Reading, PA — The Berks County Commissioners will host their Weekly Media and Public Update on Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at 3:30 PM on Microsoft Teams Live Event. Click here to find the link to this meeting. This week’s update will focus on the disbursement of the $38 million Berks County received in CARES Act funding.
The program will review the two grant programs the County facilitated to help get these much-needed funds to local businesses and organizations – the Berks County CARES Grant Program and the Berks County Small Business New Start Grant Program. Grant recipients from both programs will be joining the Commissioners to speak about the challenges they have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and how these grants will assist their businesses and organizations. The County will also unveil the CARES Funding Dashboard, which details how the $38 million is being allocated through seven primary focus areas and will track the funding as it is dispersed. This Press Event will also be streamed Live to the Berks County Facebook and YouTube pages.
Welcome – Commissioner Christian Leinbach
Comments – Commissioner Michael Rivera
Comments – Commissioner Kevin Barnhardt
Introduction of the Program – Commissioner Leinbach
1) CARES Funding Dashboard Overview – Commissioner Barnhardt
2) Berks County CARES Grant Program – Commissioner Barnhardt
- Public Health – Alvarium Healthcare, Inc. – Justin Hymon, Interim President/CEO
- Municipalities and Authorities – Muhlenberg Township – Brian Harris, Township Manager
- Nonprofits – Café Esperanza – Pastor Mary Wolfe
- Educational Institutions and Services – Dr. Jill Hackman, BCIU, and Dr. Richard Faidley, Wilson School District
3) Berks County Small Business New Start Grant Program – Commissioner Rivera
- Community First Fund – Daniel Betancourt, President and CEO
- GRCA (Rebuild Berks partner) – Deb Millman, Vice President of Development
- Franklyn’s Breakfast, Burgers & Shakes, Reading – Franklyn Fleming, owner
- City Cuts Barbershop, Kutztown – Jonathan Escueta, owner
- LJ’s Fitness, Womelsdorf – Lynn Kreider, owner
4) Food Insecurity – Jay Worrall, President, Helping Harvest
5) Santander Arena Business Support – Commissioner Leinbach
6) Question and Answers – Facilitated by Commissioner Leinbach
