Carbon County will receive $726,949 from the state to help businesses in the hospitality industry affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Thursday, the board unanimously approved two motions regarding the new grant program, including accepting the money, which was part of a $145 million package that was distributed to all counties in the state; as well as designating the Carbon County Economic Development Corporation as the entity that will oversee the county’s COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program.

Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein said that the county has not received all the details on how this program will operate, but noted that action needed to be taken quickly to ensure the county received the money.

Gov. Tom Wolf announced Wednesday that the funds would be distributed to counties based on population to help the hospitality industry and the state required counties to designate a certified economic development organization or community development financial institution to administer the funds by Thursday afternoon.

Nothstein said officials will now meet with CCEDC to set up guidelines for the program.

The COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery program will distribute funds in the form of grants up to $50,000.

“The commonwealth’s hospitality industry is critical to the lives and livelihoods of so many Pennsylvanians, and it’s undeniable that it has been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Wolf said Wednesday. “After months of calling for support for our hospitality establishments and their employees, I am pleased that the General Assembly has allocated millions of dollars in resources to protect and preserve this industry.”

CCEDC will administer the funding through an application process, which will close March 15. Fund distribution must be completed by June 15.

The state said businesses that are eligible to apply include:

• It has a North American Industry Classification System designation within the Accommodation subsector (721) or Food Services and Drinking Places subsector (722) and where accommodations, food or drink is served to or provided for the public, with or without charge.

• It has fewer than 300 full-time equivalent employees.

• It has a maximum tangible net worth of not more than $15 million.

• It was in operation on Feb. 15, 2020, and remains in operation and does not intend to permanently cease operations within one year of the date of application.

• COVID-19 has had an adverse economic impact on the eligible applicant which makes the grant request necessary to support the ongoing operations of the eligible applicant.

Priority will be given to applicants that:

• Have not received a loan or grant issued under the authority of the commonwealth or the commonwealth’s political subdivisions or by the federal government;

• Were subject to closure by the governor’s disaster declaration;

• Can demonstrate it had either a reduction in gross receipts of 50 percent or more for the period beginning after March 31, 2020, and ending before Dec. 31, 2020, in comparison to the period beginning after March 31, 2019, and ending before Dec; 31, 2019; or if the eligible applicant was not in operation during the entire comparison period, but was in operation on Feb. 15, 2020, a monthly average reduction in gross receipts of 50 percent or more for the period beginning after March 31, 2020, and ending before Dec. 31, 2020, in comparison to the period beginning after Jan. 1, 2020, and ending before April 1, 2020.

For more information on the program, businesses can go to https://bit.ly/3qgPo0z.