SEDA-COG – Page 48 – SEDA Council of Governments

Application window open for Northumberland County entities to apply for COVID relief funds

Posted on August 7, 2020August 7, 2020 by DNS Admin

The application window is open for Northumberland County businesses, organizations, and municipalities to apply to receive part of an $8.2 million grant the county received to assist them with COVID-19 expenses.

The deadline to apply to the county is Aug. 24. The funds do not have to be repaid.

The COVID-19 County Relief Block Grant (CRBG) funds must be for the prevention, preparedness, and response to the COVID-19 crisis. Funds must be used to assist municipalities, small business grants, and nonprofits to pay for any COVID-related cost they have incurred. The grant is from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Securities Act (CARES Act), through the state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED).

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 Samuel J. Schiccatano said this initial assessment will help establish the need throughout the county and described the information they’re seeking.

“The county is requesting information on any COVID-related expenses that your municipality or organization has spent since March 1, 2020 or anticipates spending by Dec. 30, 2020. The county also is seeking information on any expense or projected expense in your budgets that stems from the COVID-19 crisis. The CRBG funds may be able to assist in recouping these financial hardships, but first we must be able to quantify these expenses,” Schiccatano said.

He said that while they will do their best to meet the eligible needs submitted, sufficient funds may not be available for every need.

To submit information by Aug. 24, visit www.norrycopa.net/index.php/planning/ and complete the CARES Act Needs Assessment form. Send the completed form to Justin Skavery, county planning coordinator, at justin.skavery@norrycopa.net or 399 Stadium Drive, Sunbury, PA 17801.

For more information, contact Skavery at the above email address or 570-988-4220 or Geralee Zeigler of SEDA-COG at gzeigler@seda-cog.org or 570-524-4491 ext. 7218.

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.

Final Notice: Centre County CDBG-CV and Bellefonte Borough

Posted on August 4, 2020 by DNS Admin

POSTING DATES: August 5 – August 11, 2020
CONTACT: Nicole Hogan, (570) 524-4491

FINAL NOTICE

On August 31, 2020, Centre County plans to submit an application to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for 2020 Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus Response (CDBG-CV) funds. The amount of the 2020 CDBG-CV funds for Centre County is $166,152, and $66,574 for the Borough of Bellefonte. Based on this amount, the Centre County Commissioners , along with the Bellefonte Borough Council propose to allocate CDBG funds to the following activities:

CENTRE COUNTY

Emergency Services Assistance Program $ 40,875
Centre Volunteers in Medicine $ 20,000
Centre Safe $ 10,000
Centre County rent/mortgage/utility assistance program $ 35,377
Small Business Assistance Program $ 30,000
SEDA-COG Administration $ 16,600
Centre County Administration $ 13,300

TOTAL $ 166,152

BELLEFONTE BOROUGH

8. Bellefonte Utility and Rent Assistance Program $ 59,974
9. Administration $ 6,600

TOTAL $ 66,574

A Public Hearing to receive comments on the proposed use of these funds will be held on August 11, 2020, at 7:00 PM. Keeping with federal and state guidelines regarding COVID 19, this meeting will take place as a virtual video web and tele conference. The public is invited to observe and participate in the hearing as follows: To access via web video, type the link: https://meetings.ringcentral.com/j/8383951780. To access via telephone dial +1(470)869-2200 and enter Meeting ID: 838 395 1780. The meeting will be recorded. The meeting platform is accessible to persons with disabilities. If accommodations are needed for those with special needs related to language, sight, or hearing, please call (570)524-4491 at least five days in advance. Interested applicants should contact the Centre County Commissioners as soon as possible for funding consideration, but in no case later than August 11, 2020. Following the Public Hearing, the Centre County Commissioners will consider the approval of the CDBG-CV application at the August 13, 2020 Commissioners Meeting.

The Center County Commissioners will strive to make all programs and activities accessible to the learning, mobility, vision, hearing, and language-impaired persons. If you have a disability or limited English proficiency and require an auxiliary aid or accommodations, please contact Nicole Hogan at SEDA-COG, 1-800-332-6701, 1-800-654-5984 TTY, 1-800-654-5988 TDD, to discuss your needs at least five days in advance. Translators will be available upon request.

Any complaints should be written and submitted to Mitzi Gallagher-Long at SEDA-COG. Written responses will be addressed within 15 working days when practicable.

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Discounted elevation certificates for Milton homeowners

Posted on July 24, 2020 by DNS Admin

Milton homeowners who live in the 100-year floodplain (Zone AE) can get discounted elevation certificates that can reduce their flood insurance costs.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) elevation certificates cost $700 for these homeowners. This is a discounted group price that SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) negotiated with Orangeville Surveying Consultants Inc. Without the discount, the rate can be as expensive as $2,000.

Elevation certificates compare a structure’s elevation to the base flood elevation shown on the map being used for rating and determine the cost to cover flood risk. If the certificate shows the property at a high elevation, it will lower the flood insurance cost.

“The elevation certificate can be a useful tool when comparison shopping for flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) versus the private insurance market,” said Doug Diehl, Milton Borough’s zoning and code enforcement officer and floodplain manager. “You also can know the flooding frequency, history, and depths.”

Diehl said several local municipalities are involved in the Community Rating System (CRS). By meeting CRS requirements, a municipality can achieve a specific class designation which in turn gets the resident of that municipality an automatic flood insurance rate discount through the National Flood Insurance Program, which is not applicable to the privatized flood insurance market.

The group discount is available in Lewisburg and Selinsgrove for $700, and in Danville and Bloomsburg for $600. Interested Milton homeowners can contact Doug Diehl at 570-742-8759 or ddiehl@miltonpa.org or SEDA-COG’s Geralee Zeigler at 570-524-4491 ext. 7218 or gzeigler@seda-cog.org.

Homeowners in Lewisburg, Selinsgrove, Danville, and Bloomsburg also may contact Zeigler for more information.

SEDA-COG’s Flood Resiliency Program offers services related to flood resiliency and mitigation assistance both within and outside of its 11-county region. Its goal is to help break the damage cycle and stop its drain on people and communities. For more information, visit https://seda-cog.org/departments/flood-resiliency/.

Lewisburg Homeowners: How will you prepare for the next flood?

Posted on July 24, 2020 by DNS Admin

The time is now to prepare your flood-prone property by reducing risk and damages before the next flood. Investments in flood mitigation could lead to reduced flood insurance costs as well.

Lewisburg homeowners who live in the 100-year floodplain (Zone AE) are encouraged to secure an elevation certificate either through the SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) Flood Resiliency Program or a local engineering firm to help homeowners understand their risk.

SEDA-COG has negotiated a group rate through Orangeville Surveying Consulting Inc to complete elevation certificates that meet the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) standards. Interested homeowners can contact Geralee Zeigler at gzeigler@seda-cog.org or 570-524-4491 ext. 7218.

An Elevation Certificate is a valuable document. It records important features of the property, including its unique location within the floodplain and elevation of a building’s lowest floor. This certificate is used by insurance agents to determine flood insurance premiums and it is used by the Borough’s Codes Office to ensure that all new construction is located above the base flood elevation, thereby decreasing the amount of flood damage in the future. Elevation Certificates provide property owners the information necessary to help determine flood risk factors as well as options for insuring and mitigating the risk.

“Homeowners have many options for flood mitigation such as installing flood vents, raising their utilities above base flood elevation, elevating the home, and a variety of wet and dry floodproofing tactics. These mitigation measures help reduce the risk and damage of flooding if done in compliance with the floodplain ordinance standards and the information provided on an elevation certificate will help determine which measures are most appropriate for each unique situation,” said Kim Wheeler, Lewisburg Borough’s Special Project’s Coordinator.

SEDA-COG’s Flood Resiliency Program offers services related to flood resiliency and mitigation assistance both within and outside of its 11-county region. Its goal is to help break the damage cycle and stop its drain on people and communities. For more information, visit https://seda-cog.org/departments/flood-resiliency/.