News – Page 39 – SEDA Council of Governments

February 2021 SEDA COG Board of Directors Meeting

Posted on February 23, 2021March 19, 2021 by DNS Admin

Notice is hereby given that the regular meeting of the SEDA COG Board of Directors has been scheduled for Wednesday, February 24, 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.

Highspeed internet now available in Perry County

Posted on February 19, 2021 by DNS Admin

Highspeed internet is up and running in and beyond Horse Valley, and the Perry County Commissioners are urging area residents and businesses to sign up.

As of Jan. 27, the coverage area includes Horse Valley, as well as south and southeast of the tower of the Blain area, and along 274 from the outskirts of New Germantown toward Cisna Run. Customers who are in a clear line of sight of Big Knob tower can sign up to receive service of up to 100 megabits.

Commissioner Brenda Watson said they want to alert residents that the project is completed and that they can sign up for fast internet service.

“This is such a crucial service for people during this time when many are working and learning from home,” Watson said.

Customers can choose from four packages providing speeds up to 40 megabits per second, all with no data caps. Interested customers may visit internet provider Centre WISP’s website at www.centrewisp.com and pick their county to see pricing and speeds, and to sign up. Centre WISP will not raise their prices for at least two years.

Perry County, along with Juniata and Mifflin counties, worked with SEDA-COG to secure state and federal funds to incentivize the internet expansion project and to select Centre WISP. Sens. Jake Corman and John DiSanto and Reps. John Hershey, Kerry Benninghoff, Rich Irvin, and Mark Keller helped secure the grants.

The funds incentivized Centre WISP to provide internet service where it wasn’t financially feasible to reach on their own, helping to bridge the last-mile funding gap. SEDA-COG is administering this Tri-County Broadband Project in collaboration with Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry counties.

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.

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.