From staff reports
Businesses in the hospitality industry in Clarion, Forest, Venango and Warren counties may benefit from CHIRP grants that are being offered through the Northwest Commission.
The COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program funds will be awarded to businesses negatively impacted by the coronavirus pandemic in increments beginning at $5,000.
Counties will be looking to begin allocating and awarding grant funds to eligible businesses in the coming weeks.
The amount each county can administer is dependent upon population figures from the 2019 census.
Rebecca Beach, loan program manager at the Northwest Commission, said Venango County will have $573,884 to distribute. Clarion County will have $435,363 and Forest County will have $82,082.
The program aims to assist with business expenses not already paid by other federal, state or local grants. To be eligible, businesses will be required to document a loss of at least 25% of gross revenue in any quarter of 2020 in comparison to the same quarter in 2019.
Those who were part of the commonwealth’s mandated shutdown due to the pandemic, had 50% or more loss of gross revenue, and have not received other grants will be given priority consideration for the funds, Beach said.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until funding has been exhausted, or June 15, whichever occurs first.
Questions may be directed to Beach at (814) 677-4800, Ext. 115, or by sending her an email at chirp@northwestpa.org.