Lehigh Valley Business Journal

Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) is accepting applications for the Foundations in Industry Training (FIT) Grant Program funding. The program helps support and boost registered pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs at businesses across the state. Governor Josh Shapiro secured $3 million for FIT in the 2026-27 budget.

Hotel Bethlehem on Aug. 12 earned America’s Best Historic Hotel/Resort from USA Today 10Best for the sixth year running. A panel of experts curated nominations, and the public made their final votes to determine the recognition. The hotel, which opened in 1922 and sits adjacent to the newest U.S. UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Moravian church settlements, has 125 guest rooms, a grand lobby, two restaurants, two ballrooms and seven meeting rooms.

Nine hospitals across St. Luke’s University Health Network, which operates throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey, have earned 2026 Get With The Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus awards from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. These awards stem from rigorous national standards for stroke diagnosis and treatment, including rapid intervention, adherence to evidence-based clinical guidelines and ongoing quality improvement initiatives.

As more and more people turn to food pantries to help feed themselves and their families, the benevolence supporting these vital organizations is appreciated more than ever. Major donors like MacKenzie Scott and Taylor Swift are challenging long-held traditions of giving with a new type of philanthropy – one that relies on vetting non-profit organizations and making unrestricted gifts that trust leaders to move their charitable missions forward.

Having close to 25 years of experience and a background with American Eagle Outfitters and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Lauren Winans brings to her work a combination of corporate HR leadership and advisory work across industries. Winans is CEO and Principal HR Consultant of Next Level Benefits, a nationally recognized HR consulting firm that provides HR expertise to companies navigating the workforce landscape.

A Careers in Banking website has been launched by the Pennsylvania Bankers Association in partnership with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) Foundation. According to a release, the site was made possible by an industry partnership grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. The grant was awarded to PASSHE Foundation and PA Bankers, with additional financial support from the PA Bankers Services Corporation.

Lancaster-based advisory firm RKL LLP ranks 58th on INSIDE Public Accounting‘s Top 500 CPA Firms list. RKL is the highest-ranked firm headquartered in Pennsylvania on this year’s list. The list ranks the top 500 CPA firms in the United States by net revenue and provides a comprehensive view of firm size, growth, and market position across the profession.

Summary: Parse represents retired state government and public teachers Pre-Act 9 retirees have not received a cost of living adjustment since 2002 State employees’ retirement system reports over half-billion dollar surplus The cost of living and paying for the essentials continues to go up every day. For individuals living on a fixed income, soaring costs of goods and services, along with utilities and health care can pinch their wallets to the breaking point.

The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry has been named the 2026 State Chamber of the Year by the National Association of State Chambers (NASC).

Employer-sponsored self-funded medical plans are designed for one purpose: providing health benefits to employees and their eligible dependents. When non-employees are allowed to enroll, even with good intentions, the consequences can be serious, spanning federal compliance failures, tax exposure, stop-loss claim denials, and significant financial liability. Here is what employers and plan administrators need to understand before extending coverage beyond the traditional workforce.