News – Page 37 – SEDA Council of Governments

SEDA-COG staffer chosen as vice chair of state floodplain manager association

Posted on February 16, 2021 by DNS Admin

Teri Provost, director of SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) Flood Resiliency program, has been selected as vice chair of the Pennsylvania Association of State Floodplain Managers (PAFPM) board.

Provost’s board appointment is from January to December this year.

Having worked for SEDA-COG, a community and economic development agency for 11 central Pennsylvania counties, for over 14 years collectively, she aims to bring the agency’s regional approach and her experience to the board.

“I am extremely grateful and honored to be nominated and appointed to this position,” Provost said. “I look forward to bringing a broader approach to the board and to flood resiliency work across the state, while developing my flood manager expertise and rapport with industry peers.”

SEDA-COG Executive Director Kim Wheeler said Provost’s expertise will benefit the association and the region.

“SEDA-COG is pleased to have a member of our staff appointed to the board at PAFPM. Teri’s expertise in floodplain management and experience working within the varying scales of municipal and regional government in Pennsylvania will certainly offer great value to their mission. They are fortunate to have Teri join in this leadership capacity,” Wheeler said.

The association is a statewide organization of floodplain managers, engineers, planners, local, state, and federal officials, and water resource professionals whose purpose is to:

Promote public awareness of integrated floodplain management;
Promote a liaison and to encourage the exchange of ideas and information among individuals and groups concerned with floodplain management, and to keep those individuals and groups well informed through educational and professional seminars; and
Inform concerned individuals and groups of pending floodplain management legislation, regulation, and related matters to advance the effective implementation of floodplain management.

Provost has been a member of the association since 2018.

SEDA-COG’s Flood Resiliency program was established in 2019 in response to increasingly severe impacts of flooding. The program’s goal is to help break the flood damage cycle and stop its drain on people and communities. SEDA-COG offers services related to flood resiliency and mitigation assistance both within and outside of its 11-county region.

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.

Homelessness prevention grant open to Juniata County residents

Posted on February 16, 2021 by DNS Admin

Residents at risk of losing their housing in Juniata County may be eligible to receive up to $5,000 to prevent homelessness.

The Resident Subsistence Program is being offered in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to support hard-hit residents and is funded with a $68,130 entitlement Community Development Block Grant-CARES Act (CDBG-CV).

The grants can be used to pay utility payments to prevent cutoff of service.

Each eligible family may receive up to $5,000, paid directly to the landlord, or utility company on their behalf. Funds will not be given directly to families. Assistance is available for up to 90 days per family.

Applications will be accepted from Feb. 15 to March 1.

SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) is managing the program on behalf of the county, administering the CDBG funds, and ensuring compliance. SEDA-COG will provide the grants to residents, as allocated by the county.

Applicants must be at risk of losing their housing. Homeowners must provide documentation from the mortgage holder showing payments in arrears and renters must sign the self-certification eviction form. Assistance can be made to families who are low-to-moderate income, based on federal guidelines. Applicants must complete an income verification interview to qualify for this program.

Applications and other necessary documentation can be found at https://www.juniataco.org/. Due to COVID-19, appointments will be done virtually or via phone. For anyone who does not have access to a computer or internet, please call 1-800-332-6701.

Please send all necessary application documentation to SEDA-COG’s Heather Kelly-Weisen by postal mail or email at 201 Furnace Road, Lewisburg, PA 17837, or Hkellyweisen@seda-cog.org no later than March 1.

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.

Homelessness prevention grant open to Milton residents

Posted on February 15, 2021 by DNS Admin

Residents at risk of losing their housing in Milton may be eligible to receive up to $5,000 to prevent homelessness.

The Resident Subsistence Program is being offered in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to support hard-hit residents and is funded with a $43,465 Northumberland County on behalf of Milton Borough entitlement Community Development Block Grant-CARES Act (CDBG-CV).

The grants can be used to pay utility payments to prevent cutoff of service and rent/mortgage payments to prevent eviction.

Each eligible family may receive up to $5,000, 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.

Applications will be accepted beginning Feb. 22. While there is no deadline to apply, the program is on a first-come, first-serve basis and ends when the funds are spent.

The Salvation Army will provide the grants to Milton residents, as allocated by the Borough of Milton. The Salvation Army is managing the program on behalf of the Borough. SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) is administering the CDBG funds and ensuring compliance.

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 HUD Section 8 income limits for Northumberland County at the time of application. Applicants must complete an income verification interview to qualify for this program.

For more information or to set up an appointment to apply, Milton residents may contact Valerie Harris at 570-742-4231 or email Valerie.Harris@USE.SalvationArmy.org.

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.

Public comment welcome on regional transportation issues

Posted on February 11, 2021 by DNS Admin

Residents in an eight-county area of central Pennsylvania are invited to give their input and share transportation issues to help shape the region’s next major transportation plan.

The SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is updating its Long Range Transportation Plan which proposes practical solutions to transportation safety, maintenance, congestion, and mobility needs for Clinton, Columbia, Juniata, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, and Union counties.

The plan identifies transportation needs, goals, projects, and policies for a 20-year planning horizon, and is required to be updated at five-year intervals. The plan establishes the vision and objectives that guide public decisions affecting transportation facilities and services in the region.

Jim Saylor, director of SEDA-COG’s Transportation Planning program, said one of the best ways the public can provide input is through SEDA-COG’s online transportation survey.

“The survey only takes about 10 minutes to complete but it provides valuable information for us. Are there issues we’ve missed? Does what we’ve gathered reflect your experience?” Saylor said. “This the first time we’ve asked for input using a tool like this and it will help us complete the plan and better focus on identifying transportation needs.”

The survey is open now through March 3 and can be found at a website dedicated to the plan: https://lrtp-seda-cog.hub.arcgis.com/

The website also features an interactive map that shows proposed projects, traffic volumes and congestion, bridge and pavement conditions, freight generators, safety problem areas, flooding and rockfall prone areas, and railroads.

Don Kiel, senior principal program analyst for SEDA-COG’s Transportation program, is leading the planning effort.

“We’ve added new data that people can look at and to help focus feedback on the region’s transportation system and proposed new approaches to ranking our regional transportation projects for priority funding. We are employing new and better data that is important in selecting or prioritizing projects,” Kiel said.

Additional public outreach will occur from March to April, along with plan finalization. The finalized plan will be up for adoption at the May public MPO meeting.

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.