SEDA-COG January Report

SEDA-COG's Board Chooses 2013 Officers

SEDA-COG's Board of Directors will be headed by Union County Commissioner Preston Boop in 2013.  He was elected President at December's meeting of the Board.  Commissioner Boop joined SEDA-COG's Board in 2004, serving as its President in 2010 and First Vice-president in 2012.  Commissioner Boop has a background in business and agriculture, and served on the Mifflinburg School Board

Union County Commissiopner Preston Boop will head SEDA-COG's Board in 2013.

for 11 years, eight as President of the Board. 

Snyder County Commissioner Malcolm Derk, III was elected First Vice-president of SEDA-COG's Board.  He has served three one-year terms as SEDA-COG's Treasurer and one as Second Vice-president.

  
The new Second Vice-president of SEDA-COG's Board is Centre County Commissioner Chris Exarchos, who served on SEDA-COG's Board from 2004 through 2008, and re-joined the Board in 2012.  He first became involved in public service in 1980 when he was appointed to the College Township Zoning Hearing Board.  In 1994, he was elected to the College Township Council and served two terms.

  
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.

  
Perry County Commissioner Brenda Benner was elected as Secretary of the Board.  Commissioner Benner just completed her first year 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. 

A Model for Others to Follow: Replicating the New Berlin Energy Experience

The Community-wide Energy Independence Initiative(CEII) in New Berlin, PA is a great example of the power of collective action.  Since the project began in 2009, homes, public entities, and businesses have taken steps to conserve energy, and many are now using or exploring alternative energy sources.  The SEDA-COG Energy Resource Center is coordinating the effort with funding assistance from the federal Appalachian Regional Commission and SEDA-COG. 

Energy conservation on a community-wide basis creates numerous opportunities to provide efficient technical assistance.  Professional expertise for services like walk-through energy surveys can be cost-effectively purchased.

This tank in the basement of the Palermo's New Berlin home holds a glycol-like substance, which is heated, then circulated through portions of their home.

Audiences are established for events like the New Berlin project's do-it-yourself weatherization workshop and Contractor Expo.  Education and outreach are more effectively undertaken when the target group numbers in the hundreds, rather than one at a time. For instance, in New Berlin, a regularly maintained bulletin board in the post office keeps Borough residents up to date on project- and energy-related activities.  
 

It is anticipated that, in years to come, the impact of New Berlin's project will be felt well beyond the small Union County community where it is occurring.  The project was designed to be replicated, to serve as a model for others to follow.  With this in mind, the Energy Center recently hosted a delegation from the Pennsylvania Energy Partnership (PEP), made up of the seven Local Development Districts (including SEDA-COG), which serve our state's 52 Appalachian counties. 

They visited Michael and Mary Palermo, whose 94-year old home makes use of various energy sources and fuels.  Solar thermal panels on the roof heat the home's water and provide radiant floor heating.  A modern,

TED - the Energy Detective - tracks minute-by-minute energy use and costs in the Finkbiner's New Berlin home.  The energy monitor was provided through PPL Electric Utilities.

attractive coal stove keeps the living room warm.  There's even electric baseboard heat, but the Palermos rarely use it, and their yearly oil bill has been significantly reduced.

  
The PEP delegation also visited the home of Julianne Finkbiner, who refers to herself as the "...light police...," as she goes around her house turning off lights left on by other family members.  The Finkbiners use a wood stove in their basement family room, and a wall-mounted mini-split-system heat pump to cool and heat their first floor.

They're also using TED, i.e., The Energy Detective.  It's an energy monitor, provided through PPL Electric Utilities, which tracks minute-by-minute energy use and costs.  
 

Later, during lunch with the PEP delegation, Mrs. Finkbiner strongly advocated for the community's continued efforts to conserve energy after the formal project in New Berlin ends in 2013.  She said economic hardships, such as many in her town have experienced, may force individuals to put off energy conservation measures until they're better able to meet the initial cost.

"But," said Mrs. Finkbiner, "the education provided by this project will help people to reduce their energy costs in their time, in their own way."

Read more about New Berlin's energy independence project. View photos on Facebook. Learn more about the SEDA-COG Energy Resource Center. 

Financing News . . .

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Financing to expand a mortgage company in State College was recently approved by SEDA-COG's Board of Directors.  Mortgage Source requested two loans totaling $133,000.  The project is also expected to include bank financing and cash equity.  The company plans to purchase the South Atherton Street property, which it is currently leasing, as well as an adjoining unit.  The two units will be combined, resulting in significantly increased space for the company.  Theresa Cummins started Mortgage Source in 1998 and sales have continued to escalate since that time.  

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The Board also approved loans totaling $400,000 to a tractor assembly company in Bloomsburg.  MTAC Assembly plans to purchase a 40,000 sq. ft. building on five acres located on Naus Way Drive.  The project will also include bank financing and cash equity.  While SEDA-COG's loans to MTAC Assembly are strictly for real estate acquisition, MTAC's additional plans include a new 4,500 sq. ft. addition plus machinery and equipment.  The company currently has 16 employees and expects to add 14 more within two years.  Under its contract withMahindra USA, MTAC will assemble tractors and deliver them to distributors in North America.  

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Financing for a construction project on a Mount Pleasant Mills farm in Snyder County was also approved by SEDA-COG's Board.  Two 31,500 sq. ft. poultry houses are planned, which will be used to fulfill a contract with BC Natural Chicken, headquartered in Fredricksburg.  In addition to our loan of $200,000, the project includes bank financing and real estate-based equity.  

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The SEDA-COG Local Development Corporation has given preliminary approval to an SBA 504 loan of $79,900 to help a Bucks County man expand his publishing business.  Francis Gallagher publishes Global Traveler, a magazine geared toward luxury business travelers.  The online side of the business has grown significantly prompting him to expand it and hire additional staff.  A new website is also planned.  The SBA loan will assist Gallagher in purchasing office space in Floral Vale Professional Park, a condominium complex in Yardley.  Bank financing and personal cash for the project is anticipated.  The U.S. Small Business Administration will review and take final action on the SBA 504 loan. 

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

Byte-sized News . . .

Steve Herman, of SEDA-COG's Transportation staff, is now a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), having passed the Institute's exam on the core principles of the planning profession.  Steve joins Kristen McLaughlin, of our Community Developmentprogram as certified AICP planners on SEDA-COG's staff.

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The Susquehanna Greenway Partnership (SGP) has released its 2012 Progress Report, a summary of the work of SGP and its partners in creating places that connect people to the natural and cultural resources of Pennsylvania's Susquehanna River, places where people can live active, health lives.  The report highlights SGP's major accomplishments in 2012 ─ trail designations, environmental education teams, clean-up and flood-recovery projects, and direct technical assistance to 19 river town communities. 

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SGP has added two new members to its Board of Directors.  Peter Smith is an attorney from Clearfield, representing a diverse group of businesses and their owners.  Timm Moyer, a resident of Watsontown, is co-founder of MoJo Active, an integrated marketing and web-development firm.  

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Mary Simington is stepping down from SEDA-COG's Board of Directors after serving as a representative of Montour County for 14 years, the last 12 as Secretary.  Mrs. Simington will remain a member of our SEDA Foundation, Local Loan Review Committee and Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Committee.

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Students from the Marywood University School of Architecture in Scranton, have been working with SEDA-COG's Community Resource Center on various development concepts for a site in Williamsport, centered around a former bus station, parking lot, church and vacant property.  Ten students, working on the project since September, did their final presentation last month.

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Proposed incentives for energy reduction will be the centerpiece of the SEDA-COG Energy Reduction Center's breakfast seminar on January 11.  Joe Mezlo of PPL Electric Utilities will present the company's proposals under Phase 2 of Pennsylvania Act 129, which requires the state's seven major electric utilities to reduce their customers' consumption and demand for energy.  Registration for the seminar is $30.

  
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The Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs has scheduled training sessions this month on defensive driving, community planning, and zoning.  There are also a host of webinars on a wide variety of topics.  Details are available on the Association's Training Schedule.