Within the last month, three Central Pennsylvania companies announced that they had or would be buying back part or all of their stock to give to their employees as part of new Employee Stock Ownership Plans, known as ESOPs. 

Elizabethtown College received a $2.5 million gift pledge, the largest toward an endowed scholarship by a living donor in college history, from Robert Rigg, Class of 1974, and wife Karen Rigg.  

Sheetz, a Mid-Atlantic restaurant and convenience chain that has locations throughout the region, has named Travis Sheetz as its new president and CEO. 

The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, today announced availability of the new Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program, which matches eligible creative entrepreneurs with free, local, small business consulting services and financial resources up to $2,000 to help grow their businesses, audiences and revenue. 

Gov. Tom Wolf has approved more than $19 million in grant funding for community development projects in York County. 

Herhey-based Jacobson Warehouse Company plans to lay off 77 of its 228 employees early next year. 

HB Global announced this week that it has purchased a Rochester, NY-based mechanical and plumbing contracting company. 

In September two major Pennsylvanian employers, Harsco Corp. and Rite Aid, announced they would be leaving their headquarters in Cumberland County to open new main offices in Philadelphia. 

Souderton-based Univest Financial Corporation and its insurance subsidiary, Univest Insurance, LLC, has acquired the Paul I. Sheaffer Insurance Agency. 

An inaugural class of 27 Giant employees graduated from a customized, nine-month management program created through a partnership by The Giant Company and Central Penn College. 

Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Davin has announced a new program with Amazon Web Services (AWS) that will expand e-commerce opportunities for Pennsylvania small businesses and help residents buy local while shopping online.   

Hot Frog Print Media, Mechanicsburg, celebrated “hopping” to a new 100% employee-owned business. 

RETTEW’s CEO and Chairman of the Board plans to step down from his role effective February 4, but will remain with the company in a part-time capacity. 

Harrisburg mechanical contracting and energy services firm, McClure Company, has sold a majority interest in the company to New York and Tokyo-based Sojitz Corporation of America (SCA). 

The acquisition of Riverview Financial Corp. by Mid Penn Bancorp yesterday expands Mid Penn’s footprint into the Lehigh Valley and State College regions.