Creative businesses in need of financial assistance in Pennsylvania may be eligible for a loan from the Creative Business Loan Fund through the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. According to the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts’s website, the loan is intended for small, creative businesses. In particular, the loan focuses on businesses owned by Black, … Continue reading
Video courtesy of WCTV, Rebekah Vaughan The beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic was an uncertain time for many. With businesses being shut down and reduced to lower capacities, non-essential workers lost their jobs. For Mabel Jetten, co-owner of Fruition Bowl and Brews in Waynesburg, her job as a hairstylist was shut down immediately during the … Continue reading
According to the Forgivable Advance for Small Business Assistance’s application form, there were two application windows when businesses could apply: the first ran from Jan. 4 until Jan. 15, and the second ran from Jan. 15 until Feb. 1. In addition, there may be more opportunities to apply in the future, depending on the funding … Continue reading
Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan is currently underway with Phase 1A still rolling out. As outlined in the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Vaccination Plan, Phase 1A includes those most at risk of infection from COVID-19. This includes: health care workers, residents and staff of long-term care facilities and, as of Jan. 19, people aged 65 or … Continue reading
In her experience, Toni Harris, program supervisor for the Greenbriar Treatment Center’s Washington, Pennsylvania, location, said COVID-19 has affected the opioid epidemic in Southwestern Pennsylvania. For those with a drug offense who were placed on probation during or shortly before COVID-19 restrictions began, Harris said addicts escaped their requirements of attending forced treatment. Jails, at … Continue reading
While Greene County has adjusted to the presence of COVID-19 for the past seven months, the opioid epidemic has evolved, according to officials. By Sept. 25, Gene Rush, Greene County Coroner, said nine people have died due to drug overdose this year. In the past two years, 12 died of an overdose in 2019 and … Continue reading
“There are many community action groups, but we’re different,” Anastasia Barr, Communications Manager at Blueprints said. Barr has been working at Blueprints since March of 2019, doing advertising campaigns and promoting services, running social media and working alongside program services to recruit, holding an office in both Greene and Washington counties. Barr started her position … Continue reading
Blueprints launched a new program in the summer of 2020. According to Communications Manager Anastasia Barr, Blueprints is a unique nonprofit in the area due to its heavy involvement in childcare services, such as foster care and truancy programs. Their newest service, the Independent Living Program which started July 1, services youth ages 14 to … Continue reading
“Compared to last year, it [unemployment] is a lot higher. But it’s better than I thought it would be for the pandemic, for our county,” Terri Cooley-Taylor, Site Administrator of Greene County’s PA CareerLink, said. Over the last six months, the unemployment rates in Greene County have increased exponentially reaching heights greater than those recorded … Continue reading
Crystal McNett, Aladdin Food Services catering manager, has been filing unemployment on and off for nine years. When unemployment rates skyrocketed in March, leaving many without jobs, she was prepared. McNett works for Aladdin Food Services at Waynesburg University, a job that revolves around the university’s school year calendar. When the students are off for … Continue reading
