hanover-based company by the end of this month, according to Wendell Young, president of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776. The most recent labor contract expired at the end of 2023, said Young, whose union […]
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 […]
Spring Grove-based paper maker Pixelle Specialty Solutions recently unveiled steps to bolster its finances. But they do not appear to be enough to satisfy a ratings agency concerned about the company’s liquidity. S&P Global initially downgraded the company following the refinancing. The agency then restored the original rating but added a negative outlook, warning that “continued operational weakness could pressure […]
Pixelle Specialty Solutions, a specialty paper maker based in Spring Grove, said June 12 it landed “significant new funding” that positions it for future growth. The financing includes amended credit facilities and an infusion of new capital from the company’s private equity backer, H.I.G. Capital. “With this new support, we are well-positioned to take advantage of […]
Capital-area developer Drew Bobincheck believes 2025 is going to be a good year for real estate investing. And he’s hoping to convince others to join him for the ride. He and three partners have launched a real estate fund called Opes Capital that they are opening to outside investors. They want to raise $30 million and then […]
Following a legal battle with local officials, San Francisco-based developer Prologis is taking the next step in its efforts to build a
One of the nation’s largest apartment operators has scooped up a development-ready tract in northwestern Lancaster County. An affiliate of Greystar paid
After closing last year, a former West Shore factory for The AMES Companies has been sold. An affiliate of York-based Kinsley Properties paid $18 million for the plant at 465 Railroad Ave. in Hampden Township, according to Gerry Blinebury, a broker with real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield. Cushman & Wakefield is listing the 397,000 square-foot building for lease on behalf of […]
A foreclosure case hanging over the former Bishop McDevitt High School in Harrisburg appears to have ended. The case in Dauphin County court pitted the building’s owner, William Penn Holding Inc., against private lenders seeking to collect on their debt. Jeremy Hunter, William Penn’s owner, confirmed an agreement was reached, but he declined to share the […]
Central Pennsylvania is home to big buildings that store stuff. A Virginia-based company is eyeing construction of big buildings that store data, reflecting a national race to boost data center capacity. PowerHouse Data Centers, an arm of Virginia-based American Real Estate Partners, has been discussing a potential multibillion-dollar data center development on a 700-acre tract in […]
Warehouses in Central Pennsylvania often sport household names like Amazon and Chewy, or the logos of logistics giants like XPO, UPS and FedEx. A new player is muscling in. Toronto-based Shipfusion is leasing a 350,000 square-foot warehouse in the newly developed Core5 Logistics Center at Codorus Creek on the site of a former quarry straddling Manchester and East Manchester townships in York County. The […]
The former Camp Hill office of Reager and Adler law firm was sold for $1.7 million to Community Options, a Princeton, New Jersey-based nonprofit that provides housing and job opportunities to people with disabilities, according to Bill Rothman, founder of Lemoyne-based RSR Realtors. Rothman represented the seller, the estate of the late attorney David Reager. Community Options has an existing […]
The bankrupt owner of Spring Gate Winery in suburban Harrisburg is seeking court permission for a sale of the winery and some of its assets, including its beer and wine licenses. According to court filings this week, Schoffstall Farm LLC is asking for approval of a sale to Nitin Patel, who would pay $2.85 million for the winery. The […]
The bankrupt property owner trying to sell Governor’s Square apartments in Harrisburg has complained in the past that the city of Harrisburg is thwarting its sales effort, and it’s now asking a bankruptcy judge to intervene. In a court filing last week, Maryland-based Uptown Partners LP asked a judge to order the city to “cease and desist from […]
Officials in York have toiled for more than two decades to bring development to the Northwest Triangle, a former industrial tract along the Codorus Creek in the city’s northwest corner. They filled in pieces here and there over the years. On Oct. 10, they celebrated what is likely to be the final piece: a mixed-use […]
High Associates is starting to sketch in its plans for a 476-acre tract bordering the headquarters of Armstrong World Industries in Manor Township, Lancaster County. The plans, which could change with market conditions, call for a flexible mix of single-family homes, apartment buildings, retail space, industrial space and green space, according to Ken Hornbeck, senior vice president of […]
A potential deal is on the table for Spring Gate Winery in suburban Harrisburg. A buyer named Nitin Patel has offered $2.8 million for the winery, whose parent company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May, according to court records. The offer sets a floor for other potential bidders in a bankruptcy auction slated to unfold this […]
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 […]
PSECU is seeking permission to relocate its branch in Strawberry Square in downtown Harrisburg to a former FNB branch at 1249 Market St.
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 […]
A Cumberland County agency has taken another step toward the purchase of a Carlisle factory that shut down last year. The Real Estate Collaborative LLC, a subsidiary of the Cumberland Area Economic Development Corp., has struck a tentative agreement to buy the Frog, Switch & Manufacturing Co. site at 600 E. High St. in the Cumberland County borough. No […]
Regional real estate firm Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Homesale Realty has scooped up Sailhamer Realty, an eight-person firm in Shippensburg. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Sailhamer was headed by John Dyson, a son-in-law of the firm’s original founders. The firm’s Shippensburg office will close, and Dyson and the rest of the Sailhamer team will work out […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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: […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Fraudsters drained nearly $250,000 from bank accounts of the Center for Independent Living of Central PA, and the Harrisburg-based nonprofit wants its bank, Mid Penn Bank, to refund the money, according to a lawsuit filed last week in Dauphin County court. The Harrisburg-based bank allegedly failed to enforce “commercially reasonable” security controls on the accounts and thus […]
Thanks to a recent court ruling, the commonwealth of Pennsylvania could be on the hook for more than $100 million in tax refunds to businesses. The ruling came in a case that arose over provisions outlining how companies can use past losses to lower their tax bills. Some corporate taxpayers have claimed, successfully, that provisions […]