A portion of the money Pennsylvania received from the American Rescue Plan will go toward funding child care. | Pixabay
A portion of the money Pennsylvania received from the American Rescue Plan will go toward funding child care. | Pixabay
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) recently announced a $1.7 billion plan to help the state recover from various impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and move forward into the future.
According to the governor's website, the funds would come from the federal American Rescue Plan Act and would not pull from any general fund appropriations.
"Pennsylvania is sitting on millions of dollars in additional federal aid that could help Pennsylvanians thrive," Wolf wrote in a Feb. 2 tweet. "That's why today I’m unveiling my action plan for how the Legislature should use the American Rescue Plan relief money to help Pennsylvanians who need it."
Gov. Tom Wolf
| Wikimedia Commons
The PA Opportunity Program will receive $500 million in funds to help Pennsylvania residents with the cost of child care, after-school care, basic household expenses, worker education and job training.
"As Pennsylvania endured the pandemic, we strategically invested to support small businesses, frontline workers, agriculture, health care, first responders and more. This ensured that Pennsylvania survived," Wolf said, according to his website. "Now it’s time for Pennsylvanians to thrive, and investing $1.7 billion in a bright future for this commonwealth will give Pennsylvanians a sense of security and a clear path forward."
The COVID Relief Statewide Small Business Assistance Program will provide $225 million in grant funds to small businesses that have been impacted by the pandemic. Grants will range from $5,000 to $50,000, and priority will be given to minority- and women-owned businesses.
Another $204 million will be used to invest additional funds into the existing Property Tax Rent Rebate program for a one-time bonus rebate to current program users.
Pennsylvania’s health care system will receive a $325 million investment to go toward recruiting health care workers, as well as improving the state's health care workforce and medical programs.
The remaining $450 million will be invested in programs that address climate change through projects focusing on vital conservation, recreation, preservation, and community revitalization projects.
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