New Year, Same Us

Every year at this time, we are faced with thoughts about the future. The New Year pushes us to leave our last year behind- the good, the bad, the difficult, and the triumphant. In exchange, you may be thinking about where you will be moving forward. It is time to look at new goals, new changes, and preparing yourself for new challenges. Now is the time to think about where you want to go and who you want to be.

What does the future look like for you? Maybe this year you aim to create a more sustainable environment within and surrounding your business. Maybe you hope to expand- structurally and strategically. Or maybe, you just hope this year to continue to keep the people around you safe and happy.

The ultimate truth is, the future isn’t about changing what you know. It’s not about forgetting the past or letting go of who you are. It’s not about fear and it’s not about stress.

It’s about forward-thinking solutions for your everyday problems. It’s about being ready- because today, all around you, the future is here.

We have been serving changing communities and organizations since 1932.

From creating and implementing wastewater systems for municipalities when the Clean Water Act was passed in 1972- to connecting solar energy to electrical output systems in 2020- we have always been and always will be ready for the future.

New Year, same us. Sometimes it’s good to know what to expect.

While we reliably grow our education and expertise, we also reliably maintain our values and stand by our principles. We consistently expand our client opportunities while consistently making sure to get the job done.

It’s about you- what your challenges are and what your needs are. The future belongs in the hands of the ones you can count on.

The future is here, and so are we. This year, be ready.

Preparing your Municipality for the Future

Cities and municipalities across the country are working carefully to address not only growing populations but affordable housing crises. Looking to the future- a potential shift away from single-family zoning may aim to address both of these challenges.

Single-family zoning laws, common throughout the United States, prohibit construction or redesign of homes that are not strictly one unit. This includes prohibition of apartment buildings, senior housing, student housing, and duplex or multiplex properties in areas in which these zoning laws are in effect. From local municipalities to large scale cities- land zoned strictly for single-family homes is widespread.

Cities and municipality planning commissions are beginning to consider eliminating or decreasing single-family zoning- opening the door for economic growth, population density, and more affordable housing options. Advocates also argue environmental benefits of this change. Many state that vehicle emissions increase in single-family zoning areas as less-dense spaces require individuals to drive vehicles more often to get around. Similarly, attached homes or multi-units are suggested to be more energy efficient than detached.

This potential shift away from single-family zoning across the country is not an aim to eliminate or destruct the value of existing single-family homes and communities. Instead, planning commissions see the shift as an opportunity to expand their cities and towns and grow to meet the needs of the future.

The truth is, people are the heart of every community. But, a little advanced thinking helps keep that heart in the right place. Being prepared for this potential shift not only means revitalizing zoning laws within your community, but also undergoing comprehensive planning.

SSM’s certified planners work hand-in-hand with municipalities to do it all. They help manage growth, protect resources, and enhance communities. Whether it’s coordinating zoning laws, providing resource planning, consulting on ordinances and regulations, or land mapping and ensuring environmental protection- we care about the future of your municipality.

Think about what you need- we’re here to help.

Funding Opportunities

Driving PA Forward

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has a program that makes rebates available to businesses, governments, and other entities that install electric vehicle charging stations on their properties. The Driving PA Forward Initiative opened in September 2018 and is designed to improve air quality in Pennsylvania by making the option to drive clean vehicles more accessible. Through this program, Pennsylvania’s goal is to permanently reduce NOx emissions by as much as 27,000 tons.

Details on the program and grant application forms can be found at: www.depgis.state.pa.us/DrivingPAForward.

Energy Efficiency Projects

The Sustainable Energy Fund Program provides financial assistance for energy efficiency projects through grants and loans. The Program supports commercial, industrial, municipal, agricultural, and nonprofit entities implementing energy efficiency or renewable energy projects. Eligible projects include such improvements as solar photovoltaic and wind energy systems, lighting retrofits, HVAC upgrades, and building envelope enhancements. The Program offers three financing options, each with distinct benefits. Details on the program and FAQs can be found at: https://www.thesef.org/get-financing/.

Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is authorized to provide financial, technical, and other assistance to state officials in cooperative efforts to organize, train, and equip local forces in rural areas or communities under 10,000 in population to prevent, control, and suppress fires which threaten Human life, Livestock, Wildlife, Crops, Pastures, Orchards, Woodlands, Farmsteads, and other improvements in rural areas. The key objectives of this program are to save lives and protect property in unprotected or inadequately protected rural areas. Therefore, the selection of the participating agencies must be based on vulnerability and the adequacy of existing fire protection. This is a cost-share program. Financial assistance on any project during any fiscal year cannot exceed 50 percent of the actual expenditures, including expenditures of local, public, and private nonprofit organizations participating in the agreement. The maximum grant for 2020 is $10,000. The 2020 grant round will open in February of 2020. Successful recipients will be notified in late July of 2020.

Pennsylvania fire company officers can apply for Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) grants using DCNR’s Grant Portal: https://www.grants.dcnr.state.pa.us/.

Natural Gas Distribution Lines

The Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED)’s Pipeline Investment Program (PIPE) provides grants to construct the last few miles of natural gas distribution lines to business parks, existing manufacturing and industrial enterprises, which will result in the creation of new economic base jobs in the commonwealth while providing access to natural gas for residents. Funds may be used for acquisition, construction, and site preparation costs associated with extending natural gas pipelines to serve eligible applicants. Funds may be used for acquisition, construction, and site preparation costs associated with extending natural gas pipelines to serve eligible applicants (Economic Development Organizations, Businesses, Municipalities, Hospitals, or School Districts).

For more information visit https://dced.pa.gov/programs/pipeline-investment-program/.

Final Opportunity Zone Regulations Released

It’s been two years since the federal government’s Opportunity Zone Program became law. The final round of regulations of the tax incentive program have now been released to the public.

The U. S. Treasury Department and the IRS issued the regulations in December with a number of substantial changes and additions from previous iterations. The regulations clarify which properties and businesses will qualify for the tax breaks by firming up guidelines for investors surrounding aggregation of developments on one property to meet the substantial improvement requirement. The regulations also address what happens to investments that are pulled out of opportunity zone funds before the 10-year hold period is over. Qualified Opportunity Zone Businesses, or QOBs are also covered, including a 5% maximum investment in "sin businesses" that would otherwise be disqualified from the tax break.

The regulations outline how quickly and how much funding investors must provide to get the tax benefits and gives some special leeway for those looking to improve brownfield sites and vacant properties. They also provide information about how companies can invest in opportunity zones.

One of the most significant parts of the final regulations is that qualified opportunity funds (QOF) can now be structured like most funds that invest in multiple businesses or properties. In previous guidelines, the entirety of a QOF had to be sold all at once to qualify for the maximum capital gains tax discount. This was seen as a deterrent to investment in Opportunity Zones. Now qualified opportunity zone funds can sell individual properties, rather than being forced to sell the entire QOF — which includes the LLCs a QOF creates in order to hold properties.

QOFs have so far raised over $4.5B in capital, but many in the investment community have said that several issues have kept investors from committing to development projects. Response from the real estate development industry has been positive so far and officials are hopeful that the clarity brought about in the final regulations will drive more capital into economically stressed communities.

The 2020 Census is Coming

The 2020 Census counts every person living in the 50 states, District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories. The count is mandated by the Constitution and conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, a nonpartisan government agency.

Each home will receive an invitation to respond to a short questionnaire—online, by phone, or by mail. This will mark the first time that you will be able to respond to the census online.

The census provides critical data that lawmakers, business owners, teachers, and many others use to provide daily services, products, and support for you and your community. Every year, billions of dollars in federal funding go to hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads, and other resources based on census data. The results of the census also determine the number of seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives, and they are used to draw congressional and state legislative districts.

It's also in the Constitution: Article 1, Section 2, mandates that the country conduct a count of its population once every 10 years. The 2020 Census will mark the 24th time that the country has counted its population since 1790.

Visit 2020census.gov to learn more.   #2020Census