Local small businesses will get another chance to receive economic relief through the MontcoStrong 2021 Pennsylvania Hospitality Industry Recovery Program, writes Kenny Cooper for WHYY.

The new hospitality industry recovery program follows the county’s MontcoStrong 2021 Restaurant Grant Program, which has allocated $6 million in grants to 600 food service businesses.

The new program comes from Senate Bill 109 signed by Governor Tom Wolf earlier this month.

“This created a block grant program for counties to apply to receive funds to administer small business grants to eligible applicants,” said Dave Zellers, Montgomery County director of commerce.

The grants will be awarded in increments of $5,000 to $50,000. The county has to start accepting applications no later than March 15 and have all of them awarded by June 15.

“I’m particularly happy to see these funds coming from the state,” said Dr. Valerie Arkoosh, chair of the county commissioner.

While most of the money awarded in the previous grant program came from the county allocation CARES Act funding, “this is now additional money coming into our county from the state, which is fantastic news,” she added.

Read more about the new recovery program at WHYY by clicking here.