The Schuylkill County COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program has distributed $1.6 million to 83 businesses throughout Schuylkill County. All funds allocated to this program have been deployed in the community, assisting hospitality businesses sustain themselves through the pandemic.

The Schuylkill County Commissioners, SEDCO and NEPA Alliance are proud to have worked together to distribute these much needed funds to assist the hospitality business’s needs. Funds have been depleted, however, Schuylkill County, SEDCO and NEPA Alliance are continuing to receive applications in the event additional funds are secured. Contact Steve Ursich at NEPA Alliance at 570-891-4649 or sursich@nepa-alliance.org for additional information.

“The Board of Commissioners want to thank the commonwealth for making these funds available to some of the hardest-hit businesses in our community. We are especially grateful to NEPA Alliance and SEDCO for their partnership with us and the professionalism in which they executed their mission. Our goal was to get this money out to those in need as soon as possible and we are pleased that so many deserving businesses applied and ultimately received funds to assist them as they continue to provide much needed services to our county,” Commissioner George Halcovage said.

“We were fortunate that the availability of the CHIRP funds came from the Department of Community & Economic Development to Schuylkill County with the flexibility to customize their use based on local conditions and needs. The county commissioners set policy and guidelines to provide the most compact and expedient application process that would impact the greatest number of local hospitality-based businesses, NEPA Alliance managed the process and financial underwriting and SEDCO provided local coordination as needed. Funds were in the hands of local businesses two months ahead of the state’s deadline for disbursement,” said Frank Zukas, SEDCO president.

“NEPA Alliance is very happy to have assisted Schuylkill County and SEDCO in delivering these funds to businesses,” said Jeffrey Box, president and CEO of NEPA Alliance.

SEDCO has directed economic development projects throughout Schuylkill County since 1952. Its 60-member board of directors consists of representatives of the countywide business, civil and community leadership. SEDCO and its predecessor agencies, in conjunction with county and local government officials, have developed industrial and business parks supporting the creation of more than 10,000 jobs in Schuylkill County.

The NEPA Alliance, a regional community and economic development agency, serves the seven counties of Northeastern Pennsylvania including Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill and Wayne. NEPA Alliance services include Business Financing, Government Contracting Assistance, International Trade Assistance, Non Profit Assistance, Transportation Planning, Research and Information, and Local Government Services. For more information about NEPA Alliance visit www.nepa-alliance.org or call 866-758-1929.