The Lycoming County commissioners awarded $3,010,200 in COVID-19 relief funds at their public meeting on Oct. 13 to 11 school districts. Districts serving Lycoming County students were eligible to receive $200 per student to assist them with COVID-19 expenses.
The county received a $10.2 million COVID-19 County Relief Block Grant (CRBG) grant from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Securities Act (CARES Act), through the state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED).
The funds do not have to be repaid. Funds can be used for eligible costs from March 1 to Dec. 30, 2020 to cover costs associated with providing distance learning or for in-person learning associated with meeting Centers for Disease Control guidelines. This can include student laptops for remote learning and personal protective equipment for students for in-person learning, among other items.
County Commissioner Scott Metzger said investing in the county’s youth and education is vital.
“We wanted to ensure our schools can use these funds to keep our students safe while providing an excellent education, as they always have. We know teachers and students alike are facing unprecedented challenges and we hope this can ease the burden,” Metzger said.
Following are the funds for each school district.
| School District | No. of Students | Student Allocation @ $200/Student | TOTAL |
| Canton | 81 | 200 | $ 16,200 |
| East Lycoming | 1,646 | 200 | $ 329,200 |
| Jersey Shore | 1,643 | 200 | $ 328,600 |
| Loyalsock | 1,585 | 200 | $ 317,000 |
| Montgomery | 936 | 200 | $ 187,200 |
| Montoursville | 1,933 | 200 | $ 386,600 |
| Muncy | 984 | 200 | $ 196,800 |
| South Williamsport | 1,244 | 200 | $ 248,800 |
| Southern Tioga | 147 | 200 | $ 29,400 |
| WASD | 4,832 | 200 | $ 966,400 |
| Wellsboro | 20 | 200 | $ 4,000 |
| TOTAL | $ 3,010,200 |
SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) is assisting the county by providing professional expertise and grant administrative services, as well as activity development and management to ensure accuracy and adherence with federal and state regulations.
As a community and economic development agency, SEDA-COG enhances the quality of life and economic advantage for residents and businesses in 11 central Pennsylvania counties through its vital partnerships and initiatives. SEDA-COG also is an advocate for the interests of its communities at the state and federal levels. For more information, visit www.seda-cog.org.
For more information, contact the Lycoming County Department of Planning and Community Development at Covidrelief@lyco.org or 570-320-2130.