Grant applications available for hospitality businesses

From staff reports

The COVID-19 Hospitality Recovery Program (CHIRP) Grant applications are now available on the Northwest Commission, Venango County and Forest County websites.

The Northwest Commission began accepting grant applications Wednesday for the CHIRP program for hospitality businesses adversely impacted by COVID-19 that are located in Clarion, Forest, Venango and Warren counties.

Businesses in the hospitality industry such as restaurants, bars, cafeterias, grill buffets, and buffets, caterers, food service contractors, hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, RV parks and recreational and vacation camps, are among those eligible for the grant, according to the Northwest Commission’s website.

To qualify businesses must show COVID-19 has had a negative impact on their business that makes the grant necessary to support on-going operations and had a reduction in gross receipts of at least 25% during 2020 compared to the same time period of 2019, according to the Forest County website.

Businesses must have fewer than 300 full-time equivalent employees and a tangible net worth no more than $15 million to qualify.

In addition, the business must have been in operation on Feb. 15, 2020, remain in operation and not intend to permanently cease operations within one year of the application date.

Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis through June 15, 2021, or until funds have been exhausted, whichever occurs first, according to the Venango County website.

More information and the online application can be found at www.executivepulse.net as well as on the Venango County and Forest County websites at www.co.venango.pa.us and www.co.forest.pa.us, respectively.

Questions may be directed to Northwest Commission officials Rebecca Beach at (814) 677-4800, Ext. 115, or Caleb Gilliland at (814) 677-4800, Ext. 109.