Category: Featured

$400K Grant Powers Broadcast Arts Initiative for At-Risk Youth

$400K Grant Powers Broadcast Arts Initiative for At-Risk Youth

Posted on by Nancy Osborn

Lewisburg, PA – The Screen Arts Institute has received a $400,000 ARC POWER grant to help fund the launch of its Broadcast Arts Initiative in Shamokin.

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) through its Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Initiative focuses federal resources on supporting communities affected by job losses in coal mining, coal power plants, and related supply chain industries due to the evolving landscape of America’s energy production.

The Appalachian Regional Commission is an economic development partnership agency of the federal government and 13 state governments including Pennsylvania. PA’s Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) partners with ARC and the SEDA-COG Local Development District to identify and support projects that will build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in the Appalachian counties of Pennsylvania to reach socioeconomic parity with the nation.

The Screen Arts Institute applied for the grant over the summer with the help of Linda Sterling of the Northumberland County Planning and Economic Development office and Betsy Lockwood, director of project development and grants at SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG), receiving the funds in October.

SEDA-COG will administer the grant. “It’s not something any one person wants to take on,” stated Mark Stansberry, founder and director of the Screen Arts Institute. “They will take care of reports, procurement of equipment, and allocation of requests. They’re the major liaison.”

Shamokin, once a thriving coal town, has faced significant economic challenges since the collapse of its coal industry, resulting in high poverty rates, limited opportunities for residents, and a high dropout rate that leaves marginalized young adults slipping through the cracks.

With this grant and an additional $400,000 in matching funds, bringing the total project to $800,000, the Screen Arts Institute will launch the Broadcast Arts Initiative. This new program that will open doors to creative careers for at-risk youth and adults in the greater Shamokin region, contributing to the area’s growing revitalization efforts.

“This has been 30 years in the making,” said Stansberry, “I see the potential and I want to add to it.”

The Initiative will offer education and mentorship to at-risk populations 17 years and older, focusing on creative employment and entrepreneurship through visual art courses and hands-on production experience in freelance work.

Courses will be taught by instructors who are artists making a living in the discipline they teach and include animation, digital illustration, graphic design, and mobile game building.

Students will engage in the Screen Arts Institute’s art, video, and mobile app projects, intern in pro bono work for regional nonprofits and small businesses, and design Shamokin-themed souvenirs that will be sold. These experiences will provide opportunities for students to launch their own careers in art, video, and app development within the growing remote and freelance economy.

The Initiative’s first-year goal is to produce 20 new businesses which will start the trend of replacing lost coal industry jobs through creative entrepreneurship. Additionally, the program expects to benefit 60 students, with 30 students graduating and attaining certificates within the next three years.

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 MPO Launches Public Survey to Identify Long Term Transportation Needs

SEDA-COG MPO Launches Public Survey to Identify Long Term Transportation Needs

Posted on by Nancy Osborn

Lewisburg, PA – SEDA-Council of Governments Metropolitan Planning Organization (SEDA-COG MPO) invites the public to take an online survey to share regional transportation needs and priorities. The feedback received will help to inform the organization’s 2050 Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). The survey is open from August 28–September 30 and can be accessed at https://bit.ly/3XavBlo or by scanning the QR code below.

“The LRTP impacts the counties in our MPO region—Clinton, Columbia, Juniata, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, and Union—ensuring that the region’s needs and potential funding levels are considered over a 25-year planning horizon,” says Kim Wheeler, SEDA-COG Executive Director. “The public survey is an important step in pursuing projects that align with the region’s transportation vision and goals.”

The LRTP establishes a long-term strategy for the region’s multimodal transportation system and identifies current and future transportation needs based on system condition, demographics, economics, and land use trends. It is also used as a guide for the distribution of limited funding resources.

The plan is currently in its first phase of data collection and analysis. During the plan’s development, the MPO will assess all modes of transportation, including walking, biking, driving, transit, and freight. Once completed, the plan will be used to identify transportation investments that align with the public’s goals for the region, such as improved safety and mobility, reduced congestion, and economic development potential.

“The LRTP is updated every four or five years to reflect changes in regulations, regional demographics and travel patterns, and the priorities of residents and other stakeholders,” says Steve Herman, SEDA-COG MPO’s Director of Transportation. “A wide variety of project types will be included in the final LRTP, from major, capital-intensive projects, to those focused on traffic operations.”

Public participation is key to the development of the plan. SEDA-COG MPO encourages the public to visit the project’s website to take the survey and share their transportation priorities. If anyone requires special assistance to complete the survey or would like a printed version, please contact Kristin McLaughlin, SEDA-COG’s project manager, at 570-524-4491.

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.

The SEDA-COG Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is the official transportation planning organization for eight (8) Central Pennsylvania Counties (Clinton, Columbia, Juniata, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Union), as designated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

PSU Awarded $600,000 Grant to Help Fund Silicon Carbide Innovation Alliance

PSU Awarded $600,000 Grant to Help Fund Silicon Carbide Innovation Alliance

Posted on by Nancy Osborn

The Pennsylvania State University was awarded a $600,000 Appalachian Regional Commission grant towards the creation of a Silicon Carbide Innovation Alliance.

Penn State applied for the grant with the assistance from SEDA-Council of Governments. Funds are matched with over $835,000 in industry cash and in-kind as well as a University cash match.

Grant money will be used to develop a series of educational courses, workshops, and paid internships geared towards students and existing workers to prepare the next generation for this growing industry.

Silicon carbide is a compound containing silicon and carbon that occurs in nature but can also be mass-produced for high-tech electronic chip applications.

It was recently identified as a critical material for clean technologies because of its importance in enabling the delivery of electricity from power plants, solar, and wind farms. It is also critical in advancing the next generation of electric vehicles. The U.S. isn’t producing enough silicon carbide to meet demand, which is expected to be two to three times the need by 2030.

With this investment, the Silicon Carbide Innovation Alliance will serve as a Pennsylvania and national resource for the silicon carbide semiconductor growth and manufacturing industry.

SEDA-COG’s Betsy Lockwood, director of project development and grants, assisted the Alliance in applying for the grant.

On one of the many benefits of the grant, Lockwood said, “This project brings together industry and academia to establish a strong semiconductor workforce development program that will attract companies from around the nation to the PA Appalachian Region.”

The Appalachian Region Commission is an economic development partnership agency of the federal government and 13 state governments including Pennsylvania. PA’s Department of Community and Economic Development partners with ARC to identify and support projects that will build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in the Appalachian counties of Pennsylvania to reach socioeconomic parity with the nation.

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.

Shamokin Wins Townie Award

Shamokin Wins Townie Award

Posted on by Nancy Osborn

The City of Shamokin is experiencing a downtown revitalization, and the Pennsylvania Downtown Center has taken notice, bestowing the Shamokin Partnership for Revitalization with a 2024 Townie Award.

The award was presented in the area of physical improvement and design for public space improvement at Illumination Station Pocket Park.

The Townie Awards are a celebrated and long-standing tradition aimed at honoring key communities and individuals within the commonwealth who develop and execute projects, programs, and events that align with the goals of the Pennsylvania Downtown Center’s community revitalization mission. Nearly 200 member organizations, including those participating in Main Street and Elm Street programs, are eligible to compete for these prestigious awards, making the Townies a highly competitive annual event.

On hand to accept the award were Betsy Kramer, community revitalization manager at SEDA-Council of Governments and project manager for GoShamokin, Justin Bainbridge, downtown manager for the City of Shamokin, and Sean Garrigan of Stomberg, Garrigan & Associate.

Through its revitalization plan, GoShamokin, the Shamokin Partnership for Revitalization has already undertaken several projects that display the transformative power of community-driven initiatives, with many more projects planned.

Illumination Station Pocket Park stands as a shining example of what has already been accomplished. Located in the heart of Shamokin, this project turned two unsightly, blighted buildings into a welcoming place where individuals of all ages can gather, relax, and enjoy the outdoors. Moreover, Illumination Station Pocket Park embodies the spirit of community collaboration. From the initial planning stages to the ongoing maintenance efforts, this project has brought together residents, local businesses, and civic organizations in a shared commitment to revitalizing the cityscape. Through their dedication and hard work, they have demonstrated what can be achieved when communities unite behind a common vision.

“This award is a testament to the Shamokin community’s remarkable spirit and resilience. Together, we’ve turned challenges into opportunities, creating spaces like Illumination Station Pocket Park that infuse joy and vitality into the downtown of Shamokin,” remarked Betsy Kramer, community revitalization program manager at SEDA-COG.

“As downtown manager for the City of Shamokin, this recognition from the Pennsylvania Downtown Center motivates us to continue our work in making Shamokin a vibrant, inclusive, and welcoming place for all,” said Justin Bainbridge.

“The prestigious Townie Award from the Pennsylvania Downtown Center speaks to the great achievements that the City of Shamokin and all of its community partners have been able to accomplish. Illumination Station represents one more step in the growing vibrancy of Downtown Shamokin,” Sean Garrigan of Stromberg, Garrigan & Associates stated.

The community of Shamokin not only has plans for the repurposing and reuse of other vacant properties throughout the city but also the incorporation of a “Complete Streets” strategy. This strategy considers safe access to streets for all people who need to use them, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities.

The Shamokin Partnership for Revitalization was established in 2018 between the City of Shamokin, SEDA-COG, and Shamokin Area Businesses for Economic Revitalization (SABER). As the revitalization has evolved, the city was able to forge a new partnership with the Shamokin Area Economic Development Authority (SAEDA) and bring onboard a new downtown manager, Justin Bainbridge in 2024.

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 eleven central Pennsylvania counties through its vital partnerships and initiatives. 

 

For more information, please contact Nancy Osborn, Communications and Marketing Coordinator, SEDA-Council of Governments, at 570-254-4491 x7234 or 570-768-0525 or nosborn@seda-cog.org.

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