Schuylkill County officials will soon select an entity to dispense the $1.6 million block grant it received through the COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program.

The county was informed it received the money earlier this month.

All 67 counties statewide will receive money based on population through the program.

County Administrator Gary Bender said Wednesday the county will comply with the requirement each county select a Certified Economic Development Organization or Community Development Financial Institution to dispense the funds via grant agreements with eligible businesses by March 1. He said one will be selected at the next commissioners meeting and be retroactive to March 1.

Schuylkill County Commissioners’ Chairman Barron “Boots” Hetherington said the Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance will likely be chosen at the meeting because of its service area, among other reasons.

NEPA serves Schuylkill, Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike and Wayne counties.

Revenue losses and eligible operating expenses are permitted uses under the program.

Applications for the grants must start by March 15 and continue until funds have been spent or June 15, according to program guidelines.

Eligible businesses are those that have a certain classification system designation where accommodations, food or drink is available to the public, fewer than 300 full-time equivalent employees, a maximum tangible net worth not exceeding $15 million, operational Feb. 15, 2020, remains open and doesn’t intend to stop operations within a year of applying for funds, and the pandemic has had an adverse economic impact on the business, making it request funds to continue operating.