Grants being offered for hospitality workers
Relief fund available for those impacted by pandemic
HARRISBURG » The Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association will begin accepting applications for emergency grants for hospitality workers impacted by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The application window opens at midnight on Thursday, April 23.
The grants are available through the Hospitality Assistance Response of Pennsylvania (HARP), which was launched to provide swift financial assistance to the front-line employees of Pennsylvania hospitality businesses impacted by COVID-19.
The hospitality industry in Pennsylvania employs more than 700,000, and has been hit hard by the virus, as restaurants across the state have been forced to close completely or switch to takeout and delivery only dining options. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 96 percent of Pennsylvania restaurateurs have reported layoffs and furloughs and the average reduction of total staff statewide was about 85 percent, according to the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association.
“With the large number of individuals employed by the hospitality industry in Pennsylvania alone, it is critical to help those who fuel one of the Commonwealth’s most profitable industries,” John Longstreet, president & CEO of Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association, said in a press release. “We are confident that our strong industry can bounce back from this crisis and we are asking for do
nations to assist those who have been most affected by COVID-19, through no fault of their own. Now, more than ever, is the time for us to band together to provide immediate assistance.”
The Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association will be accepting the first 1,000 applications for the initial round of grants. Each grant recipient will receive $250 from the relief fund. Additional applications will be accepted as donations are brought in.
To be eligible for a grant, an applicant must have worked in the hospitality industry within the last 90 days; have experienced a decrease in wages or job loss after March 16; work and live in Pennsylvania; and be over the age of 18. Owners/ operators are not eligible.
Once in the application portal, applicants will be asked to: provide demographic and employment information, upload two pay stubs and provide a brief statement of need.
To access eligibility requirements or to apply for a grant, visit https://www. prla.org/harp.html
Candidates will be notified if they have been awarded a grant, and the funds will be electronically deposited.
The Hospitality Assistance Response of Pennsylvania is funded by private, community and individual donations. The goal is to reach $250,000 by
May, with a long-term goal of building the fund to $1 million, according to information on the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association’s website.
The Hospitality Assistance Response of Pennsylvania fund is managed through the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association Educational Foundation, which has been providing financial assistance to hospitality students for more than 15 years, and 100% of donations will go directly to the fund recipients.
“As we continue to navigate this crisis, the wellbeing of our employees, business partners and local communities remain our top priority. For six generations, our family has been brewing beer in our hometown of Pottsville, Pennsylvania thanks to the unwavering support of loyal consumers and retailers,”
Wendy Yuengling, chief administrative officer and sixth generation family member. “Now more than ever, we believe it is our responsibility to give back to the local communities who have lifted us up for nearly 200 years. As a Founding Donor of HARP, we are proud to work alongside PRLA to support Pennsylvania’s hospitality workers, including bartenders, servers and waitstaff, who have been impacted by COVID-19.”
Donations to the fund can be made online or by
texting HARP to 44-321.
Earlier this week, the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association, in conjunction with the National Restaurant Association said losses in Pennsylvania’s restaurant industry are expected to top $1.8 billion by the end of April.
“While the profit losses and furloughs are quite shattering, we know and understand the importance of keeping our guests and employees safe. We are confident that we can recover from this, but a proper recovery will require assistance and patience,” Longstreet said Monday.
“The restaurant industry has been the hardest hit by the coronavirus mandates — suffering more sales and job losses than any other industry in the country,” Sean Kennedy of the National Restaurant Association stated in a letter sent to top Republican and Democratic lawmakers Monday calling for Congress to create a dedicated recovery fund for the restaurant industry. He added that the recovery will be slow for the industry. “For an industry with sales that exceed the agriculture, airline, railroad, ground transportation, and spectator sports industries combined, a restaurant relief and recovery program is desperately needed.”
“With the large number of individuals employed by the hospitality industry in Pennsylvania alone, it is critical to help those who fuel one of the Commonwealth’s most profitable industries.”