Administration – SEDA Council of Governments

SEDA-COG Offers Resolution to HOME Grantees

Posted on March 25, 2026March 26, 2026 by Nancy Osborn

Lewisburg, PA — At its Mar. 25, 2026 meeting, SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) Board of Directors voted to expend funds to HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) grantees who are required to make repayments to the Pennsylvania Department of Economic Development (DCED) on contracts administered by SEDA-COG.

As of Mar. 25, 2026, SEDA-COG is aware of four grantees who have been asked to pay back all or a portion of their contract due to errors found during a programmatic monitoring.

Two of the grantees are currently in an appeals process with DCED. Until the appeals process is complete, it is not known if payback from these grantees will be required.

The remaining two grantees have agreed to the repayments requested by DCED. A motion was made and passed at today’s SEDA-COG Board of Directors meeting to offer contributions to the City of Lock Haven and the Borough of Berwick towards their respective repayments.

Due to the shared responsibility between SEDA-COG as the administrator of the HOME funds and the grantee as the recipient of the funds, SEDA-COG has offered to pay 75% of the requested payback, plus 100% of the administration fees paid to SEDA-COG.

As previously disclosed in a Jun.16, 2025 press release, SEDA-COG discovered and self-reported the potential mismanagement of two HOME projects they were administering under their Housing Rehabilitation program.

After DCED’s investigation into the incident, they requested files directly from SEDA-COG for ten additional HOME contracts administered by SEDA-COG for programmatic monitoring. Following the monitoring, DCED issued monitoring letters directly to grantees.

Most programs receiving federal or state funds are monitored on a regular basis. SEDA-COG supports this approach by funding sources in order to mitigate the risk of waste, mismanagement, or intentional misuse of funds.

SEDA-COG contacted all eleven grantees who received the monitoring letters and worked with those who responded by providing additional research and documentation. As a result, many of the grantees found resolution with DCED regarding some or all of the findings in their monitoring letter.

SEDA-COG emphasizes the errors in administration, involving the HOME funds administered through the Housing Rehabilitation program, were isolated to that program.

In order to focus on delivering the high-quality services and reestablishing the trust expected from the nearly 70 years of service to the region, the SEDA-COG Board voted Feb. 25, 2026, to close the agency’s Housing Rehabilitation program.

SEDA-COG views offering contributions towards repayment and closing the program as a show of commitment to finding a practical resolution while ensuring, through their various other programs, they remain focused on projects that provide meaningful benefit to all who are served.

About SEDA-COG
SEDA-COG is a community and economic development agency in Lewisburg and is one of seven Local Development Districts in Pennsylvania. SEDA-COG enhances the quality of life and economic advantage for residents and businesses in the 11 central Pennsylvania counties through its vital partnerships and initiatives.

SEDA-COG News Release

Posted on June 16, 2025June 19, 2025 by Nancy Osborn

Lewisburg, PA – SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) has been actively investigating the potential mismanagement of two housing rehabilitation projects under our administration in the Borough of Berwick. Since discovering the potential issues in 2024, SEDA-COG reported the concerns to Borough officials and to the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development (PA DCED). PA DCED conducted its own investigation, resulting in findings regarding other past contracts in SEDA-COG’s grant-funded housing rehabilitation program.

SEDA-COG has a long history of working with municipal partners to create a positive impact in the region’s communities. Over the past decade, we have managed the rehabilitation of 308 homes in 14 communities with an investment of almost $15 million. The projects affected by the DCED findings represent a small number of total contracts.

As an agency devoted to public service, we continue to remain focused on improving processes and the delivery of services to the communities and the individuals we serve. We have restructured the management of the program and are committed to working with both the PA DCED and affected municipalities to efficiently and effectively take corrective action.

The SEDA-COG Board of Directors and staff are committed to providing transparency and accountability and will continue to brief its stakeholders on our efforts to comprehensively remediate the findings.

About SEDA-COG
SEDA-COG is a community and economic development agency in Lewisburg and is one of seven Local Development Districts in Pennsylvania. SEDA-COG enhances the quality of life and economic advantage for residents and businesses in the 11 central Pennsylvania counties through its vital partnerships and initiatives.

For more information, please contact Nancy Osborn, Communications and Marketing Coordinator, SEDA-Council of Governments, at 570-254-4491 x7234 or 570-768-0525 or nosborn@seda-cog.org.

SEDA-COG Welcomes Regional County Commissioners for an Insightful Morning of Discussions

Posted on June 3, 2025June 3, 2025 by Nancy Osborn

Lewisburg, PA – SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) welcomed the regional county commissioners to participate in their Strengthening County Services Together event on Friday, May 30 at their headquarters in Lewisburg.

Seventeen commissioners from across the region were joined by SEDA-COG executive director, deputy director, program directors, and other staff members.

Executive Director Kim Wheeler greeted the county commissioners at the beginning of the event, expressing the importance of each of SEDA-COG’s programs and the significant impact that they have on the surrounding communities.

Wheeler remarked, “Today’s event is meant to be conversational and thought-provoking. Your insights will help shape our strategies moving forward and ensure that the services we provide are not only relevant, but impactful and support your needs and goals.”

The event consisted of breakout sessions where the commissioners and program directors reviewed the achievements of the 2024 calendar year. This was followed by discussions about future initiatives and how SEDA-COG can continue to enhance county services. These discussions were aimed at fostering collaboration and ensuring that the services provided by SEDA-COG continue to meet the evolving needs of the communities they serve.

In closing remarks of the event, SEDA-COG Board President and Snyder County Commissioner Joe Kantz said, “This meeting is to make us stronger and better together cumulatively, because the residents that we all represent care about what is happening in our region.”

Overall, the event was a success, highlighting the importance of partnership and open dialogue in strengthening regional governance and community support. SEDA-COG is a community and economic development agency in Lewisburg and is one of seven Local Development Districts in Pennsylvania. SEDA-COG enhances the quality of life and economic advantage for residents and businesses in the 11 central Pennsylvania counties through its vital partnerships and initiatives.

SEDA-COG Hires New Deputy Director

Posted on February 3, 2025February 3, 2025 by Nancy Osborn

Lewisburg, PA- SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) is pleased to announce that Angela Grieco has been selected as the new Deputy Director.

SEDA-COG Executive Director Kim Wheeler said Grieco’s alignment with the needs of the organization is undeniable. She brings skillsets and expertise that complement the current SEDA-COG management team.

“I am excited to welcome our new Deputy Director Angela Grieco to SEDA-COG. We searched high and low for someone who has a passion for public sector leadership, sees themselves as a public servant, enjoys identifying and tackling challenges—someone who will help us continue to think differently, entrepreneurially, and foster innovation with others,” said Wheeler. “I am thrilled that Grieco is that person who will bring the full package to SEDA-COG.”

Grieco brings years of private sector experience at leading management consulting firms, including Deloitte Consulting and Guidehouse, as a project management leader supporting public sector clients. She has a proven track record of building high-performing, cross-functional teams and excels at guiding clients to uncover root challenges and develop innovative, practical solutions. Her expertise spans project planning and implementation in key areas, including strategic planning, grant program design, stakeholder engagement and analysis, organizational analysis, change management and transformation, and technology project management support.

“I was drawn to the impressive breadth and depth of public services and expertise SEDA-COG provides and its strong footprint in the communities it serves,” said Grieco. “The dedication and tenacity that SEDA-COG leadership and staff bring to their communities is truly inspiring. For these reasons, I knew that SEDA-COG was the right fit for me and am honored to serve and work alongside such a talented organization.”

Grieco continued “In my new role, I hope to grow as a public service leader and contribute to the organization’s existing talent by bringing new perspectives and practical solutions to the challenges our region and organization face as they transition for future generations to come.”