Member of the Day - The Heritage Guild in Easton

Today's Member of the Day is The Heritage Guild! They are new Chamber members and we will be helping them celebrate their 2-year anniversary this Friday from 5:30 - 7:30. Celebrate with us, all are invited!

The Heritage Guild of Easton is located at 70 Hilton Street.  Celebrating our 2-year anniversary and grand opening of our new archery range & archery retail, expanded static ranges and addition of a tactical range - September 20, 21, 22.  Demos by the Oxford school archery team on Saturday and Sunday, firearms and archery vendors, prizes, giveaways, demos, and  some great shoots on the range to benefit Hunters Helping the Hungry and Boy Scouts Troop 31!  

The Heritage Guild is a family of centers that include firearms retail, indoor and outdoor ranges, archery retail and service, training academy, gunsmiths & bowsmiths.  Our mission is to provide new and potential gun owners and archers with modern, safe and dynamic facilities in which to maximize the experience and enjoyment of their pastimes.  

The Heritage Guild has three locations:  Easton, PA;  Branchburg, NJ; and Rahway, NJ - www.heritageguild.com

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Advertising and the Art of War: Part 2

Guest blog from Kelly Joffe of Cliff Ross - Advertising - Web Design. Originally appears at cliffross.com/blog

“Use the orthodox to engage, the extraordinary to attain Victory” – Sun Tzu

In Advertising and the Art of War Part 1, we talked about how the advertising and marketing world is a battle field – and only the strong survive. It is important to keep that in mind as you move forward with your advertising and marketing efforts. This week, we talk about the difference between engaging your customers and attaining victory.

In the Art of War, Sun Tzu said we should use the orthodox to engage, and the extraordinary to attain victory. The same is true with your marketing efforts – lets take social media for example. Through the use of social media, you want to engage your fans and followers in order to nurture your current customers and to gain new ones. Using social media as a tool to leverage your business is a very general, orthodox approach to engaging your current and potential customers. By utilizing different social media platforms, you are putting your business out in the social landscape to get recognized.

The goal, however, is to do more than engage. Engagement is just one step on the road to victory. Victory is attained when these social media fans and followers turn into repeat customers and new business. As Sun Tzu said, use the extraordinary to attain victory. Now that you have your fans and followers engaged, you must know and master the capabilities of each individual social media platform to bring in business.

It’s more than just making posts. That’s ordinary. Everyone does that. Your efforts need to be extraordinary. That’s where Cliff Ross comes in. We know what it takes to turn orthodox customer engagement into extraordinary use of social media that leads to new business and victory. Sometimes, to truly attain victory in this advertising and marketing war – you need an ally. That is where we come in.

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Advertising and the Art of War: Part 1

Guest blog from Kelly Joffe of Cliff Ross - Advertising - Web Design. Originally appears at cliffross.com/blog

The General is knowledge, courage, strictness, and trustworthiness.

As we begin this series of Advertising and the Art of War, it is important to note the purpose. The advertising and marketing world is a battle field. Brands across the world are competing for the attention of consumers. Only the strong survive. How you position yourself, plan your attack, and approach this Advertising war will determine if you stand out from the competition and gain the attention of your customers.

In the Art of War, Sun Tzu said that the most important traits of the General are knowledge, courage, strictness, and trustworthiness. You are a business owner, your brand is the general, and there is an army of consumers out there looking to be guided in the right direction. In all your advertising and marketing efforts, your brand must display the same characteristics as Tzu’s general. Here is how:

Knowledge: In all aspects of marketing and advertising, your brand must know-all. A good brand knows how their customers feel, what they want, and what they need. You must do your research and find out what makes your customers tick. You must use your knowledge about your product to guide consumers in your direction. A nutritionist, for example, will appeal to mothers by sharing factual information about healthy choices for their kids. This will make a mother (the consumer) feel as if the nutritionist really understands what she needs for her family.

Courage: your brand must be willing to take certain risks, and have the courage to fight for what you believe in. If you are a nutritionist selling a healthy life style, you have to stand up for what you believe in. It might be risky to criticize fast food restaurants, but you believe it’s hurting people. By having certain morals and beliefs – and sticking by them no matter what – consumers will respect you. Have the courage to take advertising and marketing risks, to step outside of “what’s normal.” You have an opportunity to lead the way – so take it. What is the opposite of courage? Fear. Do not fear your opponents (the competition),  but know that if you stay true to your brand standards – you will come out on top.

Strictness: Stay firm with your beliefs and be consistent with your advertising approach. Your brand represents your business or product that you wholeheartedly support – do not let there ever be any doubt about that. If you make a decision to start some marketing efforts via social media – stick with it and be consistent. Write a blog every week, consistently interact with your customers, send a monthly newsletter – be strict with your advertising schedule and people will have no choice but to notice. Your consistent and disciplined message will strongly position your brand in their mind.


Trustworthiness: You always want people to trust your brand and the products you sell. Always be honest and sell the facts. People are more likely to purchase products or services from a brand they trust. These days, advertising and marketing is not all about the hard sell. You have to share information that people can relate to – reach your customers on a personal level. This humanizes your brand and makes people trust you.

Guest blog from Kelly Joffe of Cliff Ross - Advertising - Web Design. Originally appears at cliffross.com/blog
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On the Edge: What Your Facebook Page is Missing

Guest post from Kelly Joffe of Cliff Ross Design

The Facebook news feed is customized and constantly updated to show information that is most meaningful to the user. It includes likes, status updates, app activity, photos, videos, and links. The news feed is there to make the most out of the time we spend on Facebook. On average, 40% of the time people spend on Facebook is spent browsing their news feed.

Did you know that only about 10% of the people who like your page actually see your posts in their news feed? It’s true. In Facebook’s effort to improve the quality of user experience, they only show us stories in our news feed that we find meaningful. Facebook determines this based on their algorithm called “Edge Rank.” To market yourself successfully on Facebook, the goal is to improve your edge rank so that your posts show up more frequently in your fans’ news feed. Edge Rank is based on these three scores:

Affinity: this measures how strong your relationship is with a fan based on interaction. The people who are frequently commenting, liking, or sharing your posts are going to have a stronger affinity score – and they will be the people who are more likely to see your posts in their news feed.

Weight: this refers to the weight of the interaction your posts gets. For example, a share is the best type of interaction you can get on a post, the next is a comment, and the last is a like. So if your post is getting a lot of comments and/or shares it will be shown to more people in their news feeds.

Time Decay: the older a post gets, the less relevant it becomes, which means that it will appear less and less in the news feeds of fans over time. However, if you posted something yesterday and it is still getting a lot of comments and likes, it will stay fresh in the news feeds of your fans.

Producing quality posts is what it really comes down to. If you are sharing content that your fans care about, information that is relevant to them, and things they find interesting – they are more likely to engage by sharing, commenting, or liking. The more people who that interact with you, the more you show up in news feeds, and the more exposure you get! You really have to pay attention to who your audience is and what they care about. Remember, social brands just don’t share – they deliver value.

The problem that many business owners face is that they just don’t have the time to create this quality content that will boost their edge rank. What good is having 1,000 likes if only 100 people see your posts? Here at Cliff Ross, we specialize in social media marketing – especially for Facebook. We know exactly what it takes to produce quality posts with engaging content. If you are ready to take your Facebook page to the next level and increase your visibility, contact us for more information about how we can help.

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Job Opening - Product Manager in Easton, PA

Product Manager:

This position is located in Easton, PA. We are looking for someone who will coordinate all product management functions including all product development programs.  Provides leadership for a cross functional team while responsible for delivering metrics for time, cost, and quality results.

Previous product management experience with a large retailer is a requirement. Work experience in a team environment and strong English communication skills are required. Proven ability to handle the development of multiple projects (5+) simultaneously. Must have solid financial fundamentals and be able to apply them. Knowledgeable in manufacturing processes and resources in Far East Knowledge of retail environment especially the Mass Merchants. Proven project management skills and experience with driving to schedules and accountability. MS Office. Comfortable in a team environment. 

Salary Range: $50K - $60K

For more information or to submit your resume for consideration please email: EFernandez@murrayins.com

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Business News in the Lehigh Valley, 5/9/13

Good morning Lehigh Valley. Today, May 9, is "Lost Sock Memorial Day."

There are only 3 days left until Mother's Day, so make sure to brighten her day with a bouquet from one of our Florist Chamber Members! If you're going to take her out to dinner as well, ch

The U.S. Conference of Mayors honored Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski for his small business work at a Chamber breakfast yesterday. Mayor Pawlowski was presented with the "Partner America 2013 Small Business Advocate Award" for his strong support of small businesses in Allentown.

Speaking of Allentown, The Lehigh Valley Trust building on Allentown’s Center Square will be brought back to life as high-end catering facility for events such as weddings, corporate lunches, holiday parties, bar mitzvahs and other celebrations. The building, owned by Jaindl Properties, is expected to cost nearly $3 million in renovations on the building before it opens.

Join us on Thursday, May 16 for the Bethlehem Mayoral Debate between Bob Donchez and Willie Reynolds at Historic Hotel Bethlehem. The debate will be taped by WFMZ's Business Matters and will air the night before the primary election. The debate begins at 4 p.m. and will end at 5 p.m., at which point there will be a reception where you can mingle with the candidates. Appetizers will be served and there will be a cash bar. Everyone is welcome, and the cost for the event is just $20. Register here.



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Chamber Seeking Easton & Phillipsburg Area Initiatives Intern

The Chamber of Commerce is an association of businesses and individuals that work to improve the economic conditions and enhance the quality of life in the Easton area through involvement with community organizations and the programming of special events.  The Chamber serves the City of Easton, the City of Phillipsburg, Palmer Township, Forks Township, and Williams Township, Nazareth, the Slate Belt, the Pocono Mountains, and the Boroughs of Wilson, West Easton and Glendon. Aspects of this position include database management, event planning, advertising, public relations and networking with the Easton area business community.

An intern in this position would assist with in planning and executing activities and events to further the growth and development of the Easton area.

•       Upbeat, energetic, willing to meet new people and take on new projects.

•       Event planning assistance

•       Have a strong computer background, including the use of Office and the willingness/adaptability to learn new programs.

•       Outbound phone calls to members or potential vendors for events

•       Basic office duties including photocopying, typing meeting minutes, etc.

•       Must have a drivers license and own transportation.

•       Able to work at least 4 hours, but no more than 12 hours per week for part time, and no more than 35 hours per week for a full time internship position. May be asked, but not required to attend events in the evenings.

Contact Person:         

Alison Miers, VP of Easton & Phillipsburg Initiatives 

alisonm@lehighvalleychamber.org

Phone: 610-739-1512, Fax: 610-330-9177

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Business News in the Lehigh Valley, 3/12/13

Good morning, and happy Tuesday Lehigh Valley. It's a good day to be a duck with the rain we're getting today!

Tonight, Dan's Camera City in Easton is hosting a business mixer and offering professional headshots for the low price of $25 (Regular price $80). If you're currently using an outdated headshot for your business profile, now is the time to update it and show your best side. You must make a reservation to participate in the headshot promotion.

The groundbreaking for Easton's $26 million transportation center is finally scheduled and expected to begin with a month, following a decade of planning and speculation. The transportation center will give commuters and visitors a centralized bus space at the intersection of Larry Holmes Drive and S. Third Street.


Both the Dow and S&P have grown seven consecutive sessions, with the Dow setting another record high on Monday and the S&P within 10 points of its all-time closing high of 1,565.15 set in 2007. The stock futures dipped slightly yesterday, but any pullback by investors may be short-lived as many have been using recent dips as a buying opportunity.

In case you missed Business Matters last night on WFMZ, worry no more. You can watch previous episodes anytime from the convenience of your own computer. Click the link to watch last night's episode, Will Right to Work" be the end of unions in PA?

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Business News in the Lehigh Valley, 3/6/13

Good morning Lehigh Valley. Today the region is expected to get it's first significant amount of snow this winter, with forecasts calling for anywhere between 2-4 inches for most of the Lehigh Valley area. How every much your area does get, please be careful driving and take your time!

The Allentown Mayor's Breakfast was held this morning at Muhlenberg College's Seegers Union. Both the Bethlehem and Allentown Breakfasts sold out, but there's still a chance to reserve your spot at both the Phillipsburg Mayor's Lunch and the Easton Mayor's Breakfast.

The Lehigh Valley has ranked as No. 9 in Site Selection Magazine's Top 10 Metro Areas with populations between 200,000 and 1 million, with a project count of 24 in 2012. Pennsylvania finished third in the nation with 430 new or expanded corporate facilities in 2012.

Sam Adams Beer and the Rising Tide Community Loan Fund of the Lehigh Valley have announced they will expand their program that helps small business owners. The program provides coaching, mentoring and educational resources to small business owners in the food & beverage, brewing, and hospitality industries.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average reached a record high on Tuesday, climbing more than 125 points to close at 14,253.77, while the S&P 500 finished at its highest level since October 2007. On the jobs side, the ADP National Employment Report showed that private-sector employment increased by 198,000 jobs in February.

In world news, Venezuelan President Huge Chávez passed away yesterday, 21 months after he first revealed he had a tumor.




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Business News in the Lehigh Valley, 2/19/13

Good morning Lehigh Valley, and happy Tuesday. You got through Monday, so give yourself a pat on the back.

City Center Lehigh Valley has hired Sheila Johnson, former vice president of Berks Economic Partnership and PPL Economic Development Director, in an effort to attract out-of-area businesses to Downtown Allentown. City Center Lehigh Valley will construct two high-rise office buildings adjacent to Allentown's arena at Seventh and Hamilton streets.

Bethlehem's ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks is in the running for another top international architecture award, as a top five finalist in the urban transformation category for the Architizer A+ Awards. Votes can be submitted through March 19 by following this link.

Pennsylvania's new Attorney General has stated that Governor Corbett's proposal to privatize the lottery is not within his authority, but rather it rests with state legislature. She also said she reviewed the constitutionality of the proposal, "not the validity or business wisdom of it."

That's all for now - here's hoping everyone has a productive day today!









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Easton & Phillipsburg Initiatives Intern

The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce is Seeking an Easton & Phillipsburg Initiatives Intern

The Easton Area Chamber of Commerce and the Phillipsburg Area Chamber of Commerce, both part of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, are councils of businesses and individuals that work to improve the economic conditions and enhance the quality of life in the Easton & Phillipsburg areas through involvement with community organizations and the programming of special events. Aspects of this position include database management, event planning, advertising, public relations and networking with the Easton area business community.

An intern in this position would assist with planning and executing activities and events to further the growth and development of the Easton and Phillipsburg areas.

•          Upbeat, energetic, willing to meet new people and take on new projects.
•          Event planning assistance
•          Have a strong computer background, including the use of Office and the willingness/adaptability to learn new programs.
•          Outbound phone calls to members or potential vendors for events
•          Basic office duties including photocopying, typing meeting minutes, etc.
•          Must have a driver’s license and own transportation.
•          Able to work at least 4 hours, but no more than 12 hours per week for part time, and no more than 35 hours per week for a full time internship position. *May be asked, but not required to attend events in the evenings.*

Contact Person:        

Alison Miers, VP of Easton & Phillipsburg Initiatives alisonm@lehighvalleychamber.org 

Phone: 610-739-1512, Fax: 610-330-9177

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Business and Local News in the Lehigh Valley, 1/10/13

Good morning and happy Thursday, Lehigh Valley! Today is the 150th Anniversary of the London Underground, the world's oldest underground railway, and on this day in 1776 Thomas Paine published the pamphlet "Common Sense."

St. Luke's University Health Network's Anderson Campus of Bethlehem Township is doubling the size of its ER department to meet increasing demand. The addition will add 11,000 sq. feet to the current department and 17 extra exam rooms.

Lehigh Valley Hospital - Cedar Crest has added an auxiliary tent outside the hospital to treat the rising number of flu cases this season. It may take up to two weeks for the vaccine to take effect, but it's still not too late if you're worried about getting the flu. Patients with flu-like symptoms should report to the main emergency department first for triage.

Residents in Easton will see an overhaul in the parking system due to changes soon to be implemented. Roughly 500 parking meters will be replaced with state-of-the-art meters that will allow drivers to pay with their credit cards as well as the traditional method of coins. Enforcement hours will also be extended to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon - 6 p.m. on Sunday.

A 16 year-old Allen High School student attempted to bring a loaded handgun into school on Tuesday, but the gun was found on the student by Allentown police and school security officers as he attempted to re-enter the school without being buzzed in. The boy had just enrolled at Allen and Tuesday was his first day of classes.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced new regulations aimed to loosen the choking loan standards that have prevailed since the housing crash by defining a "qualified mortgage," which is one that a borrower can be expected to pay back.




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Today's Business News in the Lehigh Valley, 12/20/12

Good morning and happy Thursday, Lehigh Valley. Tomorrow is the Winter Solstice, and no, it will not be the end of the world! However, tomorrow will have the longest night and shortest day of the year.

PA state and federal Democratic lawmakers are calling for increased gun control legislation in the wake of the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School last Friday. There are plans for a Democratic task force that will examine "a comprehensive approach to reducing gun violence, including a better system of background checks for gun purchases and expanding mental health services."


Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE) will begin offering direct international flights as early as 2014. On Tuesday the airport authority endorsed a $5 million plan to add a U.S. Customs station that would allow LVIA to have flights out of the country.


NYSE Euronext, the operator of the New York Stock Exchange, will be sold to IntercontinentalExchange in an $8.2 billion cash and stock deal. IntercontinentalExchange operates commodity and derivatives markets around the world and has a larger market value than NYSE.

The United States Treasury will be selling its remaining shares in General Motors over a 15-month period, with plans to sell the 500 million shares bought during the bailout back to GM for $5.5 billion.

Today's Member of the Day is Copperhead Grille, with locations in Allentown and Center Valley. Copperhead Grille is offering a $10 voucher when you buy $50 in gift cards, perfect for the last minute shoppers out there! 
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Today's Business News in the Lehigh Valley, 12/18/12

Good morning Lehigh Valley! On this day in 1958, The world's first communications satellite was launched by the United States aboard an Atlas rocket.

In recent news, Lehigh County was named among the Top 10 counties in the United States to attract future growth and investment, ranking 7th in the "large sized counties" segment with populations between 150,000 and 499,999 people. A key factor was the regional cooperation regarding community and economic development.

The city of Allentown recently broke ground on the American Parkway Bridge over the Lehigh River, a $46 million project that will  provide drivers with immediate access to Airport Road and Route 22 and Downtown Allentown. Construction of the bridge will begin very soon, but could take up to two years to complete.

The mobile advertising market in the U.S. is growing at a rapid pace, much more quickly than originally anticipated, expected to reach around $4 billion. It will nearly triple in the upcoming year, with companies like Facebook, Google and Twitter expanding their mobile advertising markets.

After the horrific shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Friday, gun control is a topic that is getting discussed in great length. According to CNN, "Over the past few days, several lawmakers have promised to introduce or reintroduce gun control legislation, ranging from a reinstatement of a federal ban on assault weapons to banning the sale of high-capacity magazines."
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Today's Business News in the Lehigh Valley, 12/13/12

Good morning and happy Thursday, Lehigh Valley. There are 18 days left to finish up your 2012 resolutions!

Small businesses have found a new way to prosper during the holiday season, not by stiff competition but rather by a method of community cooperation. Business owners in Lehigh Valley have been able to boost their sales through special promotions and events, including Christmas City Village in Bethlehem, Men's Shopping Night in Easton, and other promotions throughout the region.

Easton City Council has approved their 2013 budget, wherein the property taxes will remain the same and drivers will see an increase on the city's parking meters, from 50 cents/hour to $1/hour, which is still relatively low compared to most cities. They will supplement their revenue through other means as well, including the increasing income from their cut of the table games in neighboring Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem.

Nationally, there has been little to no progress regarding the impending fiscal cliff. Vast differences still exist in the way the White House and the Republicans would like to handle the tax increases and budget cuts that once implemented could send the country back into a recession. "If a deal is not reached, taxes will go up for almost all working Americans at the start of the New Year and steep government spending cuts will kick in."

For users who bought the iPhone 5 and miss having the functionality of Google Maps, then worry no more. Google Maps has made its way back into the App Store, this time offering turn-by-turn navigation that was not available on iOS before now.

Have a great, productive Thursday!
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Chamber Op-Ed: Binding Arbitration Reform Needed

As you may be aware, The Chamber is very involved in the urban cores of the Valley, all of which are, without a doubt, under significant distress for a variety of reasons.  One of the issues that they face is the constant fiscal cliff caused by rising pension, legacy and staff related costs.  As a result, The Chamber, along with the Mayor's of our three biggest cities, is strongly advocating for desperately needed pension reform.  Our President & CEO, Tony Iannelli, wrote an op-ed with Mayors Pawlowski, Panto and Callahan - the op-ed is below.  Let us know what you think!


--

mcall.com

YOUR VIEW

Binding arbitration reform can aid distressed municipalities

June 6, 2012

Decades-old municipal laws have become dated, inflexible and uncompetitive, hampering municipal leaders from approaching modern-day problems with innovative solutions. Many of these outdated laws are pushing our communities to the brink of collapse, threatening basic municipal services, while impeding regional economic recovery. And ultimately, taxpayers will be on the hook.

This may sound like a stretch, but anyone who lives in or near an older, full-service community — a core community — knows of the budgetary struggles. While this dire situation is not intractable, fixing it will require strong leadership and political courage from the state Legislature and the Corbett administration.

Today, nearly half of all Pennsylvanians live in financially distressed municipalities. The costs associated with mandated personnel and pension laws contribute heavily to this statistic. Pension and personnel costs can count for more than half of a municipal budget. These costs are unyielding and unsustainable and municipal revenue sources to pay for such costs remain static at best. This imbalance is causing a downward spiral of fiscal distress that permeates many aspects of community life, including our competitiveness as a commonwealth and communities' abilities to provide vital public services.

Public safety personnel are a valued and respected workforce in our communities. The goal in calling for reform is not to undo the collective bargaining protections afforded to police and fire personnel, but to reduce and control costs moving forward. It is critical that communities have the ability to restructure benefits for future employees to a fair, affordable level.

Without such reform, public safety personnel — as the largest, most expensive budget category — will find positions cut or vacancies left unfilled. The safety of our communities will be compromised. Municipal leaders realize this is no way to encourage investment in their communities, but the mandated costs of binding arbitration and municipal pension laws leave few options.

The Coalition for Sustainable Communities — a growing alliance of chambers of commerce, local government associations and other business, community and municipal leaders — has come together to push several reform measures that will help to stabilize municipal fiscal distress, thereby promoting fiscally sustainable communities that are properly staffed to provide essential services. To date, the coalition has amassed many members, including 22 chambers of commerce and business associations; the Pennsylvania League of Cities & Municipalities and its 75 member communities; the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Commissioners, an organization of 70 first class townships; and the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors and its 1,455 member townships.

The coalition's immediate focus is support for Senate Bill 1321 and House Bill 1988. Both bills reinstate long-established controls on public safety unions' binding arbitration awards in distressed municipalities. These controls were taken away by the state Supreme Court last year in a case involving Scranton. This decision will cost Scranton $30 million in back pay and benefits it does not have and cannot afford. This decision affects not only Scranton but also every present and future distressed municipality.

Additionally, the coalition is focused on reform of the outdated binding arbitration and pension laws that promote inevitable fiscal distress.

Simply put, uncontrolled costs eventually require layoffs, service cuts and/or tax increases. These options harm the very workers, residents and businesses needed to sustain and grow a community. No one wants to live, work or grow a business in an overtaxed, underserved, unsafe and fiscally unstable community.

The coalition stands ready to work with the governor's office and Legislature to move meaningful reform legislation. Ultimately, the members of the General Assembly must step forward and support passage of legislation to correct these costly inequities.

Tony Iannelli is president and CEO of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, John Callahan is mayor of Bethlehem, Sal Panto is mayor of Easton, and Ed Pawlowski is mayor of Allentown.

Copyright © 2012, The Morning Call

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