Some more financial assistance will be on the way for Centre County hospitality businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and related shutdowns.
The Centre County Board of Commissioners on Thursday approved the application for the county’s designated $1,839,232 from Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program.
Gov. Tom Wolf on Friday signed into law the bill creating the $145 million program to provide relief grants for lodging, food and drink establishments. On Wednesday he announced the funds would be distributed to all 67 counties in the form of block grants based on population.
Counties had until 5 p.m. on Thursday to submit the formal application to the Department of Community and Economic Development signifying their interest in receiving the block grants.
LANA MUTHLER lmuthler@lockhaven.com
LOCK HAVEN So far, county officials know $437,500 is coming their way. And they know it’s earmarked for hotels, restaurants, taverns and other businesses in the hospitality industry.
But that’s about all they know at this point.
“On Tuesday, we received word the county had been allocated $437,500.
“And on Wednesday, we were told the application for the ‘hospitality grant’ was due the next day,” Clinton County Planner Katie deSilva explained at Thursday morning’s meeting of the Clinton County commissioners.
Extremely excited about the announcement, county officials quickly moved forward in preparing the required online application and sending it off before the 5 p.m. Feb. 11 deadline.
Pennsylvania is putting a lot on the table for its starving hospitality industry.
Gov. Tom Wolf announced Wednesday the stateâs 67 counties will share $145 million in funding through the COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program. Funds will be provided through block grants and disbursed by Feb. 28. Amounts will be based on population in each county.
Hospitality covers a wide swath of operations, but consists largely of the categories: food and beverage, travel and tourism, lodging and recreation.
If the $145 million were split equally among all counties, each would receive about $2.16 million. Counties in Southwestern Pennsylvania, however, will be above or below that level. Allegheny, Westmoreland and Washington counties will receive more money than Fayette and Greene counties.