News – Page 64 – SEDA Council of Governments

SEDA-COG assists communities, businesses with $28.5M in COVID funds

Posted on December 18, 2020 by DNS Admin

SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) has responded to the COVID-19 crisis by assisting communities and businesses with $28.5 million of COVID funds in its 11-county region from March through October.

In addition to the COVID funds, the agency’s total investment in the region from January 2019 through June 2020 was $511.2 million.

SEDA-COG Board President Rich Ridgway thanked the agency for its assistance.

“As board president, I have been more involved than ever with SEDA-COG this year, and I am grateful to their exhaustive efforts to fill the glaring gaps left by this pandemic. This agency is first-rate at how it continually adapts to the ever-changing economic climate presented to it since its founding in 1957,” Ridgway said.

Mike Fisher, SEDA-COG assistant executive director, said the agency has sought to meet its member counties’ needs throughout the economic crisis the pandemic has wrought.

“We know this is an incredibly difficult time for people and businesses. We saw a way we could provide further assistance by assisting with COVID-specific funds in our communities,” Fisher said. “Our staff has gone above and beyond, especially during these extraordinary circumstances, to meet our counties’ needs.”

As part of the agency’s total investment, SEDA-COG helped to administer $25.8 million in COVID-19 County Relief Block Grant (CRBG) funds on behalf of five of its counties, in addition to $980,000 for Sullivan County.

The CRBG funds are for the prevention, preparedness, and response to the COVID-19 crisis. Funds were used to assist municipalities, small businesses, and nonprofits pay for COVID-related costs. The funds are from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Securities Act (CARES Act), through the state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED).

SEDA-COG provided professional expertise and grant administrative services for the CRBG funds, as well as activity development and management to ensure accuracy and adherence with federal and state regulations.

Additionally, SEDA-COG loaned $2.6 million to 30 businesses. The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) had awarded SEDA-COG $6.3 million from the CARES Act for these COVID-related revolving loan funds.

Finally, SEDA-COG invested $101,632 in 28 homes through the LIHEAP Recovery Crisis Program. Residents in seven of SEDA-COG’s counties had their heating unit repaired or replaced at no cost through August, thanks to CARES Act funds the agency secured. awarded to the agency. The Crisis program normally ends in April, but with the COVID-19 pandemic, the program was extended from May through August.

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.

SEDA-COG’s COVID-related assistance in the region (March – October 2020):

$28.5 million total:

· $25.8 million administration of CRBG funds

· $2.6 million loaned to 30 businesses from EDA funds

· $101,632 invested in 28 homes from LIHEAP Recovery Crisis Program

SEDA-COG’s 2021 board officers elected

Posted on December 16, 2020 by DNS Admin

LEWISBURG – Board officers for SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) were elected at the Dec. 2 public meeting.

The 2021 SEDA-COG Board of Directors’ officers will be Juniata County Commissioner Mark Partner, president; Mifflin County Commissioner Kevin Kodish, first vice president; Centre County Commissioner Mark Higgins, second vice president; Larry Reisinger of Perry County, secretary; and Dennis Van Benthuysen of Snyder County, treasurer.

The 2020 officers were Columbia County Commissioner Rich Ridgway, president; Partner, first vice president; Kodish, second vice president; Reisinger, secretary; and Van Benthuysen, treasurer.

Partner said he anticipates serving as board president in the new year.

“Serving as board president for 2021, I look forward to continued service with our dedicated board of directors and our professional staff. Together, we will continue to administer existing programs and identify new opportunities to encourage and support long-term economic growth. These efforts serve to strengthen the quality of life throughout our 11-county SEDA-COG region.”

SEDA-COG Assistant Executive Director Mike Fisher thanked outgoing board President Rich Ridgway for his service to the agency as president.

“Board President Ridgway has helped guide the agency during this difficult year and has done an exemplary job of doing so. We appreciate his leadership,” Fisher said. “We look forward to entering the new year with Commissioner Partner at the helm.”

Board member appointments and reappointments will take place in January. The SEDA-COG board is a 22-member, county-based policy board representing both public and private sectors.

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.

HVAC Contractor Services Request For Proposal

Posted on December 16, 2020June 28, 2021 by DNS Admin

The SEDA Foundation is seeking a HVAC Contractor to evaluate and service our HVAC equipment. The systems were installed six (6) years ago and consist of mini-splits, air cooled heat pump, energy recovery ventilators, and propane-fired hot water boilers. Some zones fluctuate greatly between hot and cold, and we believe everything needs to be serviced, cleaned, adjusted, and balanced to increase the functionality of the system and for the comfort of the staff. There are also areas serviced by hot water radiators, some of which do not produce heat. We have had recurring problems with one mini-split, and we would like to investigate and solve the problem.

We would also like to enact an annual maintenance contract to include regular maintenance of all equipment, including changing filters, cleaning coils, and any other typical maintenance.

Proposals should address:

1. Evaluate the systems as they are now.
2. Provide retrofit suggestions and pricing to make current systems more efficient, to reduce COVID-19 transmission.
3. Service all equipment.
4. Adjust the system to even out heat/cooling production.

All interested proposers should contact Jordan Adams either via email, jadams@seda-cog.org or phone, #570-524-4491, to schedule a time to inspect the systems at 201 Furnace Road, Lewisburg, PA.

HVAC-RFP-Doc Download

SEDA-COG hires new executive director

Posted on December 15, 2020 by DNS Admin

Kim Wheeler has been selected as the new executive director of SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG).

The decision was the result of recommendations by the SEDA-COG Board of Directors’ Personnel Committee and is expected to be officially ratified by the board at their Jan. 27, 2021 public meeting. Wheeler’s first day at SEDA-COG will be Jan. 11, 2021.

SEDA-COG Board President Rich Ridgway said Wheeler is the best choice to head the agency with her expertise and laser focus on helping the region.

“We are thrilled with Kim’s hiring as she brings years of experience in various realms of government and planning. Her expertise and passion for improving the region coupled with her incredible work ethic is a winning combination. We look forward to working with Kim to ever improve the quality of life in our 11-county region,” Ridgway said.

Wheeler is a SEDA-COG veteran, having worked at the agency from 2003 to 2007 as senior planner with the former Community Resource Center where she was in charge of rural and urban planning projects and initiatives.

She joins SEDA-COG with expertise in the local and state government arenas, as well as in urban and regional planning, strategic planning, and local government policy development. As a leading planning and community development specialist in central Pennsylvania for the last 17 years, she is a well-respected professional and advocate for this region.

Her tenure in central Pennsylvania has been characterized by public-private partnership-building, developing innovative initiatives, providing local government leadership, and helping communities craft plans that lead to impactful results for the long term.

“I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to lead and represent SEDA-Council of Governments. I am thrilled to be able to utilize my combined experience and expertise and return to SEDA-COG to help it grow and adapt to the future and to have an even greater impact on the region. I look forward to working with SEDA-COG’s experienced and respected staff, the Board of Directors, regional stakeholders and partners to advance business and industry and support the region’s communities,” Wheeler said.

Wheeler has been the special projects coordinator and grants manager at the Borough of Lewisburg since January 2019. She was the deputy director of planning at the County of Lycoming from 2014 to 2019, along with working there for two prior years. From 2007 to 2012, she was the local government policy specialist and north-central region community planner for the state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED).

She earned her Master of Regional Planning from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and her Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, New York. She also earned her planning certification from the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).

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.