Gov. Wolf Announces $50M Hazard Pay Fund For Front Line Workers

HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf on Thursday announced he has made $50 million available to be paid out to front-line workers in life-sustaining industries during the coronavirus pandemic.

The funding comes through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and is provided as a reimbursement for eligible organizations in Pennsylvania offering hazard pay.

Applications are open to businesses, health care non-profits, public transportation agencies and certified economic development organizations.

“In the fight against COVID-19, our front-line workers have put themselves at risk every day in order to continue to provide life-sustaining services to their fellow Pennsylvanians, and this funding will increase their pay in recognition of those sacrifices,” Wolf said in a news release. “These grants will help businesses retain employees, ensure that Pennsylvanians keep working and avoid disruption of critical goods and services.”

Applications for grants can be submitted online between July 16 and July 31.

To qualify, a business must fall into one of eight Pennsylvania-based inquiries:

• Healthcare and Social Assistance
• Ambulatory Health Care Services
• Hospitals
• Nursing and Residential Care Facilities
• Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation
• Food Manufacturing
• Food Retail Facilities
• Security Services for the industries listed above and for commercial industries that were not subject to Wolf's Business Closure Order
• Janitorial Services to Buildings and Dwellings

In the release, Wolf said businesses can apply for grants of up to $3 million.

Hazard pay grants can be used for direct, full- and part-time employees who will earn less than $20 an hour, not including fringe benefits and overtime, for the period of August 16 to October 24.

According to the release, applicants can apply for a grant of up to $1,200 per full-time employee for up to 500 eligible full-time employees for each business location.

“An essential component of the spending plan we passed this spring was the use of available federal money to provide extra hazard pay for workers who are doing the most dangerous jobs,” House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody said in a statement. “Today’s announcement shows we are serious about keeping that commitment and I urge all the employers who qualify for these grants to apply now.”

Inquiries about the program should be directed by phone to (717) 787-6245 or by email to ra-dcedcbf@pa.gov.