News – Page 60 – SEDA Council of Governments

Lycoming Valley Railroad Grade Crossing Work to start in late May

Posted on May 14, 2020 by DNS Admin

The SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority (JRA) will reconstruct two railroad grade crossings, which are part of the Lycoming Valley Railroad operations.

Canfields Lane in Montoursville and Commerce Park Drive in Williamsport will be down to single-lane traffic during construction.

The Canfields Lane grade crossing construction starts May 18 and both lanes will reopen May 22.

The crossing is adjacent to the Glenn O. Hawbaker asphalt plant and Jersey Shore Steel’s Met-Fab. The construction will also affect river boat access, and Loyalsock Township parks.

Work on the Commerce Park Drive grade crossing at the Faxon Exit will start May 29 and paving is projected to be completed on June 3. Access to Water Tower Square, Planet Fitness, and other businesses will continue over a flagged, temporary one-lane crossing.

Jannotti Rail Consulting Inc. is the track engineer, Railroad Constructors, Inc. from New Jersey is the track contractor, and Glenn O. Hawbaker is the paving contractor. The SEDA-COG JRA owns the track and Lycoming Valley Railroad is the operator.

The SEDA-COG JRA was formed in 1983 by the forward-looking efforts of its eight member counties to save rail lines and service abandoned by Conrail. The JRA’s public-private partnership was recognized by the World Bank as a model for public-private partnerships to stimulate rural economic development. Since 2004, the JRA has invested or leveraged over $46 million in rail capital projects with over 40 public and private partners. For more information, visit www.sedacograil.org.

SEDA-COG Housing Rehab Work Offers Opportunity for General Contractors

Posted on May 11, 2020 by DNS Admin

With Gov. Tom Wolf allowing construction to resume, general contractors have an opportunity to perform housing rehabilitation work with SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG).

Teri Provost, director of SEDA-COG’s Housing Rehabilitation, said the program benefits both the local community and workforce.

“We know that along with many others, contractors’ workload has been hard hit by the effects of the pandemic. With our housing rehabilitation work, we not only help our communities by rejuvenating housing stock, but we invest in our workforce by bidding out to local contractors,” Provost said.

Contractors are especially needed in Bloomsburg, Milton, and Shamokin. SEDA-COG also does housing rehabilitation work in the Borough of Berwick, Jersey Shore Borough, City of Lock Haven, Mount Carmel Borough, Mount Carmel Township, South Williamsport Borough, and the City of Sunbury, and in Juniata, Montour, Snyder, and Sullivan counties.

Housing rehabilitation bids typically range from $20,000 to $65,000, with timely payment to contractors.

Contractor work may include structural, roofing, plumbing, electrical, heating/furnace, window replacement, radon mitigation, energy-related improvements, and, if they have certain certifications, lead-based paint mitigation.

“Contractors can choose where they want to work, so there’s tremendous work flexibility,” Provost said. “Our work is year-round, so we offer a steady flow of projects. And if they don’t want to perform lead-based paint mitigation, we don’t require that certification for lead-free homes.”

Interested contractors can meet with SEDA-COG to answer questions. SEDA-COG streamlines the process for contractors with a rehabilitation specialist assigned to each community.

For more information, contact SEDA-COG’s Danielle King at 570-524-4491 ext. 7325 or dking@seda-cog.org.

Public Notice: Community Development Block Grant – Corona Virus Response (Union County)

Posted on May 11, 2020July 17, 2020 by DNS Admin

The Union County Commissioners plan 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, Union County has been allocated an estimated $166,152. The County will also include in its application CDBG-CV funds estimated at $64,710 on behalf of Kelly Township, and $65,516 on behalf of Lewisburg Borough. These funds are to be used in the prevention, preparedness or response to the COVID 19 Pandemic.

A Public Hearing for the County will be held on May 19, 2020, at 7:00 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 County 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 20 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. 727

Public Notice: Community Development Block Grant – Corona Virus Response (Kelly Township, Union County)

Posted on May 11, 2020July 17, 2020 by DNS Admin

The Union County Commissioners plan 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, Union County has been allocated an estimated $166,152. The County will also include in its application CDBG-CV funds estimated at $64,710 on behalf of Kelly Township, and $65,516 on behalf of Lewisburg Borough. These funds are to be used in the prevention, preparedness or response to the COVID 19 Pandemic.

A Public Hearing for Kelly Township will be held on May 20, 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 County 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 20 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. 727