Community Development – Page 5 – SEDA Council of Governments

Small business assistance grant open to Centre County businesses

Posted on March 10, 2021March 11, 2021 by DNS Admin

Small businesses with five or less employees, including owners, impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, in Centre County may be eligible to receive up to $5,000 to assist in economic recovery.

The Small Business Assistance Grant Program is being offered in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to support hard-hit businesses and is funded with a $43,300 entitlement Community Development Block Grant-CARES Act (CDBG-CV).

Eligible businesses must be located within the physical boundaries of Centre County, excluding State College and Bellefonte Borough, and be able to document negative impacts of the COVID-19 mitigation efforts.

The grants can be used to pay utility payments, rent/mortgage payments, payroll, inventory and supplies, and marketing/advertising costs as relief for the negative impacts COVID-19 has had on the business. Applicants are required to declare all other programs and awards they have received in response to the coronavirus to ensure there will be no duplication of benefits.

Applications can be found on the CBICC website, at http://bit.ly/3cjBqW3.

Applications will be accepted from March 15 through March 24. Awards will be made between May 3 and May 5.

Vern Squier, president and CEO, Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County (CBICC), said the CBICC will provide oversight for application review and financial underwriting of the grant project, to Centre County businesses, as allocated by the Centre County commissioners.

“On behalf of the small businesses in Centre County, we want to thank the county commissioners for providing needed resources,” Squier said.
SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) is administering the CDBG funds and ensuring grant compliance.

For more information, Centre County businesses may contact the CBICC at 814-234-1829 or grants@cbicc.org.

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.

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.

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.