News – Page 30 – SEDA Council of Governments

Port Trevorton restaurant opens using COVID-19 and local bank loans

Posted on July 20, 2021July 20, 2021 by DNS Admin

Shaffer Restaurant and Soft Serve in Port Trevorton was purchased in December 2020 and the restaurant’s new name is Lauver’s Family Traditions Restaurant. Charlene Lauver is the new owner and operator of the business. Lauver’s Family Traditions Restaurant opened on January 5, 2021. Charlene partnered with Northumberland National Bank and SEDA-COG for the purchase of Shaffer Restaurant and Soft Serve. The restaurant industry has been hit very hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. In December 2020, restaurants were forced to operate at 50% capacity which qualified the SEDA-COG loan to fall under the federal Economic Development Administration’s (EDA)-COVID-19 eligibility.

Tom Rall of Northumberland National Bank was able to connect Charlene with local resources and made the introduction to SEDA-COG for funding. “We were pleased to partner with SEDA-COG and support a new local business while reducing the overall cost on interest for the life of the loan. We’re thrilled that everyone worked hard to help Charlene’s restaurant meet the timeline for the Sales Agreement.” The Northumberland National Bank carried the SEDA-COG portion of the project until the EDA –COVID funds could be disbursed.

Ms. Lauver was very happy with the SEDA-COG EDA COVID-19 loan’s low interest rate that is fixed for the life of the loan. “The savings on interest is a great help to my business,” Lauver said.

Ms. Lauver has over 12 years of experience as an owner and operator of a restaurant. She previously owned another restaurant until 2018, when she sold the business. When asked why she wanted to get back in the restaurant business, Ms. Lauver said “After taking a two-year break and working for other people, you miss the feeling of contentment and all of the customers.”

Lauver’s Family Traditions Restaurant is a full-service restaurant and ice cream stand. For people who would rather eat at home or have a nice picnic, they also offer take out service. They can cater your event as well. Currently the restaurant is only open Thursday – Sunday serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They also offer daily specials. The Sunday lunch special is a home cooked style meal. You can check them out on facebook or at https://lauvers-family-traditions-restaurant-llc.business.site/. For take-out, call the restaurant at (570) 374-2840.

For more information about SEDA-COG’s loans, please contact John Reichard at jreichard@seda-cog.org or Mike Morrison at mmorrison@seda-cog.org. To learn more about The Northumberland National Bank’s business lending, visit https://norrybank.com/business/loans/

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.

Final Notice: Public Hearing on Proposed Centre County CDBG Projects FFY 2021

Posted on July 16, 2021July 23, 2021 by DNS Admin

FINAL NOTICE

Notice is herby given that Centre County and the entitlement community of Bellefonte Borough, will conduct a public hearing on July 21, 2021, at 6:00 PM, in the Willowbank Office Building, 420 Holmes Street, Room #146, Bellefonte. The purpose of the hearing is to obtain citizen views, comments, complaints, or grievances on the proposed projects and use of FFY 2021 CDBG funds. This hearing 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 Mitzi Gallagher-Long, SEDA-COG 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 received, Centre County, along with Bellefonte Borough, propose to allocate CDBG funds to the following activities:

CENTRE COUNTY
1. Haines-Aaronsburg Water Well Rehab $128,500
2. Penn Township Water Storage Tank Rehabilitation $117,000
3. Eagle Creek Water and Sewer Project $52,392
4. Administration $62,000

TOTAL $359,892

BELLEFONTE BOROUGH
5. Streetscape Safety Improvements $6,977
6. Administration $20,000

TOTAL $116,977

No displacement of any persons are proposed. At least 70% of the funds will benefit low- to moderate-income residents.

The deadline to receive written comments on the proposed use of CDBG funds and/or any complaints or grievances regarding the CDBG funds is 4:00 PM, August 9, 2021, 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 the CDBG funds may be obtained by contacting Mitzi Gallagher-Long at the above. Written responses will be addressed within 15 working days when practicable.

On or about October 28, 2021, Centre County plans to submit an application to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for FFY 2021 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. The application documents will be available for public inspection in the Centre County Planning Office at the Willowbank Building, M-F, 8:30 AM- 5:00 PM. 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.

The Centre County Commissioners will consider approval of the FFY 2021 CDBG application submittal, at the regular public Commissioners Meeting, held on August 10, 2021, 10:00 AM, at the Willowbank building.

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Public Notice – Meeting Opportunity to Learn About Flood Mitigation Studies in Columbia County

Posted on July 12, 2021July 30, 2021 by DNS Admin

The Columbia County Commissioners are holding a public meeting for all residents, businesses, and municipal officials to learn more about the Fishing Creek Watershed and West End flood mitigation studies. The meeting will be on July 29, 2021, from 6:00pm-8:30pm at the Columbia County Office at the Sawmill Road Complex, 702 Sawmill Road, Bloomsburg, PA 17815 in the large meeting room. Entrance for the large meeting room is in the rear of the building.

The meeting schedule is as follows:

6:00-7:00pm – West End Flood Mitigation Study, presented by Borton-Lawson
7:00-7:30pm – Break/Social Opportunity
7:30-8:30pm – Fishing Creek Flood Mitigation Study – presented by HRG, Inc.

Reservations can be accepted online at https://bit.ly/2Urvt43 or by calling, Flood Resiliency Program Analyst Geralee Zeigler, SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) at 570-522-7218. Individuals who are interested in attending may register for the 6:00pm session or the 7:30pm session independently or for both sessions. SEDA-COG is assisting the County in the grant administration of the studies. Both projects have been financed by grants from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Commonwealth Financing Authority and the Department of Community and Economic Development.

Columbia County Commissioner Chris Young said, “The Commissioners are pleased to host this meeting as it is an opportunity for people in Columbia County to learn more about the flood mitigation studies in the Fishing Creek Watershed and the West End in the Town of Bloomsburg. We appreciate the efforts of Senator John Gordner and Representative Dave Millard to secure funding from the Commonwealth Financing Authority and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development for these studies.”

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 Kristen Moyer, community relations director, SEDA-Council of Governments, at 570-522-7212 or kmoyer@seda-cog.org.

Housing rehabilitation grants offer opportunity for general contractors

Posted on July 8, 2021July 8, 2021 by DNS Admin

With the potential to add another community to our housing rehabilitation program, 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.

SEDA-COG works with housing rehabilitation programs in the boroughs of Berwick, Jersey Shore, Milton, Mount Carmel, and South Williamsport; the cities of Lock Haven, Shamokin, and Sunbury; the Town of Bloomsburg and Mount Carmel Township; and Juniata, Montour, Snyder, Perry 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.

Contractors may contact SEDA-COG’s Danielle King at 570-524-4491 ext. 7325 or dking@seda-cog.org.