News – Page 87 – SEDA Council of Governments

Public Hearing Notice: Union County Community Development Block Grant

Posted on April 20, 2020July 17, 2020 by DNS Admin

RUN DATE: April 22, 2020
CONTACT PERSON: Mitzi Gallagher-Long, (570) 524-4491, ext. 7279

UNION COUNTY AND
UNION COUNTY ON BEHALF OF:
KELLY TOWNSHIP AND
LEWISBURG BOROUGH
FFY 2020
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT

FIRST PUBLIC HEARING AND PROJECT DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP NOTICE

Union County Commissioners plan to submit an application to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for Federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. For Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2020, the County’s estimated allocation is $240,000. The County will also include in its application CDBG funds estimated at $105,000 on behalf of Kelly Township, and $108,000 on behalf of Lewisburg Borough.

A Public Hearing and Project Development Workshop will be held on May 19, 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 workshop as follows: To access via web video, type the link: https://meetings.ringcentral.com/j/8383951780. To access via telephone dial +1(470)8692200 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, ext. 7279 at least five days in advance. A public hearing pertaining specifically to Kelly Township will be held on June 9th at 6:30 PM at the Kelly Township Building*. A public hearing pertaining specifically to the Lewisburg Borough will be held on June 16, 2020 at 6:30 PM at the Lewisburg Borough Building*. *Note that if federal and state guidelines regarding COVID 19 are still in place and public meetings can not be held in Kelly Township and Lewisburg Borough as scheduled, the hearings will be held virtually. The same video link information and call in information listed above for the Union County workshop will be used to access the meetings in Kelly Township and Lewisburg Borough. The virtual links will only be used if the public meetings can not take place.

Proposed project activities must meet one or more of three objectives: benefit low- and moderate-income persons; prevent or eliminate slums or blight; and/or alleviate immediate threats to the health and safety of the community. Union County Commissioners will commit not less than 70% of the total funds, after administration costs, to projects which principally benefit low- and moderate-income persons (LMI). Housing, community, and economic development activities are eligible; examples include housing rehab, demolition or improvement of blighted property and public works projects. A list of eligible activities can be found in Section 105(s) of the Housing and Community Development Act (P.L. 93-383) as amended.

The purpose of the Public Hearings and Project Development Workshop is to discuss the CDBG Program, receive public input on proposed activities and/or proposals for new activities. The Union County Commissioners also wish to receive public comment on potential environmental impacts, the previous use of CDBG funds, and the County’s Three-Year Community Development Plan. Interested applicants should contact the Union County Commissioners as soon as possible for funding consideration, but in no case later than May 19, 2020 at which time a public hearing is scheduled.

No displacement is anticipated, and every effort will be made to avoid or minimize displacement and relocation. Should displacement be required, the applicant is responsible for replacing all low- and moderate-income housing units that are demolished or converted. At this hearing, Mitzi Gallagher-Long will disclose the types and levels of assistance that it would make available if persons were to be displaced by CDBG-funded activities.

Union County does not discriminate in access to, participation in, or treatment or employment in its federally funded programs or services. In the event the public believes that discrimination, denied accessibility, or denied equal opportunity has occurred, Union County Section 504 officer, Chief Clerk, may be reached at (570) 524-8634.

Technical assistance will be provided upon request to any groups or persons, especially LMI persons or their representatives, when developing proposals intending to use CDBG funds. The Commissioners will strive to make all programs and activities accessible to the learning, mobility, vision, hearing, and language-impaired persons. If you have a disability or limited English proficiency and require an auxiliary aid or accommodations, please contact Mitzi Gallagher-Long at SEDA-COG, 1-800-332-6701, 1-800-654-5984 TTY, 1-800-654-5988 TDD to discuss your needs. Translators will be available upon request.

Any complaints should be written and submitted to Mitzi Gallagher-Long at SEDA-COG. Written responses will be addressed within 15 working days when practicable.

Übersetzer sind für die öffentliche Sitzung auf Anfrage erhältlich.

Traductores estarán disponibles en las reunions públicas por petición.

Webcast: New cybersecurity requirement for Department of Defense contracts

Posted on April 6, 2020 by DNS Admin

Starting this fall, contractors will be required to have a cybersecurity certification to obtain U.S. Department of Defense contracts.

A free webcast will show interested businesses how to obtain the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification. It will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. May 28 through Zoom.

There is a limit of 100 registrants. To register, visit https://bit.ly/2xOlB96.

Scott Dawson, president of Core Business Solutions, will present the training. It is cosponsored by SEDA-Council of Governments’ (SEDA-COG) Procurement Technical Assistance Center.

For more information, contact Robert Brown at rbrown@seda-cog.org or 570-522-7224.

The webcast is sponsored by the Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) of SEDA-Council of Governments, Southern Alleghenies Planning and Development Commission, Northwest, Southeast PA, Northern Tier, Northeastern PA, JARI, and North Central; and Indiana University of Pennsylvania, California University of Pennsylvania’s Government Agency Coordination Office, Slippery Rock University, the Innovative Manufacturers’ Center, and PA Partnerships for Regional Economic Performance.

SEDA-COG’s Procurement Technical Assistance Center helps companies explore and compete in the local, state, and federal government marketplace. For more information about the SEDA-COG Procurement Technical Assistance Center, visit www.seda-cog.org/ptac/.

The Procurement Technical Assistance program is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the Defense Logistics Agency.

Statewide “Stay-at-home” order for all of Pennsylvania

Posted on April 2, 2020 by DNS Admin

Governor Wolf has issued a statewide “stay-at-home” order for all counties in Pennsylvania in order to limit the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

State residents are directed to stay home unless they are involved in certain essential activities, such as collecting food and groceries, picking up prescriptions or medical supplies, going to or from work in life-sustaining businesses, caring for a family member or pet in another household, or other essential travel.

Thirty-three counties were already under these restrictions; the order now covers all counties and will remain in effect until April 30.

People who need to leave home for life-sustaining activities are encouraged to practice social distancing by maintaining at least six feet of separation from other individuals, washing hands with soap and water frequently, covering coughs and sneezes with a sleeve or elbow and regularly cleaning high-contact surface areas.

More guidance on activities that are allowed during the stay-at-home order are available here.

SEDA-COG Operational Response to COVID-19

Posted on March 25, 2020 by DNS Admin

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and Gov. Tom Wolf’s order to close the physical locations of non-life-sustaining businesses, SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) has closed its office(s) during this time, and in-person meetings have been cancelled/postponed.

We continue to serve you during this time of crisis. Staff are working remotely and are available by phone and email. This includes assistance to businesses and communities.

However, our Weatherization and Housing Rehabilitation work is not permitted to continue until the governor lifts his order because of in-home contact with clients. We will resume weatherization and housing rehabilitation services as soon as we are permitted.

Importantly, our Crisis services are still functioning. The Crisis program repairs a malfunctioning heating unit at no cost to residents who qualify for fuel assistance, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The Crisis program runs until April 15 this year. For residents whose heat source is malfunctioning, they should call their county assistance office. The county assistance office will forward the completed referral to SEDA-COG to assign to a subcontractor. We encourage any clients with questions or concerns to reach out to us at information@seda-cog.org and we will direct your inquiries to the relevant department.

Thank you, and stay safe!