VISTA Today Business Briefs are concise stories that bring you up to date with what’s happening around Chester County. This Morning:

Senator Andy Dinniman Recognizes Bob Wagner’s with 40 Years in Business Award

A longtime Chester County company, Bob Wagner’s Flooring America, was recently recognized for being in business for 40 years.

State Senator Andy Dinniman used the opportunity at the Downingtown MultiSport Festival on Sunday to present event sponsor Matt Wagner, the second‐generation owner of the company, with the award “in recognition of 40 years of dedicated service and commitment to the Downingtown community.”

Started in 1975 out of his mother’s garage in Downingtown, Bob Wagner’s Flooring America quickly grew, culminating in the construction of the Downingtown location in 1979.

“Buying local supports small business, builds neighborhoods and invests in the future of our nation,” stated Wagner. “We are a small business, committed to making a big difference. And as a locally owned business, we can guarantee a truly unique level of personalized service that is unmatched by other flooring stores.”

Vertex Receives Americas ITR Tax Technology Award

The nation’s leading provider of corporate enterprise tax solutions, Vertex Inc. has been awarded the 2015 Americas Tax Technology Award by International Tax Review.

Vertex received the award, which is given to the tax technology service provider whose processor system makes significant contributions to the efficiency of an in-house tax department, for its Vertex Indirect Tax O Series Version 7.0.

Vertex O Series is one of the Berwyn-based company’s flagship products which provides an enterprise level indirect tax management solution to tax professionals and enables clients to automate a broad range of transaction tax scenarios.

“Vertex is honored to receive the Americas Tax Technology Award from ITR,” said Vertex President, CEO and Co-Owner Jeff Westphal. “We are proud of our work with Uline and our ability to assist them with advanced tax technology as they continue to expand across North America.”

Philly.com Profiles Pennsbury Township in its “Town By Town” Series

Continuing its series spotlighting key real estate markets in the region’s communities, Philly.com focuses on the Pennsbury Township in its latest installment.

The fact that Pennsbury belongs to the prized Unionville-Chadds Ford School District puts it at the top of the list for many young families although finding a property can be a challenge in this Chester County community.

It is exactly this shortage of for-sale inventory and not the lack of demand that is reflected in only 35 sales over the last six months. Currently, there are 39 active listings, ranging from $118,000 for a “cabin” to $2.4 million for a new estate home.

“People who want the school district must be willing to pay in the mid-$600,000 range,” says Jane Wellbrock, a Weichert Realtors agent, adding that “anything for sale below $1.2 million is 30 years old.”

Chester County SPCA to Provide Kent Dog Control Service on an Interim Basis

Chester County SPCA of West Chester has started providing dog control services for Kent for the remainder of the year. The State of Delaware Office of Animal Welfare will take over the service on January 1 next year, after the interim county contract with the Chester County SPCA ends on December 31.

The interim contract was agreed ahead of the termination of the First State Animal Care’s contract for dog control services on September 15.

“We weren’t looking for a contract, it’s just a matter of fulfilling our mission statement of saving lives,” stated June Iv, the director of emergency sheltering at the Chester County SPCA.

Currently the only open admission shelter in both Chester and Delaware counties, the Chester County SPCA is the first open admission shelter in Pennsylvania to earn no kill status.

Free Pipeline Public Forum to be Held in Downingtown East High School

On Tuesday, September 29, the Chester County-based Pipeline Safety Coalition will host a free pipeline safety public forum at the Downingtown East High School, 50 Devon Drive, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Several important issues will be discussed during the event, including attorney Carolyn Elefant covering regulations for natural gas versus hazardous liquid as well as Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration representative Karen Gentile addressing pipeline safety.  

A report on an independent assessment of the Sunoco Mariner proposals as it affects Chester County will also be presented, and updates on the determination of eminent domain issues will be discussed.

The focus of the forum, which is supported by PHMSA and the Chester County Board of Commissioners, will be a community open microphone question and answer session.

To ensure seating by registering go to www.pscoalition.org/pages/news, call Pipeline Safety Coalition at 484-340-0648 or email lynda@pscoalition.org.