Economic Development – Page 10 – SEDA Council of Governments

SEDA-COG broadband project awarded largest grant in 12 states

Posted on November 12, 2020 by DNS Admin

SEDA-Council of Governments’ (SEDA-COG) four-county broadband project earned the highest POWER grant award in 12 states by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), along with securing or partnering on two other POWER grants.

The ARC recently awarded $43.3 million across 51 projects in 12 states to support economic diversification in coal-impacted communities. More than half of these investments will support recovery-to-work efforts or strengthen broadband infrastructure.

In Pennsylvania, SEDA-COG’s project award also was the highest of 12 awarded projects.

SEDA-COG’s broadband effort was awarded $2.5 million for internet expansion to underserved areas in Clinton, Lycoming, Northumberland, and Union counties. This project will reach over 1,500 households, including over 20 businesses. Union County served as the main applicant.

Mike Fisher, SEDA-COG assistant executive director, said the grant award shows how powerful projects can happen with a regional effort.

“We are honored that our efforts earned the largest POWER grant award in the entire multi-state ARC region,” Fisher said. “This shows how vitally important it is for our counties to have better broadband service. It also demonstrates the collective power of our counties working together for the betterment of our communities and businesses.”

The grant will supplement $4 million of SEDA-COG’s revolving loan funds. The selected internet service provider will match these funds with $1.5 million of private investment funds.

SEDA-COG will provide funding through reimbursable grants and low-interest loans to incentivize an internet service provider to expand internet service into unserved and underserved rural regions of the four counties where traditional buildout is otherwise economically infeasible.

OTHER SEDA-COG POWER GRANTS

SEDA-COG also is part of a statewide broadband initiative in a separate grant and is a partner in a workforce grant.

SEDA-COG was awarded a $108,125 ARC POWER grant to expand internet service in the Snow Shoe Township area in Centre County. SEDA-COG will match the ARC POWER grant with the same amount, offering a $210,000 grant to incentivize internet service providers to provide high-speed internet in the area.

The grant is part of a statewide $1.2 million ARC broadband grant award to the seven Local Development Districts (LDDs) that serve 52 of Pennsylvania’s counties. The LDDs are organizations through which member counties share information, address common concerns, and develop regional responses to critical issues. SEDA-COG is one of the seven LDDs and serves 11 central Pennsylvania counties.

Additionally, SEDA-COG is a partner in a $1,018,500 recovery-to-work POWER grant awarded to the Central Pennsylvania Workforce Development Corporation (CPWDC) and Geisinger.

SEDA-COG and the PA CareerLink® Business Service Teams will identify employers that are “recovery friendly” and assist other businesses to become recovery friendly to increase their pool of workforce talent. To accomplish this, SEDA-COG will work with their extensive business service provider network to power this initiative through education and information. Geisinger will focus on expanding telemedicine to broaden access to specialized services, like addiction treatment, in underserved rural areas. SEDA-COG will receive $18,500 for its partnership efforts.

Betsy Lockwood, SEDA-COG grants manager, described the void the initiative fills.

“Removing barriers to recovery has been a longstanding issue for people, and workforce issues have plagued businesses. Employers need staff and people need jobs, especially with the effects of the pandemic. By expanding the workforce toward those in recovery, we fill a valuable workforce need while providing someone in recovery a job that can help them remain in recovery,” Lockwood said.

SEDA-COG Board President Rich Ridgway said as an 11-county community and economic development agency, SEDA-COG is recognizing and meeting needs.

“We know the hardships our residents and businesses are facing. We are working hard to alleviate the most acute pressure throughout our counties, particularly with high-speed internet access,” Ridgway said.

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 awarded grants to study natural gas plant in Clinton County

Posted on September 22, 2020 by DNS Admin

A proposed multi-million-dollar natural gas synthesis plant in Clinton County that would create hundreds of jobs is closer to reality thanks to two grants awarded to SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG).

SEDA-COG applied for and was awarded the grants on behalf of KeyState Opportunity and Frontier Natural Resources, both of Bellefonte, to conduct third-party studies for the KeyState Natural Gas Synthesis Plant in West Keating Township.

A $471,270 U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant will help fund a $785,450 phase II engineering study related to the design, permitting, construction of the plant as well as workforce development.

An $84,000 USDA Rural Business Development grant will help fund a market study to validate product demand, logistics, and economics.

If built, the plant would provide hydrogen, ammonia, and urea for industrial, medical, agriculture, and transportation uses. It would create a combined 800 construction and permanent jobs.

SEDA-COG Executive Director John Brown said this project can greatly impact the local economy and thanked the granting agencies, particularly EDA Regional Director Linda Cruz-Carnall, EDA Economic Development Specialist Chris Casper, and USDA PA Rural Development’s State Director Curt Coccodrilli.

“SEDA-COG is pleased to partner in this effort that could bring hundreds of jobs to the area and directly reenergize the local economy, especially in this difficult time,” Brown said. “We thank the USDA and EDA for seeing the economic merits of the project and awarding the grants.”

KeyState CEO Perry Babb described the project’s impacts.

“KeyState is a historic project in both economic and environmental impacts. Onsite Marcellus natural gas production, combined with state-of-the-art methane emissions remediation, is used to create low-carbon and GHG-reducing products, and great long-term manufacturing jobs. CO2 is captured and stored a mile underground, a first in Pennsylvania, and manufacturing becomes the new ‘green jobs,’ and a low-carbon future for natural gas is born,” Babb said.

If the studies confirm the plant’s feasibility, phase III final engineering will commence and SEDA-COG will help identify funding to build out the necessary infrastructure, as KeyState finalizes investors to help build the plant.

“Both of these studies will help to attract investors and public funding,” Brown said.

The plant would be in a federal opportunity zone which provides tax benefits for investing capital gains in low-income community census tracts. The incentive offers deferral, reduction, and potential elimination of certain federal capital gains taxes.

The plant’s construction could be upward of $400 million. The studies are expected to be completed early next year.

Workshops to address Shamokin businesses’ concerns

Posted on May 20, 2019December 30, 2019 by DNS Admin

After meeting with over 30 businesses in February, SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) and partners are hosting three workshops in June to address the concerns and issues the businesses raised.

All workshops will be held June 5-7 at the Antioch Place, 531 N. Market St., Shamokin.

The June 5 workshop, Sales & Marketing: The Bread & Butter of Your Business, will be presented by the Bucknell University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) from noon to 1:30 p.m.

This workshop will help business owners position their businesses for sales success by clearly communicating the value of their products and services. It will cover clear and consistent communication, cost and value, and personal biases. Presenters are SBDC business consultants Dennis Hummer and Reed Byrum. Cost is $25 with a special discount of $10 for Shamokin Area Businesses for Economic Revitalization (SABER) participants. Registration is required by June 3 and can be done online at www.bucknell.edu/SBDCevents or by calling 570-577-1249.

The June 6 workshop, Workforce Recruiting, will be from 6 to 8 p.m., presented by PA CareerLink in partnership with Welch Performance Consulting.

This free workshop and panel presentation will focus on recruitment efforts to address workforce shortage concerns. Issues addressed include how to successfully recruit candidates; how to expand your labor pool; the current recruiting trends; and available resources. A panel discussion will feature those who’ve found successful means to recruit new employees. To register, email charpster@tiu11.org or call 717-248-4942 ext.105.

The final workshop, One Page Growth Plan, will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. June 7 and will be facilitated by the Covation Center.

This workshop will help business owners build a strategy to take their business to the next level. It will provide tools to take a deep dive into business growth and a one-page overview of necessary growth steps. To register, contact SEDA-COG’s Betsy Kramer at 570-524-4491 or bkramer@seda-cog.org.

This effort is part of the statewide PA Engage! program, a statewide business retention and expansion program that offers companies advantages and connections.

In a 10-county central Pennsylvania region, a network of publicly funded partners empowers businesses to stay in PA, grow and excel. With the Engage! program, the partners identify and invest in businesses that may be unaware of the host of local resources available to them.

These partners are part of the Central Region Partners for Regional Economic Performance (PREP) network that SEDA-COG coordinates, which has over 20 business service providers in the region.

The local business service providers have a history of successfully partnering with businesses to help them reach their goals. From manufacturing, restaurants, gyms, orchards, farms, and more, no matter the business, the local business service providers can boost businesses to the next level.

Locally, Engage! was financed by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Department of Community and Economic Development.

For more information, contact SEDA-COG’s Betsy Lockwood at 570-524-4491 or elockwood@seda-cog.org.