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Plan GoShamokin Recognized by 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania

Plan GoShamokin Recognized by 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania

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During the 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania Commonwealth Awards, held virtually on December 15, 2021, the Plan GoShamokin project received the 2020 & 2021 Plans and Policy Initiative Award.


As stated on the 10,000 Friends website, the Commonwealth Awards honor projects, plans and initiatives that demonstrate smart growth, community resilience, and equity principles in action. The awards recognize individuals, businesses, and organizations with the vision to find new uses for vacant and underutilized land, increase opportunities and access for all in communities on the rise, and breathe new life into older neighborhoods.


According to The Shamokin Area Implementation Plan, “GoShamokin responds to a community driven desire to proactively reinvent itself. The plan focuses on a combination on of public/civic realm investments in infrastructure and public spaces combined with programs and resources that can be tapped to partner with the private sector to stimulate building rehabilitation and business expansion. This layered approach to economic development emphasizing ‘placemaking’ fosters the greatest potential for creating jobs, reducing crime, enhancing community pride, and elevating the overall quality-of-life for all of Shamokin’s residents.”


Sean Garrigan, the Principal with Stromberg Garrigan and Associates (SGA) – the lead firm contracted with the City to prepare the plan, submitted the plan for consideration of an award. “SGA was honored that 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania awarded our Plan GoShamokin project a Commonwealth Award. SGA was supported by Urban Partners and the KSA Group on the effort; Plan GoShamokin was completed in October 2020 for SEDA-COG on behalf of the City of Shamokin and provided a 5-year implementation plan for economic revitalization in downtown Shamokin. SGA is currently working to create a pocket park in Shamokin called Illumination Station, a direct result of the recommendations in the plan. Thank you to 10,000 Friends for the honor,” said Garrigan.


“The GoShamokin plan has provided direction for the momentum of many different organizations at work in the city. The recognition is a huge honor and it’s exciting to see so many aspects from the GoShamokin Plan happening – including the Illumination Station Pocket Park, Hydrology & Hydraulic (H&H) Study, U.S. EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant, Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Book Rewrite, and more,” said Betsy Kramer, Revitalization Coordinator at 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.

For more information, please contact Elaine Stauder, communications coordinator, SEDA-Council of Governments, at 570-522-7429 or estauder@seda-cog.org

New Hire in SEDA-COG’s Community Development Program

New Hire in SEDA-COG’s Community Development Program

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SEDA-COG recently welcomed Sarah Biddle as a Program Assistant in their Community Development Program.

Biddle has over five years of experience planning and coordinating community events and programs and team management. She was previously the Rail Trail Coordinator and Program Director for the Buffalo Valley Recreation Authority. She was also the Assistant Manager at Iron Front Events in Lewisburg, PA. She currently serves as the field hockey coach at Danville Area School District. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Sport Administration and Sport Management from Lock Haven University in 2015.

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.

For more information, please contact Elaine Stauder, communications coordinator, SEDA-Council of Governments, at 570-522-7429 or estauder@seda-cog.org.

SEDA-COG Offers Two Programs at No Cost for Home Heating Assistance

SEDA-COG Offers Two Programs at No Cost for Home Heating Assistance

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With colder weather upon us, SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) is continuing to offer Crisis program to residents who qualify for fuel assistance, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP.) This program repairs malfunctioning heating units at no cost.

Additionally, American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) stimulus funds are being used to offer a new service, the LIHEAP Clean and Tune Pilot program for residents. Clean & Tune is a benefit available to assist homeowners and residents in cleaning and tuning their primary heating equipment and avoiding interruptions to their heating service. It will provide general service with the goal of preventing crisis calls due to loss of heating. Homeowners and residents must qualify for fuel assistance.

Residents should contact their local county assistance office to see if they qualify for these programs. It is not guaranteed that this clean and tune service will be offered next year, so it is highly encouraged to take advantage of the program while it’s available. The application period is open now through May 6, 2022.

Mandy Fox, chief of SEDA-COG’s Weatherization program, said, “With the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on employment, people who normally wouldn’t qualify for the Crisis program might this year. We encourage people to contact their local county assistance office to see if they qualify.”

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

If residents don’t qualify for LIHEAP or Crisis 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 – $19,320; 2 – $26,130; 3 – $32,940; 4 – $39,750; 5 – $46,560; 6 – $53,370; 7 – $60,180; 8 – $66,990.

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.

For more information, please contact Elaine Stauder, communications coordinator, SEDA-Council of Governments, at 570-522-7429 or estauder@seda-cog.org.

SEDA-COG… Building Strong Economies & Strong Communities www.seda-cog.org

Unemployment, Labor Force Participation and Poverty Update

Unemployment, Labor Force Participation and Poverty Update

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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 United States’ rate of 14.4% and was lower than the Pennsylvania rate of 15.9%. From April 2020 until December 2020, the SEDA-COG Region’s unemployment rate was on average below both the Pennsylvania and the national unemployment rate. However, in more recent months, SEDA-COG Region’s unemployment rate has been above both the state and national rate by a fraction of a percentage.
Source: Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS)

Labor Force Participation Rate by Age Groups:


SEDA-COG Region, Pennsylvania, and U.S.A.
Labor force participation includes working-age adults who are either working or looking for work. During 2015-2019 American Community Survey, the labor force participation rate for the population of the SEDA-COG region (16 years and over) was 58.2%. This is lower than both Pennsylvania (62.8%) and the United States (63.4%). The graph illustrates labor force participation by age groups, comparing the SEDA-COG Region, the state, and the national rate. For the age groups between 45 years and over, the SEDA-COG Region’s participation rate is equivalent to the state and national rate. However, in the age groups between 20 years and 44 years, the SEDA-COG Region is below Pennsylvania and the United States. The 20 to 24 years age group is the most drastic, as the SEDA-COG Region’s participation rate is 60.7%, versus Pennsylvania at 73.8% and the U.S. at 75%. This is possibly a result of the proportionately large population of university students in the SEDA-COG Region, primarily in Centre and Columbia counties.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2019: American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months (2019):


SEDA-COG Region, Pennsylvania, and U.S.A.
During 2019, 14% of the SEDA-COG’s Region was below the poverty rate. This is higher than both the state (12.4%) and the United States’ poverty level (13.4%). Six counties in the SEDA-COG region exceeded the state rate: Centre (18.2%), Clinton (15.5%), Columbia (15.0%), Lycoming (13.6%), Mifflin (13.5%), and Northumberland (13.2%). Of these six counties, Northumberland and Mifflin do not have large universities. Counties with large universities and students living off-campus, can statistically impact poverty rates. This is especially true for Centre (Penn State University) and Columbia (Bloomsburg University) and can be inferred to impact Lycoming (Pennsylvania College of Technology and Lycoming University) and Clinton (Lock Haven University).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2019: American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates