Governor Wolf announced today, June 8th, that Pennsylvania is allocating $225 million in grants to small businesses. 

The funding was created with state lawmakers and allocated from the recently enacted state budget. The budget is $2.6 billion in federal stimulus funds. The state reserved the $225 million for small businesses. The grant money comes from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. 

Businesses will be able to use the money for operating costs from being closed, transitioning to reopening, and technical assistance for relaunching businesses.

The funds will be available for three different programs:

$100 million for the Main Street Business Revitalization Program for small businesses that experienced loss as a result of the governor’s March 19, 2020 order relating to the closure of all non-life-sustaining businesses and have or will incur costs to adapt to new business operations related to COVID-19;

$100 million for the Historically Disadvantaged Business Revitalization Program for small businesses that experienced loss as a result of the business closure order, have or will incur costs to adapt to new business operations related to COVID-19, and in which socially and economically disadvantaged individuals own at least a 51 percent interest and also control management and daily business operations.

$25 million for the Loan Payment Deferment and Loss Reserve Program, which will allow the CDFIs the opportunity to offer forbearance and payment relief for existing portfolio businesses that are struggling due to the impact of COVID, as well as shore up the financial position of the CDFIs that are experiencing significant increased defaults in their existing loan portfolios. (https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/gov-wolf-announces-225-million-grant-program-for-small-businesses-impacted-by-covid-19/)

For more information about Pennsylvania’s grants, please read the press release here.

For help with reopening plans for your business, contact us to see how we can help:

On Friday, June 5th, the following 16 counties will move from Phase Yellow to Phase Green: Allegheny, Armstrong, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Clinton, Fayette, Fulton, Greene, Indiana, Lycoming, Mercer, Somerset, Washington, and Westmoreland.

They join the previous 17 counties that moved from Phase Yellow to Phase Green on Friday, May 29th: Bradford, Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Forest, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Montour, Potter, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga, Venango, and Warren.

Also on Friday, May 29th, these following eight counties moved from Phase Red to Phase Yellow: Dauphin, Franklin, Huntingdon, Lebanon, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, and Schuylkill.

Any remaining counties in Pennsylvania in Phase Red will move to Phase Yellow on June 5th.

Additionally, any restaurants in Phase Yellow counties will be able to serve customers in outdoor seating areas, following strict CDC requirements and social distancing.

The guidelines for Phase Green are:

-Businesses operating at 50% capacity can increase to 75%.

-If a business was not permitted to open in Phase Yellow (see our Guidelines from Phase Yellow blog for which business those are) can now open to 50% capacity.

-CDC and PA Department of Health guidelines must be followed.

-Where possible, Telework should continue.

-Consider accommodations for those who are considered the vulnerable population. 

-Construction is open to full capacity with safety measures still in place.

As you are working on re-opening plans or working to move from Phase Yellow to Phase Green and need help communicating with your customers, please reach out to us and let us know how we can help your business.

On Friday, May 29th, the following 17 counties will move from Phase Yellow to Phase Green: Bradford, Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Forest, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Montour, Potter, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga, Venango, and Warren.

Also on Friday, May 29th, the following eight counties will move from Phase Red to Phase Yellow: Dauphin, Franklin, Huntingdon, Lebanon, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, and Schuylkill.

Governor Tom Wolf (PA) also announced on Friday, May 22nd, that all remaining counties in Pennsylvania will move from Phase Red to Phase Yellow on June 5th.

The guidelines for Phase Green are:

-Businesses operating at 50% capacity can increase to 75%.

-If a business was not permitted to open in Phase Yellow (see our Guidelines from Phase Yellow blog for which business those are) can now open to 50% capacity.

-CDC and PA Department of Health guidelines must be followed.

-Where possible, Telework should continue.

-Consider accommodations for those who are considered the vulnerable population. 

-Construction is open to full capacity with safety measures still in place.

As you are working on re-opening plans or working to move from Phase Yellow to Phase Green and need help communicating with your customers, please reach out to us and let us know how we can help your business.

Governor Wolf (PA) announced on Friday, May 15th that another 12 counties will move from Phase Red to Phase Yellow on May 22nd.

The 12 counties are: Adams, Beaver, Carbon, Columbia, Cumberland, Juniata, Mifflin, Perry, Susquehanna, Wyoming, Wayne, and York.

The following counties will be required to follow the guidelines in Phase Yellow that we outlined in our blog post here. 

With these new 12 counties moving to Phase Yellow, that will mean that 49 out of 67 counties in Pennsylvania will be in Phase Yellow on May 22nd.

We are keeping an eye out for the latest updates surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and will continue to update on our blog and on our Facebook page.

Please reach out if we can help no matter how big or small.

On Friday, May 8th, Governor Wolf announced the next 13 counties that will move to Phase Yellow on May 15th.

The 13 counties are: Allegheny, Armstrong, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Fayette, Fulton, Greene, Indiana, Somerset, Washington & Westmoreland.

The 24 counties that were announced last week opened and started Phase Yellow today. Governor Wolf and Secretary Levine announced the guidelines for businesses to follow in Phase Yellow. You can find all of these guidelines in our post here. 

We will also keep posting any updates we see on our Facebook page.

Do you need help with a re-opening marketing plan on a limited budget? We’re here to help!