County Commissioners Okay Financial Grants for 19 County Eating Establishments

LOCK HAVEN, PA – The Clinton County Commissioners had a bit of holiday good news for qualifying eating establishments in the county. At their Thursday meeting they announced the approval of $91,000 in Clinton County CARES grant funds to be divided up among 19 “food serving establishments” in the county.

The Commissioners initially had earmarked $50,000 in funds, but Thursday said they were able to allocate an additional $41,000 to support a business segment that has been particularly hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The approval came on a quick turnaround, the program first announced on Dec. 7, the application deadline on Dec. 14. Restaurants statewide subsequently took a further hit late last week when Gov. Tom Wolf announced, as part of the state’s COVID-19 mitigation effort, that restaurants could not offer indoor dining, effective Dec. 11, into January. As board chairman Miles Kessinger noted Thursday, dining establishments were “feeling the pinch.”

Kari Kepler, grants administrator in the County Planning Department, said the county received 25 grant applications; however, six applicants did not qualify because, according to CARES grant guidelines, franchise establishments were not eligible for the grant funds (there were three of those), nor were businesses that had received a CARES grant during the county’s first round of funding a few months ago (there were also three of those).

The commissioners indicated there could be additional financial assistance for businesses within the county after the first of the year.

The complete list of recipients, as provided by the county:

Leo’s
Merrick Enterprises
The Avenue B and B and Catering
Drury Run, Inc
Second Cup
Texas Lunch
Hanwin, LLC
Kettle Creek Inn
Linberg Inc.
Oak Grove Tavern
Beech Creek Hotel
Rock Bottom River Front Tavern
Pizza City
198 Shamrock
Broken Axe Brew House
The Main Street Grill
Twilight Diner
The Old Corner
Browns Hill Tavern