Need help with your small business, rent, home or utility bills? Here’s how State College is helping
State College borough unveiled a three-pronged campaign earlier this week — titled “Sustain State College” — that offers mortgage and rent relief, small-business loans, and relaxed outdoor zoning requirements to help fight the financial repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Two of those initiatives are new, while the looser commercial zoning was started more than a month ago. All three can now be found on the “Sustain State College” webpage.
“We don’t know how long this is going to last,” borough spokesperson Doug Shontz said, referring to the pandemic, “and we want to do everything we can to help those in need locally.”
Here’s a closer look at each of the three programs and how you might qualify for help, as long as you’re located in the borough:
Rent, Mortgage or Utility Bill Assistance
If you’ve lost income due to COVID-19, you could be eligible for more than $1,000 a month for three months to help pay rent, mortgages or utility bills. About 20 residents will be selected every week.
Homeowners can receive up to $2,000 per month while renters can get up to $1,200 per month — and some renters might even receive help for up to nine months. And, yes, payments can be made retroactively to March.
So who qualifies? Well, as long as you weren’t behind on the bills prior to March 1 — and you don’t receive subsidized housing from other sources — then it depends on your lost income and your current income. You’ll also have to provide documentation to back up your claims.
A one-person household can make up to $49,700 annually and still qualify. A two-person household can make a combined $56,800; a three-person household $63,900 and a four-person household $70,950. (Larger households can find specifics online.)
Applicants are asked to call 234-7165 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. every Monday and leave a voicemail message to apply.
Payments will be made directly to the mortgage lender, landlord/property manager or utility company. These are not loans and will not need to be paid back.
Most undergraduate students will not meet the eligibility criteria, the borough said.
Small-Business Relief Loans
Businesses within the borough — with 15 full-time equivalent employees or fewer — can receive microloans of up to $10,000 at 0% interest.
The loans are made with a three-year term, although the principal payments will not begin until September 2021.
“These loans are meant to act as bridge loans so that our small businesses can continue to function during the COVID-19 pandemic and can be used for working capital, including rent, payroll, utilities, inventory and payable accounts,” the borough wrote. “The funds may also be used for renovations directly related to COVID-19 safety improvements.”
Those who are interested can fill out an online application. You must have a credit score of at least 650, your business must be a non-franchised one, and you must not have any additional locations outside Centre County.
Businesses will also be required to report on the use of the loan funds within six months of them being issued.
Priority will be given to those who did not receive money from the federal Paycheck Protection Program over the summer.
Temporary permit for outdoor commerce
The borough is relaxing some zoning regulations so businesses can use outdoor, privately-owned spaces or other property to set up additional seating outdoors.
Sowers Harvest Cafe (421 E. Beaver Ave.) has already taken advantage of the initiative by setting up several tables outside, where some of its parking spaces usually are. The Tavern (220 E. College Ave.) has also increased outdoor seating because the nearby walkway is actually private.
“It was huge, it was huge,” said Pat Daugherty, owner of the Tavern Restaurant, explaining the increase allowed him to serve 40 more dinners one night during move-in week. “It was very helpful, but you have to have the demand. We knew we would have the demand that week, and we’re prepared to do it again.”
Businesses are not allowed to set up tables on public sidewalks, and property owners must also sign on to the permit.
Not too many downtown businesses have the additional space. But businesses in the borough that do can apply online for the temporary permit, which will expire when the emergency disaster declaration is lifted or one year from the date of issuance. Whichever is earlier.
The cost for the permit application is $50. Those with further questions can contact senior planner Gregory Garthe at 234-7109 or via email at ggarthe@statecollegepa.us.
