Dear Editor:
I am a small business owner in southern Clearfield County. As I’ve steered through this public health crisis, I have made every effort to get financial relief; I’m sure many other small businesses have, too.
Recently, I was denied a CARES Small Business Grant that was determined and distributed by the Clearfield County Commissioners. I’m mad!
The commissioners did not have any right to change the federal government’s guidelines, which were to be based upon gross revenue, not profitability.
The commissioners changed the guidelines to profit-and-loss statements, denying many small businesses in Clearfield County assistance when federal funds are still available.
The county received $7,157,429 in federal funds from the CARES Act to assist the community, which included struggling local small businesses, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In my opinion, some monies are being distributed, but the majority of these federal funds are being directed to inappropriate county projects.
I read a recent news article stating that the county received 240 grant applications, and they’ve only distributed half of the federal funds.
I’m calling for the commissioners to change the guidelines back, and to give the small businesses of Clearfield County their share of the CARES Small Business Grant monies.
For someone who isn’t business-minded and who doesn’t understand gross revenue, here’s an explanation. Gross revenue is the total amount of revenue earned in a given time period – usually a year.
Gross revenue is also called gross income, or the top line, due to its position on an income statement. Gross income does not account for any expenditures, like the cost of goods or overhead.
It is a pure calculation of the amount of money earned by the company through any enterprise. (Example: “Perfect Pens sold $200 worth of merchandise. The pens cost $60 to make. Perfect Pen’s gross revenue is $200.”)
I have contacted my accountant, and I have been referred to an out-of-county attorney who is currently assisting other small businesses that were denied a CARES Act grant.
The attorney is also assisting with small businesses that were denied Small Business Association (SBA) loans, which were part of the Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP).
I hope other small businesses do as I am doing and they are contacting their state representatives and complaining about the misuse of federal funds in Clearfield County.
Let’s save Clearfield County’s small businesses now! Many will not survive without your support. Contact all the Pennsylvania state representatives and complain about the misuse of federal funds in Clearfield County.
Annette Stiver, owner
Cinderella’s Boutique
Coalport