LEWISBURG — A collective effort is taking place across multiple counties in the Susquehanna River Valley in order to expand high-speed internet and broadband access, particularly to the underserved.
SUNBURY â The Northumberland County Commissioners on Thursday doled out more than $1.7 million in County Relief Block Grant (CRBG) funding through the federal CARES Act to municipalities, schools, businesses and nonprofit organizations.
Commissioner Chair Sam Schiccatano said SEDA-COG accepted applications on behalf of the county from the entities applying for the funds.
After SEDA-COG reviewed the applications to see if funding criteria was met, Schiccatano said the commissioners made the final decisions on how to award the funding.
He noted that many municipalities received funding to replace radios and related equipment for police and fire personnel. This (pandemic) was a reason to improve communication, Schiccatano said. A lot of the radios that were replaced were old radios.
SUNBURY â One-hundred-sixty-nine non-bargaining Northumberland County employees will be receiving raises in 2021.
During a meeting held Tuesday, the Northumberland County commissioners approved increasing the pay of all 169 non-bargaining employees by 1.5%. In addition, the employees will be receiving a 25-cent per hour increase.
Following the meeting, Budget Director Steve Cook said the increases add $112,700 to the budget, over 2020.
Commissioner Chair Sam Schiccatano said the increases are included in the 2021 budget, which was also approved on Tuesday.
âOur non-bargaining people did not receive a raise in 2020,â Schiccatano said. âWe did appreciate what theyâve done.â
The $82.9 million 2021 budget was approved as advertised earlier this month.