Cindy Appleman, President for the Muncy Professional Business Association, announces plans for 2014 during a business open house held Thursday night at Muncy Bank & Trust. More business exchanges and open houses are being planned for the year.

In all three communities, volunteers and businesses are working on committees to build a more aesthetic and economic environment in order to attract more visitors and bring more awareness to their residents.

MUNCY – The Muncy Professional Business Association held an open house Thursday night at Muncy Bank & Trust. Members voted on some changes in their by-laws and a new board introduced their new roles in office. “Muncy is a growing community,” announced President, Cindy Appleman from Re-Max Edge.

Kim Wetherfeld, Treasurer, said that this small town is a nice place to raise children and would like to continue with hosting children’s activities for 4th Friday events.

MPBA was formed in 2006 for local professionals to bring the community together with local events, sponsorships, fundraising, time and energy. “I see a need for closer business relationships here,” Appleman said, “and not just on Main Street. I see a need for small businesses to depend on each other. We have every service imaginable right here in Muncy to promote a beneficial business climate. Our intent is to network together and give something back.”

A website has been updated to include social networking to make best use of time and services. Links and contacts for all member services and companies are listed. Events are posted and all documents and applications for memberships and vendors can be downloaded. “It is functional and useful for businesses and consumers to find information,” said its originator, Chris Johnson from Brickhouse Advertising.

“We want to help your business,” said Ann Baker, Vice-President. “And we also want to work with schools,” she announced.

On March 6 Nicholas Lentz from the Small Business Development Center at Lock Haven University will present a program for companies to update their business disruption and continuity plans. Lentz said it is important for business owners to have plans in place to mitigate the impact of any type of business interruption, especially natural disasters. Using cloud-based alternatives for operations, tools and infrastructure will be presented among other strategies to maintain connectivity. The program will be held at Orlando’s at 7 p.m. and any interested business owner is welcome to attend.

The board also said they would like to sponsor some entertainment and try to help out the Ritz, Muncy’s long-standing theatre. They are currently working on bringing in a well known hypnotist and mentalist. Details will be announced later as well as more open houses at the local businesses and welcome packages will be given out to new members and residents.

A fall festival is being planned, as well as the annual Corvette and Artists in The Backyard, a free movie for kids at the Ritz and some outdoor entertainment during 4th Fridays starting April 25.

State Representative, Garth Everett also made an appearance at the open house and expressed his concerns over businesses affected by the Biggert-Waters Act. “Many were not aware of this problem until they got their bills,” he said. Some businesses have told him they’ve seen increases up to $9,000 and $17,000. “We are moving through the process at a state level. Something will have to happen.”