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Tag: award

Best gas station food? Survey says it’s Wawa

Wawa beats out other gas stations nationwide for having the best food, in a new survey from Payless Power.

The suburban Philadelphia-based convenience store chain, which is expanding farther into central Pennsylvania as well as other states, was the top choice in this category among 1,011 Americans asked about their gas station preferences.

Costco and Sheetz, which also have a presence in the region, did well, too.

Some other highlights from the survey:

· Overall, Costco was No. 1, Sam’s Club No. 3, Wawa No. 4 and Sheetz No. 5 in the ranking of America’s best stops.

· Costco was the cleanest and cheapest gas station. Wawa was fourth cleanest.

· Wawa had the most spent on each visit on average, $84.46, and the shortest average time, 16 minutes.

· Sheetz and Costco ranked third and fourth, respectively, as having the best food.

Of the 57% men and 43% women surveyed, 10% were baby boomers, 22% were Gen X, 43% were millennials and 25% were Gen Z.

Paula Wolf is a freelance writer

Veteran small business owners to benefit from $4.1 million in new SBA funding

Existing and aspiring veteran small business owners will benefit from a new funding opportunity announced by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and aimed at awarding up to $400,000 to up to 12 entities to provide training and counseling as a Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC). 

Entities eligible to receive funding include private organizations, colleges and universities, private sector firms, nonprofit organizations, and state, local, or tribal governmental agencies. 

Applications must be submitted via grants.gov by 11:50 p.m. EST on Wednesday, November 23, 2022. Applications submitted late or via other media, including SBA’s website, will be rejected. Information sessions on this VBOC funding opportunity will be hosted by SBA’s Office of Veterans Business Development via Microsoft Teams link or call-in number 202-765-1264 (access code: 265 542 768#). Sessions are scheduled for the following days and times: 

Tuesday, October 25: 1-2 p.m. EDT 

Monday, November 7: 4-5 p.m. EDT 

Wednesday, November 16: 1-2 p.m. EST 

The SBA announcement comes two weeks ahead of Nations Veterans Small Business Week, October 31-November 4, which spotlights the Biden-Harris Administration’s support of the entrepreneurial journey of U.S. service members, veterans, and their families. 

“As the focus on serving underserved communities becomes increasingly important, OVBD (Office of Veterans Business Development) expects the demand for VBOCs will continue to grow,” said Larry Stubblefield, Associate Administrator for the SBA’s OVBD. “This expansion will grow the VBOC program from 22 to 34 locations nationwide and assist in supporting veteran small business owners in all U.S. states and territories.” 

Grant funding allows awardees to provide transitioning service members and military spouses training through the Boots to Business entrepreneurship program m, part of the Department of Defense’s Transition Assistance Program. Comprehensive business assessments, counseling, financial skill development, mentoring services, and technical assistance will also be provided to transitioning service members, Reserve and National Guard members, and military spouses interested in growing or starting a small business. 

Pennsylvania is one of 14 states or areas eligible to apply for a part of the $4.1 million this program is making available for Fiscal Year 2023. 

“The additional locations aim to enhance the experience for veteran small business owners by reducing appointment wait times, increasing local presence, providing additional local training opportunities meeting the needs of Boots to Business participants, and ensuring that all VBOCs have the necessary resources to perform required counseling and training functions,” Stubblefield said. 

The base project period for each award begins May 1, 2023, and extends for 12 months, with four 12-month option periods. For more information regarding this funding opportunity, please visit www.grants.gov and search “SB-OVVB-23-001”. Questions concerning VBOC funding can be directed to Tangela Liddell at [email protected]. Those experiencing issues with Grants.gov can call the Grants.gov Support Line (1-800-518-4726) or email [email protected]. 

Centric Bank CEO and president honored in 25 Most Powerful Women in Banking list by American Banker 

Patricia Husic. PHOTO PROVIDED

Centric Financial Corp. and Centric Bank President and CEO Patricia Husic was named one of American Banker’s 25 Most Powerful Women in Banking from a pool of hundreds of female bankers from across the country.

Husic, named number 24 on the list, co-founded Centric Bank in 2007 and has since led the bank as its president and CEO. The bank prides itself on its majority female leadership team with 60% of its team being female and 70% of its workforce being female.

Women chosen for the list were picked for being at the forefront of significant changes across the financial services industry and society in general, said Bonnie McGeer, executive editor of American Banker and chair of the Most Powerful Women in Banking and Finance program.

“They are leading reinvigorated efforts to increase diversity of all kinds in the senior ranks, concepting the future of work, and helping central banks explore the idea of developing digital currencies, to name just a few of the many initiatives they have underway,” said McGeer.

Centric Bank was also recognized as one of American Banker’s Most Powerful Women in Banking Top Team this year and one of the magazine’s Best Banks to Work For in 2020, 2019 and 2018.

2021 marks the 19th year that American Banker has published its Most Powerful Women in Banking list and this year’s honorees are a testament to the perpetual resilience required of leaders today, said Gemma Postlethwaite, CEO of Arizent, American Banker’s publisher.

“A Most Powerful Woman in Banking is defined not by the power she possesses, but by the vision and leadership she invests with her team, customers, and community,” said Husic. “I am honored to stand alongside women of tremendous strength, resolve, courage, and relentless adaptation. Women who succeed on behalf of their peers, their financial institutions, and their customers. This is the fresh future of banking, and I’m humbled to be in the company of these extraordinary leaders.”

Harrisburg-based Centric Bank operates financial centers in Dauphin, Bucks, Cumberland, Chester and Lancaster counties. It has $1.1 billion in assets.

Family Favorites Awards 2017 Nomination Ballot

Where is the best place for a family to spend a rainy day? Where do you prefer to buy your groceries, take swimming lessons or send your children to school? What is the best choice for medical care? Where are your go-to spots for doughnuts, pizza and coffee?

At Central Penn Parent we know that the best recommendations come from other parents. So each year we ask our readers to share their family’s choices.

From December 19, 2016, until January 31, 2017, you can vote for your top favorites in the categories listed on the ballot below.

We’ll continue to tabulate each vote to help us determine the winners!

This year, each valid ballot entry will be entered in a drawing for a 4-pack of tickets to Hersheypark!

So what do you have to lose? Tell us who your Family Favorite nominations are today!

Contest Rules

Click here to see complete official sweepstakes rules.

Only one ballot entry per email address. Multiple ballots submitted from the same email address will NOT be tabulated.

In order to be entered in this Sweepstakes, entrants must write in nominations for at least twenty (20) categories on the ballot. Ballots with fewer than 20 nominations will not be tabulated and not entered in the contest to win Hersheypark tickets.

In categories that accept nominations for individuals, please include the nominee’s first and last names.

No purchase necessary to win.

Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

By entering this giveaway, you will be added to Central Penn Parent’s free e-newsletter subscriber list.

Nominations closed. Winner of Hersheypark tickets will be announced soon!