Grant money for local restaurants, bars, hotels, and caterers is sitting unused, say Delaware County officials, who are surprised at the low number of hospitality industry applicants for a special fund created for them, , writes Kathleen E. Carey for the Daily Times.

Delaware County has $6.4 million in its COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program.

“It is meant to be closing on Monday at 3 o’clock but we are still looking for applicants,” county Councilwoman Elaine Paul Schaefer said. “We have … $6.4 million to give out. We have only received about 200 applications right now.”

Those interested can apply at delcostrong.delcopa.org.

Businesses must be in Delaware County, been operating as of Feb. 15, 2020, show a minimum 25 percent loss in gross receipts from the pandemic, have a tangible net worth of less than $15 million and fewer than 300 full-time employees.

Up to $50,000 can be used for operating expenses such as payroll, mortgage or rent and utilities.

“These resources are still available,” Schaefer said. “It does not matter if you already received aid from any of our Delco Strong grants prior to this, even the one that was designed specifically for restaurants. You can still get this aid.”

Read more at the Daily Times about the hospitality grant program