Category: SEDA-COG

Application window extended for Snyder County entities to apply for COVID relief funds

Application window extended for Snyder County entities to apply for COVID relief funds

Posted on by DNS Admin

The application window has been extended for Snyder County small businesses, nonprofits, and municipalities to apply to receive part of a grant the county received to assist them with COVID-19 expenses.

The application deadline is now Oct. 30 for the COVID-19 County Relief Block Grant (CRBG) funds. It was originally Oct. 2.

The county allocated $1.3 million CRBG funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Securities Act (CARES Act), through the state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) to this program.

Funds can be used for eligible costs from March 1 to Dec. 30, 2020 for the prevention, preparedness, and response to the COVID-19 crisis. For a full list of eligibility requirements and grant application forms, www.snydercounty.org. The due dates on the forms can be disregarded as they reflect the original deadline.

SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) is assisting the county by providing professional expertise and grant administrative services, as well as activity development and management to ensure accuracy and adherence with federal and state regulations.

County Commissioner Joe Kantz said he hopes more businesses will apply by the end of the month.

“We’d especially like to see more small businesses apply for these grants. We’ve extended the deadline for this opportunity to help them recover from the pandemic’s effects,” Kantz said.

Fully completed applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Oct. 30 via email to SEDA-COG’s Jamie Shrawder at jshrawder@seda-cog.org or faxed to 570-524-9190. Mailed forms must be postmarked by Oct. 28 and sent to Snyder County Commissioners, ATTN: Tony Phillips, Chief Clerk, P.O. Box 217, 9 W. Market St., Middleburg, PA 17842.

For more information, contact Shrawder at the email above or at 570-522-7263.

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.

State Supreme Court rules on SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority's operating agreement vote

State Supreme Court rules on SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority’s operating agreement vote

Posted on by DNS Admin

On Oct. 1, 2020, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued a decision in the litigation involving the SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority’s Request for Proposals process for a new operating agreement. In the decision, the Court determined that the Authority’s July 2015 7-3 vote was a passing vote, which effectively awarded the new operating agreement to Carload Express, Inc. Six board members had abstained from the vote to avoid any appearance of bias in the process but were physically present in the meeting room. The Court’s decision clarifies the voting standard required of municipal authorities within this Commonwealth under the Municipality Authorities Act.  While the statute literally states that action may be taken by the vote of a majority of the “members present,” the Court held that pre-1937 common law requires that only those members actually voting be treated as “present.”

In light of this decision, the Joint Rail Authority recognizes that the July 8, 2015 vote awarded the operating agreement to Carload Express. The Authority does, however, also recognize that Phase 2 proposer and current rail operator, Susquehanna Union Railroad Company (“SURC”), has asserted counterclaims addressed to the alleged conduct of certain former Authority board members, and SURC has taken the position that those issues remain pending before the Clinton County Court of Common Pleas despite the Supreme Court’s resolution of the voting standard issue.  The Authority is hopeful that the Trial Court will swiftly consider these issues, as the matter is remanded back to it.

Irrespective of how SURC’s counterclaims are resolved, customers on the Authority’s rail lines should remain assured that uninterrupted rail service shall continue, as will the Authority’s mission of encouraging economic development, while preserving rail infrastructure throughout central Pennsylvania.

High-speed internet expands in Juniata County

High-speed internet expands in Juniata County

Posted on by DNS Admin

High-speed internet access is expanding in Juniata County, thanks to an effort by the Juniata County Commissioners in partnership with SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) and internet service provider Centre WISP.

Residents and businesses within 8 miles of the Black Log tower near the Village of Honey Grove in Reeds Gap will receive service today, Oct. 2, potentially reaching hundreds of customers when it is at capacity at year’s end.

Almost 200 residents and businesses across the county have indicated interest in receiving the internet service, according to Centre WISP.

Brad Kerstetter, Director of the Juniata County Office of Planning and Community Development, directed the project while working with SEDA-COG to secure state and federal funds to incentivize the internet expansion project and to select Centre WISP.

Through the grant funding, Centre WISP will receive a total of $142,000 for the pilot project. As part of that funding, SEDA-COG offered Centre WISP $95,000 as a low-interest loan from a state Keystone Communities Program grant and a $47,000 grant from a U.S. Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant.

The funds incentivized Centre WISP to provide internet service where it wasn’t financially feasible to reach on their own, helping to bridge what’s known as the “last-mile funding gap.”

These grants laid the foundation and will make it possible to expand internet service since the county also received CARES Act funds that will power internet service expansion throughout the county.

“Expanding internet service through the Black Log tower is the pilot project to build on to expand service throughout the county. We are proud and excited to partner with SEDA-COG and Centre WISP to provide this necessary service to our residents and businesses,” said Juniata County Commissioners Alice Gray, Todd Graybill, and Mark Partner.

Mike Fisher, SEDA-COG Assistant Executive Director, thanked State Legislators for securing the grants as well as the County Commissioners and their staff for their leadership and technical guidance.

“We thank Sens. Jake Corman and John DiSanto and Reps. John Hershey, Kerry Benninghoff, Rich Irvin, and Mark Keller for helping to make this tremendous effort possible. High-speed internet access is crucial for homes and businesses, especially during this pandemic,” Fisher said.

He also recognized the Juniata County Commissioners and their staff, indicating this is an example of what a public-private partnership can do. “The County Commissioners and Brad Kerstetter are a phenomenal driving force behind this project, and we thank them for their leadership. Our staff are here to provide services to our member counties to make these needed projects possible,” Fisher said.

Customers can choose between four residential packages, the fastest of which offers speeds of 40 megabits download and 8 megabits upload.

Dave Gibbons, Centre WISP Owner, thanked the county and SEDA-COG for making the project possible.

“We greatly appreciate Juniata County’s partnership with us and thank you to SEDA-COG for making this project happen. We are very excited to be deploying service in Juniata County,” Gibbons said.

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.

 

State grant program now includes digital needs for businesses

State grant program now includes digital needs for businesses

Posted on by DNS Admin

A state grant program that helps companies increase export sales is funding new activities because of COVID-19 travel difficulties.

The Global Access Program (GAP) is now providing grants for e-commerce, digital marketing, marketing media design, and certain certifications.

SEDA-Council of Governments’ (SEDA-COG) Export Development program assists businesses with application development, submittal, reporting, and reimbursement, among other assistance. 

Since the program began eight years ago, SEDA-COG has helped 63 companies to be awarded 103 grants totaling $371,525.

Noelle Long, director of SEDA-COG’s Export program, encouraged small- to mid-sized companies to apply for these funds.

“Businesses are having to adapt to the rapidly changing environment with the pandemic, and the GAP grant program has also adjusted to suit their needs since digital marketing is more important than ever. SEDA-COG is committed to continuing to empower businesses through this crisis and connect them with as many opportunities as possible,” Long said.

The reimbursable grants can be awarded up to $5,000. SEDA-COG’s GAP funds are available through next September.

Specifically, the grant now can be used for:

E-commerce and digital marketing

  • Design and development of website, with an international focus
  • Oversight and maintenance and monitoring fees for search engine optimization
  • Online market listing fees
  • E-commerce platform fees, including hosting and/or maintenance fees
  • Expenses to set up websites to accept international payments

Payments for Design of Marketing Media

  • Design of company digital international marketing, including social media and digital ads
  • Translation of marketing media, including audio and video
  • Google Analytics

Certifications: CE, CEE, GDPR, UL Canada, ATEX Testing/Certification, Japan Haz/Loc Certification, IECex Testing/Certification


The program continues to offer grants for the following activities:

  • Overseas trade mission participation (in person and virtual)
  • Overseas trade show exhibition (in person and virtual)
  • Domestic trade show exhibition (in person and virtual)
  • Foreign market sales trip
  • Subscription to U.S. Department of Commerce services
  • Compliance testing
  • Federal services that directly support exporting

GAP is administered by the Pennsylvania Office of International Business Development (OIBD). The program is funded in part through a grant with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). For more information, visit https://dced.pa.gov/programs/global-access-program-gap/.

SEDA-COG’s Export Development team serves the businesses and communities of central Pennsylvania by encouraging and facilitating economic development through growth in world trade. It is funded by the state Department of Community & Economic Development’s Office of International Business Development and Partnerships for Regional Economic Performance.

For more information about SEDA-COG’s Export Development Program, contact Noelle Long at export@seda-cog.org or 570-524-4491.