Featured – Page 14 – SEDA Council of Governments

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

Posted on May 30, 2023 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.

City of Lock Haven Looking to Expand Waitlist for Housing Rehabilitation Grant

Posted on March 28, 2023 by

The City of Lock Haven had received a housing rehabilitation grant and interested residents who live within the City limits should apply now to get on the waiting list for the no-cost repairs.

Qualified residents may receive up to $65,000 each for home repairs. The City will provide up to $50,000, as a no-interest loan, which will be forgiven if the property is not sold or transferred for at least five years after the rehabilitation is complete. The City shall also provide an additional $15,000 in funding that will be used to do rehabilitation work related to lead-based paint abatement or mitigation, as required.

Interested residents may call SEDA-Council of Governments’ (SEDA-COG) Ruth Wiest at 570-524-4491 Ext. 7252.

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-COG manages the entire process for the homeowner,” said Joel Ruch, Housing Rehabilitation Manager of the agency’s Community Services Division.

Ruch 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 City limits of Lock Haven;

• Own the home or have Life Rights to live in it;

• Meet income qualifications based on household size;

• Be current on all local taxes and municipal utility bills;

• Provide proof of homeowner’s insurance;

• If located in a flood zone, must provide proof of flood insurance;

• Live in the home an additional five years.

Additional requirements may apply.

Annual Gross Income Limits:

Family size: 1 – $40,800; 2 – $46,600; 3 – $52,450; 4 – $58,250; 5 – $62,950; 6 – $67,600; 7 – $72,250; 8 – $76,900.

Borough of Jersey Shore Looking to Expand Waitlist for Housing Rehabilitation Grant

Posted on March 28, 2023 by

The Borough of Jersey Shore had received a $500,000 housing rehabilitation grant and interested residents who live within the Borough limits should apply now to get on the waiting list for the no-cost repairs.

Qualified residents may receive up to $65,000 each for home repairs. The Borough will provide up to $50,000 of rehabilitation grant assistance and an additional $15,000 for lead-based reduction work to eligible homeowners. If it is determined that after rehabilitation the value of the property will exceed established maximum purchase price after rehabilitation, the property will then be considered ineligible for funding assistance.

In order to make the same amount of grant aid available to each approved applicant, each approved applicant shall have a total of $65,000 made available from the grant.

Interested residents may call SEDA-Council of Governments’ (SEDA-COG) Ruth Wiest at 570-524-4491 Ext. 7252.

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-COG manages the entire process for the homeowner,” said Joel Ruch, Housing Rehabilitation Manger of the agency’s Community Services Division.

Ruch 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 Borough limits of Jersey Shore;

• Own the home or have Life Rights to live in it;

• Meet income qualifications based on household size;

• Be current on all local taxes and municipal utility bills;

• Provide proof of homeowner’s insurance;

• If located in a flood zone, must provide proof of flood insurance;

• Live in the home an additional five years.

Additional requirements may apply.

Annual Gross Income Limits:

Family size: 1 – $42,650; 2 – $48,750; 3 – $54,850; 4 – $60,900; 5 – $65,800; 6 – $70,650; 7 – $75,550; 8 – $80,400.

SEDA-COG Business Finance Assists Snyder County Business

Posted on February 27, 2023April 7, 2026 by

SEDA-COG Business Finance Department recently assisted Penn Dairy LLC with a SEDA-COG PIDA loan.

Penn Dairy LLC is a highly specialized manufacturer of yogurts and cheeses located in Snyder County. They recently constructed an addition to their facility to increase their warehouse capacity. This addition opened the floor space in their processing areas and has led to an increase in their production capacity.

Penn Dairy LLC’s products include whole milk, and Greek yogurts, Drinkable Kefir, Cheddar, Colby, Monterey Jack, and Mozzarella Cheese. Their cheeses have won numerous national awards. Their manufacturing facility is SQF Certified. Additional certifications include Non-GMO Project Verified, Organic, Halal, Circle K Kosher, Super Kosher and Grade A. For more information, you can visit their website at www.PennDairy.com.

John Reichard, SEDA-COG Business Finance Relationship Manager, and Tina Showers, SEDA-COG Business Finance Principal Program Analyst, worked with Jonathan Weber, General Manager of Penn Dairy LLC to bring this financing package to fruition.

“SEDA-COG is pleased to be involved in the expansion of another small business in Central Pennsylvania. We look forward to the continued success of Penn Dairy,” said John Reichard.

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