Gov. Wolf Announces $6 Million in COVID Relief Funding for Lancaster County Restaurants

Gov. Tom Wolf joined the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, the Economic Development Company of Lancaster County, the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce and the owners of local restaurant Silantra Asian Street Kitchen to highlight the grant funding provided to local restaurants through the COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program.

Last year, Gov. Wolf secured $145 million in funding supporting businesses adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the commonwealth has worked with counties and economic development partners to quickly send assistance to the hospitality industry.

Lancaster County received $6,045,000 in CHIRP funding from the state, and 316 businesses received grants.

Counties administered the funding through one or more designated Community Economic Development Organizations or Community Development Financial Institutions, which began processing applications from businesses in each county on March 15. All funding was distributed to businesses as of last week.

For additional information, see a copy of the news release here. 

PA Legislative Session 

The House and Senate broke for summer recess and will return to session in the fall. Updated session schedules are below. 

Next week, the House Appropriations and House Education Committees will hold a joint public hearing on a quarterly update from PASSHE on the state system's implementation plan. The Senate Education Committee will hold a public hearing on COVID-19 policies and guidance for schools.

2021 House Session Schedule:

September 27, 28, 29
October 4, 5, 6, 25, 26, 27
November 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17
December 13, 14, 15

2021 Senate Session Schedule:

September 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29
October 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27
November 15, 16, 17
December 13, 14, 15

For more information on the PA Legislature, see the Legislature's website.

Wolf Administration / Legislature: 

• Department of Human Services: Managed Long Term Services & Supports Subcommittee Meeting
• Department of Human Services: PA eHealth Partnership Program Advisory Board Meeting

News & Views from Around the State: 

• Pittsburgh Business Times: Trade group's report highlights economic impact of state's oil and gas industry
• Science Daily: Scientists develop tougher, safer bicycle helmets using new plastic material 
• WGAL: Medical groups call for mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for health care workers 
• Patient Engagement: Penn Medicine Launches Health Equity-Focused Surgical Center 
• PAHomepage.com: Geisinger Investing in Future Healthplex | Eyewitness News 
• Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: State commission finalizes funding plan for transportation that eliminates gas tax 

State Resources: 

• Sign up for AlertPA, a text notification system for health, weather and other important alerts like COVID-19 updates from commonwealth agencies. 
• Commonwealth of PA Updates
• PA DOH Updates
• Gov. Wolf Life-sustaining Business Order (issued 3/19)
• DCED Order / Business FAQs (issued 3/20/20; updated 5/31/2021)
• PA DCED COVID-19 Working Capital Access Program administered by PIDA to provide critical working capital financing to PA small businesses adversely impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak

Federal Resources: 

• Department of Homeland Security CISA Essential Business Memo and Guidelines (issued 3/19)
• U.S. Department of Labor Guidance on Employee Wages, Hours and Leave
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security CISA INSIGHTS Risk Management for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• CDC Resources including video, fact sheets, posters, tools and resources available for use and distribution