News

Published on: 2/19/2021

The York County Commissioners on Wednesday promoted the state’s COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program, CHIRP, which will allocate $145 million in funding assistance to hospitality industry businesses throughout Pennsylvania adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The program requires the county to establish a grant application for eligible businesses, which include the accommodations sector as well as the food and beverage sector of the tourism industry.

York County Economic Alliance (YCEA), the county’s certified economic development organization, will be facilitating this grant money. York County is anticipated to receive a little more than $5 million, an amount based on population proportion.

To be added to an email list for updates, please email kmahoney@yceapa.org. 

Businesses seeking these grants can receive between $5,000 and $50,000. Applicants have to have opened by February 2020 and demonstrate adverse economic impact from COVID-19 and/or the business restrictions resulting from the pandemic.

The Alliance estimates roughly 1,000 businesses in York County could be eligible for this relief program. Applications will be accepted beginning March 15.

“The help this will provide the struggling tourism and hospitality businesses is critical,” said President Commissioner Julie Wheeler. “The Commissioners are pleased that action was taken to assist these businesses’ with the financial burden placed on them from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

While the county and YCEA are still working through some of the grant program’s guidelines, the state’s Department of Community and Economic Development has posted the basic framework of the program on its website.