COVID-19 – Page 11 – SEDA Council of Governments

Grant available for Berwick restaurants impacted by pandemic

Posted on January 22, 2021 by DNS Admin

Restaurants in Berwick Borough that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic may be eligible to receive grants from Berwick Borough.

Berwick Borough Council has allocated $55,799 of Community Development Block Grant-Coronavirus Response (CDBG-CV) program funding to alleviate the pandemic’s impacts on these restaurants.

The deadline to apply is Feb. 26.

Funds can be used for eligible demonstrable costs such as rent/mortgage, utility, staffing salaries, inventory/supplies, and/or marketing/advertising. The grant cannot cover expenses already addressed through other financial assistance programs. Grants will be evenly distributed between all successful applicants.

SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) and the Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce will evaluate the applications on Berwick Borough’s behalf.

For businesses to be eligible for funding assistance through this program, the recipient business must meet the following criteria:

1. Submit a completed Berwick Borough Small Business Support Grant Program application to Tyler Dombroski, SEDA-COG; and

2. Be a for-profit restaurant business in the municipal limits of the borough; and

3. Be an incorporated business in and/or registered to conduct business in Pennsylvania; and

4. Be negatively impacted by the coronavirus pandemic shutdowns; and

5. Be able to meet one of the national objective requirements (primarily benefit to low-and moderate-income persons) of the CDBG-CV program.

Applications for the grant are available at https://columbiamontourchamber.com/. Questions and applications can be emailed to SEDA-COG’s Tyler Dombroski at tdombroski@seda-cog.org.

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.

Statewide broadband expansion effort awarded $600K grant

Posted on January 12, 2021January 13, 2021 by DNS Admin

Pennsylvania will see a coordinated statewide effort to expand highspeed internet access thanks to a $600,000 grant made possible by strong legislative support in the Pennsylvania state House and Senate. The grant bolsters SEDA-Council of Governments’ (SEDA-COG) broadband expansion project in the Snow Shoe Township area of Centre County.

Mike Fisher, SEDA-COG assistant executive director, thanked state Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman (R-34), state House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin), state Sen. Cris Dush (R-25), and state Rep. Stephanie Borowicz (R-Centre/Clinton) for their support in securing the grant.

“We are grateful to our legislators who recognize the crucial importance of expanding highspeed internet service to our communities and businesses, especially in these difficult times,” Fisher said. “Their efforts to secure this grant underscore a steadfast commitment to ensure that our region has access to essential broadband and technology resources now, not years from now – we couldn’t do our work without their support.”

The Keystone Communities grant was awarded to the seven Local Development Districts (LDDs) that serve 52 Pennsylvania counties. The grant complements a previous $600,000 Appalachian Regional Commission POWER broadband grant supported by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) awarded to the LDDs to undertake broadband expansion throughout the state.

“We truly appreciate the partnership we have with our legislative champions and the team at DCED,” Fisher said.

The LDDs are multi-county organizations providing services such as community and economic development, transportation, international trade, strategic planning, and much more. Counties share information through their LDD, respond to common concerns, and develop solutions to today’s critical issues. For over 40 years, Pennsylvania’s LDDs have taken the lead in community and business initiatives, coordinating and delivering services on behalf of their member counties as well as the Commonwealth.

SEDA-COG is one of the seven LDDs and serves 11 central Pennsylvania counties.

The LDDs will coordinate to identify areas of Pennsylvania that need broadband and then expand coverage by either providing it or incentivizing internet service providers to expand service.

As a result, broadband will be expanded to a total of 410 businesses, 860 homes, and 13 communities throughout the LDDs’ statewide regions.

The LDDs that will identify areas that need broadband are Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance, Northern Tier Regional Planning and Development Commission, and Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission.

The following LDDs have identified underserved areas and will expand broadband service: North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission, Northwest Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission, SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG), and Southern Alleghenies Planning & Development Commission.

All projects are anticipated to be completed over the next 12 to 18 months.

Using $105,000 from the Keystone Communities grant and $105,000 from ARC POWER funds, SEDA-COG will establish a $210,000 grant program to incentivize internet service providers to provide broadband in the Snow Shoe area.

The project will provide 100/100 symmetrical internet speeds for at least five to 10 businesses and 50/10 for 50 to 100 households.

The infrastructure will be owned and operated by the internet service provider who is awarded the project through a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process. SEDA-COG will release the RFP over the next several weeks.

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.

Lycoming County assisted 252 local entities with COVID funds

Posted on December 18, 2020 by DNS Admin

Lycoming County has assisted 252 local entities during the pandemic this year, and has allocated all of its $10.2 million COVID funds. The grant program is closed.

The county had received a $10.2 million COVID-19 County Relief Block Grant (CRBG) from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Securities Act (CARES Act), through the state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED).

County Commissioner Scott Metzger said the county assisted various sectors with the funds.

“We are honored to have assisted so many different entities in our county during this incredibly difficult year, and hope it offers some relief to those most affected,” Metzger said. “We also thank our dedicated staff for the enormous amount of time they put into helping their community with these funds during this time.”

The following is how the funds were spent:

· $3,010,200 to 11 school districts

· $1,533,290 to 48 nonprofits

· $1,639,374 to 176 local businesses

· $1,569,336 to county expenditures

· $231,268 to three alternative learning centers

· $207,407 to five fire/EMS companies

· $145,538 to nine municipal entities

The $1.9 million remainder of the funds will be used for county government COVID-related expenditures.

SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) assisted the county by providing professional expertise and grant administrative services, as well as activity development and management to ensure accuracy and adherence with federal and state regulations.

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.

Union County awarded $300K grant for Hufnagle Park bathroom

Posted on December 18, 2020 by DNS Admin

Union County has been awarded a $300,000 grant to install a publicly accessible bathroom and hand washing facility at Hufnagle Park in Lewisburg.

County Commissioner Chairman Preston Boop said they are pleased with the grant award and noted that the restroom is needed at the park.

“The Commissioners are pleased that Lewisburg Borough, working through SEDA-COG with the county’s support, was awarded this grant,” Boop said. “The addition of public restrooms at Hufnagel Park is a needed and welcome enhancement of this downtown park that is enjoyed by residents and visitors of all ages.”

The grant is from the Community Development Block Grant-CARES Act (CDBG-CV) funding to help communities address challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the first time the county has been awarded a competitive CDBG in a decade. Lewisburg Borough also will use CDBG-CV Entitlement funds and local funding as part of this project.

The park has a playground and a gazebo used for community events but lacks a public restroom. With increased outdoor recreation during the pandemic, the park is getting more use. It also is near the downtown district of Market Street. The grant will allow park visitors along with downtown shoppers and diners access to a public bathroom to allow hand washing and sanitizing to help stop the community spread of COVID-19.

The new bathroom facilities will be built in compliance with the borough’s floodplain ordinance, designed to be accessible to all visitors, and constructed to service the large number of people who come to the park for events, school trips/classes, and recreation.

Lewisburg Borough Manager William Lowthert described the restroom’s importance, especially at this time.

“A bathroom facility in Hufnagle Park has been a priority of Lewisburg Borough Council for many years,” Lowthert said. “With the onset of COVID-19, the ability for our visitors to have easy access to a public restroom and hand washing facility became even more important.”

SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) assisted the county with its application and is administering the grant.

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.

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.