Category: Economic Development

Unemployment Rate (February 2020 to October 2021):

SEDA-COG Region, Pennsylvania, and U.S.A.
In April 2020, at the peak levels of unemployment caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic, the SEDA-COG Region’s unemployment rate was nearly equal to the United States’ rate of 14.4% and was lower than the Pennsylvania rate of 15.9%. From April 2020 until December 2020, the SEDA-COG Region’s unemployment rate was on average below both the Pennsylvania and the national unemployment rate. However, in more recent months, SEDA-COG Region’s unemployment rate has been above both the state and national rate by a fraction of a percentage.
Source: Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS)

Labor Force Participation Rate by Age Groups:

SEDA-COG Region, Pennsylvania, and U.S.A.
Labor force participation includes working-age adults who are either working or looking for work. During 2015-2019 American Community Survey, the labor force participation rate for the population of the SEDA-COG region (16 years and over) was 58.2%. This is lower than both Pennsylvania (62.8%) and the United States (63.4%). The graph illustrates labor force participation by age groups, comparing the SEDA-COG Region, the state, and the national rate. For the age groups between 45 years and over, the SEDA-COG Region’s participation rate is equivalent to the state and national rate. However, in the age groups between 20 years and 44 years, the SEDA-COG Region is below Pennsylvania and the United States. The 20 to 24 years age group is the most drastic, as the SEDA-COG Region’s participation rate is 60.7%, versus Pennsylvania at 73.8% and the U.S. at 75%. This is possibly a result of the proportionately large population of university students in the SEDA-COG Region, primarily in Centre and Columbia counties.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2019: American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months (2019):

SEDA-COG Region, Pennsylvania, and U.S.A.
During 2019, 14% of the SEDA-COG’s Region was below the poverty rate. This is higher than both the state (12.4%) and the United States’ poverty level (13.4%). Six counties in the SEDA-COG region exceeded the state rate: Centre (18.2%), Clinton (15.5%), Columbia (15.0%), Lycoming (13.6%), Mifflin (13.5%), and Northumberland (13.2%). Of these six counties, Northumberland and Mifflin do not have large universities. Counties with large universities and students living off-campus, can statistically impact poverty rates. This is especially true for Centre (Penn State University) and Columbia (Bloomsburg University) and can be inferred to impact Lycoming (Pennsylvania College of Technology and Lycoming University) and Clinton (Lock Haven University).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2019: American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

Through the Centre County Commissioners Small Business Grant, using funds distributed under the American Rescue Plan, over 250 small businesses received assistance totaling $2.7 million dollars.

Businesses in Centre County were able to apply for these funds from July through October of 2021. Funds could help cover operating expenses incurred during 2021. Operating expenses included but were not limited to payroll, rent, mortgage, utilities, costs of goods, supplies, raw materials, etc. The average amount of grant funds awarded was $10,767.44.

SEDA-COG worked with independent contractor, Harry Mathias, for setting up the grant parameters, application, and review. Applicants were selected based on loss of revenue, having fewer than 500 full time employees, and impact felt from the COVID-19 pandemic. SEDA-COG worked in partnership with small businesses and the Centre County Commissioners to ensure they received the support they needed, including handling the accounting and distributing of grants funds.

Kim Wheeler, Executive Director of SEDA-COG says, “The Commissioners of Centre County recognized the need to support a diverse range of small businesses during an extremely trying time. SEDA-COG is grateful for this leadership in the region that had a positive impact on so many businesses and their families. The opportunity to collaborate with our member counties and coordinate this kind of support for the region’s economy is of upmost importance to us.”

“We appreciate SEDA-COG’s assistance in awarding the money so quickly to so many small businesses throughout the 4th largest county in Pennsylvania by area. Without SEDA-COG’s help, disbursement of the small business grant funds would have been delayed,” says Centre County Commissioner Mark Higgins.

Commissioner Higgins continued, “The Centre County small business community has been very appreciative of the Commissioners’ assistance. We have actually seen fewer businesses close than usual. Since so many of our businesses survived, our downtowns are now thriving. We also want to thank the citizens of Centre County for strongly supporting their locally owned businesses.”

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 Elaine Stauder, communications coordinator, SEDA-Council of Governments, at 570-522-7429 or estauder@seda-cog.org

A new COVID Relief Grant for eligible Centre County small businesses will open on July 20, 2021. The Centre County Commissioners have allocated $3,000,000 of American Rescue Plan funding for a small business grant program. The small business grant program funding will be distributed on a first come, first served basis. The Centre County Commissioners expect the first checks to be mailed to small businesses in August.

Centre County Commissioner Michael Pipe said, “The Commissioners are urging businesses to apply as soon as possible. We have allocated additional funds to help Centre County businesses get back in full operation after the disastrous effects of the pandemic.”

SEDA-COG will be assisting the Centre County Commissioners by receiving and reviewing the applications. Businesses can apply at SEDA-COG’s website starting July 20, 2021, until the funds are exhausted. A full listing of requirements can be found on the website. If a business has filed their 2019 and 2020 federal business taxes, the grant application can be completed quickly.

Kim Wheeler, SEDA-COG’s executive director said, “We know that small businesses are the backbone of the local economy, yet they’ve been negatively affected by the pandemic. That’s why we are so pleased to be helping the Centre County Commissioners collect and review applications to help these small businesses.” Grant amounts are in $2,000 increments up to a maximum of $20,000 and the funds will assist businesses in covering the business’ operating expenses incurred in 2021. Operating expenses include, but are not limited to payroll, rent, mortgage, utilities, costs of goods, supplies, raw materials, etc.

Eligibility includes, but is not limited to, being in Centre County, having fewer than 500 full-time employees, must be in business at the time of application, and plan to stay in business until at least December 31, 2021.

The grant program was created from American Rescue Plan funding through the U.S. Department of Treasury.

For more information, contact SEDA-COG Grants Manager Betsy Lockwood at 570-522-7265 or elockwood@seda-cog.org.

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.