Featured – Page 12 – SEDA Council of Governments

Local Projects Receive Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Grants

Posted on October 5, 2022 by

Two projects in Perry and Lycoming Counties recently received Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grants.

$500,000 was awarded to Clarks Ferry Tavern for the renovation of the historic building as an official Perry County “Welcome and Interpretive Center.” The Clarks Ferry Tavern is located in the downtown of the Borough of Duncannon, at 603 N. Market Street. The Tavern will welcome hikers on the Appalachian Trail, the 9/11 Memorial Trail, and thousands of tourists seeking to explore the county recreational opportunities and heritage sites.

The 1789 Clark’s Ferry Tavern and Inn located at 603 N. Marketing Street, Duncannon, Perry County, was a rest stop for travelers heading west into the American frontier. Steeped in history, the Tavern served as a stagecoach stop, an inn, the town’s post office, and a Civil War recruiting office. At the turn of the 1800s, travelers would check into the inn while waiting to cross the Susquehanna River. Today it is a heavily visited tourist site. Hikers also know Duncannon as the halfway point on the Appalachian Trail, stretching from Maine to Georgia.

Now a National Register of Historic Places site, Clarks Ferry Tavern will be a multi-use building suitable for historical interpretation and a Welcome Center to the Juniata River Valley and the Appalachian Region of Central Pennsylvania. The Clarks Ferry Tavern (CFT) Welcome Center is planned as a commercial enterprise that provides rental space for public events. The ARC and matching funds will include renovating the building to provide a catering kitchen, a large community room, break-out rooms, and restrooms. The building will also become ADA compliant and bring the building up to 21st-century codes.

$1,000,000 was awarded to the Timber Run Access Road located in Brady Township, Lycoming County. This project involves the construction of a new 2,600 LF (0.492 miles) access road through the Timber Run Industrial Park. The project will include a new 24 foot-wide access road with concrete curbing and associated storm drainage improvements and end in a cul-de-sac. This project will serve 396 acres, including one to four lots of varying sizes designated as a Keystone Opportunity Zone (KOZ) until 2027. At full buildout, this project could employ over 300 jobs.

The Timber Run Industrial Park (TRIP) was developed to re-use the farm the County had purchased for use as a soil borrow area for its Landfill. The TRIP offers 396 acres of industrially zoned property with good access to major highways, US 15/I-80 and the nearby Williamsport Airport. This project will encourage the protection, modernization, and expansion of existing businesses and job opportunities, and where appropriate, encourage entrepreneurship and the recruitment of new business and industry consistent with the character of the Region.

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.

Public Notice: West End and Fishing Creek Flood Mitigation Studies Final Reports

Posted on July 1, 2022 by

The final reports for the West End and Fishing Creek Flood Mitigation Studies are now posted online.

With the support of Representative Millard and Senator Gordner, funding was secured for these pioneering studies. The Columbia County Board of Commissioners, working with SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG), engaged Borton-Lawson to develop the West End Flood Mitigation Study and Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. (HRG) to develop the Fishing Creek Flood Mitigation Study. The goals of the studies were to:

• detect flooding problem areas within the County’s 18 municipalities/West End of the Town of Bloomsburg,

• identify best approaches that can be implemented by the County to mitigate flood impacts, reduce flood risk and improve residents’ quality of life,

• highlight mitigation options for the problems identified and implementable projects offered as a solution to those problems.

Both final reports can be found on the County’s Resiliency Office website, http://columbiapa.org/resiliency/index.php and also on SEDA-COG’s website, https://seda-cog.org/departments/flood-resiliency/columbia-county-flood-mitigation-studies/ . The Columbia County Board of Commissioners have already begun the next steps and will continue to implement resiliency measures as a result of the studies.

The study kicked off with a combined public meeting in July 2021, two separate follow up public meetings held at the end of November and beginning of December 2021, and final meetings held in March 2022. Presentation slides and other materials can also be found at the website links above.

SEDA-COG assisted Columbia County in the grant administration of the studies. The studies were financed by grants from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Commonwealth Financing Authority and the Department of Community and Economic Development.

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 and Union County Housing Authority Partner for Contractor Breakfast

Posted on June 8, 2022 by

On Monday, June 20, 2022, from 8-9:30 a.m., SEDA Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) and the Union County Housing Authority (UCHA) are partnering to host a contractor breakfast. This event will be held at the East Buffalo Township Building, 586 Fairground Rd, Lewisburg, PA 17837. Registration is required for this event. To register, contact SEDA-COG’s Danielle Rippon at 570-524-4491 or drippon@seda-cog.org.

Since 1989, SEDA-COG’s Housing Rehabilitation Program has invested $32 million in 9 counties and over 1,000 homes. The Program rehabilitates homes for limited-income families on behalf of our partnering communities (the Boroughs of Berwick, Jersey Shore, Milton, Mount Carmel and South Williamsport. The Counties of Juniata, Montour, Snyder, Sullivan, and Perry. The Cities of Lock Haven, Shamokin and Sunbury, the Town of Bloomsburg, and the Township of Mount Carmel.)

UCHA has been administering their Residential Rehabilitation Program since 1983. As of April 2022, 1054, homes throughout Union County have been rehabilitated. The purpose of the program is to allow people to remain in their homes and community. It also helps the community by preventing the deterioration of properties and blight. This program and other programs and services offered by UCHA aim to meet the mission of providing safe, decent, sanitary, affordable housing to income eligible residents and to provide related community services within Union County.

“This breakfast will provide an amazing opportunity for local contractors to learn the minimum requirements to get pre-approved for the various work opportunities provided by SEDA-COG, UCHA, and our client communities,” said Teri Provost, director of SEDA-COG’s Housing Rehabilitation program.

Sharon Leon, Executive Director of Union County Housing Authority, shared her thoughts, “UCHA is excited to work collaboratively with SEDA-COG to host this breakfast. We know there are quality contractors in this area, and our hope is to engage these contractors to work with our programs.

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.

Home Rehab Grant Waitlist for Mount Carmel Township

Posted on June 8, 2022 by

The Township of Mount Carmel anticipates receiving a $300,000 housing rehabilitation grant and interested residents should apply now to get on the waiting list for the no-cost repairs.

Qualified residents may receive up to $50,000 for housing rehabilitation expenses and an additional $15,000 if lead-based paint hazard reduction is required.

Interested residents may call SEDA-COG’s call Stacy Anderson at 570-524-4491 Ext. 7215.

Eligible repairs include structural, roofing, plumbing, electrical, heating/furnace, window replacement, radon and lead-based paint mitigation, and energy-related improvements. Modifications for mobility-impaired residents are also eligible within this program. Homeowners must maintain home residency over a five-year period from the date of signing in order for this service to be received at no cost.

“SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) manages the entire process for the homeowner,” said Teri Provost, Director of the agency’s Housing Rehabilitation program.

Provost continued, “Not only does the homeowner get necessary home repairs, but they also get the benefit of going through the process hassle-free as we manage the logistics from start to finish.”

Qualifications:
• Must live in the Township limits of Mount Carmel;
• Own the home or have Life Rights to live in it;
• Meet income qualifications based on household size;
• Be current on local taxes and municipal utility bills;
• Provide proof of homeowner’s insurance;
• Live in the home an additional five years.

Additional requirements may apply.

Annual Gross Income Limits until 6/14/22:
Family size: 1 – $36,800; 2 – $42,050; 3 – $47,300; 4 – $52,550; 5 – $56,800; 6 – $61,000; 7 – $65,200; 8 – $69,400.

Annual Gross Income Limits as of 6/15/22:
Family size: 1 – $40,850; 2 – $46,650; 3 – $52,500; 4 – $58,300; 5 – $63,000; 6 – $67,650; 7 – $72,300; 8 – $77,000.