Table of Contents
An Opportunity for Sales and Customers
A Small Federal Grant Helped Save Rail Service
2015 Officers are Elected
Financing News
Byte-sized News
Calendar of Events
 


 


 


 


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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
  

2013 - In conjunction with Centre, Clinton, and Mifflin counties, SEDA-COG begins a project to increase the utilization of regionally developed natural gas in Central Pennsylvania. The project is intended to make natural gas more accessible for residential, industrial, and vehicular use.



 


 


 


 


One-question Quiz

 

How many Service Plazas are there on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Northeast Extension?

 

Click here for the answer



 


 


 


 


Featured Link

 

 

Penn State Purchasing


If your company is interested in doing business with Penn State, start here.  You can complete an online application to become a supplier, and find a list of commodities the University purchases, along with the purchasing agent for each one.  There's a step-by-step overview of Penn State's purchasing process and a breakdown of the University's various procurement methods.



 


 


 


 


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Our Digital World

 

 

Fear of technology is nothing new. Telephones, watches and televisions were similarly believed to interrupt people's lives and pressure them to be more productive. In some ways they did, but the benefits offset the stressors.

 
 Technology has Made Life Different, But not Necessarily More Stressful
Claire Cain Miller
New York Times
January 15, 2015 

 


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.

Looking for Sales and Customers?
Have You Looked at Penn State?

 

Penn State University annually spends millions of dollars on products, materials, and services.  This expenditure represents a major opportunity for companies throughout Pennsylvania, as they pursue sales and customers.  The SEDA-COG Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) recently sponsored a workshop to introduce area firms to the University's purchasing and construction

Penn State and its 23 branch campuses represents a major opportunity for companies pursuing sales and customers.

processes.  Information was presented by two key supplier diversity leaders ─ Duane Bullock, Manager for Supplier Diversity, Auxiliary & Business Services; and Vernon Davis, Contractor Liaison, Office of the Physical Plant.

 

Contact information for Mr. Bullock and Mr. Davis can be found here.

 

Companies were strongly advised to familiarize themselves with the University's process and procedures, purchasing agents, and construction project leaders.  Although price is a dominant factor, quality, reliability, safety, and experience are among the criteria considered for contract awards.  Companies strive to establish relationships with the University and according to Mr. Davis, "Every day we have contractors walking our halls."

 

In the case of contracts of $10,000 or less, the University may elect to make direct purchases and not go through the traditional bidding processes.  Companies that have an excellent product, service record, and are known tend to take advantage of these contracts.  Again, relationships are critical.  Companies were encouraged to stay in touch with purchasing agents and perhaps speak directly with end users for supplies and materials.

 

In addition to University Park, Penn State has 23 branch campuses spread throughout the Commonwealth, and each location does a considerable number of purchases under $10,000.  Companies should establish relationships with these campuses as well as University Park.

 

In addition to the SEDA-COG PTAC, the workshop's sponsors included Southern Alleghenies Planning and Development Commission, the Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County, the Penn State Small Business Development Center, and the Innovative Manufacturers' Center, based in Williamsport.

 

Read more about Penn State's purchasing procedures. View photos on Facebook. Learn more about the SEDA-COG Procurement Technical Assistance Center.

Federal Agency Played Major Role in Preserving Region's Rail Freight Service

 

Transportation has been a major focus of SEDA-COG since our inception in the early 1960s. In the mid-1970s we began monitoring three bankrupt railroads, which provided rail freight service in the 11 Central Pennsylvania counties served by SEDA-COG. In 1976 the federal government replaced the bankrupt rail lines with the Consolidated Rail Corporation, better known as Conrail.  Although it was given billions in federal dollars, Conrail remained largely unprofitable. Much of the problem was due to rigid regulations, which were significantly eased in the early '80s, making it much easier for Conrail to abandon unprofitable lines.

 

Abandonment did not just mean loss of service; the tracks themselves became scrap metal and the ground was sold. The 11 county region faced a potential impact which could seriously undermine area industry. While some companies could ship in and out by

Earl Gohl, (r.), Federal Co-Chairman, ARC, confers with Jerry Walls, Chairman, SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority (JRA), during 2010 visit to JRA rail yard. 

truck, others required rail service and would have to move or close. Also important was the loss of rail service to the future of industrial growth in the region. With rail freight transportation unavailable, many companies would not consider locating here.

 

As it became apparent that Conrail intended on abandoning rail lines in Central Pennsylvania, SEDA-COG's Board of Directors contemplated the available options, and there weren't many. One choice, however, offered the potential for success, yet was coupled with risk ─ SEDA-COG could buy the lines, ensuring they remained in public hands, available for use. One obstacle, of course, was SEDA-COG's lack of experience in the railroad industry. While SEDA-COG was a million dollar operation, it had never run a business on the scale of a railroad, one that served 25 industrial customers along its 80-miles.

 

And so, SEDA-COG turned to a trusted ally at the federal level ─ the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), which provided seed money to help us study and identify local rail lines with the greatest potential to be successful short-line operations. ARC's $25,000 grant assisted with appraising the lines and negotiating with Conrail for their purchase. Traffic analyses were completed as well as market forecasts and cost determinations. Ultimately SEDA-COG pursued four lines, for which Conrail's asking price was about $5 million.

 

The largest portion of the purchase price was provided by the federal Economic Development Administration, with additional funds contributed by the Federal Railroad Administration, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, county and local government entities, and rail users themselves. On July 27, 1984, the newly established SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority (JRA) and Conrail finalized the purchase.

 

In October 2010, Earl Gohl, Federal Co-Chair, ARC, visited the JRA's Newberry rail yard in Williamsport, noting the phenomenal growth that had occurred on the Lycoming Valley Railroad, which became part of the JRA's system in 1996. Mr. Gohl's predecessor had visited the Newberry yard in 2003, rode in the cab of an engine and said, "Seeing this train line, it's evident that it's absolutely essential to these businesses."

 

Today the Joint Rail Authority is a multi-million dollar enterprise. It began, however, with a relatively modest investment of ARC dollars, an investment which, even after 30-plus years, continues to reverberate in Central Pennsylvania.

 

Read more about ARC and regional rail line preservation. View photos on Facebook. Learn more about the SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority.

Centre County Commissioner to Head SEDA-COG's Board of Directors

 

SEDA-COG's Board of Directors will be headed by Centre County Commissioner C. Chris Exarchos in 2015.  He was elected President at the Board's December 2014 meeting.  Commissioner Exarchos first served on SEDA-COG's Board in 2004 through 2008, and re-joined it in 2012.  He was the Board's First Vice-president in 2014.

 
Mr. Exarchos first became involved in public service in 1980, when he was appointed to the College Township Zoning Hearing Board. Mr. Exarchos is now in his second term as County Commissioner and serves on a number of boards and advisory bodies.  The Commissioner is a

SEDA-COG's officers for 2015 are (l. to r.) Brenda Benner, Chris Exarchos, Joel Long, Jerry Ward, and Larry Seibert.

retired, formerly self-employed businessman and holds a Ph.D. in Geochemistry from Penn State.  He has developed a degree of expertise in financial matters and economic development which he shares with members of SEDA-COG's Board of Directors.

 
The new First Vice-president of SEDA-COG's Board is Clinton County Commissioner Joel Long.  Commissioner Long joined SEDA-COG's Board in 2008, and has served as President as well as First and Second Vice-president.  In addition to SEDA-COG, the Commissioner has been a member of several other boards and organizations including the Communications Advisory Board, Children & Youth/Big Brothers Big Sisters, STEP Inc., and the Aging Advisory Board.

 
Montour County Commissioner Jerry Ward will be Second Vice-president of SEDA-COG's Board in 2015.  Mr. Ward was elected County Commissioner in 2007 and joined SEDA-COG's Board the following year.  He had previously served on the Danville Borough Council in the 1970s and '80s, and had a career with PennDOT spanning more than 30 years.  Mr. Ward was also president of the Columbia/Montour Aging Board and Vice-chairman of the Montour Conservation Board.

 
Larry Seibert was re-elected Treasurer of SEDA-COG's Board.  He was appointed to the Board in 2003 as Union County's second representative.  Mr. Seibert has been a member of the White Deer Township Supervisors since 1998 and is a Regional Manager with Pennsylvania's Ben Franklin Technology Partners program.  In that capacity, Mr. Seibert works with both start up and existing companies, assisting with business, technical and financial challenges.

 
Perry County Commissioner Brenda Benner was re-elected as Secretary of the Board.  Commissioner Benner has served three years on SEDA-COG's Board.  She was elected as a Perry County Commissioner in 2011, after filling the unexpired term of a previous Commissioner who passed away.  Commissioner Benner was a Greenwood Township Supervisor for 20 years, taught school for a number of years, and served as an assistant to State Senator Jake Corman. 

Financing News . . .

 

SEDA-COG has finalized financing for renovations to a State College veterinary clinic.  State College Veterinary Hospital received a loan of $200,000 through our EDA (Economic Development Administration) Revolving Loan Fund program.  The project also includes financing from Northwest Savings Bank and real estate-based equity.  The Veterinary Hospital's owner, Dr. Kathleen Kocher has modernized the veterinary clinic and converted existing interior space into additional exam rooms and office space.  The building's square footage is unchanged.  The clinic was established almost 60 years ago.  Dr. Kocher purchased it in 1988 following her graduation from veterinary school at the University of Tennessee.  As a result of this project, the Veterinary Hospital expects to add two full-time and two part-time positions over the next two years.

 

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SEDA-COG has approved a loan of $46,000 to North East Louvers, Inc., located in Mifflintown.  The company's products have been installed in all types of construction projects; industrial, commercial, institutional and any other type of building that has an air handling, sight screening or architectural design need.  When finalized, the loan will help the company meet working capital needs for a research and development project in the pursuit of AMCA (Air Movement and Control Association) testing and licensing.  The project includes bank financing in addition to the loan from SEDA-COG.  North East Louvers moved from New York State and into the Juniata Valley Industrial Park in 2006, locating in its own 16,000 sq. ft. building, a project for which SEDA-COG also provided financing.  The company's market now extends from Connecticut to Florida.  The firm has four full-time and three part-time employees, and expects to create two full-time jobs in the next three years, as a result of its latest project.

 

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The Small Business Administration (SBA) has completed the financing of a $242,000 SBA 504 loan for Jenco Micro Edge, Inc., a York County firm which provides industrial knife sharpening services.  The loan was approved by the SEDA-COG Local Development Corporation before submission to SBA for final action.  Jenco's project also includes a $30,250 TEAM loan through SEDA-COG, cash equity, and financing through York Traditions Bank.  The company has purchased a commercial building, which it had previously been leasing, and mini-storage buildings.  As a result of this property acquisition project, Jenco expects to retain the eight job opportunities within the company.

 

For more information on SEDA-COG's Small Business Financing programs, contact John Reichard at 570-524-4491, ext. 7251.  

Byte-sized News . . .

 

Applications are being accepted for one- or two-bedroom apartments at Welsh Heights, an apartment building for the elderly in Danville, constructed through the SEDA-COG Housing Development Corporation.  You must be at last 62-years old.  Click here for more information.

 

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Work is wrapping up on an improvement and renovation project at the YWCA Northcentral PA in Williamsport.  Over half the needed funds were provided by the Lycoming County Commissioners.

 

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The North Shore Railroad company, based in Northumberland, will participate in an upcoming White House Forum on Veterans Hiring in Transportation.  Click here for details.

 

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Sunbury's Chestnut Street will undergo major reconstruction this year ─ new sewer, water, and stormwater lines; curbs, street lights, sidewalks, and upgraded traffic signals.

 

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A recently completed project in Williamsport will provide railroad cars with access to a 20-ton crane to load and unload products. More information can be found here.

 

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Have you developed an innovative gadget or a better way to do a job?  Enter it in PennDOT's Build a Better Mousetrap Competition.

Upcoming Events & Activities
Click on the date for more information

 

Government Contracting Seminars
Harrisburg ─ Jan. 28; Feb. 18

 

SEDA-COG Board of Directors
Lewisburg ─ Jan. 28; Feb. 25

 

SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority
Lewisburg ─ Feb. 11

 

SEDA-COG Metropolitan Planning Organization
Lewisburg ─ Feb. 6 


For further information or questions about The SEDA-COG Report, e-mail Steve Kusheloff, Manager, Public Information, or call 570-524-4491, ext. 7217.