Featured – Page 58 – SEDA Council of Governments

Ribbon cutting to mark Shamokin revitalization effort

Posted on October 17, 2019December 30, 2019 by DNS Admin

The public is invited to a ribbon cutting to mark the official opening of the office for the Partnership for Revitalization in Shamokin.

The ceremony will begin at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 1 at SEDA-Council of Governments’ (SEDA-COG) new downtown office at 525 N. Market St., Shamokin.

This officially kicks off the partnership efforts to revitalize the community between Shamokin City Council, Shamokin Area Businesses for Economic Revitalization (SABER), and SEDA-COG, said Bill Seigel, SEDA-COG executive director.

“Shamokin is experiencing a rebirth and a synergy. Our partners, along with many others, have recognized the opportunity in the Shamokin area to guide the city into a revitalization revolution,” Seigel said.

The Partnership for Revitalization is funded for three years through a $300,000 Keystone Communities Fund grant, thanks to state Rep. Kurt Masser (R-Columbia/Montour/Northumberland).

SEDA-COG is strengthening public and private investments by immersing itself in the community and offering its staff of 45 Economic Development, Community Development, Information Technology, and Housing specialists toward the effort.

Leading this effort is Betsy Kramer, SEDA-COG’s revitalization coordinator. She will staff the Shamokin office Mondays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and by appointment.

“Exciting things are happening in Shamokin,” Masser said. “This partnership with SEDA-COG and Betsy’s presence in the downtown is exactly what was needed. Betsy will be able to focus on the revitalization efforts and provide the coordination needed to ensure Shamokin continues moving forward.”

Seigel said SEDA-COG is committed to the revitalization efforts.

“SEDA-COG has committed itself to guide, facilitate, and support the outstanding work of the many public and private groups and individuals who are committed to investing in Shamokin,” Seigel said.

Technical proposal seminar for small business owners

Posted on October 15, 2019December 30, 2019 by DNS Admin

Small business owners can learn how to write technical proposals in order to win federal contracts at a seminar cosponsored by SEDA-Council of Governments’ (SEDA-COG) Procurement Technical Assistance Center.

It will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 20 at the Ramada Hotel & Conference Center, 1450 S. Atherton St., State College.

Understanding a potential customer’s needs and generating a compliant proposal are critical to winning federal contracts. Firms must be familiar with the agency’s procurement process, clearly identify what the buyer has requested, and determine the best method to position and present their firm in the proposal.

This session is designed to equip participants with the knowledge of how to develop a compliant and effective technical proposal. The session includes but is not limited to: assessing solicitation documents; preparing outlines to ensure compliance with the solicitation; and identifying effective methods to present your company’s response.

Topics presented by Quality, Compliance, & Management Inc. include:

Understanding the procurement process
Review and analysis of solicitation/request for proposal (RFP)
Presenting well – what reviewers look for
Tailoring the components of the technical proposal to the buyer’s need
Presenting past performance
Use of templates

Space is limited to 30 attendees. To register for this free seminar, visit https://bit.ly/2M3aQ7u.

Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. To do so, contact Tina Young at 301-604-9898 or tyoung@qcmconsulting.com.

For more information, contact SEDA-COG’s Jennifer Heebner at 570-522-7256 or email jheebner@seda-cog.org.

This project is funded by a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The SEDA-COG Procurement Technical Assistance Center is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the Defense Logistics Agency.

SEDA-COG’s Procurement Technical Assistance Center helps companies explore and compete in the local, state, and federal government marketplace. For more information visit SEDA-COG Procurement Technical Assistance Center.

Housing rehabilitation grants offer opportunity for general contractors

Posted on September 26, 2019December 30, 2019 by DNS Admin

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

Posted on September 24, 2019December 30, 2019 by DNS Admin

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.