Category: News

Homelessness prevention grant open to Centre County residents

Homelessness prevention grant open to Centre County residents

Posted on by DNS Admin

Residents at risk of losing their housing in Centre County municipalities, excluding State College Borough, may be eligible to receive assistance to prevent homelessness.

Assistance programs are being offered in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to support hard-hit residents. The grants can be used to pay rent or mortgage payments to prevent eviction or foreclosure and utility payments to prevent cutoff.

Applications are now being accepted. While there is no deadline to apply, the program is on a first-come, first-serve basis and ends when the funds are spent.

It is funded by the Community Development Block Grant-CARES Act (CDBG-CV), with a Centre County entitlement assistance program allocation of $45,377 and a Centre County on behalf of Bellefonte Borough CDBG-CV program allocation of $59,974.

Each eligible family may receive funding for up to three consecutive months of assistance, paid directly to the mortgage holder, landlord, or utility company on their behalf. Funds will not be given directly to families. Assistance is available for up to 100 days per family.

Applicants must be at risk of losing their housing and must provide documentation of it. Assistance can be made to families whose income is at or below the HOME/PART 5 income limits for Centre County at the time of application. Applicants must complete an income verification interview to qualify for this program.

Centre Helps is managing the assistance programs for Centre County and Bellefonte Borough and will provide the grants to Centre County residents, as allocated by Centre County and Bellefonte Borough. SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) is administering the CDBG funds and ensuring compliance.

For more information or to set up an appointment to apply, Centre County residents (excluding State College Borough) and Bellefonte Borough residents may contact Centre Helps Basic Needs Case Management at 814-272-1190.

SEDA-COG’s Community Development program administers 14 CDBG contracts for 28 communities. Over 35 years, the program has secured $120 billion for over 1,000 projects with its 12 dedicated staff.

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.

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Jersey Shore Borough residents may receive no-cost home repairs

Jersey Shore Borough residents may receive no-cost home repairs

Posted on by DNS Admin

Homeowners in the borough limits of Jersey Shore Borough may be eligible to receive up to $65,000 in home improvements from the HOME Existing Owner-Occupied Housing Program.

SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) is encouraging borough residents to apply now to get on the wait list. SEDA-COG manages the program on behalf of the borough.

Interested residents may call SEDA-COG’s Stacy Anderson at 800-326-9310, ext. 7215.

Eligible repairs include structural, roofing, plumbing, electrical, heating/furnace, window replacement, radon and lead-based paint mitigation, and energy-related improvements. 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 contract signing.

Homeowners can go through the process hassle-free with SEDA-COG managing it from start to finish, said Teri Provost, director of the agency’s Housing Rehabilitation program.

“Eligible homeowners can enjoy a rehabilitated home at no cost to them while we help them from start to finish, from obtaining a contractor, managing the project, to anything that may arise during or after the rehabilitation process,” Provost said.

Qualifications:

  • The home must be located within the Borough limits not just a Jersey Shore address.
  • 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;
  • If located in a flood zone, provide proof of flood insurance;
  • Live in the home an additional five years.

Additional requirements may apply.

Annual Gross Income Limits:

Family size: 1 – $36,350; 2 – $41,550; 3 – $46,750; 4 – $51,900; 5 – $56,100

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.

March 2021 SEDA COG Board of Directors Meeting

March 2021 SEDA COG Board of Directors Meeting

Posted on by DNS Admin

Notice is hereby given that the regular meeting of the SEDA COG Board of Directors has been scheduled for Wednesday, March 24th, at 1:00 p.m. In keeping with federal and state guidelines regarding COVID-19, this meeting will take place virtually, with the option to join via teleconference.

To attend this public meeting, please click on the following link:

https://meetings.ringcentral.com/j/6124697268 and follow the prompts.

To access via telephone, please call +1(470)869-2200 and enter Meeting ID: 612 469 7268. The meeting will be recorded.

COVID relief grant for Northumberland County hospitality businesses opens March 15

COVID relief grant for Northumberland County hospitality businesses opens March 15

Posted on by DNS Admin

A new COVID relief grant for eligible hospitality industry businesses opens for applications March 15, 2021.

The Northumberland County Commissioners are urging businesses to apply as soon as possible for the COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program (CHIRP) grants since funds may be quickly exhausted.

Businesses can apply at the Community Giving Foundation’s website at www.csgiving.org from March 15, 2021 until the funds are exhausted or June 15, 2021.

Grants will range from $5,000 to $50,000 and the funds will alleviate revenue losses and pay eligible operating expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Northumberland County Commissioner Sam Schiccatano said that the new grant program is a much-needed lifeline to businesses during this time.

“Our hospitality industry has been hit hard by the pandemic’s impacts, so this new grant program could greatly benefit our county – we hope many businesses apply to help give them more breathing room during these difficult times,” Schiccatano said.

The county has contracted with SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) to manage their $1 million grant program on their behalf. SEDA-COG will receive the applications and determine eligibility and grant amounts in partnership with Harry Mathias, a contractor with SEDA-COG who also served as a former math teacher and Central Columbia Schools superintendent. SEDA-COG also will disburse the funds to awarded businesses.

Mike Fisher, SEDA-COG assistant executive director, said SEDA-COG is honored to partner with its counties on this effort to help the local hospitality industry.

“We are honored to be able to further assist our counties in this way. We know that the economic effects of the pandemic have crippled our local hospitality industry, so we trust this will alleviate some of that pain. This pandemic has left gaping holes of need and we are here to help our communities and businesses meet those needs,” Fisher said.

Eligible hospitality industry businesses include hotels, restaurants, bars, and taverns. These businesses must fall within eligible industry codes which include the Accommodations subsector (721) or Food Services and Drinking Places subsector (722).

Eligibility includes, but is not limited to, having fewer than 300 full-time employees; a net worth that does not exceed $15 million; a 25% reduction in gross receipts in 2020 compared to 2019; and be located within Centre, Clinton, Columbia, Juniata, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, or Union counties.

Priority will be given to businesses that did not already receive COVID relief funds; that were subject to closure following the disaster emergency declared by Gov. Tom Wolf on March 6, 2020; or had more than a 50% reduction in gross receipts from March 31, 2020 to Dec. 31, 2020 compared to the same time period in 2019. For a full listing of eligibility requirements and prioritization guidelines, visit www.csgiving.org.

The grant program was created from Act 1 of 2021, which was passed Feb. 5. Statewide, it provides $145 million in funding assistance to the hospitality industry businesses adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic through the state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED).

For more information, contact SEDA-COG Grants Manager Betsy Lockwood at 570-522-7265 or elockwood@seda-cog.org.

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.