Westmoreland County Announces Creation of Two New Programs:

Westmoreland CARES Small Business Support Grant Program and Westmoreland CARES Nonprofit Support Grant Program

The Westmoreland County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to create two new grant programs – the Westmoreland CARES Small Business Support Grant Program and Westmoreland CARES Nonprofit Support Grant Program – to assist small businesses and non-profits affected by the COVID-19 public health crisis. The programs will be funded using federal CARES Act dollars provided to the County through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development, under the COVID-19 County Relief Block Grant program. An initial amount of $5 million has been allocated to each grant program.

The primary purpose of each Program is to provide relief to small businesses and non-profits impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Westmoreland County hopes to help small businesses and non-profits remain viable through the COVID-19 pandemic by retaining employees and covering expenses.   

Grant awards are available up to $25,000, or 25% of calculated loss due to COVID-19, whichever is less.  Nonexclusive examples of grant uses include payroll (preference will be given to those applicants that did not receive other sources of federal COVID relief funds); rent/mortgage payments; PPE or other COVID-19 related supplies; and operating expenses. 

The Economic Growth Connection will assist the County with receipt of the applications and confirming the applications are complete and responsive to the posted requirements.  For detailed program eligibility requirements and specific information regarding the application process, including deadlines, please visit the Westmoreland County website at www.co.westmoreland.pa.us or the Economic Growth Connection of Westmoreland website.  Applicants should check back regularly, as federal and state guidelines have the potential to change.  

The submission for both programs will be open from July 23, 2020 at 10 a.m. to July 30, 2020 at 5 p.m.  Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit applications, with all supporting documents by email to disaster@egcw.org for the Small Business Support Grant Program and to nfp-disaster@egcw.org for the Non-Profit Support Grant Program.   Mailed applications will not be accepted.  Applications may be submitted by facsimile to (724) 850-3974.  Applicants may also arrange for hand-delivery by contacting the Economic Growth Connection of Westmoreland at (724) 830-3604.