News

FINAL NOTICE: Sunbury CDBG-CV Funding

Posted on June 19, 2020July 17, 2020 by DNS Admin

POSTING DATES: June 12 – June 24, 2020
CONTACT: Mitzi Gallagher-Long, (570) 524-4491

FINAL NOTICE

On July 31, 2020, Sunbury City Council intends to submit an application to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2020 Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus Relief (CDBG-CV) funds. The amount of $193,732. Based on this amount, the Sunbury City Council proposes to allocate CDBG-CV funds to the following activities:

1. Sunbury mobile hand washing and sanitizing stations $10,000
2. Shikellamy remote learning access k-5 $36,600
3. Sunbury EMS/Fire/Police mask fitter and adapter $14,278
4. CSO rent/mortgage/utility/food relief program $73,554
5. Sunbury Business relief fund $40,000
6. Administration $19,300

TOTAL $193,732

A Public Hearing to receive comments on the proposed use of the CDBG-CV funds will be held on June 24, 2020, at 6:00 PM. Keeping with federal and state guidelines regarding COVID 19, this meeting will take place as a virtual video web and tele conference. The public is invited to observe and participate in the hearing as follows: To access via web video, type the link: https://meetings.ringcentral.com/j/8383951780. To access via telephone dial +1(470)869-2200 and enter Meeting ID: 838 395 1780. The meeting will be recorded. The meeting platform is accessible to persons with disabilities. If accommodations are needed for those with special needs related to language, sight, or hearing, please call (570)524-4491 at least five days in advance. Interested applicants should contact the Sunbury City Council as soon as possible for funding consideration, but in no case later than June 24, 2020. Immediately following the Public Hearing, the Sunbury City Council will consider the approval of the CDBG-CV application.

The City of Sunbury will make every effort to make all programs and activities accessible to the learning, mobility, visually, hearing, language-impaired persons, and those with limited English proficiency. Therefore, if you are a person with a disability or limited English proficiency and require an auxiliary aid, service, or accommodations to participate, please contact Kristen Lloyd at SEDA-COG, 201 Furnace Road, Lewisburg, PA 17837, (570) 524-4491, or 1-800-332-6701, 1-800-654-5984 TTY, 1-800-654-5988 TDD to discuss how to best accommodate your needs. Translators will be available at public meetings upon advance request.

Any complaints or grievances should be emailed to Mitzi Gallagher-Long at mgallagherlong@seda-cog.org. Responses will be addressed within 15 working days when practicable.

Roadmap to Getting a Facility Clearance

Posted on June 18, 2020June 15, 2021 by DNS Admin

Date: 24 June 2020
Time: 3:00 PM (EDT)
Event page

• Are you a small business that wants to work with the Department of Defense?
• Interested in classified contracting opportunities, but don’t know where to start?
• Confused by the facility clearance process or federal requirements?

A facility clearance is an integral part of doing business with some agencies/organizations within the DOD. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to compete on classified contracts.

What will be discussed?
Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) will provide a roadmap of the facility clearance process, provide small business specific tips and guidance to prepare small businesses for entry into the cleared defense marketplace.

Presenters
Ms. Adriane Johns, DCSA Chief, Facility Clearance Branch
Ms. Liz Mudd, DCSA Small Business Program Manager
Ms. Jennifer Wagner, Industrial Security Specialist

How to join
Join by Computer
Join by Phone
+1-510-210-8882 USA Toll
Meeting number (access code): 199 196 5938
Meeting password: DW2020

Subscribe
This webinar is being put on by the Department of Defense Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) in conjunction with Defense Acquisition University (DAU). For information on upcoming webinars, subscribe to our email list.

Lock Haven residents may receive no-cost home repairs Helps residents and general contractors

Posted on June 17, 2020 by DNS Admin

The City of Lock Haven may be awarded a $500,000 housing rehabilitation grant early next year, and city residents are encouraged to apply now to get on the waiting list to receive no-cost home repairs. Local general contractors will perform the work.

Homeowners may be eligible to receive up to $65,000 in home improvements.

Eligible repairs include structural, roofing, plumbing, electrical, heating/furnace, window replacement, radon and lead-based paint mitigation, and energy-related improvements. Also included are modifications for mobility-impaired residents. There is no cost to homeowners who maintain home residency over a five-year period from the date of signing.

Homeowners can go through the process hassle-free with SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) managing it from start to finish, said Teri Provost, director of the agency’s Housing Rehabilitation program.

“We manage the process on behalf of the homeowner so they don’t have to worry about it, including obtaining the contractor and seeing the project through to completion,” Provost said.

SEDA-COG manages and administers the program on behalf of the city; the city is the grant applicant, pursuing the funds on behalf of its residents.

This also presents an opportunity for general contractors who want to perform housing rehabilitation work in the area.

“COVID-19 has hit everyone hard, and our housing rehabilitation program helps both residents and the local workforce by providing no-cost home repairs from local contractors. This puts money directly back into people’s wallets and helps rebuild our economy,” Provost said.

Benefits to contractors include timely payments, year-round work, and multiple work locations/flexibility. Housing rehabilitation bids typically range from $20,000 to $65,000.

Interested homeowners may contact SEDA-COG’s Stacy Anderson to join the wait list at 800-326-9310 or sanderson@seda-cog.org. Contractors may contact SEDA-COG’s Danielle King at 570-524-4491 ext. 7325 or dking@seda-cog.org.

Qualifications:

· Own the home or have Life Rights to live in it;
· Meet income qualifications based on household size;
· Be current on local taxes and municipal utility bills;
· Provide proof of homeowner’s insurance;
· Live in the home an additional five years.

Additional requirements may apply.

Annual Gross Income Limits:
Family size: 1 – $35,400; 2 – $40,450; 3 – $45,500; 4 – $50,550; 5 – $54,600; 6 – $58,650; 7 – $62,700; 8 – $66,750.

New natural gas service begins in Centre Hall – Service will support hundreds of new customers

Posted on June 11, 2020 by DNS Admin

CENTRE HALL – Natural gas is now flowing to a major food processing plant and will be soon to small businesses and over 100 homes in its initial phase.

This is thanks to the Centre Hall Natural Gas Project and its partners, said Pete Smeltz, president of the SEDA-COG Natural Gas Cooperative.

“This project has progressed rapidly since its groundbreaking last September. It demonstrates how the SEDA-COG Natural Gas Cooperative forms partnerships and leverages funds to help businesses and residents access natural gas when they can’t otherwise,” Smeltz said. “We are so appreciative of our participating supporters – Hanover Foods Corporation, Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania, Dominion Energy Transmission, the state of Pennsylvania, state Sen. Jake Corman, state Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, Centre County Planning and Community Development Office, and Centre Hall Borough.”

The largest business the project serves is Hanover Foods Corporation.

Attorney Matthew Garber of McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC, counsel for Hanover Foods, said, “Hanover Foods is pleased to utilize a cleaner and more cost-efficient resource, to strengthen its operational capabilities, and to support development throughout the Centre County region.”

Over 100 residents and businesses along the main pipeline route have been able to convert to natural gas because of opportunities provided by Columbia Gas.

Mike Huwar, Columbia Gas president and COO, said this presents new economic opportunities for the area.

“Columbia Gas is honored to expand access to natural gas to customers in Centre Hall through this project while creating new jobs and new economic opportunities,” Huwar said. “Going forward, safely operating this system will be our responsibility for years to come. We take that responsibility for safety seriously —for our customers, for our communities, and for our employees.”

Centre Hall Mayor Ray Hankinson, who serves on the cooperative board, said this project is much needed in the borough to support jobs and cost savings for businesses and homeowners alike.

“This is an exciting first project for the cooperative and our borough – and a great milestone for central Pennsylvanians. Our small borough could never have planned and coordinated the resources it took to bring this project into existence. I hope this becomes a drawing card for new business in our area,” Hankinson said.

The project provides natural gas service through a new a point of delivery station and delivery pipeline network that connects to a Dominion Energy natural gas transmission line west of Centre Hall Borough, runs through Centre Hall, and out to Hanover Foods in Potter Township. Columbia Gas built a 25,425-foot mainline pipeline delivery system to serve Centre Hall, Hanover Foods, and other businesses and residents. The initial project phase will continue to be expanded to serve additional residences and businesses over time.

Columbia Gas owns and operates the point of delivery station and the delivery system. The cooperative procured and managed funding and has supported marketing efforts to add new customers.

The $7 million project was financed by a $1 million Pipeline Investment Program (PIPE) grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Commonwealth Financing Authority, and matching funds from Columbia Gas and Hanover Foods.

The SEDA-COG Natural Gas Cooperative, established in June 2016, provides project funding and forms partnerships to expand natural gas distribution infrastructure to its member counties Centre, Clinton, Juniata, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, and Union and SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG). For more information, visit http://centralpagas.org/.