News – Page 17 – SEDA Council of Governments

SEDA-COG’s Housing Development Corporation Receives Historic Award

Posted on May 12, 2022 by

Today, SEDA-COG’s Housing Development Corporation (HDC) was awarded the Housing Pioneer Award during the Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) Commonwealth Housing Forum – the first ever organization to receive the award.

The goal has always been the same for SEDA-COG’s HDC: provide and maintain quality, safe, and affordable housing options for our region’s elderly population. This award is a reflection of the leadership and dedication shown by the HDC for over 20 years.

High Street Manor in Selinsgrove was the first project completed by SEDA-COG’s HDC in 1998. Since then, the HDC has completed nine additional housing facilities in Dalmatia, Danville, Flemington, Lewistown, Montoursville, and Williamsport. The HDC coordinates projects to buy land, secures financing, and oversees construction of rental housing for the area’s elderly population, especially those on fixed incomes. They also manage the rental complexes. Once completed, the apartments allow senior citizens to safely downsize while maintaining their independence.

“We do everything we can to help them, from troubleshooting cell phones to setting up remote classes on health and wellbeing. At the end of the day, we are doing everything we can to help the 62 and older populations live their best life at an affordable price,” says Leslie Osgood, Chief of Rental Operations.

PHFA’s biennial Housing Forum provides professional development opportunities for people working in the housing field. Attendees participate in a variety of focused educational sessions and hear from nationally recognized speakers. The 2022 program of events included 21 educational sessions, two keynote presentations, an Abraham Lincoln presenter who spoke on the topic of leadership, a tour of PHFA’s Passive House and LEED Platinum office addition, and a popular networking event. The conference ran May 11-12 and drew more than 450 attendees. This year, PHFA celebrated 25 years of producing its housing forums.

In addition to SEDA-COG, two others were also bestowed the Pioneer Award:

Jane Downing, senior program officer, economic and community development, The Pittsburgh Foundation, Pittsburgh
Ira Goldstein, president of policy solutions, Reinvestment Fund, Philadelphia.

“Our Housing Pioneer Awards are not bestowed often, which makes them a special and distinct honor,” said PHFA’s Executive Director and CEO Robin Wiessmann. “The two people and one organization being honored today have distinguished themselves over decades as champions for affordable housing. This recognition is intended to honor and thank them, and hopefully inspire others to follow in their footsteps.”

Osgood reflected on the historic nature of receiving this award as an organization.

“This work would not be possible if not for the tireless dedication of Ben Gair and Vanessa Hartman, Rental Housing Managers, our on-site building managers, and our maintenance staff. Typically, this award goes to an individual in our field. I am so proud that the PHFA is recognizing the village that it takes to provide seniors a safe and reliable place to live.”

Kim Wheeler, Executive Director of SEDA-COG, said, “The SEDA-COG HDC has been an invaluable resource to our area’s seniors since day one. We are beyond honored to be the first organization receiving this recognition from our peers, and we look forward to continuing to provide affordable housing options for the seniors in our region for many years to come.”

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.

New Hire in SEDA-COG’s Community Development Program

Posted on May 12, 2022 by

SEDA-COG recently welcomed Cheryl Kahl as a Fiscal Assistant in the Community Development Program.

Kahl has over twenty years of experience in accounting and professional services. She has previously worked as the Union County Treasurer, Chief, & Senior Deputy in the Treasurer & Tax Claim Bureau in the office of the Union County Commissioners. Kahl also has significant experience working in a multitude of roles for local banks. She graduated from Middleburg Area High School and received training from the American Bankers Association – American Institute of Banking.

Lewisburg Borough Seeks Proposals on Flood Mitigation Study

Posted on April 25, 2022 by

The Borough of Lewisburg is seeking proposals from firms that wish to provide consulting services to undertake a Borough-wide flood mitigation study to improve the Borough’s ability to withstand a flooding event, minimize damages, and recover rapidly. This project has been financed in part by a Strategic Management Planning Program Grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Department of Community and Economic Development.

The Borough is working in cooperation with SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) to solicit Professional Service Providers to undertake the study. The Request for Proposals (RFP) describes the project, the anticipated scope of services, the required consultant expertise and experience, and the information that must be included in the proposal. Failure to submit information in accordance with the RFP requirements and procedures may be cause for disqualification.

Required proposal format details may be obtained by contacting SEDA-COG’s Geralee Zeigler, Program Analyst, at gslotterback@seda-cog.org.

Proposal details are also available at https://seda-cog.org/request-for-proposals/

The Borough of Lewisburg will evaluate written proposals on the basis of thoroughness, completeness, content, experience, and capacity. The Borough and/or its Agent may conduct interviews with the top ranked proposers.

“Floods have always been a part of life here in Lewisburg. In order to sustain the health and well-being of our citizens for years to come, we have to be proactive in mitigating potential flood damage. This an opportunity for us to learn more about how to protect our homes, our residents, and the community we all love,” said Steven Beattie, Lewisburg Borough’s Community Development and Grant Manager.

Proposals will be accepted until 11:00 AM prevailing time on Tuesday, May 17, 2022, at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud. Proposals shall be on the forms required, sealed and clearly marked on the outside, “Consulting Services Proposal – Flood Mitigation Study”, and submitted to Mr. Steven Beattie, Lewisburg Borough, 55 South Fifth Street, Lewisburg, PA 17837.

Proposals that are faxed or e-mailed cannot be accepted.

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/

For more information, please contact Elaine Stauder, communications coordinator, SEDA-Council of Governments, at 570-522-7249 or estauder@seda-cog.org

SEDA-COG Announces New Director of Transportation Planning

Posted on April 12, 2022 by DNS Admin

SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) is pleased to announce that Steve Herman, an 18-year staffer, is the new director of its Transportation Planning program.

Herman began his career at SEDA-COG in 2002 as an intern, rising through to a position as a GIS Technician, then Transportation Planner, and now the Transportation Planning Program Director. He has led the development of many transportation plans and studies over his career that have resulted in a safer and more efficient transportation system for its eight-county Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) region. He’s helped identify transportation issues and develop solutions that increase mobility, accessibility, and quality of life for SEDA-COG’s residents and visitors.

Throughout Herman’s career, he’s been especially proud to play a part in advancing the Central Susquehanna Valley Transportation (CSVT) Project – an over $800 million project that will improve safety, relieve congestion, and accommodate growth in the region – and in preparing the eight-county MPO region’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) that regularly invests more than $100 million per year for key transportation upgrades. He has provided local governments with technical assistance in preparing funding applications and implementing their proposals, as well as coordinated the PennDOT Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) training and technical assistance offerings for SEDA-COG region municipalities. In addition, Herman has served or been appointed to several statewide work groups and advisory committees that evaluate plans, programs, and trends. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).

Herman’s major goals as director include sustaining the vital working relationship SEDA-COG has developed with both the public and local governments. “I want to maintain and build on the excellence of our transportation planning program in helping to ensure our region is as safe, strong, and vibrant as it can be. I would like to continue and boost our internal and external collaboration to leverage available resources and support greater implementation of priority plans and projects. I want to engage in multidisciplinary planning and actively listen to the needs and ideas of planners, transportation industry experts, local governments, business leaders, non-profit organizations, and the general public,” Herman said.

SEDA-COG Executive Director Kim Wheeler said Herman has all the qualities one could look for in a successful leader. “Steve brings with him into this role 20 years of invaluable experience. He has spent his entire career dedicated to making our region a better place to live, work, and travel upon. He has the vision and the initiative to continue to advance our region’s transportation system and options in a way that is both proactive and in response to the growing needs and interests of today’s users. I look forward to working with Steve in this new capacity,” Wheeler said.

He earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Geography and Environmental Planning from Bloomsburg University in 2002. Herman stressed the role that transportation plays in the overall success of the SEDA-COG area.
“Transportation is essential to our region’s economic competitiveness, accessibility to goods and services, and overall quality of life. Our residents must be able to reliably and safely travel to their jobs, medical care, schools, shopping destinations, entertainment venues, recreation amenities, and more. I enjoy being part of the process to make sure our transportation system is well-maintained, that it is cohesive, and that it functions well for all people,” Herman said.

Through SEDA-COG, counties and municipalities in Central Pennsylvania have a voice in the state’s transportation plans. Working together with SEDA-COG, local government, the business community, and non-profit organizations establish the region’s transportation priorities. Those priorities are detailed in the TIP, updated by SEDA-COG every two years and often amended. There are numerous opportunities for public participation in developing the TIP, including its periodic review by SEDA-COG’s MPO. The TIP encompasses the first four years of the Commonwealth’s Twelve-Year Transportation Program.

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.