PA Could Give Small Restaurants, Businesses $300 Million In Aid

HARRISBURG, PA — A push soon could be made to provide the majority of a $372 million state pandemic response fund to small restaurants and businesses across Pennsylvania.

Two Republican state representatives, Jason Ortitay of Allegheny County and F. Todd Polinchock of Bucks County, plan to introduce legislation that would provide two competitive grant programs providing $150 million each to small eateries and employers.

Gov. Tom Wolf would be able to allocate $47 million toward pandemic relief on an as-needed basis. An additional $20 million would be used to increase vaccine awareness and inoculations across the state.

The $372 million relief fund was part of the state's 2021-22 budget approved in June.

In a joint memo to colleagues, Ortitay and Polinchock noted that many small businesses and restaurant owners are still struggling from COVID-19 effects and many were shut out of federal relief money.

"According to reports, the top 5 percent of federal restaurant relief fund awardees received 40 percent of the money and only one-third of Pennsylvania restaurants that applied received the assistance," the memo stated. "Please join us in prioritizing accountability and creating a competitive grant program to help."

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