State College Small Business Relief Loan Program

The Municipality of State College, Pennsylvania is offering individual microloans of up to $10,000 at 0% interest to businesses located with the municipal boundaries. These loans are made with a three-year term; however, principal payments will not begin until September of 2021. These loans are meant to act as bridge loans so that our small businesses can continue to function during the COVID-19 Pandemic and can be used for working capital, including rent, payroll, utilities, inventory, and payable accounts. The funds may also be used for renovations directly related to COVID-19 safety improvements. We as a community deeply value the services and experiences our small businesses provide to both locals and students and the Borough hopes to keep as many businesses afloat as possible.

Given the great need for support funding here in the Borough and the speed with which other municipalities exhausted available funds, we intend to keep application requirements to a minimum. Requirements are as follows:

1. Loans are limited to businesses within the Borough with 15 full-time equivalent employees or fewer. 
2. Business must be a non-franchise business and may not have any additional locations outside Centre County. The goal of the program is to assist small, locally owned businesses not regional or national chains.
3. Business must agree, as a condition of the loan, to follow all required federal, state and local guidelines for COVID-19 safety and prevention.
4. Business must agree to report on the use of the loan funds with six months of the loan being issued. The Redevelopment Authority will provide an easy-to-use on-line resource for reporting.

Should the business receiving the loan close their current Borough location and relocate to a location outside the Borough of State College the outstanding loan balance will be due in full at the time of closure. 

While this loan program seeks to help as many businesses as possible, we need to ensure that businesses who receive this aid are truly in need of support and were viable businesses prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, like several other programs of this nature, the Borough requires all applicants to have a credit score of at least 650. Evidence of the extent of each applicant’s revenue and income loss is also required. The Borough recognizes that many businesses experience a seasonal pattern to their revenue and employment, so we require additional documentation from each applicant to obtain an accurate picture of what each business typically earns in order to compare it to the current business climate during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Therefore, the Borough requires each applicant to provide the following documentation:

1. Monthly Revenue, Income & Expenses from January 2019-February 2020
2. Average Weekly Revenue, Income & Expenses from March 1, 2020-Present

Priority will be given to those businesses demonstrating the largest percentage revenue and income loss since the issuance of the Governor Wolf’s emergency declaration on March 6^th, 2020. Priority will also be given to businesses that did not receive Paycheck Protection Program funds from the 2020 CARES Act. However, the Borough will do its best to quickly provide support to as many small businesses as possible.

Apply for the Loan

For More Information

Isabel S. Storey
Planner | Planning & Community Development
Borough of State College
243 South Allen St.
State College, PA 16801
istorey@statecollegepa.us
(814) 234-7109

COVID-19 Temporary Permit for Outdoor Commerce

During the period of the COVID-19 emergency, the municipality is relaxing regulations for the use of outdoor privately-owned space for commercial purposes such as dining and retail. This relaxation is in recognition of the Governor’s occupancy restrictions for restaurants, and market preferences for staying outdoors during the pandemic. Please find the necessary permit application and program details. 

Email completed permits to ggarthe@statecollegepa.us. 

For More Information

Gregory J. Garthe, AICP

Senior Planner | Planning & Community Development

Borough of State College

243 South Allen Street

State College, PA  16801

(814) 234-7109

ggarthe@statecollegepa.us

Rent, Mortgage, or Utility Bill Assistance Program

State College Borough wants to help you Stay Healthy and Stay Housed!
For more information download the Stay Healthy Stay Housed program flyer.

To be selected to apply, call (814) 234-7165 every Monday at 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

To be eligible you must:

• live in State College Borough
• have a  lease or mortgage
• have lost income due to the COVID-19 crisis
• meet the income guidelines below

Per federal rules you are NOT eligible if you:

• were behind on rent or mortgage on March 1, 2020
• were > 30 days past due on utility bills on 3/1/20
• receive subsidized housing from other sources

Most undergraduate students will not meet the eligibility criteria.

You must provide these documents:

• signed lease or mortgage statement for your primary residence
• proof of the decrease in total household income due to the COVID-19-crisis
• statement of rent or mortgage delinquency from landlord or lender
• photo identification of lease/mortgage holder

All application forms must be completed with Borough staff by calling (814)234-7165.

To receive payments, landlords must:

• waive any late fees or penalties due from the tenant
• have a current rental permit and be current on Borough taxes.  

Landlords will be given two weeks from notification to resolve these issues.

Payments will be made directly to the mortgage lender, landlord/property manager, or utility company.

For more information download the Stay Healthy Stay Housed program flyer. 

For More Information

Denise L. Rhoads

Administrative Assistant | Planning & Community Development

Borough of State College

243 South Allen Street

State College, PA  16801

(814) 234-7100

drhoads@statecollegepa.us