A new COVID relief grant for eligible hospitality industry businesses is now open for applications.  SEDA-COG is urging businesses to apply as soon as possible for the COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program (CHIRP) grants since funds may be quickly exhausted.  For-profit hospitality businesses can apply at the Community Giving Foundation’s website  now until the funds are exhausted or June 15th.  Grants will range from $5,000 to $50,000.  Eligibility includes businesses within Central PA, including Mifflin, Juniata, Snyder, and Union Counties.  Priority will be given to businesses that did not already receive COVID relief funds.  For more information, contact SEDA-COG at 570-522-7265. 

The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s virtual wildlife education program, Wildlife on WiFi (WoW), has been named the recipient of the 2021 Outstanding Environmental Education Program Award by the Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Educators (PAEE). The award recognizes an exemplary environmental education program which serves as a model of excellence for educators.  The Wildlife on WiFi program was designed and launched in April 2020 to ensure the agency continued meeting its objective of serving the Pennsylvania public, and providing educational services during the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders. It is available online here.

A group of Pennsylvania Senate Republican lawmakers have announced a package of bills designed to support small businesses that have been affected by Governor Wolf’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  The proposed legislation was announced at a news conference earlier this week.  The five-bill package includes immediate financial and tax relief for smaller employers, and regulatory reforms to reduce burdens on small businesses. In addition to providing small business relief, the package also includes legislation sponsored by Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-28) that provides comprehensive regulatory reform to help small businesses cut through the mountain of red tape created by state government agencies.

St. Patrick’s Day is one of the biggest drinking nights of the year, and that, unfortunately, means more drunk drivers on the roads. If you plan to drink, plan for a sober driver to take you home. The Mifflin County DUI Task Force will conduct enforcement efforts through March 21st.  The Task Force is comprised of police officers from the Lewistown, Armagh Township, Granville Township, and Mifflin County Regional Police Departments