Schuylkill County, in collaboration with the Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance (NEPA), is offering a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program specifically tailored to assist small businesses in response to the economic impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic. NEPA Alliance is an established regional economic development organization that administers various funding and technical assistance programs throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. Under this initiative, NEPA has been engaged by Schuylkill County to manage and underwrite applications for the CDBG CV Funds, ensuring proper use and compliance with federal guidelines.
The primary objective of this funding opportunity is to provide financial assistance to small businesses within Schuylkill County, excluding those located in Schuylkill Haven and Pottsville as these municipalities operate their own CDBG programs. The funding is structured as a loan-to-grant program where loans of up to $15,000 per business may be forgiven if program guidelines are met, thereby converting the loan into a grant. The purpose of the funding is to help businesses prevent, prepare for, and respond to the ongoing challenges posed by the Coronavirus, specifically by addressing cash losses or revenue reductions due to the pandemic.
To be eligible for this program, businesses must be for-profit entities with a maximum of 20 employees. Additionally, applicants must demonstrate that their business has experienced either a cash loss or lost revenue as a result of the pandemic. A key eligibility requirement is that the business must create or retain at least one job for a low- to moderate-income individual, thereby aligning with the broader economic development goals of the CDBG program. All applications are subject to the official rules and regulations of the CDBG Program.
The submission process for this funding opportunity began on August 2, 2021, and applications are being accepted on an ongoing, first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted. Only complete applications will be reviewed, and NEPA Alliance will perform the underwriting and make funding recommendations to Schuylkill County, which is responsible for disbursing the approved funds. There is currently no final deadline to apply, allowing businesses continued access to this critical financial support.
Applicants are encouraged to review the program materials, which include the Economic Development Policies and Procedures for use of CDBG CV Funds, the CDBG Application Packet, and supplementary resources such as the CDBG webinar recording and presentation slides dated July 28, 2021. For additional information or assistance with the application process, interested parties can contact Stephen Ursich at 570-891-4649 or via email at recovery@nepa-alliance.org. The physical mailing address for NEPA Alliance is 1151 Oak Street, Pittston, PA 18640-3726.
