Hazard Pay Grants Now Available for Front-Line Workers in Life-Sustaining Industries

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has announced the availability of $50 million in grant funding to support employers providing hazard pay to employees in life-sustaining occupations during the COVID-19 pandemic. This hazard pay is intended to retain front-line employees working in vital industry sectors across Pennsylvania. This grant funding is created through the CARES Act and is available to employers offering hazard pay during the eligible program period and will be administered by the Department of Community and Economic Development. Applicants are eligible for grants up to a maximum of $3 million. The following organizations are eligible to apply:

1. Healthcare Non-Profits
2. Public Transportation Agencies
3. Certified Economic Development Organizations

Eligible industries include healthcare and social assistance, ambulatory health care services, hospitals, nursing and residential care facilities, transit and ground passenger transportation.

Grant funds can be used for hazard pay for direct, full-time and part-time employees earning less than $20/hour, excluding fringe benefits and overtime for the 10-week period from August 16, 2020 to October 24, 2020. Applicants may apply for up to $1,200 per eligible full-time equivalent (FTE) employees and for a grant to provide hazard pay for up to 500 eligible full-time equivalent employees per location. Eligible applicants may apply for grants using the online DCED Electronic Single Application for Assistance from July 16, 2020, to July 31, 2020. If you have any questions regarding the application process, please contact a member of your audit team.