Susquehanna County Housing & Redevelopment Authority (SCHRA) held their annual dinner at The Summit Restaurant in New Milford on January 12th.  Dignitaries who attended the function were State Representative Jonathan Fritz, County Commissioners Alan Hall, MaryAnn Warren and Betsy Arnold.

Board President Joe Matis welcomed all to the dinner and stated the Susquehanna County Housing & Redevelopment Authority had a very good year.  He thanked all employees, and people who work together with SCHRA to make the projects successful.

The SCHRA staff pictured (l-r) are: seated - Joe Matis, Karen Allen, Elaine Andusko, Tom Chamberlain, Jerry Cronk; standing - Lisa Higgins, Charlene Moser, Gary Colwell, Kris Lunger, Doug Evans, Christi Albert, Frank Hobbs, Bobbi Jo Turner, Joe Gluck, Paul Lukus, Kelly Gumaer.

State Representative Jonathan Fritz, Commissioners Alan Hall, MaryAnn Warren and Betsy Arnold said a few words, acknowledged the achievements of SCHRA and thanked everyone for their service to the community.

Executive Director Karen Allen spoke about the highlights of the past year, which included the six affordable housing units located behind New Milford Creekside Apartments.  Ms. Allen stated people were moving in directly after the contractor was moving out.  One point three million dollars was allocated from the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund (PHARE).

Frank Hobbs (left) was recognized for 10 years of service by executive Director Karen Allen

PHARE funds were also allocated to purchase a house on Susquehanna Street in Forest City to rehabilitate and sell to first time homebuyers.

Turnpike Terrace and Hardford Village had flooring upgrades in the kitchen and bathrooms in all apartments.  At the Howard J. Emerson Apartments, the community room was painted with an addition of a new wide screen TV, along with paint and carpeting in the hallways.

Executive Director Karen Allen (left) with Charlene Moser, recognized for 5 years of service

The Redevelopment Authority was awarded two hundred fifty-five thousand dollars for the Community Block Development Grant (CDBG) to assist low-income families with repairs to sewer laterals in Forest City.

Forest City saw completion of the fourth duplex building on Hudson Street, which was ready for occupancy on May 31st.  Upgrades were also completed to the SCHRA owned properties.

Other achievements included CDBG grant funds administered by the Redevelopment Authority on behalf of the Susquehanna County Commissioners to demolish a vacant condemned house in Forest City, and replacement of deteriorated sidewalks along Main Street in Lanesboro.

TriBoro Municipal Sewer Authority Plant sustained major damage in recent floods, and a CDBG Disaster Recover Grant for three hundred fifty eight thousand, nine hundred fifty dollars was awarded to construct a floodwall.

Awards were given out to the following employees to recognize their years of service: Charlene Moser five years; Frank Hobbs ten years; Tim Canfield fifteen years. Board Member, Jerry Cronk was recognized for twenty years on the Board.

The Susquehanna County Room Tax Committee recently awarded monies to 11 grant applicants that requested funding through the county’s hotel occupancy tax/room tax fund collected throughout the year.

The following is the list of projects that were awarded funding and the organization that applied for it through the 2017 Grant Round in Susquehanna County:

• Susquehanna County Tourism Committee (brochures, website, social media, marketing, billboards, and videos)
  
  
• Friends of Salt Springs Park (Salt Springs Celebration)
  
  
• Clifford Twp. Volunteer Fire Company (annual picnic)
  
  
• The Belize Fund (All Nations Benefit Pow Wow)
  
  
• Endless Mountains Theatre Company (marketing)
  
  
• Old Mill Village Museum (marketing and promotion)
  
  
• Montrose Chocolate & Wine Festival
  
  
• Susquehanna County Library (Blueberry Festival)
  
  
• Montrose Restoration Committee (film festival; tourism brochure)
  
  
• Rail-Trail Council of NEPA (maps, brochures, and online interactive map)
  
  
• Greater Forest City Business Alliance (visitors map and guide) 

The hotel occupancy tax is a state-mandated tax collected by lodging establishments in the Endless Mountains that is paid by their guests. Thirty percent of that tax from each county is put into the room tax grant program to fund tourism-related projects or events. The Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau has awarded over $1.7 million total to grant recipients since the program was enacted 13 years ago.

Each year, the visitors bureau opens a grant round for each of the three counties it represents (Sullivan, Susquehanna, and Wyoming). Non-profit organizations have until September 25 to submit grant applications for that year. Although the visitors bureau is responsible for overseeing the grant program and distribution of the money, the final decision of awarding the money is made by each county’s room tax committee which consists of members of the community and at least one county commissioner.

Grant applications for the 2018 grant round will be available on the Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau’s website (www.EndlessMountains.org) in June.