Since Montgomery County entered the green phase, business owners have been adjusting to the new normal and working to restore their daily operations. To learn more about available resources and best practices during this uncertain time, more than 50 participants attended Montgomery County Community College’s Workforce Development Division Business & Industry Virtual Roundtable Discussion on June 25.

The first guest speaker of the interactive zoom conference was Statewide Director of WEDnetPA, Tom Vendetti, who discussed the WEDnetPA program and changes due to COVID-19. 

“WEDnetPA grants are available through 25 colleges and MCCC is one of them,” Vendetti told the participants. “MCCC is your direct point of contact and will be able to provide you with updates concerning the grant process.”

However, Vendetti explained, because of uncertainties related to the FY 20-21 state budget, WEDnetPA is temporarily unable to accept inquiries or process applications for FY 20-21. Businesses should check the WEDnetPA website for updates.

Vendetti said that Pennsylvania companies are eligible for grants of $2,000 per employee up to $100,000 per fiscal year. Businesses can use the grants for their employees for skill-building and advancement. Training must start after July 1, 2020, and be completed on or before June 30, 2021. Additional details are available on the WEDnetPA web page.

Following Vendetti’s presentation, guest speakers Dave Zellers, director of Montgomery County Commerce, and Jennifer Butler, executive director MontcoWorks/Montgomery County Workforce Development Board, spoke about additional resources and opportunities available to help Montgomery County businesses, including small business loans and training grants.

The County training grants, explained Butler, will cover half of the cost for incumbent worker training programs, including programs that teach employees new safety and OSHA requirements relating to COVID-19. They also cover on-the-job-training and childcare costs.

David Zellers, Director of Commerce also discussed small business grants and DCED grants that may be available to help Montgomery County businesses.

Resources are available for small business grants offered by the state and also by Montgomery County.

As businesses reopen, they need to continue taking precautions to keep employees and customers safe. Dr. Anthony Valente, Chief Medical Officer, Lehigh Valley Healthcare Network, spoke about how COVID-19 can spread and reminded everyone about safety measures.

“The most important thing is for everyone to wear masks,” Valente said. “And wash their hands frequently. Spread from surfaces is a relatively low risk, but it can happen.”

The lineup of speakers also included representatives from two Montgomery County businesses, who shared their experiences dealing with the changes related to COVID-19.

Shelly Stockmal, Community Leader of Victory Bank, spoke about how the transition was easier for Victory Bank because it had an existing pandemic plan in place.

“We already had gloves and masks,” she said, noting that about 85 percent of the workforce worked at home using their laptops. “We limit people going in and out of the building. Only one person gets lunch or it is delivered, and we use Zoom for meetings.”

Stacy Vahey, Vice President of Human Resources at Dorman Products, Inc., said they closed most of their in-person operations and will continue to do work remotely for everyone’s safety.

MCCC plans to hold future roundtable discussions every quarter to hear about the needs of employers and employees.

MCCC’s Workforce Development Division provides sector-specific, employer-validated, customized training programs for non-profits, businesses and industry in Montgomery County.