New $50 million hazard pay program now accepting applications

Grants would give $3 per hour pay increase to front-line workers

Pennsylvania is offering $50 million in grants to provide hazard pay to front-line workers in a number of fields that sustain the commonwealth’s essential services.

Employees earning less than $20 per hour would receive $3 an hour for a 10-week period from August 16 to October 24, 2020. Employees could receive up to $1,200 total in hazard pay during that period.

I want to thank our front-line workers for the sacrifices they have made these past four months and continue to make ensuring essential services carry on during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are extremely deserving of our gratitude and recognition, as well as increased compensation that will come from the $50 million Hazard Pay Grant Program for their continued service.

I am pleased my colleagues and I in the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus were able to direct CARES dollars to provide this much needed funding to those on the frontlines of the fight against this virus, and it remains critical we continue to direct resources to recovery efforts of this nature that focus on helping the people directly.

Eligible Pennsylvania-based industries include:

• 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 eligible industries listed above and commercial industries that were not closed as a result of the Governor’s Business Closure Order
• Janitorial Services to Buildings and Dwellings

The Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) is administering the program. Businesses, health care nonprofits, public transportation agencies and Certified Economic Development Organizations can apply for the grants now through July 31 at www.esa.dced.state.pa.us. Employers may apply for hazard pay for a maximum of full-time equivalent employees subject to certain limitations. Questions about the program can be directed to (717) 787-6245 or mra-dcedcbf@pa.gov.

REMINDER: Pennsylvania is in the Green Phase, but we still need you to wear your masks when you go into businesses and may interact with large groups of people. It is critical we take the necessary steps to continue to slow the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19.