Gene Barr, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, announced Wednesday that he will retire from his decade-long role as leader of the statewide business advocacy group in the second quarter of 2022. 

The US Small Business Administration (SBA) has distributed $44.8 billion in funding to small businesses across the country through 61,000 loans in fiscal year 2021. 

A bill that would allow Pennsylvania businesses to claim tax deductions of up to $1.05 million for the purchase of new equipment passed the state Senate in a 31 to 19 vote and is now headed to the House.

Business owners are facing a number of new challenges. Labor shortages, health mandates, government regulations and increasing taxation. But I propose the largest challenge facing business owners right now is their eventual exit from the business.

During the first round of Paycheck Protection Loans last year, Customers Bank of West Reading was able to assist in more than 100,000 PPP loans totaling more than $5 billion.

Some are adapting to holiday shopping during COVID-19, trying new ways to bring in business. Others say they are sticking to their tried-and-true business model and hoping loyal shoppers will still support them.

Now is the time of year when companies start their tax planning, but as with just about everything, the COVID-19 pandemic has created obstacles to normal tax-planning efforts.

To be sure a number of valuable Easton businesses are now closed for good or moved out of the downtown, but it’s not all bad news.