COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
(OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
March 18, 2020
Mr. Kem R. Fleming, Director
Office of Disaster Assistance
Field Operations Center E:
U.S. Small Business Administration
101 Marietta Street NW, Suite 700
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-2725
Dear Mr. Fleming:
Under provisions of Title 13 C.R.R. Part 123.3, 1 respectfully request that the
Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) implement an SBA disaster
declaration to provide assistance in the form of SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans for all
ty-seven (67) counties in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (“Commonwealth”), including
Adams, Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Berks, Blair, Bradford, Bucks, Butler,
Cambria, Cameron, Carbon, Centre, Chester, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Crawford,
Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Franklin, Fulton, Greene,
Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Juniata, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lawrence, Lebanon, Lehigh,
Luzeme, Lycoming, McKean, Mercer, Mifflin, Monroe, Montgomery, Montour, Northampton,
Northumberland, Perry, Philadelphia, Pike, Potter, Schuylkill, Snyder, Somerset, Sullivan,
Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Venango, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Westmoreland, Wyoming
and York counties, following the effects of the coronavirus (*COVID-19”) outbreak beginning
on January 31, 2020, and ongoing. Please find the enclosed certification of eight (8) businesses
in the disaster area which have suffered injury as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak which is
indicative of the substantial economic injury suffered throughout the Commonwealth.
Beginning on February 1, 2020, I directed the Commonwealth’s Department of Health to
activate its Department Operations Center at the Pennsylvania Emergency Management
Ageney’s headquarters to conduct public health and medical coordination for COVID-19
throughout the Commonwealth. On March 4, 2020, I ordered the activation of the
Commonwealth Response Coordination Center in support of the Department of Health's
Department Operations Center, to maintain situational awareness and coordinate the response to
any potential COVID-19 impacts across the Commonwealth. Further, on, March 6, 2020, 1
ed the existence of a disaster emergency throughout the Commonwealth pursuant to the
provisions of Subsection 7301(c) of the Emergency Management Services Code, 35 Pa. C.S. §
7101, et seq. Under this Proclamation of Disaster Emergency, additional measures have been
taken to protect public health and safety.
‘On March 13, 2020, I ordered the closure of all K-12 schools in the Commonwealth for
ten (10) business days, beginning March 16, 2020. I have further reinforced statewide mitigation
efforts beginning March 17, 2020, which includes the closure of all non-essential business in
Pennsylvania for a period of fourteen (14) days. This unprecedented closing of commerce due to
this global pandemic across the Commonwealth has been significant. Owners of public-facing
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(OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
industries such as entertainment, hospitality, and recreation facilities, including but not limited to
dine-in facilities, adult and child day care centers, community and recreation centers, fitness
facilities, hair salons and barber shops, nail salons and spas, casinos, concert venues, theaters,
sporting event venues and golf courses, and other retail facilities, including shopping malls, have
been affected. Businesses owners are unable to meet their financial obligations with this sudden
reduction in revenues.
A survey of these affected businesses was conducted to determine the economic impact
of their losses, for the disaster period as compared to the same period in the preceding year.
Based upon these surveys, I certify that at least five (5) small businesses in the disaster area have
suffered substantial economic injury due to the disaster and need financial assistance not
otherwise available on reasonable terms.
Should you need additional information, please contact Mr, Christopher Evans, Acting
Director, Bureau of Recovery and Mitigation, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, at
717-651-2171 or via email at chrevans@pa.gov.
Sincerely,
(rou Wo
TOM WOLF
Governor
Enclosure
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