SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) has been awarded a highly competitive $1 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The grant is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This award will create the opportunity to assist the SEDA-COG region by capitalizing a Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) and further expanding its already established and successful EPA Brownfields program under the SEDA-COG Community Services Division.
A Brownfield is a property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. SEDA-COG has previous success with EPA 128(a) Technical Assistance and EPA Community-Wide Assessment Grants.
With this new funding opportunity, SEDA-COG’s Business Finance Department will be able to further assist with real estate development and reuse by providing loans and subgrants to support Brownfields cleanup activities. This new program will initially focus on the city of Shamokin in Northumberland County but will allow SEDA-COG to offer this RLF to SEDA-COG’s 11-county region, which includes the counties of Centre, Clinton, Columbia, Juniata, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder, and Union. When RLF loans are repaid, the loan amount is returned to the fund and loaned to other borrowers, providing an ongoing source of capital within the SEDA-COG region.
Betsy Kramer serves as SEDA-COG’s revitalization coordinator in the city of Shamokin. She is excited for the opportunity to administer the Brownfields funds. “This grant will encourage stakeholders to leverage resources to clean up and redevelop brownfields so they can be improved for future economic development; it’s a big win for the city and the SEDA-COG region.” stated Kramer.
Kim Wheeler, SEDA-COG Executive Director, said, “This grant award is a great accomplishment for our 11-county region. I’m proud of our staff. They worked diligently to submit the grant application and SEDA-COG was 1 of 15 grant recipients in the nation.” Wheeler stated, “This grant will allow us to work together with communities to safely clean up and reuse brownfield sites.”
This new RLF loan fund will be beginning late 2023. For more information on the SEDA-COG EPA Brownfield program, please contact Betsy Kramer at bkramer@seda-cog.org or by calling (570) 524-4491 x 7203.
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.