Category: Community Revitalization

Shamokin Wins Townie Award

Shamokin Wins Townie Award

Posted on by Nancy Osborn

The City of Shamokin is experiencing a downtown revitalization, and the Pennsylvania Downtown Center has taken notice, bestowing the Shamokin Partnership for Revitalization with a 2024 Townie Award.

The award was presented in the area of physical improvement and design for public space improvement at Illumination Station Pocket Park.

The Townie Awards are a celebrated and long-standing tradition aimed at honoring key communities and individuals within the commonwealth who develop and execute projects, programs, and events that align with the goals of the Pennsylvania Downtown Center’s community revitalization mission. Nearly 200 member organizations, including those participating in Main Street and Elm Street programs, are eligible to compete for these prestigious awards, making the Townies a highly competitive annual event.

On hand to accept the award were Betsy Kramer, community revitalization manager at SEDA-Council of Governments and project manager for GoShamokin, Justin Bainbridge, downtown manager for the City of Shamokin, and Sean Garrigan of Stomberg, Garrigan & Associate.

Through its revitalization plan, GoShamokin, the Shamokin Partnership for Revitalization has already undertaken several projects that display the transformative power of community-driven initiatives, with many more projects planned.

Illumination Station Pocket Park stands as a shining example of what has already been accomplished. Located in the heart of Shamokin, this project turned two unsightly, blighted buildings into a welcoming place where individuals of all ages can gather, relax, and enjoy the outdoors. Moreover, Illumination Station Pocket Park embodies the spirit of community collaboration. From the initial planning stages to the ongoing maintenance efforts, this project has brought together residents, local businesses, and civic organizations in a shared commitment to revitalizing the cityscape. Through their dedication and hard work, they have demonstrated what can be achieved when communities unite behind a common vision.

“This award is a testament to the Shamokin community’s remarkable spirit and resilience. Together, we’ve turned challenges into opportunities, creating spaces like Illumination Station Pocket Park that infuse joy and vitality into the downtown of Shamokin,” remarked Betsy Kramer, community revitalization program manager at SEDA-COG.

“As downtown manager for the City of Shamokin, this recognition from the Pennsylvania Downtown Center motivates us to continue our work in making Shamokin a vibrant, inclusive, and welcoming place for all,” said Justin Bainbridge.

“The prestigious Townie Award from the Pennsylvania Downtown Center speaks to the great achievements that the City of Shamokin and all of its community partners have been able to accomplish. Illumination Station represents one more step in the growing vibrancy of Downtown Shamokin,” Sean Garrigan of Stromberg, Garrigan & Associates stated.

The community of Shamokin not only has plans for the repurposing and reuse of other vacant properties throughout the city but also the incorporation of a “Complete Streets” strategy. This strategy considers safe access to streets for all people who need to use them, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities.

The Shamokin Partnership for Revitalization was established in 2018 between the City of Shamokin, SEDA-COG, and Shamokin Area Businesses for Economic Revitalization (SABER). As the revitalization has evolved, the city was able to forge a new partnership with the Shamokin Area Economic Development Authority (SAEDA) and bring onboard a new downtown manager, Justin Bainbridge in 2024.

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 eleven central Pennsylvania counties through its vital partnerships and initiatives. 

 

For more information, please contact Nancy Osborn, Communications and Marketing Coordinator, SEDA-Council of Governments, at 570-254-4491 x7234 or 570-768-0525 or nosborn@seda-cog.org.

SEDA-COG… Building Strong Economies & Strong Communities

SEDA-COG Receives $1 Million EPA Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Grant

SEDA-COG Receives $1 Million EPA Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Grant

Posted on by DNS Admin

SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) has been awarded a highly competitive $1 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The grant is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This award will create the opportunity to assist the SEDA-COG region by capitalizing a Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) and further expanding its already established and successful EPA Brownfields program under the SEDA-COG Community Services Division.

A Brownfield is a property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. SEDA-COG has previous success with EPA 128(a) Technical Assistance and EPA Community-Wide Assessment Grants.

With this new funding opportunity, SEDA-COG’s Business Finance Department will be able to further assist with real estate development and reuse by providing loans and subgrants to support Brownfields cleanup activities. This new program will initially focus on the city of Shamokin in Northumberland County but will allow SEDA-COG to offer this RLF to SEDA-COG’s 11-county region, which includes the counties of Centre, Clinton, Columbia, Juniata, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder, and Union. When RLF loans are repaid, the loan amount is returned to the fund and loaned to other borrowers, providing an ongoing source of capital within the SEDA-COG region.

Betsy Kramer serves as SEDA-COG’s revitalization coordinator in the city of Shamokin. She is excited for the opportunity to administer the Brownfields funds. “This grant will encourage stakeholders to leverage resources to clean up and redevelop brownfields so they can be improved for future economic development; it’s a big win for the city and the SEDA-COG region.” stated Kramer.

Kim Wheeler, SEDA-COG Executive Director, said, “This grant award is a great accomplishment for our 11-county region. I’m proud of our staff. They worked diligently to submit the grant application and SEDA-COG was 1 of 15 grant recipients in the nation.” Wheeler stated, “This grant will allow us to work together with communities to safely clean up and reuse brownfield sites.”

This new RLF loan fund will be beginning late 2023. For more information on the SEDA-COG EPA Brownfield program, please contact Betsy Kramer at bkramer@seda-cog.org or by calling (570) 524-4491 x 7203.

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.

SEDA-COG to Hold an Open House on the Progress of Revitalization in the City of Shamokin

SEDA-COG to Hold an Open House on the Progress of Revitalization in the City of Shamokin

Posted on by

On Thursday, June 9, 2022, from 6-7 p.m., SEDA-COG will host a State of the City of Shamokin. This event will be held at Bamse Coffee & Roasters, located at 150 E Lincoln Street, Shamokin, PA 17872. There is a handicap accessible entrance on the side of the building. All are welcome, there is no RSVP necessary.

The purpose of this meeting is to keep the public informed on all the projects happening in the city and provide an opportunity for questions to be asked/answered. Sean Garrigan from Stromberg Garrigan & Associates will be providing project updates.

“There are a lot of wonderful things happening in Shamokin right now, and we know the citizens of Shamokin have been invested in the City’s progress from day one. This is a chance for people to learn about future plans for the City, ask questions, and provide their point of view,” said Rick Ulrich, Mayor of the City of Shamokin.

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.

SEDA-COG to help Shamokin prepare for larger floodplain impacts

SEDA-COG to help Shamokin prepare for larger floodplain impacts

Posted on by DNS Admin

Shamokin’s preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps may go into effect this summer, and SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) is working to help residents prepare for its impacts thanks to a $130,000 state grant.

The updated Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) show a larger 100-year floodplain area than the 2008 maps. The maps may require more residents to pursue flood mitigation measures such as purchasing flood insurance.

The maps were originally slated to go into effect this summer, but the COVID-19 pandemic may affect its timing.

To confirm the maps’ findings, SEDA-COG is conducting a Hydrologic & Hydraulic (H&H) Study for Shamokin Creek and its tributaries, which will include recommendations from a professional engineer, to help the City of Shamokin identify how the water moves and how to address its impacts.

The $130,000 grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) is funding the study.

Betsy Kramer, SEDA-COG revitalization coordinator, thanked state Sen. John Gordner (R-27) and state Rep. Kurt Masser (R-Columbia/Montour/Northumberland) who helped secure the funding.

“We are grateful for their assistance with this grant which will benefit Shamokin residents. Flooding impacts communities regularly, but so does its costs. We want to assure residents with this study that the mitigation measures are truly needed as well as recommending the best solutions possible,” Kramer said.

SEDA-COG will leverage the grant and study in two key ways – by implementing solutions and educating residents on proactive approaches, said Teri Provost, SEDA-COG’s director of Flood Resiliency.

“After the study is complete, the City of Shamokin will be better poised to take further action to address the concerns surrounding the proposed development and the revitalization of the city. The study will provide public awareness and technical assistance to property owners on how they can better prepare themselves prior to the new FIRMs becoming effective this summer,” Provost said.

Mitigation measures could include a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR), which could revise the Flood Insurance Rate Map, as well as implementation projects to mitigate the potential for flooding and improve resiliency for properties within the 100-year floodplain.

Conducting the H&H Study was an initiative addressed by the City of Shamokin’s Act 47 Three-Year Exit Plan which was released on Dec. 17, 2019.

SEDA-COG’s Flood Resiliency Program offers services related to flood resiliency and mitigation assistance both within and outside of its 11-county region. Its goal is to help break the damage cycle and stop its drain on people and communities. For more information, visit https://seda-cog.org/departments/flood-resiliency/.

As a community and economic development agency, SEDA-COG enhances the quality of life and economic advantage for residents and businesses in 11 central Pennsylvania counties through its vital partnerships and initiatives. SEDA-COG also is an advocate for the interests of its communities at the state and federal levels. For more information, visit www.seda-cog.org