CLEARFIELD – Financial help is coming for 34 local businesses and 19 non-profit organizations that have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Clearfield County.
In June, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced the disbursement of $625 million to 60 Pennsylvania counties through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
The county has received $7,157,429 for virus-related expenses through the COVID-19 County Relief Block Grant Program from the state’s Department of Community and Economic Development.
In August, the commissioners launched the county’s CARES Act grant programs for small businesses and non-profits, which is being administered with assistance from Clearly Ahead Development and Lisa Kovalick, the county’s community development specialist.
On Tuesday, Commissioners Tony Scotto, board chairman, John A. Sobel and Dave Glass announced the first round of grants to 34 local businesses and 19 non-profits, totaling $793,579.
Small businesses really drive the county’s economy, Scotto said, and “we really do understand they suffered to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 … and we will help them out with funding, if they qualify.
He said the county had more than 30 businesses qualify for funding as well as 19 non-profits. He noted that both the Clearfield County Fair and Harmony Grange Fair didn’t occur this year, took “tremendous losses” and were awarded $100,000 each.
The complete list of grant awards is in the table below.
| Business | Grant Award |
| Auto Undertaker | $25,000 |
| B&D Enterprises | $15,000 |
| Billy’s Burgerland | $3,144 |
| Brink Trucking Company | $18,743 |
| Castle Cuts | $7,795 |
| Clear Vision Supply Chain LLC | $10,000 |
| Clearfield County Metal LLC | $4,511 |
| Clearfield Super 322 Drive-In Theatre LLC | $13,731 |
| Debra E. MacTavish | $2,525 |
| Healthy Living Family Medicine PLLC | $25,000 |
| Krasinski Farms | $4,100 |
| Larry’s Saw Shop | $12,029 |
| Lucinda Donahue | $5,000 |
| Mark T. Sullivan Company Inc. | $35,000 |
| Master Touch Consulting | $10,000 |
| Mona’s Hair Design | $3,233 |
| Monique A. Sopic Beauty Shop | $1,753 |
| Nikki Funk Photography | $5,000 |
| Old Town Road Dairy | $19,784 |
| Original Revolutions | $2,135 |
| Richard W. Neeper Contracting | $11,384 |
| Sassy Stylings by Stacey | $5,000 |
| Siegel Engraving Company | $15,000 |
| Stromboli Land II | $2,460 |
| Suanne’s Hair Care | $10,791 |
| Sutton’s Bar | $17,073 |
| The Stuff Store | $2,935 |
| Trahpek Construction LLC | $3,450 |
| Tri-County Performance | $6,247 |
| Virtual Networking Services | $5,000 |
| Wallace Masonry | $13, 815 |
| Wischuck Contracting | $25,000 |
| Xtreme Wear | $27,128 |
| Zapsky Styling Salon | $2,985 |
| Business Total: | $371,751 |
| Non-profit | Grant Award |
| Bilger’s Rocks Association | $4,870 |
| Children’s Aid Society, Clearfield | $50,000 |
| Clearfield Area United Way | $9,195 |
| Clearfield Arts Studio Theatre | $19,793 |
| Clearfield County Fair & Park Board | $100,000 |
| Cultural Resources Inc., DuBois | $1,477 |
| Doolittle’s Station | $21,099 |
| DuBois EMS Ambulance Services | $6,431 |
| Glen Hope Volunteer Fire Company | $5,399 |
| Glendale Volunteer Fire Company | $10,000 |
| Goshen Volunteer Fire Company | $4,880 |
| Habitat for Humanity of Clearfield County | $26,800 |
| Harmony Grange Fair | $100,000 |
| Lawrence Township Fire Company, Clearfield | $10,000 |
| Penfield Volunteer Fire Company | $10,000 |
| Pentz Run | $10,279 |
| Susquehanna River Arts Center of Clearfield County | $2,211 |
| YMCA-Clearfield/Bigler | $7,064 |
| Young People Who Care, Frenchville | $22,330 |
| Non-profit Total: | $421,828 |
| Grand Total: | $793,579 |
Glass said this is the county’s first round of awards to help the businesses that didn’t receive any assistance from the Payroll Protection or other government programs. “This is not the end of the line.”
He said the county will begin the review and follow-up process with the larger category of businesses that had received other funding, saying “now is their turn to get attention. By the rules of the CARES Act, we had to prioritize those that didn’t get any other help.”
Grant awards were based upon the virus’ financial impact, or the businesses’ losses from March 1 through July 31 of 2020 when compared to their revenues during the same timeframe in 2019.
“Most businesses and non-profits we said no to was because they showed a profit,” Glass said. “Some businesses just weren’t as affected. We played it by the rules, and we didn’t pick favorites. If you qualified, you got it; if you didn’t, we couldn’t help you.”
Glass said the county has basically completed the grant awards to non-profits, but still has a huge number of business applications to review, and the commissioners asked those businesses to please be patient.
Kovalick pointed out the grant regulations were established by DCED, and one – in particular – the county faced was the status of non-profits. Any organization that wasn’t a 501(c)3 or 501(c)19 didn’t qualify for funds.
“They were worthy causes … but their status was regulated to us.” Glass noted that the commissioners contacted state officials, and lobbied to be able to help out social clubs that were also hurt by COVID-19.
“Businesses – small businesses – are the heart of our community and non-profits are the soul of our community,” Sobel said. “They are very, very important to us, and we will continue to work on [disbursement of the next round of funding].
“We’re very sincere about that … but we can’t ignore U.S. Treasury and DCED regulations and requirements. We’ve tried to carve certain niches out to fit people in. Some were a success and some were not; hopefully, we’re helping very important members of our community.”