Fed to offer liquidity to Lehigh Valley lenders, small businesses
Additional funds would ease the strain of capital and liquidity constraints on banks originating PPP loans, but midstate financial institutions said in interviews this week that guidelines for the additional funds and the PPP as a whole are still pending from the Fed and the Small Business Administration.
St. Luke’s Warren joins trial using antibodies to treat COVID-19
The treatment, part of a trial overseen by the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, took the blood antibodies from a person who recovered from COVID-19 and transferred it to another COVID-19 patient.
Second $150K of COVID-19 grant money goes as quickly as the first
After an overwhelming response to an initial round of grants, a group of business leaders led by the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of commerce this morning released a second pool of $150,000 in small business grants aimed at easing some of the financial burden of the COVID-19 shutdown.
Gov. Wolf lifts sales tax prepayment requirements for 3 months
Businesses that collect Pennsylvania sales taxes will not have to make accelerated sales tax prepayments in April, May and June due to income shortfalls from social distancing requirements, Gov. Tom Wolf announced Tuesday.
Pa. launches hiring portal to help ‘life-sustaining’ businesses hire workers
“Many life-sustaining businesses across Pennsylvania are hiring and this new portal will help connect them with people looking for a job,” said Secretary of Labor and Industry Jerry Oleksiak at a Monday virtual press conference.
Pennsylvania joins neighboring states to plan a return to normal
As the infection rate of the coronavirus shows signs of flattening, Gov. Tom Wolf has joined with the governors of five neighboring states to begin planning how region’s economy will re-open.
Lafayette College using 3-D printers to make urgent medical supplies
The engineering division at Lafayette College in Easton has begun using 3-D printers to make medical supplies for first responders and hospital staff.
Republican lawmakers challenge Wolf administration’s business closures
“I believe that an undue burden has been placed on our consumers, on our dealers and on the 50,000-plus workers from the industry who are now without jobs,” said Mihalek. “This is why I introduced House Bill 2388.”
“It’s not a joke.”- LVH-Muhlenberg patient talks of his battle with COVID-19
The first coronavirus patient at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg to come off a ventilator, Chris McMillan tells of his harrowing battle with COVID-19 and his gratitude to the nurses and staff who stood by him.
Applications for $450 million state loan program for hospitals opens today
The Hospital Emergency Loan Program, an effort to provide short-term financial relief to hospitals, is expected to help ensure they have sufficient personnel, equipment and personal protective equipment.
St Luke’s provides free meals to employees during COVID-19 crisis
St. Luke’s University Health Network is providing free cafeteria meals to employees during the COVID-19 public health crisis. In addition, SLUHN started a “Feeding the Frontlines” fundraising campaign to purchase restaurant gift cards for staff.
Paycheck protection loan program hampered by uneven rollout
In an effort to provide small businesses faced with the imminent prospect of bankruptcy due to COVID-19, lenders hurried to comply with incoming guidelines from the Small Business Administration that qualify them to make federally-guaranteed loans to small businesses, to the extent that 75% of those funds are used to keep workers on payroll and 25% on overhead costs.