Seven (7) new cases added Thursday in Lycoming County now at 610 cases and 23 total deaths, with 12,197 negatives according to DOH report.

Department of Health Provides Update on COVID-19,

933 Positives Bring Statewide Total to 147,923

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., September 17, that there were 933 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 147,923. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19.

Allegheny is reporting an increase of 83 cases, Centre is reporting an increase of 88, Philadelphia is reporting an increase of 83 cases, and York is reporting an increase of 24 cases.

The number of tests administered within the last 7 days between September 10 and September 16 is 176,997 with 5,700 positive cases. There were 24,529 test results reported to the department through 10 p.m., September 16. These results represent the total number of tests administered.

There are 7,913 total deaths attributed to COVID-19, an increase of 10 new deaths reported. County-specific information and a statewide map are available on the COVID-19 Data Dashboard.

“We know that congregation, especially in college and university settings, yields increased case counts. The mitigation efforts in place now are essential to flattening the curve and saving lives,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “Wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, and following the requirements set forth in the orders for bars and restaurants, gatherings, and telework will help keep our case counts low. Together, as Pennsylvanians, all of our efforts are designed to support our communities to ensure that cases of COVID-19 remain low.”

Mask-wearing is required in all businesses and whenever leaving home. Consistent mask-wearing is critical to preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Beginning August 29, the department began publishing COVID-19 case counts using the updated standardized case definition for COVID-19 from the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists. This revised case definition updates criteria for case identification and case classification based on the continued evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic. It updates probable case classifications and adds suspect case classifications. The definition for confirmed cases using a positive PCR test has not changed. Viral antigen tests, which identify people who are likely currently infected, will now be considered a probable case, even if the individual has no symptoms or exposure history. Persons with a positive antibody (serology) test, moving forward, will no longer be considered a probable case. However, cases previously counted as probable cases, using the prior national case definition, will remain counted as probable cases.

There are 225 cases who have a positive viral antigen test and are considered probable cases and 645 patients who have a positive serology test and either COVID-19 symptoms or a high-risk exposure.

There are 1,721,275 patients who have tested negative to date. Of the patients who have tested positive to date the age breakdown is as follows:

• Approximately 1% are ages 0-4;
• Nearly 2% are ages 5-12;
• Approximately 4% are ages 13-18;
• Approximately 12% are ages 19-24;
• Approximately 36% are ages 25-49;
• Nearly 22% are ages 50-64; and
• Approximately 22% are ages 65 or older.

Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. More data is available here.

The department is seeing significant increases in the number of COVID-19 cases among younger age groups, particularly 19 to 24-year-olds. An alert was sent to healthcare providers about the changing COVID-19 case demographics, as there are more cases in younger age groups than in those 50-64 and 65+. The following regions saw significant increases among 19 to 24-year-olds in each month from April to date in September:

• NC – Approximately 7 percent of cases in April to 71 percent of cases so far in September;
• SE – Nearly 5 percent of cases in April to nearly 32 percent of cases so far in September;
• NE – 6 percent of cases in April to nearly 39 percent of cases so far in September;
• SW – Approximately 5 percent of cases in April to nearly 29 percent of cases so far in September;
• NW – Nearly 7 percent of cases in April to nearly 20 percent of cases so far in September; and
• SC – Approximately 7 percent of cases in April to nearly 17 percent of cases so far in September.

In nursing and personal care homes, there are 22,095 resident cases of COVID-19, and 4,825 cases among employees, for a total of 26,920 at 957 distinct facilities in 61 counties. Out of our total deaths, 5,327 have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities. A county breakdown can be found here.

Approximately 10,251 of our total cases are among health care workers.

For the latest information for individuals, families, businesses and schools, visit “Responding to COVID-19” on pa.gov.

Currently, all 67 counties are in the green phase of reopening.

Statewide – The Wolf Administration has since noon, Sept. 16:

• Renewed call to legislature to legalize adult-use cannabis to help with COVID economic recovery.
• Provided Pennsylvania State Police enforcement data.

The Wolf Administration stresses the role Pennsylvanians play in helping to reduce the spread of COVID-19:

• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
• Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.
• Clean surfaces frequently.
• Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell.
• If you must go out, you are required to wear a mask when in a business or where it is difficult to maintain proper social distancing.

Updated Coronavirus Links: Press Releases, State Lab Photos, Graphics

• Daily COVID-19 Report
• Press releases regarding coronavirus
• Latest information on the coronavirus
• Photos of the state’s lab in Exton (for download and use)
• Coronavirus and preparedness graphics (located at the bottom of the page)
• Community preparedness and procedures materials
• Map with the number of COVID-19 cases

All Pennsylvania residents are encouraged to sign up for AlertPA, a text notification system for health, weather, and other important alerts like COVID-19 updates from commonwealth agencies. Residents can sign up online at www.ready.pa.gov/BeInformed/Signup-For-Alerts.

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has $400,000 in grant funding available for youth and adult environmental education projects in 202122 and will hold a free webinar on October 14 on how to apply. Environmental Education Grants are available to schools, colleges, nonprofit community and environmental organizations, county conservation districts, and businesses.

“As this challenging year reinforces, our natural resources play an integral role in Pennsylvanians’ health and quality of life,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “In the field, classroom, and community, environmental educators help develop stewards who can make informed decisions and take meaningful action to restore and protect these natural resources today and for future generations of Pennsylvanians.”

Educators can learn how best to apply for grants in a free live webinar on Wednesday, October 14, from 1:00 to 2:30 PM. DEP Environmental Education Director Bert Myers will walk through the application process, offer tips, and answer questions. Registration is required.

While all topics are considered for funding, projects that address climate change, environmental justice, and water quality are given additional priority consideration.

Project examples include tours, demonstrations, and hands-on learning experiences and workshops on stream monitoring, rain gardens, wetlands, green infrastructure, and other watershed stewardship; solar and other renewable energy, alternative transportation, energy conservation, and other approaches to address climate change; and improving air quality and community and municipal partnerships to address local environmental challenges. For more examples, see the 55 projects that received 202021 funding.

Projects with a local focus may receive up to $3,000, and regional or statewide initiatives may receive up to $20,000. Projects that engage students and teachers at the local, state, and national levels may be awarded up to $85,000.

Applications must be submitted through eGrants. (First-time users will need to register.) The application deadline is December 11, 2020. Instructions are available at Environmental Education Grants.

The Environmental Education Grants program was established by the Environmental Education Act of 1993, which mandates setting aside 5 percent of the pollution fines and penalties DEP collects annually for environmental education in Pennsylvania. More than 2,020 organizations have received more than $11 million in grants since the program began.

Chambersburg, PA – At Karimar Grocery in Franklin County today, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Davin announced that more than 100 projects, funding access for fresh food in low-income communities, have received grants through Pennsylvania’s $10 million Fresh Food Financing Initiative.

“There are three keys to food security — Is food available, is food affordable, and is food safe?” said Redding. “The Fresh Food Financing Initiative helps make ‘yes’ the answer to all three questions. Early in the pandemic, we were all shocked by the empty grocery store shelves. This program has given us the ability to offset the costs food retailers have incurred in making fresh, nutritious food available while safeguarding their employees and customers.”

The Fresh Food Financing Initiative (FFFI) was funded at $10 million through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and opened in July to for-profit, nonprofit, or cooperative entities including grocery stores, corner stores, convenience stores, neighborhood markets, bodegas, food hubs, mobile markets, farmers markets, on-farm markets, urban farms, and food aggregation centers with a direct connection to direct-to-consumer retail outlets.

To be eligible, more than 70 percent of sales were required to be from staple, perishable foods to consumers and the retailer must serve customers who live in a low-to-moderate income area. Applicants were also required to demonstrate limited food access as a result of COVID-19 or that direct-to-consumer retail expansion is necessary due to lost or disrupted markets. Eligible applicants were required to accept SNAP and WIC or have plans to accept them through completion of the project.

“The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the challenges that many Pennsylvanians face in accessing fresh, local food,” said Davin. “The Fresh Food Financing Initiative was developed to ensure that no one in our commonwealth will struggle to fill their pantry and the food supply chain will remain stable, whether during a crisis, emergency, or during times of normalcy.”

Karimar Grocery, a minority, woman-owned neighborhood store in Chambersburg, experienced increased demand for perishable and staple food products throughout the pandemic. Their $55,000 grant will fund the purchase of equipment – such as refrigerators, freezers, coolers, and a meat grinder – to allow them to store more fresh meat, dairy, and produce and will cover expenditures already made to create a safe, healthy shopping environment in the low-income, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) community they serve.

“It is important to keep residents of the commonwealth safe and informed. COVID-19 has disproportionately affected the Latino community, placing this population at a greater disadvantage,” said Luz B. Colón, executive director to the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs. “Programs like the Fresh Food Financing Initiative help secure food resources to our minority communities and ensure that it will reach the families that need it the most.”

The $10 million FFFI grant program funded 115 projects in 39 counties. The projects fund expenses related to PPE and other in-store COVID-19 mitigation efforts, expansions, refrigeration, online marketing materials, mobile market enhancements, and more.

A full list of funded projects can be found online. Applicants could apply for impacts related to COVID-19 incurred between March 1, 2020 and November 30, 2020, such as:

• Higher operating costs related to cleaning and social distancing requirements, including costs related to outside contracting associated with managing social distancing, limited occupancy, and cleaning;
• Infrastructure improvements, including renovation, new construction, or adaptive reuse directly related to COVID-19;
• Equipment purchases that improve the availability of quality fresh food, such as additional refrigeration to manage volume, or personal protective equipment such as plexiglass dividers;
• Inventory (higher cost of goods, higher transportation or delivery costs, or procuring Pennsylvania-grown produce, meat, and dairy products, or loss of product);
• Innovative food access technology such as mobile or pop-up markets, or mobile EBT reader technology;
• Costs to expand access to Pennsylvania grown or processed produce, dairy, and meat products or provide stable market access for Pennsylvania farmers that have lost or limited markets; and
• Other one-time or increased expenses incurred related to COVID-19.

For more information on the Fresh Food Financing Initiative or about the Wolf Administration’s efforts surrounding food security, visit agriculture.pa.gov. For information as it relates to agriculture during COVID-19 mitigation in Pennsylvania visit agriculture.pa.gov/COVID. For the most accurate, timely information related to health in Pennsylvania, visit on.pa.gov/coronavirus.

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 17, 2020 – James E. Taylor Ph.D., UPMC chief diversity, inclusion and talent management officer, and John Galley, UPMC senior vice president and chief human resources officer will speak at the 14th annual Diversity MBA National Virtual Elite Business Leaders Conference from 8:30 to 10 a.m. (CT), Friday, September 18.

The UPMC leaders will participate in a discussion that will focus on what inclusive leadership looks like in a changing organization, practices that leading companies are implementing to accelerate board diversity, leadership accountability at the highest levels of the organization, and the impact of inclusive leadership on corporate governance.

UPMC topped the ranks of the Diversity MBA list of “50 Out Front: Best Places to Work for Women & Diverse Managers” for the second consecutive year, first earning the honor in 2019. In addition, UPMC received a spot on the “Top 10 Best in Class Categories for Recruitment, Workplace Inclusion, and Accountability.”

“This recognition reflects UPMC’s commitment to diverse representation at all levels, and ensures that diversity, inclusion, dignity, respect and cultural awareness are core components of the employee, health plan member, patient and community experience. Through these qualities, we are able to fulfill our mission of providing Life Changing Medicine,” said Galley.

Diversity MBA‘s survey showcases companies that make a strategic effort to implement intentional strategies for women and managers of diverse backgrounds to advance to leadership roles. The magazine uses a set research methodology to determine the yearly rankings. Companies are selected based on scores for representation, board diversity, recruitment, workplace inclusion, retention, succession planning and accountability.

“At UPMC, we are deeply proud of the diverse and inclusive culture that our employees have cultivated, and equally proud of being named #1 on Diversity MBA’s 2020 Best Companies for Women & Diverse Managers to Work. Yet as we pause to receive this award with gratitude, we also know that there is always more work to be done,” said Dr. Taylor.

Harrisburg, PA – Today, the Wolf Administration announced the formal opening of service at one of the 24 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fueling stations planned as part of a Public Private Partnership (P3). Officials from PennDOT, Trillium CNG, and Monroe County Transit Authority (MCTA) marked the start of fueling at the facility at 134 MCTA Drive in Swiftwater, Monroe County.

“This innovative program continues to expand, helping transit agencies save on fuel costs and improve sustainability,” PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian said. “These are important steps to keeping Pennsylvanians moving and improving quality of life.”

Through the $84.5 million statewide P3 project, Trillium is designing, building, financing, and will operate and maintain CNG fueling stations at 24 public transit agency sites through a 20-year P3 agreement. Other stations will be constructed over the next several years, and Trillium is also making CNG-related upgrades to existing transit maintenance facilities.

“PennDOT is excited to continue expanding this program, to help make transit agencies more sustainable, and create public benefits for years to come,” said PennDOT Deputy Secretary for Multimodal Transportation Jennie Granger. “Compressed natural gas provides a cost savings in comparison to diesel fuel, and it burns cleaner.”

Under the program, Monroe County Transit Authority will convert up to 42 vehicles to CNG, with some vehicles already in service. The authority estimates saving roughly $200,000 annually based on current diesel costs and their diesel usage of roughly 180,000 gallons per year.

PennDOT’s overall P3 project includes CNG fueling accessible to the public at six transit agency sites, with the option to add to sites in the future. PennDOT will receive a royalty, excluding taxes, for each gallon of fuel sold to the public at public sites, which will be used to support the cost of the project.

Using the P3 procurement mechanism allows PennDOT to install the fueling stations faster than if a traditional procurement mechanism were used for each site, resulting in significant estimated capital cost savings of more than $46 million.

To date, stations have opened at:

• Cambria County Transportation Authority, Johnstown Facility, includes public fueling;
• Mid Mon Valley Transportation Authority;
• Central Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, York Facility, includes public fueling;
• Cambria County Transportation Authority, Ebensburg Facility;
• Westmoreland County Transportation Authority;
• Centre Area Transportation Authority;
• Beaver County Transit Agency;
• Crawford Area Transportation Authority;
• New Castle Area Transportation Authority, includes public fueling;
• Altoona Metro Transit;
• Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority, Allentown Facility;
• Central Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, Gettysburg Facility;
• Indiana County Transportation Authority, includes public fueling;
• Lebanon Transit, Lebanon Facility;
• Butler Transit Authority;
• Fayette Area Coordinated Transportation System; and
• Mercer County Regional Council of Governments.

A list of other agencies participating in the P3 project, in order of construction-start timeline, follows:

• Erie Metropolitan Transportation Authority; includes public fueling;
• Luzerne County Transportation Authority;
• Schuylkill Transportation System;
• Hazleton Public Transit;
• County of Lackawanna Transportation System, includes public fueling; and
• Capital Area Transit.

When the project is completed, the fueling stations will supply gas to nearly 700 CNG buses at transit agencies across the state. To learn more about this and other P3 projects visit www.P3.pa.gov.

Harrisburg, PA – Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today emphasized the importance of the newborn screening program designed to screen babies at birth or shortly after for serious medical conditions and diseases, as well as hearing loss.

“Newborn screening tests provide early recognition of serious disorders and initiate treatment, as necessary, for children who are affected,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “The birth of a child is an exciting, but also a stressful time for parents, and they may not understand the purpose of these screenings. These screenings are conducted with the goal of eliminating or reducing death, disease and disability in newborn children.”

Currently, there are 10 conditions mandated for screening in Pennsylvania and are tested for through the dried blood spot screen (DBS). Those conditions are:

• Phenylketonuria (PKU);
• Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD);
• Sickle Cell Anemia;
• Congenital hypothyroidism (CH);
• Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH);
• Classic Galactosemia (GAL);
• Glycogen Storage Disease Type II (Pompe Disease) (GAA);
• Mucopolysaccharidosis Type 1 (MPS-1);
• X-linked Adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD); and
• Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

There are no cures for any of these 10 conditions. However, there are treatments, which may include medication, special diets or a special formula. If the disorder is identified early, newborns may lead a healthy life with the help of these treatments.

Newborn screening is conducted through a DBS, a critical congenital heart defect screen and a hearing screen. For all children born in a hospital, these tests are usually completed prior to the baby being discharged. If the baby was born at home or in a birthing facility, the midwife or doctor will provide information to ensure the screening tests are completed.

There are an additional 27 disorders that can also be tested for using the DBS. Different birthing facilities may or may not test for these additional diseases, so it is important that expectant parents have a conversation with their baby’s health care provider prior to delivery to determine which conditions are screened for.

A multi-disciplinary advisory board provides recommendations, guidance and support to the department regarding newborn screening. This board has the ability to add conditions to the screening list as needed.

More information on newborn screening can be found on the Department of Health’s website at health.pa.gov or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Harrisburg, PA – Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Secretary Jerry Oleksiak reminded eligible Pennsylvanians to apply as soon as possible for up to six weeks of assistance through the federal Lost Wages Assistance Program (LWA), which provides up to $300 a week extra in additional funds to individuals that are unemployed (or partially unemployed) because of COVID-19.

“We encourage eligible claimants who are partially or fully unemployed due to COVID-19 who have not yet applied for LWA benefits to do so right away,” said Secretary Oleksiak. “The department will continue making these payments until the program funding we’ve already received from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is depleted.”

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced last week that its funding had been depleted and it would be unable to provide additional funding to states to continue the program beyond the week ending Saturday, Sept. 5., 2020. L&I has received approximately $2.8 billion from FEMA for the six weeks of the program. Because FEMA will not be providing any more funding, L&I will be unable to approve claims after this funding is depleted, even if more applicants are qualified.

FEMA initially approved three claim weeks ending on:

• August 1
• August 8
• August 15

Three additional weeks have also been approved:

• August 22
• August 29
• September 5

LWA payments will be paid in one lump sum to eligible claimants as long as the underlying benefit payment has already been made for those weeks. Payment for claims began Monday, Sept. 14, 2020, and will continue until funding is depleted or until FEMA announces an end date to the program.

Individuals who may be eligible for LWA but have not yet received payment for an approved week from a qualifying program should still apply as soon as possible. At the time benefits are paid from a qualifying program to an individual for any of the approved dates, the LWA payment will follow one week later if the individual has already completed the LWA certification.

As a reminder, to qualify for the extra $300, the LWA program requires that eligible individuals must have a benefit rate and dependence allowance totaling $100 or more per week in benefits, and must receive a benefit payment for each week from one of the following qualifying programs:

• Regular Unemployment Compensation (UC);
• Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC);
• Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA);
• Pennsylvania Extended Benefits (EB);
• Shared Work or Short-Time Compensation (STC); and
• Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA).

Individuals receiving benefits from these programs – with the exception of PUA and Shared Work – will need to apply for LWA by certifying one time only that their unemployment is due to COVID-19.

Applicants with computer and internet access should apply for the LWA benefits online. The online application will become available when applicants apply for biweekly claims. Simply log in as you normally would – when you normally would – to access the application.

Claimants who need to complete the certification process should:

• Visit www.uc.pa.gov/cert and log in using your PIN as if you are filing a biweekly claim
• Select the “Complete LWA Certification” button and fill out the certification.
• Complete this certification only one time.

Applications are also available for individuals who cannot apply online. Last week, UC began mailing applications to claimants who did not provide their email address.

For updates on the LWA program, visit www.uc.pa.gov or follow L&I on Facebook or Twitter.

Says today’s passage of H.R. 7909 and S.2683 is a win for the health and safety of our children

Washington – Today, Congressman Fred Keller (R-PA) spoke on the House Floor in support of two critical child care bills aimed at keeping our children safe: H.R. 7909, the Ensuring Children and Child Care Workers Are Safe Act; and S. 2683, the Child Care Protection Improvement Act. Congressman Keller is a cosponsor of H.R. 7909 and an original cosponsor of H.R. 3986, the House companion bill to S.2683.

The House passed H.R. 7909 by a vote of 387 – 33 and S. 2683 by voice vote.

During his remarks on H.R. 7909, Congressman Keller discussed the need to provide funding for states to help child care providers meet the guidelines necessary to keep our children safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

(Click to watch Congressman Keller’s remarks on H.R. 7909)

“As millions of families have learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, child care is a critical component of our national economy,” Congressman Keller said.

“As parents return to work, they need to be sure that their children will be looked after and kept safe.

“The Ensuring Children and Child Care Workers Are Safe Act of 2020, H.R. 7909, would make these assurances to families by equipping child care providers with the resources they need to perform their jobs safely and effectively.”

Congressman Keller also highlighted the importance of S. 2683 in strengthening background checks for child care providers.

(Click to watch Congressman Keller’s remarks on S. 2683)

“Every parent deserves the peace of mind of knowing that their child care providers are passionate, caring, and above all—qualified,” Congressman Keller said.

“While this is the case with a great many providers, it is imperative for states to be able to effectively conduct background checks, especially across state lines.

“S. 2683 will help states address challenges in implementing background checks required under current law, ensuring our children receive the safest and highest quality of care possible.”

On the passage of H.R. 7909 and S.2683, Congressman Keller made the following statement:

“Today’s passage of these two important pieces of legislation will ensure that our children remain healthy and safe while under the supervision of child care providers who have been properly vetted.

As millions of parents head back to work, these bills will be critically important for child care providers across the country,” Congressman Keller said.

A livestream will be online at https://access.live/PAlabor. Those without internet access can listen by calling 1-833-380-0719, however phone lines are limited so we ask that they be reserved for individuals who need them.

Participants using the phone lines can ask questions directly of our UC expert. Individuals livestreaming the town hall can submit typed questions that will be read to the UC expert by a moderator. To protect participants’ personal confidential information, detailed answers about individual claim questions cannot be answered during the town hall.

Unemployment benefits programs

In addition to the state’s regular UC program, Pennsylvania also oversees:

• Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) – for self-employed, gig workers, contractors and others not normally eligible for UC.
• Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) – additional 13 weeks of benefits to people who exhaust their regular UC.
• Pennsylvania’s Extended Benefits program – up to 13 additional weeks of payments to people who exhaust regular UC and PEUC benefits.
• Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) – extra $600 per week for anyone receiving unemployment benefits. Although this program has ended, eligible individuals who file for benefits retroactively may still receive FPUC payments for prior weeks of unemployment between April 4, 2020 and July 25, 2020 if they qualify.
• Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program – extra $300 weekly benefit for claimants receiving unemployment benefits. LWA is not an unemployment program, but rather is a temporary federal program funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Improving UC Customer Service

Since March 15, L&I has paid more than $27 billion in unemployment benefits.

The department has improved customer service by:

• Resolving 97 percent of eligible regular unemployment compensation claims between March 15 and August 8. These claims were either paid or were not eligible for benefits. The remaining 3 percent represents 49,444 cases could not be approved automatically and are pending resolution.
• Increasing UC service center staffing levels 118 percent (from 775 employees to the current total of 1,687) since mid-March with the hiring of new employees, onboarding of external call center support staff, and reassigning of staff from other state offices/agencies.
• Boosting UC support with employees working more than 299,392 total overtime hours since March 15, including in the service centers and all other areas of UC.
• Helping:

• 1,053,509 through email;
• 488,667 by phone;
• 148,168 by LiveChat; and
• 329,547 by Virtual Assistant.

L&I is continuing to focus on these customer service improvements but will not be truly satisfied until every Pennsylvanian who is eligible gets the unemployment benefits they worked hard for and deserve.

Important Resources and Links

• L&I Press Releases
• L&I COVID-19 Guidance and Resources
• L&I COVID-19 Media Center (includes previous town hall and UC media call recordings)

Additional unemployment benefits information is available on L&I’s website, Facebook or Twitter.

The application window is open for Lycoming County learning centers, nonprofits, municipalities, and fire/emergency medical services (EMS) to apply to receive part of a grant the county received to assist them with COVID-19 expenses.

The application deadline for learning centers is Sept. 22 for the COVID-19 County Relief Block Grant (CRBG) funds. The deadline for the other entities is Oct. 2.

The county received a $10.2 million CRBG grant from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Securities Act (CARES Act), through the state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED).

The county commissioners voted Tuesday to tentatively award the following allocations from the grant (which may change based on demonstrated need):

• Alternate learning center sites: $1.5 million (at $300 per student)
• Nonprofits: $1 million
• Municipalities: $250,000
• Fire/EMS: $150,000

The funds do not have to be repaid. Funds can be used for eligible costs from March 1 to Dec. 30, 2020 including operating costs, rent, mortgage interest, utility payments, eligible capital expenses, and more. Invoiced documentation is required.

SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) is assisting the county by providing professional expertise and grant administrative services, as well as activity development and management to ensure accuracy and adherence with federal and state regulations.

County Commissioner Scott Metzger said the county is dedicated to alleviating the economic impact the pandemic has caused.

“Recognizing the tremendous economic loss felt throughout our county, we’ve allocated these funds to a broad spectrum of entities to try to alleviate some of that loss,” Metzger said.

Fully completed applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Sept. 22 for alternate learning center sites and by 11:59 p.m. Oct. 2 for the other entities via email or fax. Mailed forms must be postmarked by those respective dates.

Zoom meetings will be held to learn more about the programs and to ask questions:

• 1 p.m. Sept. 17 – learning centers
• 1 p.m. Sept. 21 – nonprofits
• 2:30 p.m. Sept. 21 – municipalities
• 3:30 p.m. Sept. 21 – fire/EMS

Zoom login information, grant eligibility requirements, and applications are available at www.lyco.org/covidrelief. Applications may be emailed to Covidrelief@lyco.org, faxed to 570-320-2135, or mailed to Lycoming County Department of Planning and Community Development, 48 W. Third St., Williamsport, PA 17701.

For more information, contact the Lycoming County Department of Planning and Community Development at Covidrelief@lyco.org or 570-320-2130.

As a community and economic development agency, SEDA-COG enhances the quality of life and economic advantage for residents and businesses in 11 central Pennsylvania counties through its vital partnerships and initiatives. SEDA-COG also is an advocate for the interests of its communities at the state and federal levels. For more information, visit www.seda-cog.org.