Emergency grants available to Armstrong County businesses forced to close in December
Share this post:
Armstrong County businesses that were forced to close last month because of restrictions imposed by Gov. Tom Wolf could be eligible for emergency grant money under a program announced Tuesday.
Armstrong County Commissioners said $250,000 is available through the county’s Covid-19 Emergency Business Grant Program.
Eligible businesses can receive a one-time emergency grant of up to $2,500. Eligible businesses include bars, social clubs, fitness centers and gyms, churches, bowling facilities and locally owned dine-in restaurants in Armstrong County.
The grant money comes from $5.8 million in CARES Act funding awarded to Armstrong County last year.
“We wish we could do more,” Armstrong County Commissioner Pat Fabian said Tuesday. “We already have 20 applications in a few hours of posting the news of the grant.”
Fabian said the food and beverage industry was particularly hard hit in December, normally a busy month in terms of sales.
“This group especially, they keep taking it in the chin and they’re backs are in a corner,” Fabian said.
The grant applications will be processed in the order they come in and the program will end when the funds are depleted.
Businesses must have been operating as of Dec. 11, 2020, to qualify. Wolf’s mitigation orders took effect Dec. 12.
The Rev. Gary Lyon, co-pastor at Cross Roads Community Presbyterian Church in Leechburg, applied Tuesday morning.
His congregation has hosted indoor, in-person worship services twice since mid-March.
He said although people have “stepped up to the plate” during the pandemic and have been “giving generously,” churches who closed in December missed out on their usual December activities, events and Christmas worship services.
“December is the month which typically means a time when monetary gifts greatly expand for churches,” Lyon said. “These funds (if awarded) will help cover some of our losses from December, including a lack of donation monies from renting out the social hall.”
Gilpin Supervisor Charlie Stull said he’s encouraging all eligible area businesses to apply for the grant money.
“I’m hoping some local businesses can recoup some of what they’ve lost,” Stull said.
Business owners are required to submit an online application at co.armstrong.pa.us and provide a W-9 form via email to gjskamai@co.armstrong.pa.us. The application deadline is 4:30 p.m. Jan. 11.