SEDA-COG – Page 13 – SEDA Council of Governments

Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology (CPI) receives $497,760 in Appalachian Regional Commission funds

Posted on October 20, 2022October 20, 2022 by

SEDA-COG recently assisted the Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology (CPI) with an Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant that was awarded in the amount of $497,760.

CPI is located in Centre County and serves a region that encompasses a 45-mile radius. According to their website, “founded in 1969, CPI was built to meet the career and technical needs of high school students in the Bald Eagle Area, Bellefonte Area, Penns Valley Area, and State College School Districts. Additionally, over 1,300 adult learners annually receive training to upgrade their current skills, learn new skills, or make a career change to better their quality of life.”

The ARC Funds will be used to purchase equipment to support the CPI Health Science Building Project. The new training facility, when complete, will create 1,095 direct jobs within the healthcare industries. The equipment will include surgery tables; training kits and stations; exam tables; EMS passenger responder electric vehicle and charging station; ultrasound equipment; stretchers and traction tables. The training facility will allow CPI to expand its healthcare educational programming to train the workforce in the region to meet the unmet demands for skilled workforce.

“We are very excited and pleased to have worked with SEDA-COG to secure ARC grant funding to support equipment in the Health Sciences Buildings and for our existing healthcare programs” said Todd Taylor, Vice President of Post-Secondary Education for CPI. “ARC grant funding will help us provide students throughout central Pennsylvania with highly technical training leading to careers in the high-growth healthcare employment sector,” said Taylor. The new facility will increase CPI’s capacity to 800 students. It is anticipated that 374 students will graduate on an annual basis and will immediately become employed within the healthcare industries.

The nation continues to be confronted with unmet demands for a trained workforce. Covid-19 has placed a greater demand on all industries. Prior to Covid-19, the United States was already facing a huge shortage in skilled, licensed healthcare workers. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), the U.S. will need to hire more than 2.3 million healthcare workers by 2025 to take care of our aging population. More specifically, the United States will be short 446,300 home health aides, 98,700 medical and lab technicians, 95,000 nursing assistants, and 29,400 nurse practitioners in 2025.

SEDA-COG’s Betsy Lockwood, Director of Project Development and Grants, applied for this grant on behalf of the Institute.

On the grant’s benefits, Lockwood said, “The ARC investment in this project will enable healthcare facilities to secure a trained workforce to fill their unmet needs. It will also expand and strengthen community systems (education, healthcare, housing, childcare, and others) that help our community members obtain a job, stay on the job, and advance a long, financially sustaining career pathway.”

Delta Development Group, Inc. aided with the preparation of the grant. To date, Delta has assisted CPI with the original market study to determine the need for new post-secondary training programs, and secured over $14.5 million in federal and state grant/loan funding for the actual construction of the Health Sciences Building.

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.

Borough of Jersey Shore Looking to Expand Waitlist for Housing Rehabilitation Grant

Posted on October 19, 2022 by

The Borough of Jersey Shore had received a $500,000 housing rehabilitation grant and interested residents who live within the Borough limits should apply now to get on the waiting list for the no-cost repairs.

Qualified residents may receive up to $65,000 each for home repairs.

Interested residents may call SEDA-COG’s call Stacy Anderson at 570-524-4491 Ext. 7215.

Eligible repairs include structural, roofing, plumbing, electrical, heating/furnace, window replacement, radon and lead-based paint mitigation, and energy-related improvements. Modifications for mobility-impaired residents are also eligible within this program. Homeowners must maintain home residency over a five-year period from the date of signing in order for this service to be received at no cost.

“SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) manages the entire process for the homeowner,” said Teri Provost, Chief of the agency’s Community Services Division.

Provost continued, “Not only does the homeowner get necessary home repairs, but they also get the benefit of going through the process hassle-free as we manage the logistics from start to finish.”

Qualifications:

• Must live in the Borough limits of Jersey Shore;

• Own the home or have Life Rights to live in it;

• Meet income qualifications based on household size;

• Be current on all local taxes and municipal utility bills;

• Provide proof of homeowner’s insurance;

• If located in a flood zone, must provide proof of flood insurance;

• Live in the home an additional five years.

Additional requirements may apply.

Annual Gross Income Limits:

Family size: 1 – $42,650; 2 – $48,750; 3 – $54,850; 4 – $60,900; 5 – $65,800; 6 – $70,650; 7 – $75,550; 8 – $80,400.

Since 1989, over 1,100 houses have been rehabilitated through SEDA-COG totaling over $49.5MM. In FY 2020-21, the Housing program rehabilitated 34 homes, investing over $2.25MM in 12 communities. 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 Offers Clean & Tune Service at No Cost for Qualified Individuals

Posted on October 12, 2022 by

With colder weather approaching, SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) is continuing to offer the LIHEAP Clean and Tune program for residents.

This program is a benefit available to provide homeowners and residents the assistance to maintain their new or repaired heating systems and to avoid interruption.

Annual servicing of your heating system will allow them to perform better and ensures your family’s safety. The more efficient the heating system runs, the lower your energy bills will be.

Heating systems should be serviced yearly to keep them running smoothly, improve their life span and heating efficiency. It provides general service with the goal of preventing crisis calls.

Residents should contact their local county assistance office to see if they qualify for this program.

Mandy Fox, chief of SEDA-COG’s Weatherization program, said, “Annual servicing of your furnace is necessary to ensure the safety of you and your family. It is no different than having your vehicle inspected annually.” Last year, there were 210 homes that capitalized on these funds.

SEDA-COG’s Weatherization program serves a seven-county area: Columbia, Juniata, Mifflin, Montour, Perry, Snyder, and Union.

If residents don’t qualify for Clean & Tune assistance, they may still qualify for SEDA-COG’s Weatherization services. SEDA-COG’s Weatherization services may provide furnace repair, although it is not immediate help, as it would be through Crisis. SEDA-COG’s Weatherization program can be reached at 570-522-7219.

Crisis Income Eligibility Guidelines

Family size: 1 – $20,385; 2 – $27,465; 3 – $34,545; 4 – $41,625; 5 – $48,705; 6 – $55,785; 7 – $62,865; 8 – $69,945.

County Assistance Offices

Columbia: 570-387-4232

Juniata: 717-436-2158

Mifflin: 717-242-6095

Montour: 1-866-410-2093

Perry: 717-582-5038

Snyder: 570-372-1721

Union: 570-524-2201

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 Housing Rehabilitation Seeks Contractors for Juniata County

Posted on October 5, 2022 by

General contractors have an opportunity to perform housing rehabilitation work with SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) in Juniata County.

Contractor work may include structural, roofing, plumbing, electrical, heating/furnace, window replacement, radon mitigation, energy-related improvements, and, if they have certain certifications, lead-based paint mitigation. Also included are modifications for mobility-impaired residents. There is no cost to homeowners who maintain home residency over a five-year period from the date of signing.

Housing rehabilitation bids typically range from $20,000 to $65,000, with timely payment to contractors.

Local communities and SEDA-COG strive to work with local contractors to invest in the local economy, said Teri Provost, director of SEDA-COG’s Housing Rehabilitation program.

“We know that along with many others, contractors’ workload has been hard hit by the effects of the pandemic. With our housing rehabilitation work, we not only help our communities by rejuvenating housing stock, but we invest in our workforce by bidding out to local contractors,” Provost said.

Provost continued, “Contractors can choose where they want to work, so there’s tremendous work flexibility. Additionally, our work is year-round, so we offer a steady flow of projects. And if they don’t want to perform lead-based paint mitigation, we don’t require that certification for lead-free homes.”

Interested contractors also have the option of meeting one-on-one with SEDA-COG to answer any questions they may have. SEDA-COG streamlines the process for contractors with a rehabilitation specialist assigned to each community.

For more information and contractor requirements, contact SEDA-COG’s Danielle Rippon at 570-524-4491 or drippon@seda-cog.org.

Since 1989, over 1,100 houses have been rehabilitated through SEDA-COG totaling over $49.5MM. In FY 2020-21, the Housing program rehabilitated 34 homes, investing over $2.25MM in 12 communities. 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.