Gov. Tom Wolf issued a stay-at-home order for six counties and extended the closure of schools in the state for another two weeks to help fight the spread of COVID-19. He did not mention any timetable for the closure of non-life sustaining businesses. Those closures were ordered “until further notice.”

In a letter to Gov. Tom Wolf, officials from the five chapters that make up the Associated Builders and Contractors of Pennsylvania, asked for a waiver for the construction-industry-at-large, and clarification of his executive order to shut down businesses.

Starting at 8 a.m., Gov.  Wolf’s order that all non-life sustaining business shut down, will be enforced.

To slow the spread of COVID-19, Gov. Tom Wolf ordered all non-life-sustaining businesses in Pennsylvania to close their physical locations late yesterday, and offered a comprehensive list of those types of businesses affected.

Gov. Tom Wolf also clarified Monday’s order that all non-essential businesses close temporarily to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has ordered all non-essential stores, bars and restaurants in the state to temporarily close to help slow the progression of COVID-19.

For the first time in Pennsylvania’s history, 11% of state spending on goods, services and construction went to small diverse businesses, according to a report by the Bureau of Diversity, Inclusion and Small Businesses Opportunities within the state Department of General Services.

Pennsylvania has joined a handful of states that have raised their thresholds for overtime pay above federal levels, which is projected to extend overtime pay to 82,000 additional Pennsylvania workers within two years. 

Several regional businesses received new low-interest loan approvals Wednesday through the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) to help with expansions and creating new full-time jobs.

Business groups are speaking out against extensions to the state’s overtime eligibility requirements that will qualify 82,000 more Pennsylvania workers for time-and-a-half pay by the end of 2022, approved this week by the state Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC).

State officials this week announced 42 strategic guidelines for building the commonwealth’s workforce to compete on a nationwide and global scale in the new decade.

Funding that is expected to benefit farmers was approved Wednesday for several local agriculture projects through a state program.

Technical schools are collaborating with state agencies to “rebrand” skilled trade programs as lucrative career paths that streamline students into the 21st century workforce.

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry awarded $2.4 million in workforce development grants to counties across the commonwealth. In all, 19 workforce development boards were granted from $100,000 to $200,000 each, according to a Jan. 16 news release from the state.

A $1 million grant program created to enhance the long-term health and vitality of Pennsylvania’s family farms was introduced Wednesday in front of hundreds of public officials at the Pennsylvania Farm Show.