Fayette County and Fay-Penn are announcing Phase II of the Pennsylvania Covid-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program (CHIRP) to expend grant funding remaining after the completion of Phase I. Businesses in the food services/drinking places (restaurants, bars, caterers, etc.) and accommodations industry (hotels, campgrounds, etc.) sectors in Fayette County that have been impacted by COVID-19, and did not receive Phase I funding are encouraged to apply.
Eligible businesses in those sectors must be for-profit, and will typically have North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes beginning with 721 or 722. The minimum grant amount is $5,000. Money received from PA CHIRP grants does not affect money received from federal programs such as PPP, EIDL, or the new Restaurant Recovery Fund (RRF).
NOTE THAT THIS MONEY IS A GRANT, NOT A LOAN. MONIES AWARDED DO NOT NEED TO BE REPAID.
Phase II officially opens for new applicants at 8:00 AM Eastern Time on Wednesday, May 5, 2021. The application deadline is 5:00 PM Eastern Time on Wednesday, May 12, 2021. Contact Twila Kendall at 724-437-7913 or twilak@faypenn.org for more information.
Eligibility criteria are outlined in the application, which is available above or by contacting Fay-Penn at info@faypenn.org or 724.437.7913. Additional information can be found at COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program (CHIRP) - PA Department of Community & Economic Development.
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact Fay-Penn at 724.437.7913 or info@faypenn.org for additional assistance.
1. Do I need to print the application to submit it?
No. The application is a fillable .pdf. You can download the application, complete the fields on a computer, and digitally sign it. The file can be emailed directly to twilak@faypenn.org as an attachment along with scanned copies of any required tax forms. However, if desired, the form can also be downloaded, printed, and completed by hand. Contact Fay-Penn if you need additional help to submit your info via the USPS, fax, hand-delivery, etc.
2. Pennsylvania indicated that the CHIRP program will be open until June 15, 2021 or until funding is exhausted. Why does the Fayette County application period end on April 15, 2021?
Fayette County is using a phased, rolling application process to expedite getting funding to eligible businesses. If funding remains after “Phase I,” another phase will be announced.
3. Where can I find my NAICS code?
It should be located on your tax returns, or you can do a keyword search at www.naics.com.
4. Is this grant “first come, first served?”
No. All applications received during the Phase I application period, which ends April 15, 2021, will be given equal weight in terms of the time and date when Fay-Penn receives them. Other criteria will be used to determine grant awards.
5. Is my brewery or winery eligible? My NAICS code begins with 312.
It depends. 312xxx NAICS businesses (breweries, wineries) are ONLY eligible if they have a tasting room or food service that can be isolated financially from their main production operation (for example, a brewpub that sells their beer for onsite consumption in addition to distributing it elsewhere), and the remaining eligibility criteria are met for that non-production component.
6. I’m a franchise owner of a publicly traded company. Am I eligible?
Yes, franchisees are eligible if you meet the other eligibility criteria. Corporate-owned publicly traded establishments are not eligible.
7. Do I need to enter information for each expense category line item?
No. You may enter one item only, or as many as you wish.
8. I operate a non-profit food service. Do I qualify for this grant?
No. This program is exclusively for for-profit businesses. You may be eligible for other assistance programs. Contact Fay-Penn for direction.
9. Specifically, what sales tax returns do I need to provide?
Please provide the monthly or quarterly complete sales tax return that was filed for the respective time period, not the enterprise filing history. The filing history report does not contain the gross sales data that is needed to evaluate your application. This full returns are available on the ETIDES website. Contact Fay-Penn if additional assistance is required.