Black Lives Matter
 George Floyd’s death is reverberating throughout the world. Protests continue across the country and in Pennsylvania. I attended and spoke at a protest in Hummelstown, PA, on Saturday. This is a moment when change can happen. It is long overdue.
This week, the PA Senate will hold a two-day hearing on reforms. Key legislation needed includes appointing a special prosecutor for police-involved deaths, creating a database of excessive force complaints, restricting use of lethal force, and prohibiting chokeholds and kneeholds.
You can view a livestream of the hearings on my website at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday and Thursday.
$750 Per Month of Rental Assistance Available Soon
 Soon, $150 million will be available for rental assistance in PA. I led the effort for this funding in the $2.6 billion of federal CARES Act money released by Governor Wolf last month.
The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) will manage the rental assistance program. It will provide rental assistance up to $750 a month for six months. You will be eligible if you suffered a job loss or significant reduction of income due to COVID-19.
Applications will be available soon through partnerships with designated entities in Philadelphia and Montgomery Counties. We will release more information soon.
$225M Small Business Grants Update
COVID-19 Relief Statewide Small Business Assistance grants totaling $225 million will be available in late June. Applications will be facilitated by 17 Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). Generally, businesses with 25 or fewer employees or less than $1 million in total sales are eligible for this money. Guidelines are viewable here.
The list of participating CDFIs is available here. Reinvestment Fund and Entrepreneur Works have opened sign-up portals for e-mail alerts. You will not be excluded from this grant if your business received COVID-19 relief grants through other programs.
To apply, businesses should prepare these documents:
- A 2018 or 2019 tax return;
- Business registration, license, or articles of incorporation;
- Most recent bank statement;
- A description of how the business was impacted by COVID-19;
- A description of how the business plans to use funds.
All documents must be electronic, and all applicants must have an e-mail address and valid ID.
We will host a conference call or Zoom meeting in the near future. Businesses will have an opportunity to ask questions. Stay tuned for details.
Thursday Food Distribution at Willow Grove Mall
 On Thursday at 11:00 a.m., the MontCo Anti-Hunger Network will distribute food at the Willow Grove Mall. Each vehicle will receive a box of dairy products and a box of mixed fruits and vegetables. Vehicles can enter from Moreland Road or Easton Road. No ID is required.
Distribution is limited to 1,500 vehicles. Anyone is welcome.
Musical Mood Boost
Sir Duke, by Stevie Wonder. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnNgASBdCeo
Be the Light,
Art Haywood
State Senator
4th District
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