Housing rehabilitation grants offer opportunity for general contractors

With three housing rehabilitation grants recently awarded in the region, there’s an even greater opportunity for general contractors to work with municipalities and SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG).

Contractor work may include structural, roofing, plumbing, electrical, heating/furnace, window replacement, radon mitigation, energy-related improvements, and, if they have certain certifications, lead-based paint mitigation.

Housing rehabilitation bids typically range from $20,000 to $65,000, with timely payment to contractors.

SEDA-COG strives to work with local contractors to invest in the local economy, said Teri Provost, director of SEDA-COG’s Housing Rehabilitation program.

“Not only do these grant awards benefit the community and homeowners, but the local economy as we seek to work with local general contractors to perform this work,” Provost said.

While the $500,000 grants were each awarded to Berwick Borough, Jersey Shore Borough, and Mount Carmel Township, SEDA-COG also works with housing rehabilitation programs in the Town of Bloomsburg, City of Lock Haven, Milton, Mount Carmel, and South Williamsport boroughs, the City of Sunbury, and Juniata, Montour, Snyder, and Sullivan counties.

This means work flexibility for contractors, Provost said.

“Contractors can choose where they want to work, so there’s tremendous work flexibility,” Provost said. “Additionally, our work is year-round, so we offer a steady flow of projects. And if they don’t want to perform lead-based paint mitigation, we don’t require that certification for lead-free homes.”

Interested contractors also have the option of meeting one-on-one with SEDA-COG to answer any questions they may have. SEDA-COG streamlines the process for contractors with a rehabilitation specialist assigned to each community.

For more information, contact SEDA-COG’s Danielle King at 570-524-4491 or dking@seda-cog.org.

Mount Carmel Borough residents to see flood insurance savings

Mount Carmel Borough has a much smaller floodplain and residents can expect to see significantly reduced flood insurance premiums as a result.

Mount Carmel Borough in partnership with SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) is holding a public meeting to educate residents and businesses on how they can reduce their flood insurance bills, including how to give this information to their banks and insurance companies so they can realize the savings.

The flood insurance savings meeting will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 15 at Mount Carmel Area High School, 600 W. Fifth St., Mount Carmel. There will be light refreshments.

If interested, attendees are to RSVP by Oct. 1 to SEDA-COG’s Liz Herman at eherman@seda-cog.org or 570-524-4491.

Teri Provost, director of SEDA-COG’s Flood Resiliency program, said these savings are significant on the individual and community levels.

“This is a tremendous change for the borough. Not only can homeowners realize significant savings on their flood insurance premiums, but these savings can translate into a revitalized community with more salable homes and more potential local investment,” Provost said.

This is possible because of the $14.5 million Shamokin Creek Flood Risk Management Project that SEDA-COG managed in 2016. The rebuilt channel protects 108 homes from flooding through a 15-block area of Shamokin Creek that runs through Mount Carmel Borough. Erosion and age had caused the stone retaining wall along the creek to crumble, and sediment build-up caused the creek bed to become shallow, blocking the flow of water and causing it to back up and flood the homes along the creek.

Elimination of the flood hazard involved construction of a concrete and earthen channel, along with an earthen levee, improvements to storm drainage and sanitary sewer systems, streambank stabilization, installation of new bridges at Walnut, Chestnut, Hickory, Pine and Vine streets, and reconstruction of Water and Turnpike streets.

Prior to this project, this area was in the floodplain. Now, the rebuilt channel mitigates that risk for the borough.

Because of this, a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) will become effective Oct. 7 and will revise the National Flood Insurance Program map, officially removing much of the borough from the floodplain. Mount Carmel Borough funded the LOMR, investing about $30,000.