The Forest County commissioners are encouraging businesses in the hospitality industry to apply for state grant money sooner rather than later.
Commissioner Bob Snyder, at the board’s meeting on Wednesday, said at this point the county has not received many applications to receive funds from the COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program (CHIRP).
“The deadline to apply is June 15, or until the money runs out. We just got a proposal to spend all the money. It might not be available come June 15,” Snyder said.
The grant money is available to businesses in the hospitality industry such as bed and breakfasts, hotels, restaurants, ice cream shops and other specialty food shops, Karen Wenner, Forest County’s community and economic development director, said in March.
A business must prove it had at least 25% lower profit between March and December 2020 as compared with the same months in 2019, commissioners Chairman Mark Kingston said in March.
The Northwest Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission will administer Forest County’s $82,082 in CHIRP money.
An online application developed by the commission is available at www.co.forest.pa.us, and on the commission’s website at www.northwestpa.org under the COVID-19 tab.
In other business
– The commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding with Clarion County to provide 911 dispatch services to part of Forest County at a cost of $11,024.34 per quarter, with a 3% increase per year for a period of 10 years to begin July 1.
– Snyder said the county is continuing to work on putting up poles and towers for broadband, a process that will take months.
“We are getting a lot of compliments on the broadband; how good it is,” Commissioner Basil Huffman said.
– Chief clerk Lynette Greathouse said preparations are coming along for the May 18 primary. The county has processed 255 mail/absentee ballot applications, down from more than 800 in the fall. The last day to request a mail-in or absentee ballot is May 11.