COVID-19 – SEDA Council of Governments

SEDA-COG Assists Centre County Restaurant

Posted on February 22, 2022April 7, 2026 by

Lori and Jessica Sabatino, co-owners of Alloy Kitchen, LLC, are opening their restaurant’s doors on February 23, 2022, after a year of planning, construction, and patiently waiting for equipment to arrive. They are located in Titan Hollow, a place of enchantment nestled down in Victorian Bellefonte, Pennsylvania at 2042 Axemann Road.

Alloy Kitchen, LLC partnered with SEDA-COG and received a SEDA-COG EDA COVID-19 loan for the purchase of the kitchen equipment for the new restaurant.

“We are very happy to have played a part in this new start-up in the Bellefonte area of Centre County. The SEDA-COG EDA COVID-19 loan program was designed not only to assist existing businesses facing financial hardships due to COVID-19, but to assist individuals who were impacted by the pandemic as well. Lori had been displaced from her restaurant job and this endeavor with Jessica will allow her to continue her passion in the food service industry,” said John Reichard, SEDA-COG Business Relationship Manager.

Lori has been in the food and beverage industry for almost 30 years. Her creativity and passion are apparent in Alloy’s diverse menu which brings familiarity, while also forging something unique. Alloy Kitchen, LLC is a full-service restaurant with take-out sales available. They are partnering with Mad MacIntosh Cidery and Witches Hollow Winery, and Titan Events, who have a large event space and tasting room in Titan Hollow. This space will be available to host events such as weddings, baby showers, holiday parties, birthday parties, and retirement parties. The restaurant will be open Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. You can check them out on their website (https://titanhollow.com/), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Alloy-Kitchen-112767994227295/about/), or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/alloy_kitchen/)

For more information about SEDA-COG’s loans, please contact John Reichard at jreichard@seda-cog.org.

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.

For more information, please contact Elaine Stauder, communications coordinator, SEDA-Council of Governments, at 570-522-7429 or estauder@seda-cog.org.

Grant Bolsters Centre County Small Businesses

Posted on December 17, 2021December 17, 2021 by

Through the Centre County Commissioners Small Business Grant, using funds distributed under the American Rescue Plan, over 250 small businesses received assistance totaling $2.7 million dollars.

Businesses in Centre County were able to apply for these funds from July through October of 2021. Funds could help cover operating expenses incurred during 2021. Operating expenses included but were not limited to payroll, rent, mortgage, utilities, costs of goods, supplies, raw materials, etc. The average amount of grant funds awarded was $10,767.44.

SEDA-COG worked with independent contractor, Harry Mathias, for setting up the grant parameters, application, and review. Applicants were selected based on loss of revenue, having fewer than 500 full time employees, and impact felt from the COVID-19 pandemic. SEDA-COG worked in partnership with small businesses and the Centre County Commissioners to ensure they received the support they needed, including handling the accounting and distributing of grants funds.

Kim Wheeler, Executive Director of SEDA-COG says, “The Commissioners of Centre County recognized the need to support a diverse range of small businesses during an extremely trying time. SEDA-COG is grateful for this leadership in the region that had a positive impact on so many businesses and their families. The opportunity to collaborate with our member counties and coordinate this kind of support for the region’s economy is of upmost importance to us.”

“We appreciate SEDA-COG’s assistance in awarding the money so quickly to so many small businesses throughout the 4th largest county in Pennsylvania by area. Without SEDA-COG’s help, disbursement of the small business grant funds would have been delayed,” says Centre County Commissioner Mark Higgins.

Commissioner Higgins continued, “The Centre County small business community has been very appreciative of the Commissioners’ assistance. We have actually seen fewer businesses close than usual. Since so many of our businesses survived, our downtowns are now thriving. We also want to thank the citizens of Centre County for strongly supporting their locally owned businesses.”

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.

For more information, please contact Elaine Stauder, communications coordinator, SEDA-Council of Governments, at 570-522-7429 or estaude r@seda-cog.org

Homelessness prevention grant open to Penn Township residents

Posted on April 26, 2021April 7, 2026 by DNS Admin

Residents at risk of losing their housing in Penn Township may be eligible to receive assistance to prevent homelessness.

The Resident Subsistence Program is being offered in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to support hard-hit residents and is funded with a $19,742 Penn Township entitlement Community Development Block Grant-CARES Act (CDBG-CV).

The grants can be used to pay rent or mortgage payments to prevent eviction or foreclosure and utility payments to prevent cutoff.

Applications are now being accepted. While there is no deadline to apply, the program is on a first-come, first-serve basis, and ends when the funds are spent.

Each eligible family may receive funding for up to three consecutive months of assistance, paid directly to the mortgage holder, landlord, or utility company on their behalf. Funds will not be given directly to families. Assistance is available for up to 100 days per family.

Applicants must be at risk of losing their housing and must provide documentation of it. Assistance can be made to families whose income is at or below the HOME/PART 5 income limits for Snyder County at the time of application. Applicants must complete an income verification interview to qualify for this program.

The Union-Snyder Community Action Agency will provide the grants to Penn Township residents, as allocated by Snyder County. The agency is managing the program on behalf of the county. SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) is administering the CDBG funds and ensuring compliance.

For more information or to set up an appointment to apply, Penn Township residents may contact the Union-Snyder Community Action Agency by visiting union-snydercaa.org/housing-assistance to download and print an application or call 570-374-0181 option 3.

For Snyder County residents outside of Penn Township, the Union-Snyder Community Action Agency may be able to help them through their Emergency Rental Assistance program which assists with rent, utilities, or home energy expenses, as well as housing programs.

SEDA-COG’s Community Development program administers 14 CDBG contracts for 28 communities. Over 35 years, the program has secured $120 billion for over 1,000 projects with its 12 dedicated staff.

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.

Homelessness prevention grant open to Selinsgrove Borough residents

Posted on April 26, 2021April 7, 2026 by DNS Admin

Residents at risk of losing their housing in Selinsgrove Borough may be eligible to receive assistance to prevent homelessness.

The Resident Subsistence Program is being offered in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to support hard-hit residents and is funded with a $37,646 Selinsgrove Borough entitlement Community Development Block Grant-CARES Act (CDBG-CV).

The grants can be used to pay rent or mortgage payments to prevent eviction or foreclosure and utility payments to prevent cutoff.

Applications are now being accepted. While there is no deadline to apply, the program is on a first-come, first-serve basis, and ends when the funds are spent.

Each eligible family may receive funding for up to three consecutive months of assistance, paid directly to the mortgage holder, landlord, or utility company on their behalf. Funds will not be given directly to families. Assistance is available for up to 100 days per family.

Applicants must be at risk of losing their housing and must provide documentation of it. Assistance can be made to families whose income is at or below the HOME/PART 5 income limits for Snyder County at the time of application. Applicants must complete an income verification interview to qualify for this program.

The Union-Snyder Community Action Agency will provide the grants to Selinsgrove Borough residents, as allocated by Snyder County. The agency is managing the program on behalf of the Borough. SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) is administering the CDBG funds and ensuring compliance.

For more information or to set up an appointment to apply, Selinsgrove Borough residents may contact the Union-Snyder Community Action Agency by visiting union-snydercaa.org/housing-assistance to download and print an application or call 570-374-0181 option 3.

For Snyder County residents outside of Selinsgrove Borough, the Union-Snyder Community Action Agency may be able to help them through their Emergency Rental Assistance program which assists with rent, utilities, or home energy expenses, as well as housing programs.

SEDA-COG’s Community Development program administers 14 CDBG contracts for 28 communities. Over 35 years, the program has secured $120 billion for over 1,000 projects with its 12 dedicated staff.

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.