The Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) program, a part of the American Rescue Plan, delivers $350 billion to state, local, and Tribal governments across the country to support their response to and recovery from the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Download the EDA COVID-19 Loan Fact sheet
As of 8/4/2020 – SEDA-COG was awarded $6.3 million from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) for loans to alleviate sudden and severe economic issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic for eligible small businesses in SEDA-COG’s region of Centre, Clinton, Columbia, Juniata, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder, and Union counties.
Businesses can apply for loans of at least $10,000. No payments are due in the first six months. There is a $500 underwriting fee and a $100 filing fee.
Please complete the below application materials and send completed applications to SEDA-COG at eda@seda-cog.org.
EDA Application Checklist
Exbibit A COVID SEDA-COG Loan Application – updated 8/18/2020
Exhibit B COVID Certification Applicant Other Entities 2020
Exhibit C COVID Debt Schedule 2020
Exhibit D COVID Personal Financial Statement 2020
The Commonwealth Pennsylvania created a new web portal that will expedite the procurement of critical medical supplies. Click Here to complete and submit the critical medical supplies procurement form.
• To sell medical supplies or equipment to the federal government, please submit a price quote under the COVID-19 PPE and Medical Supplies Request for Quotation. Full details can be found in the solicitation (Notice ID 70FA2020R00000011).
o This solicitation requires registration with the System for Award Management (SAM) in order to be considered for award, pursuant to applicable regulations and guidelines. Registration information can be found at www.sam.gov. Registration must be “ACTIVE” at the time of award. The SEDA-COG Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) can help you register in SAM. Contact our PTAC for SAM registration assistance.
• If you have medical supplies or equipment to donate, please provide us details on what you are offering.
• If you are a private company that wants to produce a product related to the COVID response – email nbeoc@max.gov.
• If you are a hospital and other companies in need of medical supplies, contact your state Department of Public Health and/or Emergency Management.
• If you are interested in doing business with FEMA and supporting the response to COVID- 19 with your company’s non-medical goods and/or services, please submit your inquiry to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Procurement Action Innovative Response Team (PAIR) team at DHSIndustryLiaison@hq.dhs.gov.
If you are looking for additional personal protective equipment (PPE) or other healthcare supplies, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency has a process to apply for unmet need requests here:
While unemployment compensation eligibility determinations are made by the states, Congress recently made a number of changes to directly address COVID-19 concerns.
You can find more information by going to these state Unemployment Compensation resources:
Unemployment Compensation for Pennsylvanians from the CARES Act as of 4/13/2020
Unemployment Compensation What you Need to Know as of 4/13/2020
The United States Department of Labor has put together these resources to help you with information on paid family leave and COVID-19 sick time information:
The state recently created a portal to help businesses get critical COVID-19 products to market or retrofit their operations to begin production of those products. Click here to read more about the Pennsylvania Manufacturing Call to Action Portal.
Life-sustaining businesses can feature their job openings on the portal through this form.
This free national mental health crisis line for COVID-19 first responders and healthcare professionals is open 24 hours and connects callers to licensed mental health clinicians for support. Call 1-800-327-7451 (TTY 711).
The application for unemployment compensation benefits for self-employed workers, independent contractors and others not typically eligible for benefits is NOW AVAILABLE on the Pennsylvania unemployment compensation system website – apply now: https://bit.ly/2Vp5t7v
Governor Wolf today announced $40 million in CARES Act funding is available to address dairy industry relief and food security. Learn more
The U.S. Federal Reserve has finalized guidelines for their ‘Main Street Lending Program’ to support lending to small and medium-sized businesses that were in sound financial condition before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The program is for businesses with 15,000 or fewer employees who had 2019 revenues of $5 billion or less, and requires minimum loans of $250,000. Loans through this program will go through eligible lenders. Learn more.
This grant program provides grant to cultural organizations and musuems that experienced a loss of revenue from the closure by the proclamation of disaster emergency declared by Governor Wolf on March 6, 2020. The funding is through the CARES ACT and will be administered by the Department of Community and Economic Development.
COVID-19 Cultural and Museum Preservation Grant Program
Program Guidelines
$10 million in grants is now available for PA businesses that have worked to maintain access to fresh, healthy food throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more and how to apply: https://bit.ly/2W4piAT
The American Rescue Plan provides a total of $350 billion in Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to help governments build a strong recovery.
Uses include:
Support public health expenditures, by funding COVID-19 mitigation efforts, medical expenses, behavioral healthcare, and certain public health and safety staff;
Address negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency, including economic harms to workers, households, small businesses, impacted industries, and the public sector;
Replace lost public sector revenue, using this funding to provide government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue experienced due to the pandemic;
Provide premium pay for essential workers, offering additional support to those who have borne and will bear the greatest health risks because of their service in critical infrastructure sectors;
Invest in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure, making necessary investments to improve access to clean drinking water, support vital wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and to expand access to broadband internet.
More information:
• U.S. Department of Treasury Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Website
• U.S. Department of Treasury Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Treasury Submission Portal for Entitlement Local Governments
• U.S. Department of Treasury Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Interim Final Rule
• U.S. Department of Treasury Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Fact Sheet
• U.S. Department of Treasury Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Frequently Asked Questions
U.S. Department of Agriculture – Information to help rural communities and businesses during COVID19. See more information
U.S. Department of Agriculture – COVID -19 Federal Rural Resources Guide as of 4/13/2020. See more information
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Information for communities during COVID-19. See more information
The Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors – Information for townships on COVID-19. See more information
The Pennsylvania Boroughs Association – Information available for Boroughs on COVID-19. See more information
The Pennsylvania Municipal League – Information on COVID-19 for local leaders. See more information
SEDA-COG Resumes Housing Rehabilitation Work on May 1
• SEDA-COG will resume Housing Rehabilitation work on May 1 because Gov. Tom Wolf has lifted restrictions due to the COVID-19 crisis on that sector, with certain safety precautions. Homeowners whose projects were interrupted will be contacted.
• SEDA-COG will announce when weatherization services will resume.
• Crisis services are still functioning. The Crisis program repairs a malfunctioning heating unit at no cost to residents who qualify for fuel assistance, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The Crisis program runs until April 15 this year. For residents whose heat source is malfunctioning, they should call their county assistance office. The county assistance office will forward the completed referral to SEDA-COG to assign to a subcontractor.
• We encourage any clients with questions or concerns to reach out to us at information@seda-cog.org and we will direct your inquiries to the relevant department.
• Keep updated on the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 information from the Department of Health Click Here
• Not sure where to go for food, housing, and other human service needs during this time of crisis? Dial 2-1-1. Talked to a trained community specialist and get connected to resources in your area!
If you are out of work without pay, you are eligible to receive food sourced from the state and federal government from a food bank or food pantry in Pennsylvania. This includes service workers who are unable to get shifts or hourly wage employees of non-essential businesses that have voluntarily closed due to COVID-19 mitigation. You will be asked to verbally complete a Self-Declaration of Need form, as signatures have been temporarily waived due to COVID-19. Food pantries continue to operate throughout Pennsylvania, although some have updated hours and all are working on ways to connect people with food without risking contact. Find a pantry near you, then give them a call to make arrangements.
The Department of Human Services (DHS) today announced the launch of a statewide Support & Referral Helpline staffed by skilled and compassionate staff who will be available 24/7 to assist Pennsylvanians struggling with anxiety and other challenging emotions due to the COVID-19 emergency and refer them to community-based resources that can further help to meet individual needs.
The toll-free, round-the-clock support line is officially operational. The number to call is 1-855-284-2494. For TTY, dial 724-631-5600.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service announced that Social Security beneficiaries who are not typically required to file tax returns will not need to file an abbreviated tax return to receive an Economic Impact Payment. Instead, payments will be automatically deposited into their bank accounts.
More information is available here
Vehicle registrations, safety inspections and emissions inspections scheduled to expire from March 16 through April 30, 2020, the expiration date is now extended until May 31, 2020. Click Here for details.
Looking for employment? Search this new job portal for life-sustaining businesses that are hiring!
Track your stimulus check payment with this Get My Payment tracking site here.
Visit this site for help, meals, nursing home concerns, prescriptions, and more.
Lori and Jessica Sabatino, co-owners of Alloy Kitchen, LLC, are opening their restaurant’s doors on February 23, 2022, after a year of planning, construction, and patiently waiting for equipment to arrive. They are located in...
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...
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...
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The second phase of a new COVID-19 relief grant is now open for eligible hospitality industry businesses, and the Clinton County Commissioners are urging more businesses to apply. During the now-closed first phase of the...