BETHLEHEM

BEN FRANKLIN IXCHANAGE: Because of the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania (BFTP) has postponed the iXchange to Tuesday, May 18, 2021, beginning at 4:30 PM. The event will be held at Lehigh University’s Zoellner Arts Center, Bethlehem. Often described as “America’s innovation coach,” Robert B. Tucker helps leaders spark innovative thinking in themselves and their teams using some surprisingly simple yet powerful concepts.

LEHIGH COUNTY

RENT AID: The CARES Rent Relief Program (RRP) will begin to accept applications for housing aid starting July 6th. The $175 million dollar program is an extension of the Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES), and will provide financial assistance for struggling renters. If accepted, qualified individuals can receive up to $750 in rental assistance per month, up to six months.

To learn more information or to apply, please contact one of the following agencies:

Hispanic American Organization

462 Walnut Street

Allentown, Pa 18102

610-435-5334

Catholic Charities

900 S. Woodard Street

Allentown, Pa 18103

610-435-1541

Lehigh County Conference of Churches

Pathways

457 W Allen Street

Allentown, Pa 18102

610-439-8653

Applications can also be emailed directly to Lehigh County at RRP@lehighcounty.org. If you’re emailing your application, please indicate which of the above agencies you would like to work with and your application will be forwarded to them. Additional information on RRP, eligibility requirements and application process can be found at https://www.phfa.org/pacares/rent.aspx.

For questions, please call Lehigh County Information and Referral at 610-782-3200.

PENNSYLVANIA

MASKS: Governor Tom Wolf and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn today reminded Pennsylvanians to wear masks while enjoying the outdoors when they are not able to consistently maintain social distancing from individuals who are not members of their household.

EVICTION PROTECTION: Governor Tom Wolf today signed a new executive order that protects homeowners and renters from eviction or foreclosure until Aug. 31, if they have not received assistance from a new program administered by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) or are not already receiving relief through one of several federal foreclosure moratorium programs or judicial orders. Lenders and property owners that receive funds through the PHFA program agree not pursue foreclosure or eviction actions as a condition of participation in the program.

In almost all circumstances, renters and homeowners are required to continue making monthly payments if they can. Pennsylvanians struggling to make monthly payments should contact their landlord or mortgage servicer immediately. The governor’s executive order does not apply to proceedings regarding property damage or illegal activity.

PUBLIC POOLS: The Department of Health today urged all Pennsylvanians to practice social distancing, wear masks and be aware of pool safety concerns as Pennsylvanians enjoy the summer days outside. Face masks should not be worn in the water as a wet face covering may make it difficult to breathe.

Public pools were permitted to reopen in the yellow and green phases of the Governor’s phased-in reopening plan, provided they follow CDC guidance.

FOOD ACCESS SUPPORT: Governor Tom Wolf today announced that $10 million is now available for Pennsylvania businesses that have worked to maintain access to fresh, healthy food throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Fresh Food Financing Initiative COVID-19 Relief Fund - funded through the CARES Act - is available to for-profit, nonprofit, or cooperative entities impacted by COVID-19, including grocery stores, corner stores, convenience stores, neighborhood markets, bodegas, food hubs, mobile markets, farmers markets, on-farm markets, urban farms, and food aggregation centers with a direct connection to direct-to-consumer retail outlets.

To be eligible, more than 50 percent of sales must be from staple and perishable foods to consumers and the retailer must serve customers that live in a low-to-moderate income area

For full details on Fresh Food Financing Initiative COVID-19 Relief Fund eligibility, award amounts, additional prioritizations, and criteria visit agriculture.pa.gov/foodsecurity.

UPDATED FAQs: The Wolf Administration today released updated frequently asked questions (FAQs) about summer recreation, camps and pools. The original FAQs were announced on May 22 to cover summer camps and recreation. The new FAQs modify those and also add information about pools.

The guidance was updated to reflect the order of the Secretary of the Department of Health Requiring Universal Face Coverings. New sections appear in red text throughout the FAQs. There are also Universal Face Coverings Order FAQs that provide more information on the order.

Highlights of the revised Summer Recreation, Camps and Pools FAQs include:

• Regarding youth sports: Coaches, athletes and spectators must wear face coverings unless they are outdoors and can consistently maintain social distancing of at least six feet. Athletes are not required to wear face coverings while actively engaged in workouts and competition that prevent the wearing of face coverings, but must wear face coverings when on the sidelines, in the dugout, etc. and anytime six feet of social distancing is not possible.

• Regarding summer program operations: If a summer program does not have a publicly available website, alternatives must be used to communicate the health and safety plan to parents and caregivers, such as mailing the plan to all registrants or having written information available at drop off and pick up locations.

• Regarding face coverings for staff and participants in summer youth programs: All staff must wear face coverings during child care and summer program operations unless they fit one of the exceptions included in Section 3 of the Secretary of Health’s Universal Face Covering Order. Summer programs and staff should consult Department of Health guidance on homemade masks. ?The FAQs cover questions about prioritizing the times of wearing face coverings, particularly for younger children; proper face covering size and fit, and providing children with frequent reminders and education on the importance and proper wearing of cloth face coverings may help address these issues.

•Regarding face coverings at pools: People should not wear cloth face coverings while engaged in activities that may cause the cloth face covering to become wet, like when swimming at the beach or pool. A wet cloth face covering may make it difficult to breathe. For activities like swimming, it is particularly important to maintain physical distance from others when in the water. People must wear face coverings while out of the water and maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet from others who are not a part of their household.

CHILD CARE SUPPORT: Governor Tom Wolf visited the child care center at PSECU headquarters in Harrisburg today to announce $53 million in additional financial support for child care providers that have suffered during COVID-19. In June, the Wolf Administration distributed $51 million in CARES Act Child Care Development Funds to eligible child care providers. The $53 million announced today is also from CARES Act funding and will be distributed this month. Another $116 million from Act 24 will be distributed in the coming months, bringing the total sum of financial support to $220 million.

RELIEF FOR THE ARTS: 309 nonprofit arts organizations will receive grants totaling $2.3 million to help with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds from the CARES Act support staff salaries, fees for artists or contractual personnel, and facilities costs. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) distributed $1.8 million to 36 organizations that will each receive a $50,000 grant. The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA), a state agency under the office of the Governor, distributed the remaining $527,000 to 273 organizations that will each receive a $1,930 grant.

REMOTE MEETINGS: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to help reduce unnecessary in-person contact that can spread the virus, Governor Tom Wolf signed an executive order today authorizing state agencies to conduct administrative proceedings remotely. Several state agencies conduct administrative proceedings including meetings and disciplinary hearings of the 29 occupational licensing boards and commissions under the Department of State.

The executive order takes effect immediately and allows administrative proceedings to occur by phone, video or online. Independent agencies are strongly encouraged to implement this executive order.

COMPLIANCE CHECKS: Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Enforcement Officers will again visit licensed liquor establishments throughout the weekend as part of its regular work to ensure customers and employees are abiding by social distancing, masking, and other health and safety requirements.

From July 1-5, liquor control enforcement officers conducted compliance checks at 2,189 licensed liquor establishments and issued 21 warnings for failing to follow COVID-19 requirements. Compliance checks are unannounced and can occur anywhere in the commonwealth, although the focus is on areas experiencing higher coronavirus transmission rates.