News

Lycoming County Levee Rehabilitation RFP

 

Contact:  Heather Kelly-Weisen, SEDA-COG

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Lycoming County is requesting proposals for the purchase of Professional Engineering Services.  These services include all necessary design and specifications for the bidding of and contracting for an expansion to the Lycoming County Levee Rehabilitation Project. Complete proposal details, including the required proposal format, and project related details may be obtained by contacting:

Heather Kelly-Weisen, Project Coordinator
SEDA-COG
201 Furnace Road
Lewisburg, PA 17837
hkellyweisen@seda-cog.org

Proposal details are also available at www.lyco.org – Request for Bids and www.seda-cog.org – News, Notices, Publications.

Proposals will be accepted until 5:00 PM prevailing time, October 16, 2020. Submitted proposals will be opened at the Lycoming County Commissioners’ Meeting on October 20, 2020 at 10:00 AM, at the Lycoming County Executive Plaza Building, 330 Pine Street, 2nd Floor, Williamsport, PA17701. To attend this meeting virtually please go to the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSRDCV2YEbfonPDRfPMnEuw

Proposals shall be on the forms required, sealed and clearly marked on the outside, “Lycoming County Levee Rehabilitation Services Proposal,” and submitted to:

Lycoming County Controller’s Office
48 West Third Street
Williamsport, PA 17701

Proposals that are faxed or e-mailed to SEDA-COG or Lycoming County cannot be accepted.

SEDA-COG awarded grants to study natural gas plant in Clinton County

A proposed multi-million-dollar natural gas synthesis plant in Clinton County that would create hundreds of jobs is closer to reality thanks to two grants awarded to SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG).

SEDA-COG applied for and was awarded the grants on behalf of KeyState Opportunity and Frontier Natural Resources, both of Bellefonte, to conduct third-party studies for the KeyState Natural Gas Synthesis Plant in West Keating Township.

A $471,270 U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant will help fund a $785,450 phase II engineering study related to the design, permitting, construction of the plant as well as workforce development.

An $84,000 USDA Rural Business Development grant will help fund a market study to validate product demand, logistics, and economics.

If built, the plant would provide hydrogen, ammonia, and urea for industrial, medical, agriculture, and transportation uses. It would create a combined 800 construction and permanent jobs.

SEDA-COG Executive Director John Brown said this project can greatly impact the local economy and thanked the granting agencies, particularly EDA Regional Director Linda Cruz-Carnall, EDA Economic Development Specialist Chris Casper, and USDA PA Rural Development’s State Director Curt Coccodrilli.

“SEDA-COG is pleased to partner in this effort that could bring hundreds of jobs to the area and directly reenergize the local economy, especially in this difficult time,” Brown said. “We thank the USDA and EDA for seeing the economic merits of the project and awarding the grants.”

KeyState CEO Perry Babb described the project’s impacts.

“KeyState is a historic project in both economic and environmental impacts. Onsite Marcellus natural gas production, combined with state-of-the-art methane emissions remediation, is used to create low-carbon and GHG-reducing products, and great long-term manufacturing jobs. CO2 is captured and stored a mile underground, a first in Pennsylvania, and manufacturing becomes the new ‘green jobs,’ and a low-carbon future for natural gas is born,” Babb said.

If the studies confirm the plant’s feasibility, phase III final engineering will commence and SEDA-COG will help identify funding to build out the necessary infrastructure, as KeyState finalizes investors to help build the plant.

“Both of these studies will help to attract investors and public funding,” Brown said.

The plant would be in a federal opportunity zone which provides tax benefits for investing capital gains in low-income community census tracts. The incentive offers deferral, reduction, and potential elimination of certain federal capital gains taxes.

The plant’s construction could be upward of $400 million. The studies are expected to be completed early next year.

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.

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

The application window is open for Snyder County small businesses, nonprofits, and municipalities to apply to receive part of a grant the county received to assist them with COVID-19 expenses.

The application deadline is Oct. 2 for the COVID-19 County Relief Block Grant (CRBG) funds.

The county has allocated $1.3 million CRBG funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Securities Act (CARES Act), through the state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) to this program.

Funds can be used for eligible costs from March 1 to Dec. 30, 2020 for the prevention, preparedness, and response to the COVID-19 crisis. For a full list of eligibility requirements and grant application forms, visit www.snydercounty.org.

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 Joe Kantz said these funds are essential to assisting those in the county recover.

“We are urging businesses, nonprofits, and municipalities to apply – these are grant funds, so you don’t need to repay them. SEDA-COG will assist with any questions you may have and will guide you through the process,” Kantz said.

Fully completed applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Oct. 2 via email to SEDA-COG’s Jamie Shrawder at jshrawder@seda-cog.org or faxed to 570-837-4282. Mailed forms must be postmarked by Sept. 30 and sent to Snyder County Commissioners, ATTN: Tony Phillips, Chief Clerk, P.O. Box 217, 9 W. Market St., Middleburg, PA 17842.

For more information, contact Shrawder at the email above or at 570-522-7263.

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 Board of Directors’ Meeting

Notice is hereby given that the regular meeting of the SEDA‑COG Board of Directors has been scheduled for Wednesday, September 23, at 1:00 p.m. This meeting will take place virtually, with the option to join via teleconference. To attend this public meeting, please click on the following link: https://meetings.ringcentral.com/j/6124697268 and follow the prompts. To access via telephone, please call +1(470)869-2200 and enter Meeting ID: 612 469 7268. The meeting will be recorded.