Clinton County proposing $10,000 grants to county businesses

LOCK HAVEN, PA – Clinton County still has pandemic era American Rescue Plan money on its books and Clinton County Board Chairman Miles Kessinger on Monday announced plans to dispense some of those funds for qualifying businesses.

Kessinger said at the commissioners’ Monday work session that the county will be accepting applications for grants up to $10,000 for businesses that are recent start-ups, preparing to open, or suffered financial difficulties during the pandemic. The money will come from federal ARP funds the county has received. The board chairman said qualifying expenses could include inventory, utilities or income lost in running a business.

A formal board announcement is expected at the commissioners’ Thursday voting session and the grant application process, according to Kessinger, should be up on the county website as of Friday. He said applicants will be able to apply online to the county planning department, the application window from May 5-26, after which successful applicants will be determined and notified. It’s expected as many as 40 to 50 such requests could be approved.

The grants will be for businesses who in the past did not receive pandemic-era CARES or ARP money. The board chairman said the county has a limited amount of ARP dollars remaining and “wants to get it out on the street.”