Feb. 05, 2021
HARRISBURG - Rep. Craig Williams (R-Chester/Delaware) today voted in support of legislation to offer small businesses, school entities and Pennsylvanian tenants COVID-19 relief:
Senate Bill 109 would allocate $145 million in grants for the hard-hit restaurant and hospitality industry, $570 million for rental and utility assistance, and $197 million in funding for educational institutions, such as nonpublic schools, career and technical schools, charters schools for the deaf and blind, approved private schools, community colleges and the PA State System of Higher Education (PASSHE).
“The economic impact caused by the COVID-19 shutdown has been devastating. I am relieved that we have moved legislation in an unanimous, bipartisan fashion to send financial assistance to important segments of our citizenry and business community. Funding education systems who remain in need, helping local restaurants and the hospital industry who have been particularly harmed and bringing relief for rent and utility shortfalls will go a long way towards getting us to the other side of this pandemic.,” Williams said. “We need this bill signed, the funds distributed and turn back to the crucial issue of getting vaccine to our communities.”
The $145 million in grants for the hard-hit restaurant and hospitality industry would be allocated through a grant process managed by a certified economic development organization or community development financial institution in each county.
For rental and utility use, $570 million in federal funding would be allocated to counties to operate the program.
The final component of the funds, $197 million in federal funding for educational institutions, such as nonpublic schools, career and technical schools, charters schools for the deaf and blind, approved private schools, community colleges and the PA State System of Higher Education would be dispersed in the following avenues:
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$150 million would be allocated through a grant process in the Department of Education to nonpublic schools.
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$20 million would be allocated to Career and Technical Schools by a formula.
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$8,075,000 would be allocated to approved private schools, chartered schools for the deaf and blind and private residential rehabilitation institutions by a formula.
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$5 million to support the ongoing functionality of the PASSHE member institutions
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$14 million to community colleges by a formula.
The legislation now awaits signature by the governor.
Williams is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, having retired as a Colonel after 28 years of service. In his career, he was personally decorated 11 times, including twice for acts of Valor in combat.
Williams attended law school while in the Marines and became the chief prosecutor for the largest base in the Marine Corps. He also served as Deputy Legal Counsel to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and later served as a federal prosecutor with the Department of Justice. He was also a prosecutor for the Joint Terrorism Task Force.
Representative Craig Williams
160th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
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