New Hire in SEDA-COG’s Housing Rehabilitation Program

SEDA-COG recently welcomed Danielle Rippon as a Program Analyst in their Housing Rehabilitation Program.


Rippon has over fifteen years of experience providing administrative support, managing client data, and supervising accounts payable. She was previously an Administrative Assistant for Shield HealthCare in Valencia, CA. She was also the Electronic Data Lead for DiscoverReady. Rippon is a graduate of Mifflinburg Area School District.


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.

For more information, please contact Elaine Stauder, communications coordinator, SEDA-Council of Governments, at 570-522-7429 or estauder@seda-cog.org

SEDA-COG’s 2022 Board Officers Elected

Board officers for SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) were elected at the Dec. 7 public meeting.


The 2022 SEDA-COG Board of Directors’ officers will be Mifflin County Commissioner Kevin Kodish, president; Centre County Commissioner Mark Higgins, first vice president; Montour County Commissioner Ken Holdren, second vice president; Larry Reisinger of Perry County, secretary; and Dennis Van Benthuysen of Snyder County, treasurer.


The 2021 officers were Juniata County Commissioner Mark Partner, president; Kodish, first vice president; Higgins, second vice president; Reisinger, secretary; and Van Benthuysen, treasurer.


Kodish said he is looking forward to serving as board president in the new year.


“Serving as board president for 2022, I look forward to continued service with our dedicated board of directors and our professional staff. Together, we will continue to administer existing programs and identify new opportunities to encourage and support long-term economic growth. These efforts serve to strengthen the quality of life throughout our 11-county SEDA-COG region.”


SEDA-COG Executive Director Kim Wheeler thanked outgoing board President Mark Partner for his service to the agency.


“Board President Partner has done an exemplary job leading throughout unprecedented times. We deeply appreciate his guidance,” Wheeler said. “We are eager to see what we can accomplish with Commissioner Kodish at the helm.”
Board member appointments and reappointments took place in January. The SEDA-COG board is a 22-member, county-based policy board representing both public and private sectors.


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.

For more information, please contact Elaine Stauder, communications coordinator, SEDA-Council of Governments, at 570-522-7429 or estauder@seda-cog.org

Public Notice: Modification on proposed use of Union County’s Federal Fiscal Year

POST/PUBLICATION DATE: January 28, 2022
CONTACT: Susan Martin (570) 524-4491, ext. 7236

NOTICE OF MODIFICATION ON PROPOSED USE OF UNION COUNTY’S FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR
2020-CV COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG-CV) FUNDS

Notice is hereby given that Union County, and Union County on behalf of Kelly Township, will conduct a public hearing at 10:00 AM on Monday, February 7, 2022, at the Union County Government Center, Commissioners’ Board Room, 155 North 15th Street, Lewisburg, PA 17837. The purpose of the hearing is to obtain citizen views and comments on Union County’s proposed FFY 2020-CV CDBG budget modifications and to receive any comments or grievances regarding Union County’s CDBG funds. This meeting is accessible to individuals with disabilities and/or for persons with Limited English Proficiency.

If you wish to attend and require special accommodations due to disability or Limited English Proficiency, please notify the CDBG Administrator, Mitzi Gallagher-Long, at least 72 hours in advance of the scheduled hearing at 570-524-4491 or 1-800-332-6701, TTY: 1-800-654-5984, TDD: 1-800-654-5988 or mgallagherlong@seda-cog.org, to make such arrangements.

Based on the amount of funds to be received, Union County, along with Kelly Township, propose to allocate CDBG funds as follows:

UNION COUNTY
FFY 2020-CV

1. USCAA Rent/Mortgage/Utility/Food Assistance Program
Current Budget: $40,000.00 | Budget Change ($40,000.00) | Modified Budget $0.00

2. White Deer Commons HVAC CV project
Current Budget: $0.00 | Budget Change $40,000.00 | Modified Budget $40,000.00

KELLY TOWNSHIP
FFY 2020-CV

1. CAA Kelly Township Assistance Program
Current Budget: $35,000.00 Budget Change ($35,000.00) Modified Budget $0.00

2. Salvation Army Kelly Township Assistance Program
Current Budget: $23,310.00 Budget Change $(23,310.00) Modified Budget $0.00

3. Kelly Apartments HVAC CV project
Current Budget: $0.00 Budget Change $58,310.00 Modified Budget $58,310.00

No displacement of any persons is proposed. The activities modified will benefit 100% low- to moderate-income residents.

The deadline to receive written comments on Union County’s proposed use of CDBG and/or any complaints or grievances regarding Union County’s CDBG funds is 4:00 PM, February 14, 2022, and must be forwarded to:

Mitzi Gallagher Long
SEDA-COG Project Coordinator
201 Furnace Road
Lewisburg, PA 17837,
or at the numbers or email above.

Additional information on the public hearing, the CDBG program, and/or how to express any complaints or grievances regarding Union County’s CDBG funds may be obtained by contacting:

Mitzi Gallagher-Long, at the above contact information.

Written responses will be addressed within 15 working days when practicable.

The Union County Commissioners will consider approval of the CDBG budget modification submittal at the regular public meeting to be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, February 15, 2022, at the Union County Government Center, Commissioners’ Board Room, 155 North 15th Street, Lewisburg, PA 17837.

In no case shall the County Commissioners disclose any information concerning the financial status of any program participant(s) which may be required to document program eligibility or benefit. Furthermore, the County Commissioners shall not disclose any information which may, in the opinion of the County Commissioners, be deemed of a confidential nature.

Übersetzer sind für die öffentliche Sitzung auf Anfrage erhältlich.

Traductores estarán disponibles en las reunions públicas por petición.

Plan GoShamokin Recognized by 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania

During the 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania Commonwealth Awards, held virtually on December 15, 2021, the Plan GoShamokin project received the 2020 & 2021 Plans and Policy Initiative Award.


As stated on the 10,000 Friends website, the Commonwealth Awards honor projects, plans and initiatives that demonstrate smart growth, community resilience, and equity principles in action. The awards recognize individuals, businesses, and organizations with the vision to find new uses for vacant and underutilized land, increase opportunities and access for all in communities on the rise, and breathe new life into older neighborhoods.


According to The Shamokin Area Implementation Plan, “GoShamokin responds to a community driven desire to proactively reinvent itself. The plan focuses on a combination on of public/civic realm investments in infrastructure and public spaces combined with programs and resources that can be tapped to partner with the private sector to stimulate building rehabilitation and business expansion. This layered approach to economic development emphasizing ‘placemaking’ fosters the greatest potential for creating jobs, reducing crime, enhancing community pride, and elevating the overall quality-of-life for all of Shamokin’s residents.”


Sean Garrigan, the Principal with Stromberg Garrigan and Associates (SGA) – the lead firm contracted with the City to prepare the plan, submitted the plan for consideration of an award. “SGA was honored that 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania awarded our Plan GoShamokin project a Commonwealth Award. SGA was supported by Urban Partners and the KSA Group on the effort; Plan GoShamokin was completed in October 2020 for SEDA-COG on behalf of the City of Shamokin and provided a 5-year implementation plan for economic revitalization in downtown Shamokin. SGA is currently working to create a pocket park in Shamokin called Illumination Station, a direct result of the recommendations in the plan. Thank you to 10,000 Friends for the honor,” said Garrigan.


“The GoShamokin plan has provided direction for the momentum of many different organizations at work in the city. The recognition is a huge honor and it’s exciting to see so many aspects from the GoShamokin Plan happening – including the Illumination Station Pocket Park, Hydrology & Hydraulic (H&H) Study, U.S. EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant, Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Book Rewrite, and more,” said Betsy Kramer, Revitalization Coordinator at SEDA-COG.


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.

For more information, please contact Elaine Stauder, communications coordinator, SEDA-Council of Governments, at 570-522-7429 or estauder@seda-cog.org