Greensburg plans to use nearly $194,000 in federal CARES Act money to aid small businesses, provide rent assistance and help feed those in need.

Municipalities received coronavirus relief funds through the existing Community Development Block Grant program.

Greensburg submitted its application about three months ago, and recently learned it had been accepted, according to Mayor Robert Bell.

Greensburg’s plans for the money have not been finalized, but leaders have determined three priorities, Bell said.

The city will partner with the Greensburg Community Development Corporation, spending about $100,000 of the Cares Act money to help city businesses struggling due to the pandemic.

“As you can imagine, the negative impacts of the coronavirus on local small businesses have been devastating,” Bell said.

GCDC surveyed 77 city businesses this fall. About 61% said they’d furloughed employees, and a third said they were at risk of permanently closing.

This summer, GCDC launched the Main Street Jump Start program, distributing $139,000 to 25 businesses. That money was donated by the Richard King Mellon Foundation.

Greensburg’s $100,000 will likely fund the second round of the program.

Another $42,000 is tentatively slated to provide rent assistance to those facing housing problems due to the pandemic, Bell said. The funds will be administered through Westmoreland Community Action’s Rental Assistance Program.

The limit is $1,500 per household.

Finally, the city plans to use another $42,000 to support the Westmoreland County Food Bank’s food pantry distribution program, Bell said. Westmoreland Community Action will also use funds to provide emergency food boxes.

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