Recovery Resources: PA order reaction and FAQs, new Chesco grants, test sites and federal CARES

PA Chamber blasts Gov. Wolf’s new pandemic mitigation efforts
Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry President Gene Barr said Gov. Tom Wolf didn’t consult the business community before ordering new novel coronavirus pandemic mitigation measures yesterday. Rather than impose new orders, Barr said, the state should more effectively enforce the ones in place, for example by providing employers with support to enforce mask-wearing mandates. He added that the chamber remains puzzled by the governor’s veto of a bill that would have provided employers adhering to the state’s guidelines with “targeted and temporary liability protection” against COVID-19 lawsuits. The orders, which will be in effect from 12:01 a.m. Dec. 12 until 8 a.m. Jan. 4, prohibit indoor dining; indoor operations by gyms, fitness centers, entertainment venues and museums; and in-person extracurricular school activities. They also prohibit indoor gatherings of more than 10 people except during religious services at places of worship and restrict in-person businesses serving the public to operating operate at 50 percent capacity. The Pennsylvania Department of Health has posted answers to frequently asked questions about the orders.

$10 million in pandemic-relief grants available to Chesco businesses
Chester County is making an additional $10 million available to small businesses and agricultural enterprises impacted by the novel coronavirus pandemic in the second funding round of its Chester County Main Street Preservation Program. Program grants are available to for-profit businesses or agricultural enterprises that operate in Chester County; have been in business since 2019; had 2019 revenue of $5 million or less; have at least $50,000 in annual operating expenses; and can document a revenue loss of at least 30 percent. Businesses and agricultural enterprises can get grants as large as $25,000 if their 2019 revenue was less than $1 million and as large as $49,500 if their 2019 revenue was $1 million or more. They can apply for the grants from 8:30 a.m. Dec. 17 through 5 p.m. Dec. 23. The Chester County Economic Development Council is hosting a webinar on the application process at 10 a.m. Dec. 15.

Chesco Commissioners approve disaster emergency declaration
The Chester County Commissioners have approved a declaration of disaster emergency in response to the pandemic. The declaration is effective for 90 days from Dec. 1 and authorizes the county’s Department of Emergency Services to activate any necessary response and recovery measures, and coordinate emergency response activities. At the start of the pandemic, the commissioners enacted a similar declaration that lasted from March 13th until June 23.

Online support group available for Delco front line workers
Delaware County has started an online support group for health care workers on the front lines of the pandemic. Its next meetings are scheduled for 7 p.m. Dec. 15 and 10 a.m. Dec. 16. The group is funded by a grant from Main Line Chamber of Commerce member the Foundation for Delaware County.

State, county offering COVID-19 testing in Delco
The Pennsylvania Department of Health has contracted for drive-through COVID-19 testing from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Monday, Dec. 14, at Delaware County Community College. It’s free and on a first-come, first-served basis but can only provide 450 tests a day. Delco was among the first group of counties selected by the state for a drive-through site. The state plans to bring testing sites to other counties over the next 11 weeks, eventually having them in 61 total counties. Delco itself is hosting COVID-19 testing this week and next in Upland and at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital.

Montco offering free COVID-19 testing
Montgomery County is offering free COVID-19 testing at six sites, although people who wish to be tested must register online the day they want to get tested and not everyone who tries to register will be able to. The sites are outdoors, don’t have public restrooms and are subject to closure on short notice due to bad weather. They don’t offer drive-through service; people who wish to get tested must park and walk to them.

Federal pandemic aid off until at least next week
Any federal effort to provide financial aid to people and businesses struggling due to the pandemic will have to wait until next week. CNBC reports that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s staff has informed congressional leadership offices that Senate Republicans likely wouldn’t support a $908 billion proposal even though some of them worked with Senate Democrats to craft it. The group of Senate Democrats and Republicans working on the proposal has reached agreement on how to distribute $160 billion in state and local funds but not on whether employers should receive the broad immunity from COVID-19 related limited liability protections for businesses – a measure supported by chambers of commerce. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., told representatives after votes Thursday that the House would adjourn until at least Tuesday pending an agreement on pandemic aid and full-year government funding.