Funding Available to Support Local Families and Businesses During COVID-19 Crisis

The Pike County Commissioners remind residents and business owners of funding available to support them as Pennsylvanian’s experience a sharp spike in COVID-19 cases and newly implemented state mitigation measures seriously impact local businesses and workers.

Housing and Rental Assistance

A combination of state funding and local recording fees comprises Pike County’s $300,000 Emergency Safe Housing Assistance Program (ESHAP) & Senior Bridge Rental Assistance Program.

The Emergency Safe Housing Assistance Program assists low- to moderate-income households with staying in their home during an emergency financial situation. These funds will be used to pay one-time household rents, back rents, mortgages, provide funding to remove unhealthy barriers to staying in the home, and roof repairs. To apply, call the Pike County Office of Human Services at 570-296-3434.

The Senior Bridge Rental Assistance Program assists low-income households with rental assistance when at least one member of the household is a senior citizen 60 years of age or older. This includes seniors who are rent burdened, moving to new rental housing, or are in the Shared Housing and Resource Exchange (SHARE) program. To apply, call the Pike County Area Agency on Aging at 570-775-5550.

Small Business Forgivable Loans

The Pike County Commissioners recently reallocated Community Development Block Grant funding to create a Small Business Forgivable Loan Program. This fall, the Commissioners awarded $526,092 of these funds to seven businesses.

Currently, $237,902 remains available for qualifying applicants. With these funds, the County will make up to six forgivable loans. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Loan program parameters call for businesses to create one full-time equivalent job (40 hours per week) for every $35,000 received. The loans will be forgiven once borrowers confirm that a job has been created or retained for a low- to moderate-income person.

To be eligible for a forgivable loan, the business must meet all of the following criteria:

  • Has been located in Pike County for a minimum of 12 months
  • Has filed at least one tax return
  • Has at least one full-time employee
  • Has 100 or fewer employees worldwide
  • Has annual revenue of $1,000,000 or less
  • Is deemed to be a viable business based on evaluation of information submitted with the application
  • Has experienced disruption as the result of COVID-19
  • Is up to date on local, state, and federal taxes or is on a payment plan

Visit pikeforward.com for an application or more information.