Matzie: $21,500 in COVID-19 relief funding for Beaver County libraries, historic, social service organizations

Rep. Robert Matzie    August 5, 2020 | 6:44 PM

AMBRIDGE, Aug. 5 – Grants totaling $21,500 will help Beaver County programs, libraries and cultural attractions impacted by the pandemic, state Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, announced today.  

Matzie said the grants – provided by the Pennsylvania Humanities Council under the PHC CARES Program – include the following: 

  • Beaver County Historical Research and Landmarks Foundation – $3,000. 
  • Laughlin Memorial Library – $4,500.
  • B.F. Jones Memorial Library – $5,000.
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Beaver County – $4,500.
  • Harmonie Associates d/b/a Friends of Old Economy Village – $4,500. 

“Each of these organizations plays such an important role in our community, from supporting youth in need and engaging residents in learning and community programs, to preserving our history for future generations and spurring tourism that boosts our local economy,” Matzie said.

“Unfortunately, each has felt the impact of the pandemic, which has closed doors and put a halt to fundraising events. Securing this funding will help these important programs resume operations and ensure that they do so safely.”

The grant is part of package of $780,500 in emergency relief grants under the PHC CARES Program – funded by the CARES Act – to 140 Pennsylvania cultural nonprofits that have been impacted by the pandemic. The goal of the funding is to help sustain the state’s cultural infrastructure by supporting humanities programs and helping organizations adapt to site closures and the cancellation of in-person events.   

Award amounts ranged from $3,000 to $10,000 and were scaled to each organization’s average annual operating budget. The recipients are museums, historical societies, libraries and other vital cultural institutions in 57 counties, selected with an emphasis on equity and geographic diversity.    

The funding was distributed to states by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Today’s funding from the PHC CARES program complements the $2.4 million in CARES Act funding Pennsylvania previously received from the NEH.