Barry W. Harting, a top executive at Ephrata National Bank, this week confirmed plans to retire at the end of this year, closing a career of more than 45 years in the Lancaster County banking sector.

Four companies in central Pennsylvania were among 43 in the state to receive grants in through Gov. Tom Wolf’s $2.8 million Manufacturing PA Initiative, it was announced last week.

The population in Rapho Township increased by nearly 18 percent, making it Lancaster County’s fastest-growing municipality, according to updated population data released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

House lawmakers passed a bill late last week that would loosen restrictions on businesses using Paycheck Protection Program funds to retain and rehire workers, as federal policymakers work to revise the PPP to help companies recover in the aftermath of mandated closures.

Shippensburg-based Orrstown Financial Services Inc. named Linford Weaver to its board of directors for the company and its principal subsidiary, Orrstown Bank, effective June 1.

More than $6 billion of remaining Paycheck Protection Program funds will be reserved for Community Development Financial Institutions to lend to a broader demographic of small business owners, federal officials announced on Thursday.

Lebanon City Mayor Sherry Capello said it plans to partner with the Community First Fund of Lancaster, a non-profit corporation, in making loans available to the small businesses in the city. 

Lebanon and Lancaster counties had some of the lowest levels of unemployment in Pennsylvania just a few months ago, creating issues for growth tied to finding workers to fill numerous jobs. Now, like every other area in the state, the question is when, if ever, will the counties return to that vibrancy.

There’s still $147 billion available in the second round of the Paycheck Protection Program, according to a report by the Small Business Administration released on Saturday.

Business partnerships could be eligible for additional funds via the Paycheck Protection Program if they didn’t include the self-employment income of partners in its initial application, according to a guidance update from the Small Business Administration.

The long-awaited form Paycheck Protection Program borrowers need to be forgiven for their loan has been released by the Small Business Administration to “reduce compliance burdens and simplify the process for borrowers.”

Nine of this year’s Central Penn Business Journal’s Women of Influence and Circle of Excellence honorees have something in common: They’re graduates of one of Leadership Harrisburg Area’s programs.

“CDFIs are committed to supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses in low-income and underserved communities and that means collectively, these CDFIs will help keep paychecks flowing to employees who may need it the most.”

Businesses have until Monday to pay back a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan of $2 million or more to avoid a federal investigation for potentially taking more public funds than they needed to keep the company afloat during the coronavirus pandemic, federal policymakers announced late Wednesday.

Recipients of a less than $2 million loan via the Paycheck Protection Program automatically meet financial qualifications to receive their loan based on economic need, the Small Business Administration said in a Wednesday guideline update.