(HARRISBURG) May 28, 2020 – Crawford, Erie, Mercer and Warren Counties will receive more than $45 million in county block grant funding under the federal CARES Act to help cope with the cost of COVID-19, Sen. Michele Brooks announced today.
Under a plan approved by the Pennsylvania General Assembly today, these allocations will be awarded to counties in the 50th District, based upon population:
- Crawford County $7,642,748.32
- Erie County $24,358,827.58
- Mercer County $9,881,956.45
- Warren County $3,539,294.44
“This funding is designed to provide maximum flexibility to our counties to mitigate losses and provide resources to help us rebound and move forward in these unprecedented times,” Sen. Brooks said.
“Under the parameters of the federal government’s CARES Act, counties with a population of over 500,000 automatically received these federal dollars,” Brooks explained. “The Pennsylvania General Assembly felt it was important that other counties in our Commonwealth be given these dollars as well. Pennsylvania chose to distribute these funds based upon population. These allocations to our counties are the product of that legislative initiative,” she said.
Funds may be used for such needs as small business assistance, tourism promotion, municipal and county aid, substance abuse and behavioral health, nonprofit organizations, and broadband expansion.
CONTACT: Diane McNaughton 717-303-8320 (cell) dmmcnaughton@pasen.gov