News – Page 38 – SEDA Council of Governments

Homelessness prevention grant deadline extended for Juniata County residents

Posted on March 2, 2021 by DNS Admin

The Juniata County Commissioners have extended the deadline to apply for a homelessness prevention grant to March 29. The previous deadline was March 1.

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).

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

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.

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 29.

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.

Businesses: Survey open for more COVID assistance

Posted on March 1, 2021 by DNS Admin

Businesses in an 11-county region have the opportunity to complete a COVID-19 impact survey whose results will help SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) further respond to the needs of businesses during this time.

The survey has been developed to gauge the impact of the pandemic on overall business operations, as well as if and how businesses have successfully adjusted.

The survey questions include, but are not limited to, if the business and their staff have adequate internet access; adaptations they’ve made; types of services and assistance they need; and if they are interested in collaborating with other business owners.

It takes less than 10 minutes to complete and businesses are asked to complete the survey by April 15.

Businesses should be located within the following counties: Centre, Clinton, Columbia, Juniata, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder, and Union.

SEDA-COG is a Lewisburg-based agency that builds strong economies and communities by partnering with, investing in, and revitalizing local companies and communities.

Betsy Lockwood, SEDA-COG grants manager, said this is a tool to provide further assistance to businesses.

“While we have helped hundreds of businesses since the start of COVID-19, we created this survey realizing that businesses are still struggling one year into the pandemic. It is essential to capture the type of help and level of assistance businesses in our region need to continue fostering our local economy. The results also will identify ongoing and future responses needed during these unprecedented times,” Lockwood said. “The pandemic has created large gaps of need, and one of SEDA-COG’s primary roles is to bridge those gaps and help businesses and communities to meet their needs and empower them to reach their goals.”

The survey can be taken at http://bit.ly/37K4vII.

For more information about the survey, contact Frankie Hockenbrocht at fhockenbrocht@seda-cog.org or 570-522-7289.

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.

Discounted elevation certificates for Lewisburg homeowners

Posted on February 23, 2021 by DNS Admin

Lewisburg homeowners who live in the 100-year floodplain can get discounted elevation certificates that can reduce their flood insurance costs.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) elevation certificates cost $700 for these homeowners. This is a discounted group price that SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) negotiated with Orangeville Surveying Consultants Inc. Without the discount, the rate can be as expensive as $2,000.

Residents must own and occupy their homes.

Geralee Zeigler, a program analyst in SEDA-COG’s Flood Resiliency program, explained how elevation certificates can reduce flood insurance premiums.

“Your insurance agent will use the elevation certificate to compare your building’s elevation to the Base Flood Elevation shown on the map being used for rating and determine the cost to cover your flood risk,” Zeigler said. “If the elevation certificate shows your property at a high elevation, it will lower your flood insurance cost.”

Zeigler said the certificates also can help when homeowners want to sell their homes.

“Not only can elevation certificates greatly reduce flood insurance premiums, they also make a home more attractive for buyers since the buyer will know where the house stands in relation to the floodplain and knowing they’ll have less of a flood insurance cost,” Zeigler said.

Interested homeowners can contact Zeigler at gzeigler@seda-cog.org or 570-524-4491 ext. 7218.

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/.

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.

Small business loans through SEDA-COG to waive fees, first several payments

Posted on February 23, 2021February 26, 2021 by DNS Admin

A loan program that helps small businesses is providing further relief by waiving fees and the first several months of payments on certain loans.

SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) offers the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 504 loan program throughout Pennsylvania which features fixed rates, long terms, and low down payments. Now, certain fees associated with the loan are being waived because of the CARES Act passed late last year. The fee elimination lowers the out-of-pocket cost to the borrower and the effective rate of the 504 loan from the rates that are quoted.

The SBA also will pay the first three months of payments on behalf of the borrower for loans approved by the SBA by Sept. 30, depending on availability of funds.

Doug Wilburn, director of SEDA-COG’s Business Finance program, said this is welcome news for many small businesses that are struggling through the pandemic.

“Small businesses are the backbone of the economy, and we hear from so many clients how the SBA 504 loan program gives their business the boost it needs to grow by freeing up working capital. Now, this new fee and payment waiver gives businesses breathing room, especially during these difficult times,” Wilburn said.

The SBA 504 loan program can meet many growing businesses’ needs, including purchase of an existing building, new construction, or a building renovation. It also can be used to buy equipment and refinance existing real estate or equipment debt.

Businesses can finance up to 40% of a project at a long-term fixed rate. Lower down payment for as little as 10% helps businesses preserve working capital. Real estate purchases get a 20- or 25-year term and amortization with no balloon payment. Equipment purchases can also be financed through the 504 program with a 10-year term and amortization.

Eligible applicants include for-profit businesses that occupy a majority of their space with a net worth of less than $15 million and less than $5 million in profit after taxes.

For more information about SBA 504 loans through SEDA-COG, contact John Reichard at jreichard@seda-cog.org or 570-850-0195.

SBA 504 10-year effective rate:

Standard: 2.45%
Refinance: 2.48%

SBA 504 20-year effective rate:

Standard: 2.72%
Refinance: 2.76%

SBA 504 25-year effective rate:

Standard: 2.76%
Refinance: 2.80%

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.