Northhampton News

Gov. Tom Wolf and members of the Pennsylvania legislature recently came together to push for $1.7 billion in unspent American Rescue Plan Act funds be used to help small businesses and families.

Wolf was joined by Rep. Joseph Hohenstein, Sen. Tina Tartaglione, Philadelphia City Councilman Allan Domb and local business leaders in a show of support for the effort, according to a March 24 press release. Wolf has called upon the Republican led General Assembly to act quickly and use the funds to help those in need.

The governor has also introduced a plan that would provide $225 million through the Small Business Assistance Plan, the release stated. The funding would allow state businesses to receive between $5,000 and $50,000, and if recapitalized, could help an additional 11,000 businesses.

“Families and businesses across Pennsylvania are facing economic challenges as inflation goes up and prices rise right along with it,” Wolf said in the release. “People across Pennsylvania are hurting, but we have the money to help, and we need to spend it now. I am calling on the General Assembly to use Pennsylvania’s unspent American Rescue Plan Act dollars to help Pennsylvanians get back on their feet.”

The program was created to help people recover from the pandemic and the funds provided can cover a variety of things such as operating expenses, training and more, according to the release. The program prioritizes rural areas along with women and minority owned businesses. In 2020, the program helped 10,000 businesses with more than $192 million

The $1.7 billion plan has a multi-faceted approach, the release stated. It includes: $500 million for direct payments to residents; $204 million for direct property tax relief for about 466,000 residents; $325 million for the healthcare system; and $450 million for conservation, preservation, and revitalization of communities. It will also address climate change after the state experienced flooding and extensive rainfall the past two years.

Hohenstein voiced his support of Wolf’s plan, saying it will help his fellow Philadelphians bounce back.

“The Governor’s proposal to increase funding to the Small Business Assistance Program, the PA Opportunity Program, and other funding for low-income families addresses the fact that so many of us are under water and need a working-class bailout,” Hohenstein said in the release.

Tartaglione agreed.

“If we want to ensure we are putting Pennsylvania on the strongest footing possible, we need to support the true economic backbone of our commonwealth,” Tartaglione said in the release.