Economic Development – Page 2 – SEDA Council of Governments

$400K Grant Powers Broadcast Arts Initiative for At-Risk Youth

Posted on October 25, 2024April 7, 2026 by Nancy Osborn

Lewisburg, PA – The Screen Arts Institute has received a $400,000 ARC POWER grant to help fund the launch of its Broadcast Arts Initiative in Shamokin.

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) through its Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Initiative focuses federal resources on supporting communities affected by job losses in coal mining, coal power plants, and related supply chain industries due to the evolving landscape of America’s energy production.

The Appalachian Regional Commission is an economic development partnership agency of the federal government and 13 state governments including Pennsylvania. PA’s Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) partners with ARC and the SEDA-COG Local Development District to identify and support projects that will build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in the Appalachian counties of Pennsylvania to reach socioeconomic parity with the nation.

The Screen Arts Institute applied for the grant over the summer with the help of Linda Sterling of the Northumberland County Planning and Economic Development office and Betsy Lockwood, director of project development and grants at SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG), receiving the funds in October.

SEDA-COG will administer the grant. “It’s not something any one person wants to take on,” stated Mark Stansberry, founder and director of the Screen Arts Institute. “They will take care of reports, procurement of equipment, and allocation of requests. They’re the major liaison.”

Shamokin, once a thriving coal town, has faced significant economic challenges since the collapse of its coal industry, resulting in high poverty rates, limited opportunities for residents, and a high dropout rate that leaves marginalized young adults slipping through the cracks.

With this grant and an additional $400,000 in matching funds, bringing the total project to $800,000, the Screen Arts Institute will launch the Broadcast Arts Initiative. This new program that will open doors to creative careers for at-risk youth and adults in the greater Shamokin region, contributing to the area’s growing revitalization efforts.

“This has been 30 years in the making,” said Stansberry, “I see the potential and I want to add to it.”

The Initiative will offer education and mentorship to at-risk populations 17 years and older, focusing on creative employment and entrepreneurship through visual art courses and hands-on production experience in freelance work.

Courses will be taught by instructors who are artists making a living in the discipline they teach and include animation, digital illustration, graphic design, and mobile game building.

Students will engage in the Screen Arts Institute’s art, video, and mobile app projects, intern in pro bono work for regional nonprofits and small businesses, and design Shamokin-themed souvenirs that will be sold. These experiences will provide opportunities for students to launch their own careers in art, video, and app development within the growing remote and freelance economy.

The Initiative’s first-year goal is to produce 20 new businesses which will start the trend of replacing lost coal industry jobs through creative entrepreneurship. Additionally, the program expects to benefit 60 students, with 30 students graduating and attaining certificates within the next three years.

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.

PSU Awarded $600,000 Grant to Help Fund Silicon Carbide Innovation Alliance

Posted on August 6, 2024April 7, 2026 by Nancy Osborn

The Pennsylvania State University was awarded a $600,000 Appalachian Regional Commission grant towards the creation of a Silicon Carbide Innovation Alliance.

Penn State applied for the grant with the assistance from SEDA-Council of Governments. Funds are matched with over $835,000 in industry cash and in-kind as well as a University cash match.

Grant money will be used to develop a series of educational courses, workshops, and paid internships geared towards students and existing workers to prepare the next generation for this growing industry.

Silicon carbide is a compound containing silicon and carbon that occurs in nature but can also be mass-produced for high-tech electronic chip applications.

It was recently identified as a critical material for clean technologies because of its importance in enabling the delivery of electricity from power plants, solar, and wind farms. It is also critical in advancing the next generation of electric vehicles. The U.S. isn’t producing enough silicon carbide to meet demand, which is expected to be two to three times the need by 2030.

With this investment, the Silicon Carbide Innovation Alliance will serve as a Pennsylvania and national resource for the silicon carbide semiconductor growth and manufacturing industry.

SEDA-COG’s Betsy Lockwood, director of project development and grants, assisted the Alliance in applying for the grant.

On one of the many benefits of the grant, Lockwood said, “This project brings together industry and academia to establish a strong semiconductor workforce development program that will attract companies from around the nation to the PA Appalachian Region.”

The Appalachian Region Commission is an economic development partnership agency of the federal government and 13 state governments including Pennsylvania. PA’s Department of Community and Economic Development partners with ARC to identify and support projects that will build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in the Appalachian counties of Pennsylvania to reach socioeconomic parity with the nation.

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.

Mifflin County Academy Awarded Appalachian Regional Commission Funds

Posted on January 17, 2023 by

The Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology was recently awarded an Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant in the amount of $500,000 to support the school’s expansion project.

With the assistance of Delta Development Group, Inc. in Camp Hill, The Academy has secured over $7 million in state and federal funding to construct a heavy equipment/diesel technician training facility. The project will be located at The Academy’s existing campus at 700 Pitt Street, Lewistown, PA. The ARC funds will be used to purchase the heavy equipment utilized in the new programs.

“The goal of this expansion project is to provide local, affordable training opportunities and address the demand for a skilled workforce in rural PA,” explained Mike McMonigal, Supervisor of Adult Education at The Academy. “We are very grateful for the support of the Appalachian Regional Commission for investing in our local workforce development.”

The need for postsecondary education has been growing in recent years, as businesses report a lack of skilled workers to fill their open positions, and as the income gap between college and high school graduates widens. The need for a skilled workforce is also fueled by the manufacturing, construction, and transportation industries relying more heavily on technology. Employers in these industries and organizations are demanding that new hires and incumbent workers possess applicable skills and achieve industry certifications and licensures.

The Academy expansion project is expected to allow regional employers to create and fill currently vacant jobs rather than exporting related service work to other regions. This program will also help retain local talented youth who currently need to relocate to other areas to become properly trained to pursue these jobs. The Academy intends to train 20 students per program for a total of 40 students per year.

The Academy’s partnering employers estimate that they will be able to create 24 new jobs collectively in the first year that trainees are available. In total, these employers anticipate that during the nine-year analysis period, approximately 125 new jobs will be created, and 15 jobs will be retained.

SEDA-COG’s Betsy Lockwood, Director of Project Development and Grants, submitted the ARC application for the equipment on behalf of the Academy. The application itself was prepared by the Delta Development Group.

Regarding the benefits of the grant, Lockwood said, “The ARC investment into this project will enable industry sectors in the areas of transportation, warehousing, and construction to expand within Mifflin County and the SEDA-COG Region.”

The Appalachian Region Commission (ARC) is an economic development partnership agency of the federal government and 13 state governments including Pennsylvania. PA’s Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) partners with ARC to identify and support projects that will build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in the Appalachian counties of Pennsylvania to reach socioeconomic parity with the nation.

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.

SUN-Tech Program Awarded Appalachian Regional Commission Funds

Posted on December 2, 2022 by

SUN Area Technical Institute (SUN-Tech) was recently awarded an Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant in the amount of $85,088 for Mechatronics training equipment.

SUN-Tech, which serves Snyder, Union, and Northumberland County in Central PA recently added a Mechatronics Program to its list of course offerings.

There is a need for skilled and trained personnel in the Mechatronics field in the region. By adding a Mechatronics Program to SUN-Tech, and enhancing the program with industry standard equipment, students access to equipment and technology used in the field for Mechatronics training will translate into learned job skills to fill high priority positions in the region. These positions can earn $40,000 entry level, and $60,000 for experienced level, and are expected to see an increase in employment of around 8% by 2028.

The curriculum for this course will cover: Electrical Systems, National Electrical Code, Robotics, Circuits, Programmable Logic Controls, Electric Motor Controls, Pneumatics, Mechanical Power Transmissions, Fluid Power Systems, Troubleshooting and Repair. The program will be aligned to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Program of Study for CIP Code 15.0403 and state approved industry credentials and NOCTI Exam (#8094).

Jobs in the mechatronics field include a variety of occupations which include engineers, mechanical engineers, hydraulic specialist, pneumatic specialists, PLC troubleshooting, maintenance managers, maintenance technicians, industrial maintenance automation technical/manager, and plant managers.

SEDA-COG’s Betsy Lockwood, Director of Project Development and Grants, submitted the ARC application for the equipment on behalf of SUN-Tech. Regarding the benefits of the grant, Lockwood said, “Considering the rapidly growing field of Mechatronics, it was imperative that our area have access to the latest and most advanced equipment, curriculum, and training aids to expand and strengthen skill development and ensure long-term employment success in central PA. I am thrilled for the innovation opportunity this provides SUN-Tech and for the adult learners and recent high school graduates who will be able to take part in this program.”

“SUN-Tech appreciates the generosity of the Appalachian Regional Commission. Their willingness to assist in funding this initiative will help our graduates secure meaningful employment opportunities that are significantly above entry level. With the help of the ARC and SEDA-COG, our students will possess real-world problem-solving skills, desirable technical competencies and be cross trained in several disciplines. Putting some of the most advanced training equipment that is on the market in their hands will be a big part of that training,” said David Bacher, SUN-Tech Administrative Director.

The Appalachian Region Commission (ARC) is an economic development partnership agency of the federal government and 13 state governments including Pennsylvania. PA’s Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) partners with ARC to identify and support projects that will build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in the Appalachian counties of Pennsylvania to reach socioeconomic parity with the nation.

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.