COVID-19 Response
NEPA Alliance is committed to working with regional small businesses and nonprofits during the continued uncertainty surrounding Coronavirus (COVID-19). In cooperation with state and federal agencies, NEPA is offering loan assistance programs to businesses and nonprofits.

Information on the assistance programs and the Coronavirus can be found on  NEPA's COVID-19 Response site and our Spanish translated site  NEPA COVID-19 Recursos en EspaƱol .

NEPA is currently partnering with federal and state agencies to ensure small businesses and nonprofits in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania have available resources accessible to them through the coronavirus crisis. This includes help with the  U.S. Small Business Administration  low-interest federal disaster loan program for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus. In addition, NEPA also has numerous business loan programs that offer  low fixed interest rates to businesses in the seven-county region of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

For the latest information, please contact NEPA at 866-758-1929 or visit NEPA's COVID-19 Response site . Information is continually changing, and the assistance programs that are being offered may change. NEPA will continue to evaluate all available options to best serve the Northeastern Pennsylvania business community.
ARC, PA DCED & NEPA Alliance Grant Assistance to the Borough of Coaldale
The NEPA Alliance, on behalf of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development (PA DCED) assisted the Borough of Coaldale in securing a $423,442 ARC grant for the Coaldale Rural Hospital Pedestrian Facilities & Klines Hill Road Project.
 
NEPA Alliance assisted in preparation of the grant and recommended the project to PA DCED and ARC for approval. The goal of this project was to reconstruct a local access road to add additional transportation amenities for pedestrians and transit access. The project will strengthen links between transportation networks and community development by assisting St. Luke's Health System accommodate over 100 new jobs at the site.
 
The $423,442 federal grant will ensure that Pennsylvania's businesses, citizens and visitors will have a safe and efficient highway system to promote global commerce and provide safe travel throughout the region. The project will narrow the roadway to reduce speeds, construct a pedestrian walking route and construct a transit bus shelter.
 
"We are growing and are excited to work with Coaldale Borough, NEPA Alliance and the Appalachian Regional Commission to improve access to our small rural hospital. This project is so important as more people are coming from all over northeastern Pennsylvania for St. Luke's Miners Campus' nationally recognized care and highly engaged clinical teams," said Wendy Lazo President of St. Luke's Miners Campus.
 
"Coaldale Borough supports the expansion of jobs at St. Luke's, and this access road will help grow more employment and services in our community.  We are glad the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance are partnering with us to make this access road project happen." Claire Remington, Vice-President of Coaldale Borough Council.
 
The construction is expected in 2021.
 
"NEPA Alliance is proud to have assisted with this important transportation initiative in Coaldale Borough, Schuylkill County. We are also appreciative of Congressman Dan Meuser's support for the important federal funding for the Appalachian Regional Commission," said Jeffrey Box, President & CEO of NEPA Alliance.
New Markets Tax Credits  (NMTC) Workshops
We are pleased to announce three  New Markets Tax Credits  (NMTC) workshops and project solicitation sessions. NEPA Alliance will be submitting our second consecutive NMTC application requesting a $30M+ NMTC allocation from the U.S. Department of Treasury in the Fall of 2020. The 2021 NMTC round has been increased to $5B, which is $1.5B higher than the 2020 funding level. NMTCs are a valuable tool to finance community, private, and nonprofit revitalization efforts in eligible distressed census tracts.
 
August 12, 2020
2:00pm - 3:30pm
 
September 15, 2020
12:00pm - 1:30pm
 
For more information contact:
Kurt Bauman  (kbauman@nepa-alliance.org)
Steve Ursich  (sursich@nepa-alliance.org)
Member Spotlight
One Point
OnePoint
This month we are spotlighting One Point, your one-stop shop for office supplies, office furniture, promotional products, marketing programs and print and distribution services.

Recently, we had the opportunity to speak with Molly MacDonald, Marketing Coordinator for both One Point and their sister company Corporate Environments, who gave us some insight into One Point.

One Point is honored to be a part of, and service the NEPA community. They are locally owned and operated which allows them to offer free delivery to NEPA businesses via their One Point delivery trucks. One of their core principals is to be involved in our community. Their charity committee, One Point of Light, makes donations to local organizations as well as volunteering on a yearly basis.

One Point has been locally owned and operated in Scranton for the past 40 years. They take pride in offering solutions to their clients across all their product lines. Their dedicated team works together to help meet and succeed their customers' expectations.

Ms. MacDonald stated,"Our membership at NEPA allows us to continue to build relationships with great organizations throughout the community. In addition, as a member we look forward to helping our community continue to grow and prosper."

For more information, visit www.opoffice.com
Business Finance News
NEPA Alliance has several loan programs available for small businesses located in Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill and Wayne counties.
 
These low cost, low interest loans offer reduced down payments and standard loan term maturities for machinery and equipment, land and building acquisition, construction and renovation.  Loan rates are fixed and generally below the prime lending rate.
 
Eligible businesses include Manufacturers, Industrial, Agriculture/Agribusiness, Hospitality & Tourism Related Enterprises, Recyclers, Day Cares, Computer Related Services, Advanced Technology, and Retail and Service Related Businesses. Other business sectors may also qualify.

To learn more about these loan programs, contact Stephen Ursich, Dave Nat, Ken Doolittle or Donovan Klem at 570-655-5581 or 866-758-1929.

NEPA-BFC NEPA Alliance Business Finance Corporation is a state-wide CDC allowing for NEPA BFC to lend SBA 504 Loans to eligible small businesses located in the state of Pennsylvania.
 
Financing Structure

A bank or other lender finances 50% of the project cost and takes a first lien position on the assets financed. The SBA 504 loan NEPA-BFC Tree finances 40% of the project cost, up to $5.5 million, and takes a second lien position. The borrower then contributes a down payment of as little as 10%.

Small Businesses can Receive:
  • Subordinate Financing
  • Up to 90% Loan to Value
  • Up to $5.5 Million in SBA Financing
        - Unlimited Total Project Cost
SBA 504 Loans Offer: 
  • As Little as 10% Equity Injection
  • Terms up to 25 Years
  • Guaranteed Fixed Interest Rate
*Eligibility Criteria Apply*
 
To learn more about this loan program, contact Stephen Ursich, Dave Nat, Ken Doolittle or Donovan Klem at 570-655-5581 or 855-266-9021.
New PTAC Staff Member
Tyler Day
On July 20th, NEPA Alliance welcomed Mr. Tyler Day as the new Government Procurement Specialist who is assigned to support the Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC). A native of Northeastern Pennsylvania, Tyler has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and History from East Stroudsburg University. He will receive a Master of Science Degree in Management and Leadership in Public Administration this Fall, also from East Stroudsburg University.
 
Step hen Ursich, Vice President, Business Development Services Division said, "I am very happy to welcome Tyler Day to the PTAC Team. The skills and experience his background encompasses will complement the PTAC program and services."
 
Jeffrey K. Box, President & CEO of the NEPA Alliance stated: "Mr. Day will be strong addition to the NEPA Alliance and the PTAC program. His experience as a Community Outreach Specialist to Representative Jack Rader, Jr. will support his PTAC role. We are looking forward not only to the contributions Tyler will make in the government contracting client space, but also to the organization's continued best practices."
 
You can reach Tyler directly at 570-891-4656 or email him at  tday@nepa-alliance.org
USMCA Now in Effect
The new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) has modernized NAFTA into a 21st century, high-standard trade agreement with updated provisions for digital trade, intellectual property, financial services, and agriculture trade.  It supports mutually beneficial trade leading to freer markets, fairer trade, and robust economic growth in North America.

Contact, Debbie Langan, dlangan@nepa-alliance.org, for more information about the USMCA.
Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) Drop-In Sessions
LTAP The NEPA Alliance has partnered with PennDOT to offer the Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) training series in all seven NEPA counties.  Due to COVID-19 meeting concerns, LTAP has suspended in-person LTAP classes until further notice.

Instead, LTAP is offering a series of monthly LTAP Virtual Drop-ins centered on various safety and maintenance topics. These sessions are not virtual classes; they are informal hour-long live sessions focused on networking and sharing information with other municipal roadway personnel. 

Information about the virtual drop-in sessions can be found on the LTAP website under the Bulletin Board section here. 

For more information, contact Kate McMahon, kmcmahon@nepa-alliance.org.
Did You Know...
Did You Know
Did you know that the U.S. Census Bureau recently released a "Weekly Pulse Newsletter" that provides information about COVID-19 data? To access the newsletter, click here .

For additional information, contact  Steve Zaricki  at 570-891-4671  or 866-758-1929 ext. 258.
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