News – Page 58 – SEDA Council of Governments

Public Hearing Notice: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT – CORONA VIRUS RESPONSE (CDBG-CV)

Posted on May 7, 2020July 17, 2020 by DNS Admin

The City of Sunbury plans to submit an application to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for Federal Community Development Block Grant-Corona Virus (CDBG-CV) funds. For CDBG-CV 2020 funds, the City of Sunbury has been allocated an estimated $193,732. These funds are to be used in the prevention, preparedness or response to the COVID 19 Pandemic.

A Public Hearing for the City of Sunbury will be held on May 21, 2020, at 6:00 PM. Keeping with federal and state guidelines regarding COVID 19, this meeting will take place as a virtual video web and tele conference. The public is invited to observe and participate in the workshop as follows: To access via web video, type the link: https://meetings.ringcentral.com/j/8383951780. To access via telephone dial +1(470)8692200 and enter Meeting ID: 838 395 1780. The meeting will be recorded. The meeting platform is accessible to persons with disabilities. If accommodations are needed for those with special needs related to language, sight, or hearing, please call 570-524-4491, ext. 7279 at least five days in advance.

What needs, related to COVID 19, have emerged in the City and need addressed?

Eligible projects must:
Benefit low-moderate income populations
or
Respond to Urgent Need
or
Reduce Slum/blight
All projects must prevent, prepare for, or respond to COVID 19

Eligible Project Examples Include:
Public Services – food banks, senior centers, homeless shelters
Purchase of PPE for public facilities
Temporary Rental or Mortgage Assistance

The Public is encouraged to attend the hearing on May 21 at 6 PM and present project ideas. In addition, the public may present ideas to Mitzi Gallagher-Long by email: mgallagherlong@seda-cog.org or by phone at 570-524-4491, ext. 7279

Regional Transportation Priority List open for public comment, SEDA-COG to conduct public comment meeting

Posted on May 4, 2020 by DNS Admin

Regional transportation priority list open for public comment
SEDA-COG to conduct public comment meeting

From now through May 31, the public has an opportunity to review and comment on a draft list of regionally agreed-upon priority transportation projects for Clinton, Columbia, Juniata, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, and Union counties.

As part of the public involvement process, a public meeting and information session on the draft 2021-2024 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. on May 13.

Because of COVID-19 precautions, the public meeting will be conducted virtually, with an opportunity for questions. The meeting can be joined via teleconference or videoconference using the following credentials:
Teleconference: (267) 332-8737; Conference ID: 747467733
Videoconference: https://meet.lync.com/pagov/cmullins/G0C89D06.

If special needs accommodations are needed, please contact the SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) at 570-524-4491 at least five days before the meeting date so accommodations can be made.

The draft TIP can be viewed at SEDA-COG’s transportation website, www.seda-cog.org/departments/transportation by clicking on Transportation Improvement Program.

All comments on the draft TIP must be received by 4 p.m. on May 31 and must include the name and address of the commenter.

The SEDA-COG MPO works with local governments, businesses, and nonprofits to establish the region’s transportation priorities. Those priorities are detailed in the TIP, updated by SEDA-COG every two years in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and local project stakeholders.

Proposed TIP projects are valued at $376 million over the next four years. Some projects on the TIP include:

• The Central Susquehanna Valley Transportation (CSVT) project.
• Major traffic signal improvements are planned for Route 150 in Clinton County and corridor-wide safety improvements are planned for Route 54 in Montour County.
• Repaving is planned for portions of Farrandsville Road in Clinton County, Routes 11 and 339 in Columbia County, Route 522 and Electric Avenue in Mifflin County, Interstate 80 in Montour County, and Route 54 in Northumberland County.
• Rehabilitation or replacement of many deficient state and local bridges across the region.

The TIP includes 23 local bridges ─ one in Snyder County, two in Mifflin County, three in Clinton and Montour counties, four in Columbia and Northumberland counties, and six in Union County. Additional new local bridge projects may be addressed through the TIP in the future, using cost savings or special initiatives.

A Public Transit TIP also has been drafted by the SEDA-COG MPO and area transit agencies and includes transit projects worth $3.2 million for Call A Ride Service Inc. in Mifflin and Juniata counties and Geisinger Health System for the LIFE Geisinger Program.

Below, Table 1 shows a funding summary for the SEDA-COG MPO region by county and transit operator for each of the four TIP years, listed by federal fiscal year.

SEDA-COG Secures $150,000 Grant Funding for Rural Broadband

Posted on May 1, 2020 by DNS Admin

Lewisburg – A $150,000 grant was awarded to SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) to supplement its ongoing high-speed internet access efforts to three rural counties.

The U.S. Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant will help fund wireless networks in Juniata, Mifflin, and Perry counties where it’s not financially feasible for internet service providers to reach on their own.

John Brown, SEDA-COG’s executive director, said this is a critical service needed especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are thankful this grant award comes during the time it is most needed, with many people working from home, and businesses needing this essential internet service,” Brown said. “That’s why we’re here – to meet businesses and communities’ needs through every type of economic reality.”

Scott Kramer, SEDA-COG’s principal Information Technology specialist, said reducing the cost of providing broadband helps close the gaps for rural areas.

“The key is to incentivize the internet service providers to provide broadband services to our rural areas,” Kramer said.

Based on meetings with counties and Federal Communications Commission data, the target areas for the wireless networks include the Village of Honey Grove in Juniata County, the South River Road area (southwest of Mcveytown) in Mifflin County, and the Horse Valley Road area in Perry County.

The project will incentivize internet service providers in expanding their service to speeds of 25/3 or better to at least five businesses and 210 households. It will help retain 18 jobs and create two new jobs.

SEDA-COG will provide a total of $147,000 per county to internet service providers from the ARC grant and low-interest revolving loans. Per county, the ARC grant will be used as $47,000 reimbursable grants for internet service providers and the loans total $95,000 from the Pennsylvania Keystone Communities Program.

SEDA-COG published the request for proposals on March 6 and collected proposals from internet service providers today, May 1.

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.

Lewisburg Business Secures $18K Contract with SEDA-COG Partnership

Posted on April 30, 2020 by DNS Admin

LEWISBURG – In a time when businesses are struggling to survive because of the COVID-19 pandemic, CSSI Technologies Inc. is expanding their business to selling to the government in partnership with SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG).

The Lewisburg-based mobile computing hardware and software company recently secured a 3-year contract of $18,472 to sell software to the Philadelphia-based office of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

The software, “Bartender,” is used for designing, printing, and managing barcodes, RFID tags and documents. It is the best-in-class software that allows companies to design and manage their barcode labels.

SEDA-COG worked with CSSI so they can sell to the state and federal governments, involving multiple registration processes, certifications, trainings, and bid notifications. This included obtaining a PA COSTARS and PA Invitation to Qualify contract, which will position CSSI to sell to local and state government agencies.

CSSI President Joe Tosolt said SEDA-COG made the process simple for them and described it as a big “win” in these tumultuous times.

“SEDA-COG spent a lot of time helping us through this process,” Tosolt said. “Particularly in this era right now, when COVID is causing havoc on businesses, having another source of sales is essential.”

Tosolt said Robert Brown, director of SEDA-COG’s Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), was quick to respond to their needs and expertly guided them through the process.

“Trying to get into government contracting from the outside is not intuitive and Rob provided a lot of guidance. He has been extremely responsive to us. It would have been very difficult to navigate it otherwise. We’re thankful for support and help and responsiveness from SEDA-COG especially in this time,” Tosolt said.

Brown said SEDA-COG, as a community and economic development agency, empowers businesses to prosper – and that many businesses aren’t aware that selling to the government is the nation’s largest marketplace.

“Businesses have a great opportunity to expand and diversify their sales by partnering with us to sell to the government. Each year, the federal government alone purchases over $400 billion in products and services from businesses. We can help your business tap into that opportunity,” Brown said.

Serving the Mid-Atlantic region with a staff of 12, CSSI powers business productivity with the smart integration of mobile computing, barcoding/RFID, and customized business software. They specialize in working closely with each customer to create high-impact solutions in demanding environments such as warehousing, distribution, manufacturing, transportation, and logistics.

“CSSI powers productivity by applying technology tools to make businesses more efficient and productive. We do everything from process consulting to custom programming to integration so that our customers get the maximum bang out of their investment,” Tosolt said.

SEDA-COG’s PTAC helps companies explore and compete in the local, state, and federal government marketplace. For more information about the SEDA-COG PTAC, visit www.seda-cog.org/ptac/ or contact Brown at rbrown@seda-cog.org.

The PTAC is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the Defense Logistics Agency and by a grant through the Partnerships for Regional Economic Performance (PREP), from the PA Department of Community and Economic Development.