The Altoona Blair County Development (ABCD) Corp., in cooperation with the Blair County Commissioners, announced that $1,350,0000 has been awarded through the county’s portion of the COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program (CHIRP).
ABCD processed 67 applications of which 58 eligible applicants were awarded CHIRP grants. Funds will be used to help these hospitality industry companies pay for or reimburse eligible operating costs, including employee payroll, rent, mortgage payments, utilities bills and other expenditures.
“The Board of Commissioners appreciates ABCD’s professional and timely administration of the County’s CHIRP funds to aid these businesses which were devastated by the COVID restrictions,” said Blair County Commissioner Bruce Erb.
The original schedule allotted for three rounds of funding, however, the number of applicants and the demand on funds received prior to the March 26th first round closing exhausted the grant pool. Applications were given funding priority based on various criteria as outlined in Act 1 legislation of the PA General Assembly and all qualified applicants were awarded grants.
“We are glad that these important rescue funds could get into the hands of those who need it most, quickly and efficiently,” said Stephen McKnight, President and CEO of ABCD Corp. “Now we need to concentrate on getting all businesses fully opened without restrictions as soon as possible,” McKnight added, “ABCD Corporation thanks the Blair County Commissioners and our State Officials for their continued support for programs like CHIRP and advocacy on behalf of the business community.”
A complete list of awardees will be made public on the Blair County website by August 31, 2021.
