More than 980 Philadelphia businesses selected to receive over $17 million in grants
PHILADELPHIA — The City of Philadelphia and PIDC today announced that 981 Philadelphia businesses have been selected to receive a total of over $17 million from the Pennsylvania COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program (CHIRP), the statewide program created by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to alleviate revenue losses and pay eligible operating expenses for certain businesses in the hospitality industry, which have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the $145 million available statewide, Philadelphia County received over $17 million through the Commonwealth’s Department of Economic and Community Development (DCED) and has successfully awarded to eligible businesses through this program.
“While the pandemic impacted businesses in every industry and of every size, businesses in the hospitality sector—a key part of Philadelphia’s economy—were especially hard hit,” said Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney. “Thanks to this funding from the Commonwealth, we’re able to provide much-needed support to hundreds of small businesses in the hospitality sector that power our city’s economy.”
All awarded businesses experienced a documented loss of at least twenty-five percent of gross receipts and nearly sixty percent had experienced a loss of fifty percent or more. Forty percent of the businesses are located in high-poverty areas. Businesses range in size with eighty-two percent employing between two and fifty employees and ninety-three percent earning less than $3 million in revenue prior to the pandemic. According to self-reported demographic information, over fifty percent of awards went to businesses owned and operated by persons who are Black, Hispanic, Native American, Asian American, or Pacific Islander. In addition, thirty-nine percent of the awards went to businesses owned by women, immigrants, disabled persons, or veterans.
“We have been incredibly proud to partner with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia Department of Commerce to design and deliver relief programs to support the small businesses in our community who have been hit the hardest over the last year as part of our strategy to respond to the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis,” said PIDC President Anne Bovaird Nevins. “The CHIRP awards of $17 million brings the total funding to $72 million deployed through PIDC to Philadelphia businesses impacted by the pandemic.”
“Since the pandemic first hit over fifteen months ago, we’ve done everything in our power to support businesses through unprecedented challenges, and CHIRP is the latest of several business relief programs that we’ve launched to provide that support in efficient and equitable ways,” said Philadelphia Commerce Director Michael Rashid. “Thanks to the incredibly hard work from our partners at PIDC, the CHIRP program will support hundreds of businesses that not only provide jobs for Philadelphians, but will help fuel the city’s economic resurgence after the pandemic.”
The Philadelphia CHIRP received a total of 1,161 applications. Ninety-eight percent of eligible applicants, based on documented revenue losses and other program criteria determined by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, were approved for grants. Applications were screened for eligibility and then reviewed based on the program’s priorities, including: businesses owned by Historically Disadvantaged People or those located in high poverty areas. Additional consideration was given to businesses owned by women, immigrants, disabled-persons, or veterans; earning less than $3 million in annual revenue pre-COVID-19; or providing jobs in Philadelphia.
“Philadelphia is known for its world-renowned culinary experiences and tourist attractions, from award-winning restaurants to pizzerias and cafes passed down through generations of families,” said DCED Secretary Dennis Davin. “These hotels, restaurants, and bars—which add so much vibrance, diversity, and revenue to the city—were disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and we applaud the City of Philadelphia and PIDC for their swift action to help these establishments and their efforts to get this critical funding into the hands of business owners as quickly as possible.”
Once grant agreements are finalized, businesses can expect to receive a check within four to six weeks. A list of grant recipients will be publicly available on PIDCphila.com/CHIRP once all businesses have finalized grant agreements.