Assistance to help stabilize and relaunch small businesses
Governor Tom Wolf announced a $225 million Pennsylvania grant program to aid the smallest and most vulnerable businesses impacted by COVID-19 and the business closure order.
The state has shifted its focus towards reopening the commonwealth and is offering assistance to those businesses that were hurt by the pandemic and the resulting economic downturn. When Governor Wolf announced the new program, he said. “This new program will provide direct support to impacted businesses to cover operating expenses during the shutdown and the transition to reopening.”
The funds can be accessed through three programs:
$100 million for the Main Street Business Revitalization Program
- This program provides relief for small businesses that experienced loss due to the March 2020 closure order and the costs of adapting to new safety precautions related to COVID-19;
$100 million for the Historically Disadvantaged Business Revitalization Program
- This program benefits small businesses belonging to socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. To qualify, disadvantaged individuals must own at least a 51% interest and control daily business operations and management. To receive funding, their businesses must have experienced loss from the March 2020 closure order and/or the costs to adapt to new business operations related to COVID-19.
$25 million for the Loan Payment Deferment and Loss Reserve Program
- This program gives CDFIs the opportunity to offer payment relief and forebearance for existing portfolio businesses that have been negatively affected by the pandemic, in addition to strengthening the financial position of the CDFIs that have experienced a significant increase in loan defaults in their existing portfolios.
The Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) is distributing the funds to Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), which will administer the funds as grants. Eligible businesses may use the grants to cover operating expenses during the closure, as they transition to re-opening, and for technical assistance such as training and guidance.
For more information on these programs or other forms of relief, please contact a CGA Business Law attorney.
For assistance transitioning employees and reopening your business, please contact a CGA Labor and Employment attorney.
For the latest legislative updates or business resources during the pandemic, visit the CGA COVID-19 Business Resource Page on our website.
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