County Looking at Providing Small Business Grants

LOCK HAVEN – Clinton County Planner Katie de Silva has announced a public hearing for Thursday, May 7 as the county considers how to distribute some $159,000 in coronavirus-related federal CBDG funds.

De Silva announced details of the federal funding at Thursday’s county commissioners virtual meeting. She said the May 7 public hearing will be also be virtual, over ZOOM. She said the money is from the federally-approved CARES program and is expected to be the first of several such allocations.

She said the commissioners are discussing establishing a program of 32 grants of $5,000 each for small businesses within the county. She said businesses in 28 municipalities will be eligible, noting that the City of Lock Haven will be the exception as the city is to receive its own CARES dollars.

The May 7 hearing will be at 10 a.m. Public comments will be welcomed at that time, de Silva said. Eligible uses can include both grants and loans, but according to information at the commissioners’ meeting, the county board is leaning towards a grant program for small businesses negatively impacted by COVID-19. The commissioners said they want to keep the process moving and applications likely will be due no later than June 1.