Photo description: Currently vacant, this longstanding structure in the heart of Shamokin is set to undergo a multi-year, mixed-use redevelopment, with plans to include affordable housing and a potential business incubator.
Lewisburg, PA – SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) Housing Development Corporation (HDC) has received $450,000 from the 2024 Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund (PHARE), from the PA Housing Finance Agency (PHFA), to jumpstart its Coal Region Innovation Builder (CRIB) project in the City of Shamokin.
CRIB is a mixed-use redevelopment project taking a vacant, historic building in Shamokin’s downtown core and turning it into a vibrant community hub that will ultimately include eleven energy-efficient, affordable housing units and a proposed business incubator to support the local entrepreneurial ecosystem.
With housing affordability continuing to be an issue in the city and region, this project will implement a rent structure that ensures accessibility for lower-income groups.
By prioritizing affordable housing and the incubator space, the project will foster financial stability for low-income families and provide opportunities for community-based businesses, creating a lasting impact on household stability and the local economy.
The $450,000 PHARE funds will be used to initiate Phase I and II of the multi-year, multi-funded project, which is expected to cost over $5 million once completed.
The PHARE funds received will cover the acquisition of the building, exterior renovations, and begin development of the first two floors—the proposed incubator, one ADA-compliant housing unit on the first floor, and five additional housing units on the second floor.
Located in the heart of the multi-million-dollar downtown Independence Street streetscape project, the CRIB project is positioned to maximize impact by revitalizing housing options and commercial spaces as part of the ongoing efforts to enhance economic resilience in Shamokin.
This funding is part of a statewide initiative unveiled earlier this week by PHFA. This year, PHFA is distributing $73 million in PHARE funding to support 387 housing and community development projects across all 67 counties, reinforcing the Commonwealth’s commitment to addressing the housing crisis and expanding access to safe, affordable housing.
About PHFA
The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency works to provide affordable homeownership and rental housing options for older adults, low- and moderate-income families, and people with special housing needs. Through its carefully managed mortgage programs and investments in multifamily housing developments, PHFA also promotes economic development across the state. Since its creation by the legislature in 1972, it has generated more than $19.7 billion of funding for more than 205,147 single-family home mortgage loans, helped fund the construction of 110,284 rental units, distributed approximately $362 million to support local housing initiatives, and saved the homes of more than 51,400 families from foreclosure. PHFA programs and operations are funded primarily by the sale of securities and from fees paid by program users, not by public tax dollars. The agency is governed by a 14-member board.
About SEDA-COG
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. About SEDA-COG HDC
The SEDA-COG HDC is a 501(c)(3) corporation that works to enhance, promote, and develop housing opportunities for low-income individuals and families in order to relieve the poor, distressed, and underprivileged, to lessen the burdens of government, and to combat community deterioration.
