1957
Susquehanna Economic Development Association (SEDA) is
incorporated as a nonprofit corporation.  Original members include
Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, and Union counties. 

 

1967

SEDA employs first Executive Director and professional staff. 

 

1968
Centre, Clinton, Lycoming, Juniata, Mifflin, and Perry counties
join SEDA, allowing the organization to be designated as a Local
Development District under the federal Appalachian Regional
Commission. 

 

1969
SEDA Board of Directors purchases "Timberhaven," a former home
which is now the office complex of the SEDA-Council of Governments. 

 

1972
SEDA is reorganized as a public, non-profit foundation.  The
SEDA-Council of Governments and SEDA Foundation are
established. 

 

1976
SEDA-COG initiates Weatherization program.  Service is initially
available in Juniata, Mifflin, Snyder, and Union counties. 

 

1977
Board of Directors is expanded from 11 to 21 members in order to
broaden SEDA-COG's funding base. 

 

1978
SEDA-COG is designated as an Economic Development District under
the Economic Development Administration. 

 

1981
Under its Enterprise Development Program, SEDA-COG makes its
first loan from the Tri-District Revolving Loan Fund. 

 

1981
SEDA-COG is designated as one of nine Pennsylvania Energy
Centers. 

 

1982
The Small Business Administration (SBA) designates SEDA-COG as a 504
Local Development Corporation, providing loan monies to both manufacturers and commercial establishments

 

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

 

1985
SEDA-COG is designated as an Associate Office of the U.S.
Department of Commerce to coordinate its export activities with the International Trade Administration. 

 

1986
SEDA-COG's Weatherization services are expanded from four to
seven counties when Commissioners in Columbia, Montour, and
Perry counties direct SEDA-COG to assume the operation of their
counties' Weatherization programs.

 

1986
U.S. Department of Energy presents SEDA-COG with National Award
for Energy Innovation. 

 

1987

SEDA Foundation expands and renovates SEDA-COG office complex. 

 

1988
SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority purchases abandoned rail lines
between Sunbury and Mt. Carmel.  Newly-named Shamokin Valley
Railroad begins operations. 

 

1990
Service delivery area for Procurement Technical Assistance is
expanded to include Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin,
Lancaster, Lebanon, and York counties. 

 

1994
The Manufacturers Marketing Network, an industrial matchmaker program developed by SEDA-COG, expands to encompass 52 Pennsylvania counties.  Services through the program will now be offered by each of the state’s Local Development Districts.  

 

1994
Local Development Corporation for Small Business Administration  (SBA) 504 loans expands its jurisdiction for counties to be served from 18 to 28.

 

1995
The Nonprofit Assistance Center is established at SEDA-COG to assist nonprofit organizations in developing their fund raising and management capacity.  Initial funding was provided through a grant awarded jointly to SEDA-COG and United Way of Pennsylvania. 

 

1996
With funding provided by the Appalachian Regional Commission, SEDA-COG establishes the Info-Structure Technology Assistance Center, serving the in-house needs of the organization and providing the 11 counties with a wide range of technology-related services.  SEDA-COG's Web site, www.seda-cog.org is unveiled the following year. 

 

1996
The SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority (JRA) acquires 11-miles of rail line in the Lewistown area, and 38-miles in the Williamsport area.  The lines are subsequently renamed the Juniata Valley Railroad and Lycoming Valley Railroad, becoming the fourth and fifth short lines owned by the JRA.

 

1998
High Street Manor, an apartment building for the elderly, is constructed in Selinsgrove through the efforts of the community, local banks, and the SEDA-COG Housing Development Corporation (HDC).  In subsequent years the same model would be followed as the HDC coordinates construction of a second building in Selinsgrove, and apartments in Dalmatia and Montoursville. 

 

1998
First Make a Difference youth leadership conference is held, at Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove.  High school sophomores and juniors learn about diversity, team building, civic awareness, and community service.  Conference is sponsored by Central Pennsylvania Forum for the Future, regional organization, established under SEDA-COG's leadership to explore issues that would face the region through the 21st Century. 

 

1998
SEDA-COG's first international trade conference is held, in Williamsport.  Features overviews of economic conditions and opportunities in various global markets.  Company personnel in attendance have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with representatives from Pennsylvania’s overseas offices.

 

1999
Establishment of Central Region Keystone Opportunity Zone (KOZ) administered by SEDA-COG.  KOZs are designated areas within which school districts, local taxing bodies, and the state have agreed to eliminate or greatly reduce taxes for a defined period of time.  The Central Region KOZ encompasses 12 sub-zones. 

 

1999
SEDA-COG office complex undergoes extensive renovations.  Floor space is doubled.  An elevator is added.  Existing space is completely refurbished. 

 

2000
The Economic Development Administration presents its first award for excellence in rural economic development to the SEDA-Council of Governments.  The award is supported by Pennsylvania’s two U.S. Senators, and the region’s Congressional delegation, and marks SEDA-COG's position as a leader in economic development for over 40 years..  

 

2001
SEDA-COG weatherizes its 13,000th home under its contract with the Commonwealth.  Funding is provided through the U.S. Department of Energy and Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.  In addition to state related work, SEDA-COG also weatherizes homes through contracts with Central Pennsylvania’s major utility companies.

 

2001
SEDA-COG’s Housing and Community Development Program receive statewide Community Building Award.  Specifically, it is a Best Practices Award for assistance to Community Development Block Grant entitlement communities.  The award is presented by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.  

 

2001
Pennsylvania’s Local Development Districts (LDDs), including SEDA-COG, are formally designated as Rural Planning Organizations for transportation planning purposes.  The designation ensures that LDDs have a voice in state transportation planning and project selection.  It is a designation the LDDs have sought for many years.

 

2001
Susquehanna Greenway project is officially launched in charter-signing ceremonies at Harrisburg.  SEDA-COG leads multi-organization team in planning this corridor of natural, cultural, and recreational resources along the nearly 500 miles of the Susquehanna River, a land and water route stretching through 22 Pennsylvania counties. 

 

2002
SEDA-COG begins Microloan Fund.  Initial funding is provided through the U.S. Small Business Administration.  Morning Sunshine Models, a distributor of detailed model ships in State College, is the first Microloan recipient.  

 

2002
Recreation pilot project is initiated with funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.  Project allows SEDA-COG to serve as the conduit for funding eight small-community recreation projects in five counties.  Based on the success of the project, funding is provided the following year for four projects in two counties.  

 

2003
The SEDA-COG Local Development Corporation (LDC), and all LDCs in Pennsylvania, become eligible to make SBA 504 loans across the entire state.  The decision is based on the SBA’s response to issues of “competition” and “underserved areas.”

 

2003
The 500th home in Central Pennsylvania is rehabilitated through the various municipal and countywide programs with which SEDA-COG assists.  SEDA-COG’s services include project development, funding, and administration.  Total estimated cost of the rehabilitation work is $8.3 million.  The work is done by local private contractors. 

 

2003
The Central Pennsylvania Entrepreneurial Assistance Network is established as part of a multi-phase entrepreneurial initiative undertaken by SEDA-COG.  The network is made up of regional entities, e.g., universities, banks, attorneys, accountants offering specific services to start-up and early stage entrepreneurs.

 

2003
SEDA-COG’s loan portfolio reaches $35 million, including 180 active loans.  The dollar figure represents a 291% increase over six years.

 

2003
SEDA-COG initiates Pennsylvania German Furniture Making project to examine and advance the design, production, and marketing of furniture crafted in the Pennsylvania German tradition.  In 2007, participating furniture makers establish the Susquehanna Artisans Guild.

 

2004
Three of SEDA-COG's Export Assistance clients receive Governor’s Export Excellence Award, which recognizes Pennsylvania’s export leaders.  The three are Kreamer Feed, Kreamer; Drucker Company, Philipsburg; and Sound Technology, State College. 

 

2004
Georgetown Heights, the SEDA-COG Housing Development Corporation's third apartment building for senior citizens, opens in Dalmatia , Northumberland County.  Total cost of the three-story, 24-unit building is $2.6 million.

 

2004
Canadian Trade Mission is conducted through SEDA-COG Export Assistance program.  Participating companies meet with prospective agents, distributors, and end users in Toronto. 

 

2005
Mill Race Commons, the SEDA-COG Housing Development Corporation's fourth apartment building for senior citizens, opens in Montoursville, Lycoming County.  Total cost of the three-story, 32-unit building is $3.6 million.

2005
Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) begins.  Instruction on a variety of traffic and roadway courses is offered to local municipal officials and staff through PennDOT, with assistance from the SEDA-COG Rural Planning Organization. .Topics include traffic control, winter maintenance, and drainage. 

 

2005
www.pavalleys.com is developed by SEDA-COG's GIS program on behalf of Valleys of the Susquehanna, a consortium of six tourist bureaus.  In addition to listings of the region’s restaurants, festivals, campgrounds, and major attractions, the web site offers an “itinerary map” that allows visitors to plan a day-trip or an entire vacation. 

 

2006
First meeting of the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership’s Board is held, completing the transition from Greenway planning to Greenway implementation.  The planning effort, headed by SEDA-COG, had begun over five years earlier. 

 

2006
Bill Seigel, Director of SEDA-COG's Community Development program is the recipient of the C. Riley Stoy Award for Community Development Achievement.  This major state award is given annually to the individual whose work best exemplifies Mr. Stoy, who helped create the state’s procedures for administering the Community Development Block Grant program.   

 

2006
Under the auspices of SEDA-COG, development begins on Regional Strategic Action Plan for Land Use, Transportation, and Economic Development.  Also known as Valley Vision 2020, the effort involves planning organizations and commissions, universities, Visitors Bureaus, state departments, and other health-related and educational entities.    It is part of the state’s effort to increase regional planning. 

 

2006
SEDA-COG establishes Energy Resource Center, offering educational and technical assistance, and working with the region’s homeowners, local governments, businesses, schools, and organizations to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels through energy efficiency and renewable energy applications. 

 

2007
The White Rock Quarry Track is opened in Centre County, marking the culmination of an 11-year effort.  The SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority’s $5.8 million project will allow Centre Lime and Stone to expand its shipments of limestone aggregate by rail, rather than truck. 

 

2007
Welsh Heights, a new apartment building for the elderly opens in Danville.  The $3.9 million project is the fifth such building to be constructed through the SEDA-COG Housing Development Corporation.

 

2007
The benefits and importance of rail freight service are highlighted at the SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority’s first Rail Freight Summit.  The over one hundred individuals attending learn about the impact of rail freight service on fuel savings and highway construction costs.  There’s much discussion of intermodal transport or transload, whereby products are transferred from truck to rail car or vice-versa.