Mckean County Commissioners utilize COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Funds

The Mckean County Commissioners have released a report of the utilization of its COVID-19 relief and recovery funds that were provided to the County through four separate federal programs; The Coronavirus Aid, Relief & Economic Security Act (CARES) program; the COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program (CHIRP); and the two funding opportunities made possible by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The county has summarized its use of CARES, CHIRP, and ARPA funds while continuing to support ongoing efforts to help Mckean County businesses, nonprofits, municipalities, and its residents recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and its devastating effects on health, equity, small business, local workforce, nonprofits, municipalities, and the overall County economy. In 2020, the County received $3,668,797 in CARES Act funding. The distribution of these funds focused on the immediate needs of small businesses, especially those in the hospitality and tourism sector, as well as critical services for residents, non-profits, small businesses, broadband deployment, municipality needs, and personal protective equipment. Because of the short turn-around time and funding window, the county significantly increased pandemic response efforts, pandemic planning interventions, and its overall outreach to all areas within the county. The county’s usage of CARES Act funding is reported as follows, by category and amount (rounded to the nearest dollar);

• $1,638,627 for County pandemic response, pandemic planning, outreach services, and broadband planning • $26,832 for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) • $334,990 to assist forprofit small businesses • $103,875 to assist tourism-based organizations • $90,061 to assist local agencies that provide mental health and long-term care services • $279,550 to assist non-profit organizations • $3,476 to assist municipalities • $1,162,500 for specific broadband deployment

projects • $28,886 for CARES Act program administration In March 2021, the COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program ( CHIRP) allocated $145 million in Pennsylvania to fund assistance to the hospitality industry businesses adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to alleviate revenue losses and pay eligible operating expenses due to the pandemic. Counties were required to contract with a Certified Economic Development Organization which, in turn, disbursed the funding through grant agreements with eligible businesses. MCKean County partnered with North Central Regional Planning & Development Commission to expend the county's allocation of CHIRP funds assisting 22 eligible hospitality and tourism businesses with $455,000.

Mckean County received an $8.6M allocation of ARPA funds through the State & Local Fiscal Recovery Fund and the Local Assistance & Tribal Consistency Fund programs. In February 2021, the County Commissioners established an ARPA Planning Committee to most efficiently and effectively plan for the county-wide utilization of ARPA dollars. According to the US Department of Treasury, ARPA funds could be used within the following five categories: Public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic; Provision of public services (such as parks & recreation, transportation, health services, hospitality services, tourism, etc.); Water, sewer, stormwater, and broadband infrastructure; Addressing the negative economic impacts of the pandemic and, assistance to non-profit organizations that provide vital services for residents of the county.

In its first phase of offering recovery and assistance grants with ARPA funds, the County awarded grants totaling $481,196. Of that amount, $121,196 was awarded to four county-affiliated nonprofit agencies, $10,000 was awarded to the Bradford Friendship Table, and $50,000 was awarded to the Bradford Regional Airport to allow it to leverage

other sizeable federal grant dollars. In addition, the Commissioners awarded $300,000 to the Mckean County Industrial Development Council (MCIDC). This particular investment will be utilized to promote the development and expansion of business, industry, and commerce within Mckean County by offering revolving low interest rate loans. Commissioner, Cliff Lane, remarked, “During phase one of ARPA funding, we focused on a wide variety of immediate needs within the county. Direct funding was provided for food distribution services for senior citizen through the Friendship Table and county senior centers, respectively. Funding was also provided to Bradford Regional Airport, enabling the airport to provide equipment and safety improvements for the flying public. Additionally, providing the Mckean County Industrial Development Council with funds to lend to

small businesses to improve, expand or start a new business will provide a sustainable funding source for small businesses.” Also, in phase one, the Mckean County Commissioners formed a partnership with the Mckean County Community Foundation to award recovery grants totaling $226,595 to forty separate 501(c)3 non-profit and/or faith-based organizations within the county. Noting the effects of the pandemic on the non-profit sector in communities, ARPA dollars were awarded to encourage sustainable projects that will make a lasting impact within the county. Mckean County Commissioner, Carol Duffy, stated, “Nonprofits strengthen communities and improve lives, providing a way for people to work together for the common good. These groups foster civic engagement and leadership, drive economic growth, and strengthen the bond within communities every day. Throughout the pandemic, non-profits offered major support to individuals and were on the front line in many cases. Many times, we do not realize what a non-profit agency offers, even though most everyone probably benefits from at least one every day. During this recovery, more than likely these organizations have encountered a decrease in charitable giving. I often give thought to local non-profits, the many volunteers, and the overall community impact and I believe this funding will help to provide positive action in addition to filling the gap created by decreased charitable giving.” A list of nonprofit grant recipients may be found at the Mckean County Community Foundation website.

In the second phase of assistance with ARPA funds, Mckean County offered a competitive Small Business Recovery Grant Program to reach forprofit small businesses within the county. The grant opportunity provided for an infusion of financial resources to eligible small businesses to meet pandemic recovery needs and to rebuild the local economy. The intent of this program was to provide grants to businesses that identify a Covid-related, problem-specific need and thoughtfully provide a solution to that need.

The focus of the grant program was not merely providing funds to businesses for revenue loss or regular operating expenses, but to invest in projects that demonstrate measurable, sustainable, collaborative, and lasting improvements for small businesses. At the December 13, 2022 Board of Commissioners Meeting, the Commissioner's approved grant awards totaling $130,000 to 16 small businesses.

As part of the overall ARPA federal allocations to states, counties, municipalities, and cities, all of Mckean County municipalities received direct allocations from the US Treasury Department in the amount of $4,016,512. Although all Mckean County municipalities received these direct allocations, it became apparent that many municipalities had excessive needs within their communities which they were attempting to address. To provide much needed financial assistance with county ARPA funds, the Commissioners granted a total of $1,440,014 additional ARPA to the 22 municipalities within Mckean County. Of that total, $1,000,014 is to be utilized to address infrastructure and blight issues while a total of $440,000 is available to municipalities ($20,000 each) to invest in local parks and recreation opportunities as well as community development projects. “We are confident that the additional funding distributed to municipalities will further help our communities to meet their most pressing needs. In addition, it became apparent during the pandemic that municipalities had the need for additional, updated, or improved recreation and open space to allow people to get outside. With our allocations to municipalities, we want to ensure that communities can use the funding to enhance their parks, recreation areas, and walking trails”, stated Tom Kreiner, Mckean County Commissioner.

Moving forward, the County will continue to assess, identify, evaluate, and address possible gaps in services to its citizens. ARPA funding will continue to be utilized to drive local economic recovery and development as well as have an impact on identified ongoing community needs for which the county otherwise had no resources to address. Investments will continue to be made in broadband internet deployment and connectivity as well as critical emergency services communication. Currently, the county ARPA coordinator and GIS specialist are working to plot the county ARPA investments to allow residents and the general public to see the impact of ARPA investments in a graphic way, by category, municipality, and zip code. GIS mapping helps users to understand patterns, relationships, and geographic context and can assist counties in strategic decision-making, transparent reporting, and improved communication. Modern GIS is about participation, sharing, and collaboration and the county will continue to utilize GIS for future ARPA investments. At the end of 2022, a reported $4.3M is available to fund future county recovery efforts.