Chambersburg bars, restaurants and breweries are eligible for low-interest loans, thanks to a grant recently received by Downtown Chambersburg Inc.
Low interest loans will help those in the food and beverage industries experiencing losses and challenges related to COVID-19 business shutdown orders, capacity restrictions and workforce effects.
Funds through the Downtown Chambersburg Food and Beverage Survive and Thrive program can be used for:
- Equipment and inventory purchases,
- Building improvements,
- Façade upgrades and signage,
- Business development, and
- Fixed assets.
Only businesses located in official downtown Chambersburg are eligible for the loans. That area includes Main Street, Grant Street, the 1st and 2nd blocks of Lincoln Way (East & West), Queen Street, King Street, parts of 2nd street (north of Borough Hall) and the area of TBC brewing and Roy Pitz.
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Who’s eligible, how it’s funded
Downtown Chambersburg Inc., a downtown revitalization organization, applied for and received a $75,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Business Development Grants to facilitate the loans. The federal funding will be combined with other sources to create a $90,000 revolving loan program.
“We’re excited about this opportunity to help restaurants, bars, breweries, and others in the food and beverage industries preserve and create jobs, adapt their facilities for additional seating or new outdoor seating, and more. This could include adding dining rooms on the second floors of downtown buildings,” Thrush said. “Our food establishments are key partners in Chambersburg’s vibrant downtown. I encourage them to consider how low-interest loans can help them recover from 2020 and 2021, and establish a strong foundation to be part of our community for years to come.”
The application process is in development and should be available by the end of the year. Those who own restaurants or bars in Chambersburg should contact Downtown Chambersburg Inc. at sthrush@chambersburg.org, call 717-264-7101 Ext. 204, or visit DCI’s website at downtownchambersburgpa.com, to learn more about the loans and other programs available to support the local economy.
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