Appalachian Regional Commission
Pre-Applications Being Accepted
NEPA Alliance is excited to announce that we will be accept a second round of Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) pre-applications. Funding through the program is a federal (ARC), state (PA DCED) and local (NEPA Alliance) partnership. As the designated Local Development District, regional partner and conduit for ARC funding, NEPA is pleased to provide you with information related to the ARC Area Development and ARC Local Access Road Programs. For a list of past projects, please visit ARC’s website.
Most of the pre-applications received before February 11, 2022 will be considered for funding in the fall of 2022. Visit www.nepa-alliance.org/arcpreapp to review a copy of the required ARC pre-application (three-pages or less) to be submitted to Athena Aardweg and Kurt Bauman by February 11, 2022. There are individual templates for both the Area Development and the Local Access Road Programs. Contact Kurt Bauman at 570-510-4419 with any questions.
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ARC Federal Funding Opportunities
Virtual Workshop
If your organization serves one of PA's 52 Appalachian Counties, we invite you to join us and other experts on Wednesday, January 26, 2022 from 1:00 - 2:30PM, to learn about developing partnerships, hear from previous grantees about their program journeys, and how to create strong applications for the following ARC programs:
Pennsylvania non-profit organizations, educational and medical institutions, local governments, and Local Development Districts are encouraged to join. Share this event with your colleagues or any other organizations that may benefit from this information session.
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NEPA Alliance Membership Campaign |
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NEPA Alliance is conducting its annual membership campaign.
The NEPA Alliance values the opportunity to work with all stakeholders in our seven-county region. Our goal is to provide the best possible community and economic development services to create and retain jobs in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Membership Benefits
- FREE Networking Reception Invite for 1 Person
- FREE Use of Meeting Space
- FREE Member Spotlight
- Discount on NEPA event costs
- Discount on Business Loan (.5%)
- Discounted Economic Impact Analysis/Research
- Sponsorship & Marketing Opportunities
NEPA Alliance serves businesses, communities and governments throughout seven counties and we need your assistance!
Our general annual membership starts at $275.
You can complete your membership online, including payment by clicking the button below.
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Member Spotlight
ElectroCell Systems
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This month’s membership spotlight is ElectroCell Systems.
ElectroCell Systems is a manufacturing leader in side stream particle precipitation and has been perfecting its technology for over 20 years with its design driven from a controls perspective. ElectroCell’s founder, Paul McLaine has been operating a facility automation company since the mid-70’s, PQ Energy Services. ElectroCell Systems side stream particle precipitators enhance cooling tower/chiller and boiler operations. In addition, ElectroCell Systems are utilized in process water applications such as pharmaceutical and automotive manufacturing and data processing centers.
ElectroCell's customers value a cleaner, healthier heating/cooling or process water system. Last year, over 20% of ElectroCell's sales were 2nd generation systems utilized by customers for over 15 years. ElectroCell Systems increase the life cycle of equipment by reducing maintenance, repair and service, while enhancing existing chemical programs with minimal involvement by facility personnel.
ElectroCell customers see an average increase in energy efficiency by 12-15% and a reduction in condenser make-up water by 20-25% and a return on their investment in 2-3 years. As worldwide global warming initiatives are implemented, reducing carbon footprint as a by-product of ElectroCell's installation is an invaluable benefit their customers truly value and appreciate.
ElectroCell Systems values their community and has partnered and worked with several economic development agencies, procurement technical assistance programs and research facilities to collaboratively work on efforts to expand their technology outreach to provide a solution-based approach to facility/manufacturing operations.
ElectroCell stated, "NEPA has been a valuable asset to our organization. NEPA's staff, specifically Kara and Frank, have been instrumental in assisting ElectroCell with government contracting opportunities, both federal and state. The knowledge of NEPA’s staff, as well as networking and educational opportunities have truly been beneficial to ElectroCell."
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NEPA Alliance Business Finance Corporation Board Member Retires
Robert Suhosky, President of NEI-Northeast Infrastructure LLC, was recognized for his many years of dedication and service to NEPA Alliance’s Business Finance Corporation's (BFC) Board of Directors. Bob served as the first Chairman of the Board and held that position from 2009 to 2013. Bob continued to serve as a Board member until his retirement on December 13, 2021.
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Photo from left: Steve Ursich, VP of Business Development at NEPA Alliance and Executive Director of the NEPA Alliance BFC; Robert Suhosky, President of NEI-Northeast Infrastructure LLC; Jeffrey K Box, President & CEO, NEPA Alliance; and Craig Zurn, CEO & President, Jim Thorpe Neighborhood Bank. |
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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.
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.
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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.
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Recently Funded Loans
Ice Cream Shop – Scranton
- This NEPA RLF loan project was completed in partnership with PS Bank for the purchase of commercial real estate and FF&E.
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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 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
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Guaranteed Fixed Interest Rate
*Eligibility Criteria Apply*
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PennDOT Green Light-Go Program Now Open
Application Period Closes January 14, 2022
PennDOT is currently accepting applications for funding through Green Light-Go Program. Applications are due by January 14, 2022. Applicants are required to complete a project scoping form by December 3, 2021 to ensure that the project scope is consistent with the program goals and requirements, and will allow PennDOT to assist applicants with refining the scope to ensure a successful project
Funding can be used for a range of operational improvements to existing traffic control signals located in Pennsylvania. These improvements include LED replacement; traffic signal retiming; study and removal of existing traffic-control signals; monitoring; and innovative technologies. Any county, city, borough, incorporated town, township or home rule municipality or any metropolitan planning organization or rural planning organization may apply. A 20% match is required.
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PTAC Question: UEI?
Did you know that on or after April 4, 2022, the Federal Government will stop using DUNS® numbers to uniquely identify entities. At that point, entities doing business with the Federal Government will use a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) created in the System for Award Management (SAM). You will no longer have to go to the Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) website to obtain an identifier or update it. This transition allows the Federal Government to streamline the entity identification and validation process, making it easier and less burdensome for entities to do business with “Uncle SAM.”
Background - The Federal Government has used services from D&B to both identify (using the DUNS® number) and validate/verify federal contractors since 1978. In 1998, entities were required to get a DUNS® number by the Federal Acquisition Regulation, as published in Volume 63, Number 35 of the Federal Register, dated 02/23/1998. In 2008, this requirement expanded to federal financial assistance, affecting over 630,000 public and private entities seeking federal contracts and/or grants.
Why the Change - The change creates predictability for the Federal Government relative to the cost of entity validation services. By separating the government requirement for a UEI from the government requirement to validate that the entity is unique, the Federal Government introduced competitiveness into entity validation services. They then competed and awarded a new contract for entity validation services, not connected to the identifier itself. They chose to have the new, non-proprietary identifier both requested in and generated by SAM.gov to reduce the burden of change; the government and entities will transition from using the DUNS number only once, even if in the future a different entity validation service provider is selected.
What Action do I Need to Take - If your entity is registered in SAM.gov today, then your UEI has already been assigned and is viewable in SAM.gov. This includes inactive/expired registrations. The UEI is currently located below the DUNS Number on your SAM entity registration record. Remember, you must log in to your SAM.gov account to view your entity record. If you will be setting up a new SAM registration after the data entry and submission phase moving toward an Active status, SAM will then assign an UEI for your entity.
If you have a question on the above or another government contracting matter, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the NEPA Alliance PTAC Team by calling 570-655-5581 and select option two.
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The Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance (NEPA) has partnered with PennDOT to offer the Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) training series in all seven NEPA counties: Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill and Wayne counties.
Unpaved & Gravel Roads Common Maintenance Practices
Tuesday, February 1, 2022
8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Washington Township Building
225 Frantz Road
Pine Grove, PA. 17963
(570) 915-6113
Roadside Vegetation Control
Wednesday, March 30, 2022
8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Wayne Township Municipal Building
10 Municipal Road
Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972
(570) 915-6113
To register, visit https://gis.penndot.gov/ltap/ and log on using your username and password. First time users must set up an account by clicking on “Create Account.” For technical assistance when registering, call 1-800-FOR-LTAP (1-800-367-5827) or contact Daniel Yelito, Transportation Services Manager, NEPA Alliance at 570-891-4652 or email dyelito@nepa-alliance.org.
LTAP will also continue offering some courses, webinars and drop-in sessions in an online format. To learn more about upcoming virtual offerings, click here.
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Looking for New Nonprofit Grant Opportunities? |
Don’t forget that NCAC Members receive remote access and assistance in accessing the Foundation Directory Online, the most comprehensive foundation database. With access to informative profiles of over 235,000 U.S. foundations, you’ll know exactly which foundation fits your programmatic needs, how much to ask for and where to go for more information. Don’t forget that we’re here to help with all your nonprofit needs! For more information on this service, as well as membership benefits, contact Athena Aardweg, Community Services Manager for NCAC, at Aaardweg@nepa-alliance.org or 570-891-4662. |
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Did you know that the Pennsylvania State Police has quarterly data for Opioid Seizures and Arrests from Calendar Year 2013 to the Fourth Quarter of 2021?
To access these data, click here.
For additional information, contact Steve Zaricki at 570-891-4671 or 866-758-1929.
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"This institution is an equal opportunity employer." |
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