Author: Nancy Osborn

SEDA-COG Helps Spring Mills Entrepreneurs Launch New Timber Business in Union County

SEDA-COG Helps Spring Mills Entrepreneurs Launch New Timber Business in Union County

Posted on by Nancy Osborn

Lewisburg, PA – The SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) Business Finance Program recently assisted Northeast Softwoods LLC with a SEDA-COG EDA COVID loan to acquire the former Kuhn’s Lumber property, including its sawmill and kiln drying equipment. The facility is located at 203 Kuhns Lane in Lewisburg.

Northeast Softwoods LLC, owned by entrepreneurial couple Jere and Sasha McCarthy, is a new venture for the McCarthys. They also own Pennsylvania Sawmill Company, located in Spring Mills, PA, which has supplied custom timber accent material to builders throughout the mid-Atlantic region for the last decade.

“The new Northeast Softwoods sawmill facility has helped solidify our supply chain and has allowed us to expand into new markets,” said Sasha McCarthy. “We appreciate SEDA-COG’s assistance, which has allowed us to take advantage of this growth opportunity and continue to utilize the robust resources of central Pennsylvania.”

Brooks Luzier, SEDA-COG Business Finance relationship manager, partnered with Donald E. Rhodes III, senior vice president of First National Bank in Hollidaysburg, to secure the financing package for the purchase.

“We were proud to partner with First National Bank to help Northeast Softwoods, LLC expand their business into Union County,” Luzier said. “Jere and Sasha have a thriving timber business in Centre County, and we wish them the best of luck at their Lewisburg location.”

Rhodes echoed those sentiments. “It was a pleasure assisting long time clients Jere and Sasha McCarthy with the growth and expansion of their successful business,” he said. “First National Bank has a rich history of growing with their business customers, and this is a true testament to that. Partnering with Brooks and SEDA-COG provided flexible lending options to accent bank financing, resulting in a positive client experience. We wish Jere and Sasha all the best!”

The couple leased the equipment beginning in 2021 and used the loans from First National Bank and SEDA-COG to purchase it outright. This marks a significant milestone for Northeast Softwoods, allowing Jere and Sasha McCarthy to expand their venture.

Northeast Softwoods, LLC specializes in supplying high-quality Eastern White Pine and Eastern Hemlock for log home manufacturers, builders, and retailers. In addition, they offer lumber sales, custom sawing, and kiln-drying services to local customers in Union County and beyond.

For more information about Northeast Softwoods, visit www.nesoftwoods.com or email info@NESoftwoods.com.

For more information about SEDA-COG’s loans and financing options, contact John Reichard at jreichard@seda-cog.org or Brooks Luzier at bluzier@seda-cog.org.

SEDA-COG MPO Launches Public Survey to Identify Long Term Transportation Needs

SEDA-COG MPO Launches Public Survey to Identify Long Term Transportation Needs

Posted on by Nancy Osborn

Lewisburg, PA – SEDA-Council of Governments Metropolitan Planning Organization (SEDA-COG MPO) invites the public to take an online survey to share regional transportation needs and priorities. The feedback received will help to inform the organization’s 2050 Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). The survey is open from August 28–September 30 and can be accessed at https://bit.ly/3XavBlo or by scanning the QR code below.

“The LRTP impacts the counties in our MPO region—Clinton, Columbia, Juniata, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, and Union—ensuring that the region’s needs and potential funding levels are considered over a 25-year planning horizon,” says Kim Wheeler, SEDA-COG Executive Director. “The public survey is an important step in pursuing projects that align with the region’s transportation vision and goals.”

The LRTP establishes a long-term strategy for the region’s multimodal transportation system and identifies current and future transportation needs based on system condition, demographics, economics, and land use trends. It is also used as a guide for the distribution of limited funding resources.

The plan is currently in its first phase of data collection and analysis. During the plan’s development, the MPO will assess all modes of transportation, including walking, biking, driving, transit, and freight. Once completed, the plan will be used to identify transportation investments that align with the public’s goals for the region, such as improved safety and mobility, reduced congestion, and economic development potential.

“The LRTP is updated every four or five years to reflect changes in regulations, regional demographics and travel patterns, and the priorities of residents and other stakeholders,” says Steve Herman, SEDA-COG MPO’s Director of Transportation. “A wide variety of project types will be included in the final LRTP, from major, capital-intensive projects, to those focused on traffic operations.”

Public participation is key to the development of the plan. SEDA-COG MPO encourages the public to visit the project’s website to take the survey and share their transportation priorities. If anyone requires special assistance to complete the survey or would like a printed version, please contact Kristin McLaughlin, SEDA-COG’s project manager, at 570-524-4491.

SEDA-COG is a community and economic development agency in Lewisburg and is one of seven Local Development Districts in Pennsylvania. SEDA-COG enhances the quality of life and economic advantage for residents and businesses in the 11 central Pennsylvania counties through its vital partnerships and initiatives.

The SEDA-COG Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is the official transportation planning organization for eight (8) Central Pennsylvania Counties (Clinton, Columbia, Juniata, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Union), as designated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.