Elk County Fair receives advertising funding from commissioners
RIDGWAY--The Elk County Commissioners granted the Elk County Fair $3,500 in advertising funding through the PAGO (Pennsylvania Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau) to help market the Elk County Fair when it returns this August following the cancelation last year due to COVID-19.
PAGO comprises the counties of Cameron, Clarion, Elk, Forest, and Jefferson, which holds more than a million acres of forestland, including the Allegheny National Forest, Cook Forest, and many state parks. The organization is dedicated to promoting the region to visitors as an ideal destination for outdoor adventures. The funding that the commissioners directed to the Elk County Fair will go to support Facebook, online, and rack card distributions for the event.
The Elk County Fair located in Kersey will return in August to the fairgrounds for rides, events, food, and friendly competition. The Elk County Commissioners committed themselves to volunteer at the Elk County Farm Bureau's booth that serves up fresh ice cream, milkshakes, and funnel cakes during the fair.
The commissioners announced that the CHIRP (COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program) application period is now closed. The program will make $338,772 available to Elk County hospitality businesses. Business applications that meet the criteria will be prioritized as outlined in the eligibility guidelines in the legislation. Minimum award amounts will be $5,000, with maximum award amounts to be determined after reviewing all applications. The application are currently under review by the financial department of the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission, with awards to be announced within the next few weeks.
The Northern Tier Community Action Corporation in Emporium, which oversees the Cameron County program, oversees the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) for Elk County. ERAP provides assistance to households that have experienced financial hardship and may be at risk of homelessness due to COVID-19. ERAP provides tenant households assistance with rental and utility costs to include arrearages and other related housing expenses. Applicants for the program would not contact Northern Tier Directly but would fill out the application through the PA COMPASS website. Those with questions about the program are directed to the COMPASS website at compass.state.pa.us/Compass.Web/RAP/FAQ.
The Commissioners approved a new autopsy services agreement with ForensicDx of Windber, Pa. at Elk County Coroner Michelle Muccio-Krise's recommendation. Muccio-Krise
was unable to attend due to the evolving situation in Ridgway on Tuesday morning but requested this change to perform autopsies, tissue procurement, toxicology, and molecular DNA lab services with a much quicker return time on results than the current service in Erie. The contract will be renewed yearly and offers savings over the previous contract.
No bids have yet been received for the 2004 F350 truck that the county is seeking to sell. There is no minimum bid on the truck and trailer that the Recycling Authority used for many years. Inquiries can be made at the commissioners office in Ridgway.
The Fox Township application for $7,500 in liquid fuel funds was approved on Tuesday, with the money being designated for the paving of Linwood Avenue, Pinecrest Road, and Cedar Avenue in the Township.
The Elk County Commissioners' next meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 4, at 10 a.m. at the Elk County Courthouse Annex. The public is welcome to attend the meeting through the Zoom network, which will be provided on the County website.