Category: Featured

Home heating assistance program through SEDA-COG extended

Home heating assistance program through SEDA-COG extended

Posted on by DNS Admin

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) season has been extended through April 30. It ordinarily ends at the beginning of April.

SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) offers a Crisis program to residents who qualify for LIHEAP fuel assistance. This program repairs malfunctioning heating units at no cost.

SEDA-COG’s Weatherization program serves a seven-county area: Columbia, Juniata, Mifflin, Montour, Perry, Snyder, and Union.

Residents should contact their local county assistance office to see if they qualify.

If residents don’t qualify for LIHEAP or Crisis assistance, they may still qualify for SEDA-COG’s Weatherization services. SEDA-COG’s Weatherization services may provide furnace repair, although it is not immediate help, as it would be through Crisis. SEDA-COG’s Weatherization program can be reached at 570-522-7219.

Crisis Income Eligibility Guidelines 

Family size: 1 – $19,140; 2 – $25,860​; 3 – $32,580; 4 – $39,300; 5 – $46,020; 6 – $52,740; 7 – $59,460; 8 – $66,180​. 

County Assistance Offices

Columbia: 570-387-4232

Juniata: 717-436-2158

Mifflin: 717-242-6095

Montour: 1-866-410-2093

Perry: 717-582-5038

Snyder: 570-372-1721

Union: 570-524-2201

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.

Second phase now open for COVID relief grants for Juniata County hospitality businesses

Second phase now open for COVID relief grants for Juniata County hospitality businesses

Posted on by DNS Admin

The second phase of a new COVID-19 relief grant is now open for eligible hospitality industry businesses, and the Juniata County Commissioners are urging more businesses to apply.

Only two businesses in the county applied for the first phase of the Hospitality Industry Recovery Program (CHIRP), which is now closed. The program originally opened March 15.

Juniata County was awarded a total of $280,475 for the program. From that, $30,000 was awarded to the two businesses, leaving $249,795 to be allocated before the program closes by June 15.

The County Commissioners said they hope more businesses apply before the funds are gone.

“The grant is only available until funds are exhausted or June 15 this year, whichever comes first,” the Commissioners said. “This is an opportunity to help our businesses further recover from the pandemic’s economic impacts, and we hope many take advantage of it.”

Grants range from $5,000 to $50,000 to help alleviate 2020 revenue losses, and pay for eligible operating expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For-profit hospitality businesses can view full guidelines and apply at the Community Giving Foundation’s website at https://csgiving.org/chirp/

If Juniata County businesses need assistance with the completion of the application, they should contact Juniata County’s Planning & Community Development Director Brad Kerstetter at bkerstetter@juniataco.org or 717-436-7729.

Eligible hospitality industry businesses must be for-profit businesses which include hotels, restaurants, bars, and taverns. These businesses must fall within eligible industry codes which include the Accommodations subsector NAICS code (721) or Food Services and Drinking Places subsector (722) found here: https://www.naics.com/search/

Eligibility includes, but is not limited to, having fewer than 300 full-time employees; a net worth that does not exceed $15 million; a 25% reduction in gross receipts in 2020 compared to 2019; and be located within Centre, Clinton, Columbia, Juniata, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, or Union counties.

Priority will be given to businesses that did not already receive COVID relief funds; that were subject to closure following the disaster emergency declared by Gov. Tom Wolf on March 6, 2020; or had more than a 50% reduction in gross receipts from March 31, 2020 to Dec. 31, 2020 compared to the same time period in 2019.

The county contracted with SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) to manage the CHIRP grant on its behalf. SEDA-COG will receive the applications, determine eligibility for grant amounts, and disburse the funds to qualifying businesses.

The grant program was created from the law Act 1 of 2021, which was passed Feb. 5, 2021. Statewide, it provides $145 million in funding assistance to the hospitality industry businesses adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

For more information, contact SEDA-COG Grants Manager Betsy Lockwood at 570-522-7265 or elockwood@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 communities at the state and federal levels. For more information, visit www.seda-cog.org.

Grant may offer no-cost home repairs for Mount Carmel Township

Grant may offer no-cost home repairs for Mount Carmel Township

Posted on by DNS Admin

A housing rehabilitation grant has been awarded to Mount Carmel Township, and residents are encouraged to apply now to get on the waiting list.

Plus, more dollars can now be spent per home than in previous grants, so homeowners can receive up to $65,000 instead of a limit of $35,000 in improvements.

Eligible repairs include structural, roofing, plumbing, electrical, heating/furnace, window replacement, radon and lead-based paint mitigation, and energy-related improvements. Also included are modifications for mobility-impaired residents. There is no cost to homeowners who maintain home residency over a five-year period from the date of signing.

SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) assists the homeowner through the whole process, said Teri Provost, director of the agency’s Housing Rehabilitation program.

“We help the homeowner from start to finish – from obtaining a contractor, managing the project, to anything that may arise during or after the rehabilitation process,” Provost said.

Interested residents may call SEDA-COG’s Stacy Anderson at 800-326-9310, ext. 7215.

Qualifications:

  • Primary residence located in Mount Carmel Township
  • Own the home or have Life Rights to live in it
  • Meet income qualifications based on household size (below)
  • Be current on local taxes and municipal utility bills
  • Provide proof of homeowner’s insurance
  • Live in the home an additional five years

Gross household income not to exceed:

  • 1 – $38,200
  • 2 – $43,650
  • 3 – $49,100
  • 4 – $54,550
  • 5 – $58,950

Additional requirements may apply.

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.

SEDA-COG to help Shamokin prepare for larger floodplain impacts

SEDA-COG to help Shamokin prepare for larger floodplain impacts

Posted on by DNS Admin

Shamokin’s preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps may go into effect this summer, and SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) is working to help residents prepare for its impacts thanks to a $130,000 state grant.

The updated Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) show a larger 100-year floodplain area than the 2008 maps. The maps may require more residents to pursue flood mitigation measures such as purchasing flood insurance.

The maps were originally slated to go into effect this summer, but the COVID-19 pandemic may affect its timing.

To confirm the maps’ findings, SEDA-COG is conducting a Hydrologic & Hydraulic (H&H) Study for Shamokin Creek and its tributaries, which will include recommendations from a professional engineer, to help the City of Shamokin identify how the water moves and how to address its impacts.

The $130,000 grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) is funding the study.

Betsy Kramer, SEDA-COG revitalization coordinator, thanked state Sen. John Gordner (R-27) and state Rep. Kurt Masser (R-Columbia/Montour/Northumberland) who helped secure the funding.

“We are grateful for their assistance with this grant which will benefit Shamokin residents. Flooding impacts communities regularly, but so does its costs. We want to assure residents with this study that the mitigation measures are truly needed as well as recommending the best solutions possible,” Kramer said.

SEDA-COG will leverage the grant and study in two key ways – by implementing solutions and educating residents on proactive approaches, said Teri Provost, SEDA-COG’s director of Flood Resiliency.

“After the study is complete, the City of Shamokin will be better poised to take further action to address the concerns surrounding the proposed development and the revitalization of the city. The study will provide public awareness and technical assistance to property owners on how they can better prepare themselves prior to the new FIRMs becoming effective this summer,” Provost said.

Mitigation measures could include a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR), which could revise the Flood Insurance Rate Map, as well as implementation projects to mitigate the potential for flooding and improve resiliency for properties within the 100-year floodplain.

Conducting the H&H Study was an initiative addressed by the City of Shamokin’s Act 47 Three-Year Exit Plan which was released on Dec. 17, 2019.

SEDA-COG’s Flood Resiliency Program offers services related to flood resiliency and mitigation assistance both within and outside of its 11-county region. Its goal is to help break the damage cycle and stop its drain on people and communities. For more information, visit https://seda-cog.org/departments/flood-resiliency/.

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