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Cumberland County COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program (CHIRP) – Available 3/15/21

NEW COVID-19 HOSPITALITY GRANT

The Cumberland County COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program (CHIRP) will be released on March 15th and available to accommodations and food service businesses.

This is a rolling application process until funds are exhausted. Applications will be processed sequentially based on timestamp of Application, subject to availability of funds and completeness and accuracy of information provided at time of Application. The applicant will be notified of any deficiencies in information supplied and a request by email will be made to the Applicant. When all deficiencies have been satisfied; the application will be reviewed based on the timestamp of receipt of a complete application and associated materials, subject to availability of funds.

Through legislation known as Act 1, the hospitality industry is defined as those businesses that are classified with NAICS codes of 721(Accommodations) or 722 (Food Services and Drinking Places).

Cumberland County was awarded $2.9 million to allocate to qualifying businesses. Eligible requirements include:

– fewer than 300 employees (per EIN)

– business must be physically located in Cumberland County

– must be a for-profit with a NAICS designation of 721 or 722

– must be able to demonstrate at least 25% reduction in gross receipts

– based on business start and operational status, monthly or quarterly receipts and expenses will need to be supplied through the on-line application

– must be able to certify that business has not and will not receive another CHIRP grant between January 1, 2021 to June 30, 2021.

– applicant must have been a business by February 15, 2020.

Businesses can view guidelines, apply and print out a sample application at https://cumberlandbusiness.com/ccchirp-guidelines/. Only online applications will be accepted.

Grant funds can be used to cover operating expenses incurred from March 1, 2020 to June 15, 2021 and can include working capital/operating expenses including payroll and nonpayroll expenses, mortgage, rent, utilities, supplies, inventory, and PPE. For rent, lease, and mortgage payments, the obligation must have been in force before February 15, 2020.  For utility costs, service must have begun before February 15, 2020.

Businesses will be awarded in increments of $5,000 up to a maximum of $50,000 on eligible thresholds. The lesser of the dollar cap based on employee size outlined below or three months of average monthly operating costs of the total eligible business operating expenses reported on the most recently filed federal tax return, rounded to the nearest $5,000 increment

– 1 – 10 Employees (FTE) –  $20,000

– 11 – 25 Employees (FTE) – $30,000

– 26 – 60 Employees (FTE)  – $40,000

–  61 – less than 300 Employees (FTE)  – $50,000

FTE is based on 2019 total hours compensated for all employees divided by 2080.

Cumberland County has contracted with Cumberland Area Economic Development Corporation (CAEDC) as the authorized Certified Economic Development Organization (CEDO) to administer this program.

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