Masthead for February 
Table of Contents
Thruway Project is #1
Driving Tour Offers Sights and Sounds
Company gets Assistance and gets Paid
Byte-sized News
Calendar of Events
Quick Links


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SEDA-COG primarily
serves the 11 Central Pennsylvania counties of Centre, Clinton, Columbia, Juniata, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder, and Union.
 


Historic Factoid
1984 - SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority completes its first rail purchase.  The North Shore Railroad and Nittany & Bald Eagle Railroad begin operations.
 


1-question quiz

 

What is
Pennsylvania's state fish?

 

Click here for the answer.

 


Featured Link

 

Winter Energy Tips 

 

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) is concerned about the potential for higher natural gas prices this winter.  Natural gas prices are determined by nationwide factors affecting demand and supply, but Pennsylvania consumers can still take steps to help themselves.  Click on the link above to access the PUC's Winter Energy Tips. 


To learn more about home heating and saving energy, contact SEDA-COG's Energy Resource Center and Weatherization program.   

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SEDA-COG is a publicly funded development organization based in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania and serving an 11-county region. We help the counties ─ and the communities and citizens within them ─ address challenges related to their economies and infrastructure, and we assist them in responding to new opportunities in such areas as energy, technology, market development, transportation, and locally-based resources.
Thruway Project is Priority One,
but "...Major Obstacles Remain..."


The SEDA-COG Rural Planning Organization (RPO) has made the Central Susquehanna Valley Thruway (CSVT) project its top priority among the region's transportation projects.  The RPO serves transportation planning needs in Clinton, Columbia, Juniata, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, and Union counties.  

But according to Jim Saylor, Director of transportation planning at SEDA-COG, "Major obstacles remain
Route 11 & 15, Shamokin Dam
Rts. 11 & 15 in Shamokin Dam has become a major thoroughfare in the region.

before we can build the CSVT, and it's more than just money ─ it's the means in which those funds are secured."  The proposed 12.5-mile roadway would address traffic safety and congestion concerns in and around Routes 11 & 15 in Shamokin Dam, and Route 147 in Northumberland.  The total estimated cost is $604 million of which the non-federal share is approximately $120 million.

  
Over a year ago the proposed roadway was added to the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS), qualifying the project for Appalachian Highway funds.  However, the amount of Appalachian Highway funding that can be used on CSVT is limited.  The region's Congressmen are exploring steps to remove or increase those limits.    

Another impediment is the Congressional ban on the use of toll credits for the project's non-federal share.  In the past, highway maintenance funds secured through the collection of tolls could be applied as a credit toward the non-federal share of projects like CSVT.  "But about five years ago," says Saylor, "Congress disallowed the use of toll credits within the Appalachian corridor." 

 

Saylor commended Pennsylvania's federal legislators who are seeking to have the ban overturned.  Senators Robert Casey and Pat Toomey are co-sponsors of legislation in the U.S. Senate that would lift the ban, and Congressman Bill Shuster has introduced a companion bill in the House of Representatives.  Congressmen Tom Marino and Glenn Thompson are co-sponsors.  

 

Read more about the SEDA-COG RPO.  View photos on Facebook.  Learn more about the CSVT transportation project.

Print out the Guide, Jump in Your Car, and Explore the Susquehanna River  

 

There is so much to experience along the Susquehanna River ─ 18th century river towns, breathtaking views of water and land, historic taverns and inns.  To guide visitors as well as residents as they explore the Susquehanna region and communities within it, a new driving tour has been developed by the Susquehanna

Crane in the water
The driving tour includes several historic and natural attractions along the Susquehanna River. For a full-size image of this photo, click here.

Greenway Partnership.  The tour includes 22 stops along 95 miles, beginning in Lewisburg.  A guide booklet can be printed from www.susquehannagreenway.org, the Partnership's web site.  The web site also features audio files that can be downloaded to CDs or MP3 players. 


In addition, the audio files can be accessed via QR codes that are printed with the description of each stop.  Free QR code scanner apps for smart phones are available online.  So, as you enjoy the beautiful flowers and shrubs at Keithan Bluebird Gardens in Sunbury, hear about the Gardens' 90-year history.  In Millersburg, watch the Ferry cross the Susquehanna River and hear about the role it played in Pennsylvania's mid-19th century transportation system.  Narration is provided by area broadcaster Mark Lawrence; Professors Katie Faull and Ben Marsh, Bucknell University, Lewisburg; Professor Jennifer Elick, Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove; Fred Lauster, Duncannon Borough Council; and Tanuya Matter, former Councilwoman, Liverpool.  


The tour encompasses the west and east shores of the Susquehanna, and is designed to begin in Lewisburg and end in Selinsgrove.  However, with your guide booklet in hand, you can begin the tour anywhere along the way, and enjoy as many of the sites and scenes as you please.   

 

Read more about the Greenway driving tour.  View photos on Facebook.  Learn more about the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership.

Area Firm Gets Government
Contract, Gets Registered, Gets Paid


Getting paid is the most important part of a sales transaction.  As one small firm in Union County learned, that can get a bit complicated when firms are

Phyllis
Phyllis Watson, the firm's Corporate Secretary . . .

dealing with the federal government, even when government officials have the very best intentions. 


Last year Allenwood Equipment, Inc. sold the U.S. Bureau of Prisons over $14,000 in parts to repair a piece of heavy equipment that had been seriously damaged in a fire at the Allenwood Federal Correctional Complex in Gregg Township, Union County.  Before the transaction could be finalized, Allenwood Equipment needed to be listed in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR), which is the primary database of vendors for the federal government.  


Prison officials advised Allenwood Equipment to register in the CCR and suggested the company call the  

Kristen
. . . worked with Kristen Moyer of SEDA-COG's Procurement Technical Assistance Center.

SEDA-COG Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) for help in completing the needed documentation.  Phyllis Watson, the firm's Corporate Secretary, found the CCR forms to be "...rather complicated...," and "...not just a snap...."  She was grateful for the help provided by Kristen Moyer, a Procurement Specialist with SEDA-COG.  It wasn't long before Allenwood Equipment was registered in the CCR and, soon after, the contract was paid in full ─ $14,568.56.

 

Read more about Allenwood Equipment, Inc. Learn more about our Procurement Technical Assistance Center.

Byte-sized News . . .

 

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has provided $680,000 in financing for the Brewpub at Turkey Hill, in Bloomsburg.  It's located on the site of the Inn at Turkey Hill, a full service restaurant and inn.  A barn on the property has been renovated and converted into the Brewpub, seating 140 and manufacturing its own craft beer.  The SBA 504 loan was approved by the SEDA-COG Local Development Corporation before submission to SBA for final action.  SEDA-COG also provided a $170,000 Small Business First loan for the project, which included financing from First Columbia Bank and owners equity.  The Brewpub expects to create 25 new jobs over the next two years. 


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Is your company considering global markets and international trade?  Take a look at the new Global Access Program we're introducing.  Click here to learn more.


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SBA has released approval numbers for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011.  We received approval for 18 SBA 504 loans totaling $18.6 million, placing us 59th out of 249 Certified Development Corporations (CDCs) in the country in terms of dollar value.  In Pennsylvania SEDA-COG ranked second out of 11 CDCs for both number of loans and dollar value.  In our region, which includes Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, DC, and West Virginia, we ranked 5th out of 23 CDCs for number of loans and 4th in dollar value.


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An update on the Central Susquehanna Valley Thruway project will be presented in an interview on Danville's WPGM Radio, Sunday, February 5.  Click here for details.

 

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Municipal officials ─ SEDA-COG and PennDOT are teaming up to provide you with free or low-cost training on roadway maintenance and safety through the Local Technical Assistance Program.  Classes are offered on topics like traffic signs, drainage, and road surface management.  See Upcoming Events & Activities below for a list of upcoming classes. 


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The owners of a convenience store in Montoursville have received a $50,000 loan through SEDA-COG to buy the land underneath their building.  SAI William Realty, the owners, received a loan through our Intermediary Relending Program to purchase real estate associated with Your Choice Mini Mart.  The operations, including inventory and equipment, were purchased two years ago, at which time the owners leased the land.  Now, in addition to buying the property, the owners also plan to upgrade lighting, signage, and gas pumps at the Mini Mart.  The project includes financing through Landmark Community Bank, company equity, and Banking on Business, a program of FHLBank-Pittsburgh.  Four jobs at the Mini Mart are being retained as a result of the project. 


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There will be several new faces on our Board of Directors this year.  Changes were expected due to the loss of six County Commissioners from the Board in 2011.  The full Board includes 22 members.  Each of the 11 counties is represented by a County Commissioner plus a second representative, drawn from a range of public and private activities.  New members in 2012 include:

Centre County ─ Commissioner Chris Exarchos;

Columbia County ─ Commissioner Richard Ridgway;

Juniata County ─ Commissioner Jeffrey Zimmerman;

 

Lycoming County ─ Commissioner Jeff Wheeland, second representative James Dunn;

Northumberland County ─ Commissioner Vinny Clausi, second representative Merle Phillips;

Perry County ─ Commissioner Brenda Benner. 

Upcoming Events & Activities

 

Government Contracting seminars
Chambersburg - Feb. 7

Harrisburg - Feb. 1, 8, 22 Mar. 13, 20, 21

Shippensburg - Mar. 14  

 

Export Seminar - "Free Trade Agreements"

State College - Feb. 23

 

SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority
Lewisburg - Feb. 8
 

 

SEDA-COG Board of Directors
Lewisburg - Feb. 22
 

 

SEDA-COG Rural Planning Organization
Lewisburg - Feb. 17
 

 

Roadway maintenance & safety training for municipalities
State College - Mar. 7, 23
  


For further information or questions about The SEDA-COG Report, contact Steve Kusheloff, Manager, Public Information, tel. 570-524-4491, ext. 7217; or e-mail [email protected]