Westmoreland doles out 1st batch of coronavirus relief funds to small businesses

Lorraine Makosky’s tanning salon in Hempfield missed out on what would have been her busy season when Pennsylvania’s nonessential businesses were shut down this spring during the coronavirus pandemic.

Lorraine Marie’s Tanning finally reopened in June but, by then, the early days of spring tanning were gone and, with them, much-needed revenue to keep the business flourishing.

On Wednesday, Makosky recouped some her losses in the form of a $14,600 check from the county as part of its coronavirus relief grant program funded through a $31.5 million allocation from the federal government.

“I’m not sure I would have been able to stay open. I am so thankful. It’s a Godsend for sure,” Makosky said.

County commissioners last week awarded grants to 260 small businesses totaling more than $4.3 million. Businesses that received the covid-relief funding are listed on the county’s website.

Dozens of small business owners came to the courthouse Wednesday to sign contracts and accept their checks. Money will continue to be handed out on Thursday, next Monday or by appointment.

Grants ranged from a few thousand dollars to a maximum of $25,000.

Kevin Powanda, owner of 4 Seasons Travel in Irwin, received the maximum grant to keep his agency afloat at a time when few are traveling.

“It’s huge. I don’t think anyone’s more excited since we don’t get paid until people travel,” Powanda said.

Dena Brezarich, owner of Peppercam Cleaning in Murrysville, said she will use her $14,000 grant to give raises to her staff of six and for signing bonuses to attract new hires. The money, she said, also will help pay for routine operating costs.

“We were shut down for almost 2½ months and, when we reopened, we lost our office because we had no income,” Brezarich said.

Commissioners allocated up to $5 million in grants to small businesses and another $5 million to nonprofit agencies in the first phase of the program. The county received 375 applications from small businesses and 125 from nonprofit agencies.

Grants are expected to be awarded to nonprofits by the end of October.

The federal stimulus money must be spent by the end of this year. Commissioners said a second round of funding — in which another $2 million will be earmarked for small businesses — is being planned.

Starting Thursday, the county’s 67 municipalities can submit applications for funding to cover costs associated with spending attributed to the pandemic, such as reimbursements for personal protective equipment, cleaning and sanitizing and other expenses.

County finance director Meghan McCandless said those grants will be capped at $30,000 and applications must be submitted by Oct. 15.

Allocation of the remaining funds is still up in the air. Commissioners said some of those funds will be used to cover the county’s pandemic expenses and possibly additional funding for nonprofit agencies.

Meanwhile, the small business owners such as Sharon Detar, whose Connections Cafe in Ligonier was closed in March and April, said the $7,000 grant she received couldn’t come at a better time.

“We kept going but this will help and allow us to weatherize our porch so we can eat outside in the winter,” Detar said.