Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce Advocates for Small Business and Non-Profit CARES Funding

On Monday morning, Chamber President and CEO Robert S. Carl, Jr. and Shannon Brennan, chairwoman of the Board of Directors, held a press conference to address the concerns of the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce regarding the Schuylkill County COVID-19 Block Grant funding in the amount of $12.6 million and its distribution related to the small businesses and nonprofits of Schuylkill County.

The focus of the press conference was mainly on the Schuylkill Chamber's concern that the Schuylkill County Commissioners prioritized the "County's needs" and "Municipality needs" over the "Business and Non-Profit" needs as well as the lack of communicating the availability of the CARES Act Funding available to the small businesses and non-profits.

"This press conference was in no means called to embarrass our county commissioners, but rather to challenge their current position on the $12.6 million of CARES Act funding", Chamber President Robert Carl said.

Earlier this year, it was announced that Schuylkill County was allocated $12.6 million of CARES Act funding.

On August 18th, 2020, an open application timeframe of two weeks was opened that would end on September 2nd, 2020.

Prior and during this timeframe, Carl said while the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce vigorously announced the application period to it's members, the County of Schuylkill did not advertise.

After the application period ended, there was a very low submittal rate, which according to Carl, the County suggested that the "media" fell short of distributing the information to the public. 

Carl said, "In our [the chamber's] position, the media was not responsible for the distribution of the information, especially if that expectation was not requested.   It was also not the sole responsibility of the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, SEDCO, MAEA, or the Schuylkill United Way."

Carl noted that the application process was not clear, too short, was on paper and not electronic, and was unclear in segmenting municipalities, businesses and non-profits inside the application.

Additionally, through info provided during the Schuylkill County Commissioners meetings, Carl said they have learned that approximately $8 million of the 12.6 million has already been distributed to the needs of the County of Schuylkill leading to the Chamber's point of the "County First" priorities.  The funds for small businesses and non-profits has not been distributed.

"The action or lack thereof by the Schuylkill County Commissioners could have serious and detrimental consequences to the businesses and nonprofits of Schuylkill County." Carl said.

Carl ended with "Ultimately, we could no longer remain silent, for the members of the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, and the entire Schuylkill County business and non-profit community, and our long-term business health and survival in this COVID-19 pandemic."

You can watch the full press conference below