News – Page 12 – SEDA Council of Governments

New Hire in SEDA-COG’s Business Finance Program

Posted on July 26, 2022 by

SEDA-COG recently welcomed Brooks Luzier as a Loan Officer within the Business Finance Department.

Luzier has over ten years of experience in banking, customer service, and sales. He previously worked as the Commercial Relationship Manager for Jersey Shore State Bank. Luzier currently serves as a Board Member for both the Lock Haven YMCA and the River Valley Regional YMCA. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Lock Haven University in 2010.

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 Announces New Chief of Community Services

Posted on July 5, 2022 by

SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) is pleased to announce that Teri Provost, a 15-year staffer, will be taking on the role of Chief in the newly formed Community Services Division.

The Community Services Division (CSD) will encompass SEDA-COG’s Community Development, Flood Resiliency, Housing Rehabilitation, and Community Revitalization programs. In the CSD, the intentionally coordinated efforts of these departments will further allow SEDA-COG to respond to community needs in a more comprehensive way. These efforts will ultimately provide improved service opportunities to our member counties and regional communities.

Provost worked in SEDA-COG’s Community Development Program for 9 years before becoming the Director of Housing Rehabilitation and Flood Resiliency. Throughout her 15-year career at SEDA-COG, she has prepared numerous grant applications and has proficient experience with Federal Emergency Management Agency and Housing and Urban Development programs.

Provost has been a member of The Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) since 2018 and serves as the Chapter District 2 Director. This position has a 2-year term.

She also serves as past chair of the Pennsylvania Association of State Floodplain Managers (PAFPM) board. Her board appointment is from January to December 2022. Before this appointment, Teri held the Vice Chair position with PAFPM from January to December 2021.

Provost has also developed and managed public works projects throughout the central Pennsylvania counties served by SEDA-COG. Additionally, she is a Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) and has administered several state- and federally-funded buyouts and residential elevation projects in flood-prone communities.

“My top priority is to ensure that our Agency can serve the Region for years to come in a truly impactful manner, not only by leveraging grant funding opportunities, but also by building long lasting meaningful relationships. In the CSD, the orchestration of multiple aspects of municipal assistance will provide a comprehensive community approach to community resiliency, augmented by diversity in leadership and innovation,” Provost said.

SEDA-COG Executive Director Kim Wheeler said Provost’s background has prepared her perfectly to take on this role.

“Teri has been with SEDA-COG for 15 years and has had the opportunity to work in several departments and grow her expertise in each area. She embodies a collaborative spirit and I truly believe that her skills and abilities are going to take SEDA-COG to new heights in this role,” Wheeler said.

Provost earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Sociology from Clarion University in 2002.

Provost is grateful for the opportunity to deepen the partnerships between SEDA-COG and our surrounding municipalities.

“This role will allow our Region to maximize collaboration, funding opportunities and expertise. I am looking forward to having the opportunity to work with so many talented staff in our communities, with our partners, with grant funding agencies, and certainly within our office location,” Provost said.

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.

Public Notice: West End and Fishing Creek Flood Mitigation Studies Final Reports

Posted on July 1, 2022 by

The final reports for the West End and Fishing Creek Flood Mitigation Studies are now posted online.

With the support of Representative Millard and Senator Gordner, funding was secured for these pioneering studies. The Columbia County Board of Commissioners, working with SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG), engaged Borton-Lawson to develop the West End Flood Mitigation Study and Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. (HRG) to develop the Fishing Creek Flood Mitigation Study. The goals of the studies were to:

• detect flooding problem areas within the County’s 18 municipalities/West End of the Town of Bloomsburg,

• identify best approaches that can be implemented by the County to mitigate flood impacts, reduce flood risk and improve residents’ quality of life,

• highlight mitigation options for the problems identified and implementable projects offered as a solution to those problems.

Both final reports can be found on the County’s Resiliency Office website, http://columbiapa.org/resiliency/index.php and also on SEDA-COG’s website, https://seda-cog.org/departments/flood-resiliency/columbia-county-flood-mitigation-studies/ . The Columbia County Board of Commissioners have already begun the next steps and will continue to implement resiliency measures as a result of the studies.

The study kicked off with a combined public meeting in July 2021, two separate follow up public meetings held at the end of November and beginning of December 2021, and final meetings held in March 2022. Presentation slides and other materials can also be found at the website links above.

SEDA-COG assisted Columbia County in the grant administration of the studies. The studies were financed by grants from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Commonwealth Financing Authority and the Department of Community and Economic Development.

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 Housing Rehabilitation Seeks Contractors for Perry County

Posted on June 28, 2022 by

General contractors have an opportunity to perform housing rehabilitation work with SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) in Perry County.

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. 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.

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

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

“We know that along with many others, contractors’ workload has been hard hit by the effects of the pandemic. With our housing rehabilitation work, we not only help our communities by rejuvenating housing stock, but we invest in our workforce by bidding out to local contractors,” Provost said.

Provost continued, “Contractors can choose where they want to work, so there’s tremendous work flexibility. 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 and contractor requirements, contact SEDA-COG’s Danielle Rippon at 570-524-4491 or drippon@seda-cog.org.

Since 1989, SEDA-COG’s Housing Rehabilitation Programs has invested $27 million in 9 counties and over 1,000 homes. 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.