Schuylkill County small businesses can apply for up to $15,000 to assist with economic losses stemming from COVID-19.

The approximately $550,000 in funding for the program comes from the federal CARES Act. Applications are available starting Aug. 2.

The Schuylkill CDBG CV Small Business Assistance Program is available to eligible businesses in entitlement and nonentitlement communities. An entitlement community is one where 4,000 or more people live, according to CDBG guidelines. A nonentitlement community has fewer than 4,000 residents.

Ron Zimmerman, county grants manager, said Friday he will submit expenses that must be sent to the state Department of Community and Economic Development and the county gets reimbursed. The municipalities are awarded funds based on population.

Entitlement communities are Butler, Pine Grove, Wayne and West Penn townships. Businesses in Mahanoy City, Minersville, Tamaqua, Shenandoah are also eligible if certain criteria are met.

Schuylkill Haven Borough, also an entitlement community, has directed its funds for rent and mortgage help, Zimmerman said. Pottsville has been given money previously. That money is not included in the amount awarded, Zimmerman said.

The Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance will administer the program. The application for the program will be available on the NEPA website, nepa-alliance.org/cdbg. An informational webinar is scheduled for 2 p.m. July 28 to review rules and regulations.

Eligible businesses include those in the county other than Schuylkill Haven and Pottsville, the business has at least one full-time employee or several part-time employees that account for full-time employee that earns less than $38,300 a year, sole proprietors who earn less than $38,300 in fiscal year 2019.

Ineligible businesses include: any private or commercial golf course; country club; massage club; hot tub facility; suntan facility; racetrack or other facility used for gambling; any store, the principal business of which is the sale of alcoholic beverages for drinking off site.

Zimmerman provided the following amounts available in the entitlement communities:

• Butler Township, $52,476

• Mahanoy City, $50,143

• Minersville, $50,659

• Pine Grove Township, $50,057

• Shenandoah, $52,140

• Tamaqua, $56,612

• Wayne Township, $52,232

• West Penn Township, $50,758

• Schuylkill Haven, $52,944