Category: Featured

Grant Bolsters Centre County Small Businesses

Grant Bolsters Centre County Small Businesses

Posted on 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 estauder@seda-cog.org

CHIRP Funds Success in Central PA Businesses

CHIRP Funds Success in Central PA Businesses

Posted on by DNS Admin

Throughout the pandemic SEDA-COG has assisted over 300 restaurants and other businesses in the hospitality industry, helping them obtain CHIRP (COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program) funding totaling $7,156,564.19.
Following is the amount of funds awarded and number of businesses receiving grants per county:

  • Centre: $1,809,992.00, 84 businesses
  • Clinton: $426,792.00, 20 businesses
  • Columbia: $717,306.12, 37 businesses
  • Juniata: $275,973.00, 9 businesses
  • Lycoming: $1,264,226.00, 54 businesses
  • Mifflin: $512,576.00, 20 businesses
  • Montour: $203,080.00, 10 businesses
  • Northumberland: $994,997.02, 35 businesses
  • Snyder: $449,268.05, 16 businesses
  • Union: $502,354.00, 19 businesses

Pennsylvania established CHIRP to allocate $145 million in funding assistance across the state for businesses adversely affected by COVID-19.

Businesses applied to the grant through the Community Giving Foundation website. The applications were then reviewed by SEDA-COG and staff from the CGF. Applicants were selected based on eligibility, those with priority need, date of application, and availability of funds. SEDA-COG then distributed funds to the awarded businesses.

Kim Wheeler, Executive Director of SEDA-COG, says, “These businesses were hit especially hard during the pandemic, and we are thrilled to be able to help them navigate the often-complicated world of government grant opportunities. This grant allows businesses some breathing room to get back on their feet.”

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 estauder@seda-cog.org

SEDA-COG… Building Strong Economies & Strong Communities

SEDA-COG Natural Gas Cooperative’s PIPE Grant Approved

SEDA-COG Natural Gas Cooperative’s PIPE Grant Approved

Posted on by DNS Admin

Recently, the Commonwealth Financing authority approved the SEDA-COG Natural Gas Cooperative’s PIPE (Pipeline Investment Program) grant application for $105,497 to be used toward purchase and installation of an LNG tank at the Unipar facility in Milroy, Mifflin County.

These funds are to be combined with additional grants to facilitate the purchase and installation of the tank and related piping and equipment by early 2022.

Many areas of central Pennsylvania don’t have access to natural gas delivery pipelines, mainly due to their rural nature. To get natural gas to prospective customers, the only alternative is to deploy a “virtual pipeline” approach – delivery of compressed or liquefied natural gas by vehicle. For Unipar, there’s no pipeline close by, and it would be too expensive to connect to the closest one. Through LNG delivery via the virtual pipeline method, Unipar will save at least 50% over their current cost of propane. With less energy costs, their expansion plans and hiring of additional workers will be made more affordable.

Don Kiel, Executive Director and Secretary, SEDA-COG Natural Gas Cooperative, Inc, says, “We hope that this project will serve as a model for development of similar projects elsewhere in our service area – there are a number of similar regions where this approach could fit.”

Special thanks to Congressman Fred Keller, Sen. Jake Corman, and Rep. Kerry Benninghoff who provided letters of support.

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 estauder@seda-cog.org

SEDA-COG… Building Strong Economies & Strong Communities

SEDA-COG and Red Cross Partner for Disaster Readiness Training

SEDA-COG and Red Cross Partner for Disaster Readiness Training

Posted on by DNS Admin

News Release November 29, 2021 SEDA-COG and Red Cross Partner for Disaster Readiness Training On December 9, 2021, at 5:30 p.m.

SEDA-COG and the American Red Cross are partnering to present a virtual disaster readiness training. During the pandemic, it was discovered that 40 percent of businesses fail following a disaster. With the use of ReadyRating.org, this training will provide the tools for non-profits, businesses of all sizes, and more to become equipped to face any kind of emergencies.

This virtual workshop delivers the means and the contacts for individuals and businesses to work at their own pace to upgrade their level of preparedness. There are tools to enhance already existing emergency plans and to build plans from scratch.

According to ReadyRating.org, “For over 125 years, the American Red Cross has responded to emergencies both large and small, and helped people prepare for them through education and training programs. The Red Cross continuously builds on its experience to proactively deal with emergencies and disasters; this program is a step forward in our ongoing efforts.”

The link to register for this event can be found here: https://seda-cog.org/events/event/webinar-disaster-readiness-training/

If you are not able to make it, there will be another training in the Spring of 2022.

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 estauder@seda-cog.org.

SEDA-COG… Building Strong Economies & Strong Communities www.seda-cog.org