News – Page 16 – SEDA Council of Governments

SEDA-COG Announces New Fiscal Controller

Posted on January 23, 2023June 1, 2026 by

SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) is pleased to announce that Jamie Carnes, a 5-year staffer, has been promoted to Fiscal Controller.

Carnes began her career in finance over 10 years ago, gaining experience in financial statement preparation, general ledger activity, and capital spending management. Her career with SEDA-COG began with her role as a Finance Analyst where she served several different departments.

Throughout Carnes career, she is especially proud to have worked on correcting and updating outdated and inefficient policies and procedures. “In previous positions, I felt my work only benefited larger corporations. At SEDA-COG, I feel our work in the organization provides a much more direct impact to our local communities and the individuals who reside there,” Carnes said.

One of Carnes’ major goals includes supporting the varied programs that SEDA-COG provides.

“I look forward to the opportunities this position offers for the growth and advancement of my accounting knowledge. I am grateful for my past experience that will enable me to continue to provide support to the many diverse programs that SEDA-COG provides,” Carnes said.

SEDA-COG Executive Director Kim Wheeler said Carnes is well equipped to take on the larger role.

“Jamie’s experience in the world of finance and the guidance and training she was able to receive from her predecessor, Bo Hornberger, has made her the perfect person to take on this endeavor. I believe that under her financial direction and management, SEDA-COG will continue to make a major difference in our local communities for generations to come,” Wheeler said.

She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Accounting from Lycoming College in 2011.

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.

Mifflin County Academy Awarded Appalachian Regional Commission Funds

Posted on January 17, 2023 by

The Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology was recently awarded an Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant in the amount of $500,000 to support the school’s expansion project.

With the assistance of Delta Development Group, Inc. in Camp Hill, The Academy has secured over $7 million in state and federal funding to construct a heavy equipment/diesel technician training facility. The project will be located at The Academy’s existing campus at 700 Pitt Street, Lewistown, PA. The ARC funds will be used to purchase the heavy equipment utilized in the new programs.

“The goal of this expansion project is to provide local, affordable training opportunities and address the demand for a skilled workforce in rural PA,” explained Mike McMonigal, Supervisor of Adult Education at The Academy. “We are very grateful for the support of the Appalachian Regional Commission for investing in our local workforce development.”

The need for postsecondary education has been growing in recent years, as businesses report a lack of skilled workers to fill their open positions, and as the income gap between college and high school graduates widens. The need for a skilled workforce is also fueled by the manufacturing, construction, and transportation industries relying more heavily on technology. Employers in these industries and organizations are demanding that new hires and incumbent workers possess applicable skills and achieve industry certifications and licensures.

The Academy expansion project is expected to allow regional employers to create and fill currently vacant jobs rather than exporting related service work to other regions. This program will also help retain local talented youth who currently need to relocate to other areas to become properly trained to pursue these jobs. The Academy intends to train 20 students per program for a total of 40 students per year.

The Academy’s partnering employers estimate that they will be able to create 24 new jobs collectively in the first year that trainees are available. In total, these employers anticipate that during the nine-year analysis period, approximately 125 new jobs will be created, and 15 jobs will be retained.

SEDA-COG’s Betsy Lockwood, Director of Project Development and Grants, submitted the ARC application for the equipment on behalf of the Academy. The application itself was prepared by the Delta Development Group.

Regarding the benefits of the grant, Lockwood said, “The ARC investment into this project will enable industry sectors in the areas of transportation, warehousing, and construction to expand within Mifflin County and the SEDA-COG Region.”

The Appalachian Region Commission (ARC) 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 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.

Mount Carmel Receives Housing Rehabilitation Grant

Posted on December 14, 2022 by

Housing rehabilitation grants were recently awarded to Mount Carmel Township and Borough.

Both the Township and Borough are receiving $300,000 for no-cost home repairs for eligible residents. Qualified residents may receive up to $50,000 for housing rehabilitation expenses. Mount Carmel Township residents may qualify for an additional $15,000 to address lead-based paint hazard reduction.

The funds are from Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development’s HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME.) HOME is a federally funded program that provides municipalities with grant and loan assistance to expand and preserve the supply of decent and affordable housing for low- and very low-income Pennsylvanians.

“Pennsylvanians deserve safe, up-to-code, and accessible spaces to call home,” said Gov. Tom Wolf in the press release announcing the funding. “The HOME funding will help provide access to these spaces to individuals across the commonwealth…”

Teri Provost, Chief of SEDA-COG’s Community Services Division, spoke of the value of the program.

“We are passionate about empowering our communities to have the best, most affordable housing possible by rehabilitating existing homes at no cost to eligible homeowners,” Provost said. “When we partner with communities on these efforts, it helps the homeowner, it maintains the communities’ tax base, and it increases property values.”

Eligible repairs include structural, roofing, plumbing, electrical, heating/furnace, window replacement, radon and lead-based paint mitigation, and energy-related improvements. Modifications for mobility-impaired residents are also eligible within this program. Homeowners must maintain home residency over a five-year period from the date of signing in order for this service to be received at no cost.

Qualifications:

• Must live in the Township or Borough limits of Mount Carmel;

• Own the home or have Life Rights to live in it;

• Meet income qualifications based on household size;

• Be current on local taxes and municipal utility bills;

• Provide proof of homeowner’s insurance;

• Live in the home an additional five years.

Additional requirements may apply.

Annual Gross Income Limits:

Family size: 1 – $40,850; 2 – $46,650; 3 – $52,500; 4 – $58,300; 5 – $63,000; 6 – $67,650; 7 – $72,300; 8 – $77,000.

SEDA-COG oversees the entire process for the homeowner.

“We make the project easy on the homeowner by managing it from start to finish, including obtaining the contractor,” Provost said.

Interested residents may call SEDA-COG’s call Stacy Anderson at 570-524-4491 Ext. 7215.

SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority Announces New Executive Director

Posted on December 14, 2022June 1, 2026 by

SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) is pleased to announce that Steven Beattie is the new Executive Director of the SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority (JRA.)

Beattie began his career as a project manager for area engineering consulting firms, including Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc., where he managed the Lewisburg office. He later joined the Larson Design Group where he worked in a multitude of roles: Site/Civil Engineering Senior Project Manager, Retail Design Senior Project Manager, and the Director of Sales and Marketing. He most recently served as the Community Development/Grant Manager for the Borough of Lewisburg.

Since 1998, Beattie has served numerous roles for engineering consulting firms in the SEDA-COG region. Throughout his career he has served municipal, commercial, industrial, and institutional clients managing projects through the design, funding, and construction phases. His latest accomplishment includes leading the effort to secure over $3.4 million in funds for the Borough of Lewisburg over an 18-month period.

In addition, Beattie has obtained various licenses and certifications throughout the course of his career, including being a Notary Public, a Licensed Landscape Architect, and having received the Advanced Emergency Certification for the role of municipal emergency management coordinator.

Beattie’s major goals as Executive Director include preserving and expanding upon the legacy the JRA has built in our surrounding communities.

“My top priority, as I take on this role, is to continue the work started by the Joint Rail Authority dating back to 1983. In doing this, I plan to promote economic development in the region, ensure our industries have access to rail, and maintain our rail infrastructure to support our customers and their growth,” Beattie said.

Beattie is coming on board to replace the retiring Executive Director, Jeff Stover. Stover has been with SEDA-COG since 1985. He started his career as the Manager of Transportation and throughout his tenure became the Chief of Transportation and the Executive Director of the JRA.

SEDA-COG JRA Board President, Russ Graham, is excited to see what’s next for the Authority under the guidance of Beattie.

“The JRA has been extremely fortunate to have had Jeff Stover as our Executive Director for the past 37 years. His professionalism and knowledge of our rail system has been instrumental in countless economic development and railroad upgrade projects over the years. Jeff will be difficult to replace, however we are confident in Steven, and we look forward to working with him as we move into the next chapter of the JRA. Steven’s background in the engineering field and his experience in intergovernmental relationships will be a huge asset to the JRA,” Graham said.

Beattie earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Landscape Architecture from West Virginia University’s College of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Design. He later went on to earn his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania’s Zeigler College of Business.

Beattie stressed the role that rail plays in the overall success of our area.

“I have always been a proponent of economic development in our region, whether that is through small businesses in our downtowns, tourism, or large manufacturers. Rail served industries in our region provide family sustaining employment opportunities for our hardworking, educated, and skilled workforce. The JRA’s role in maintaining and growing rail service in the region is critical to the success of these businesses and our regional economy,” Beattie said.

The primary mission of the JRA is to preserve essential rail freight service and to further economic development and job creation in the region through improvement and expansion of rail infrastructure. Since the inception of the JRA, the Authority’s presence has grown from five counties to nine (Centre, Clinton, Columbia, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, and Union.) The 80 miles of rail line it preserved through the North Shore and Nittany & Bald Eagle lines has grown to 215 miles with the inclusion of the Juniata Valley, Lycoming Valley, and Shamokin Valley railroads, and an extension of the Nittany. The dramatic success of the Authority’s short-line railroad system has been cited in national publications and by distinguished organizations at every level, private and public.