SMETHPORT — McKean County, as the lead agency for the state Department of Agriculture’s State Food Purchase Program, will distribute $57,289.16 in CARES Act funds to food programs.

Allocations will be made to non-profits distributing food directly to the public. The funding will help to alleviate increases in need from the economic impact of COVID-19.

The funds provided by the CARES Act grant, will be allocated to applicants within McKean County who are registered as a tax-exempt organization. Applicants can be a stand-alone non-profit or church affiliated. Each applicant will be asked to complete an agreement with the county, verify civil rights training, use a self-declaration of need form and submit a count of numbers served.

Food distribution locations that are approved for funding are encouraged to make local purchases to further support local independent retail food distributors within the county. The funds may only be used to purchase consumable food products from an establishment licensed by the PA Department of Agriculture. The county will reimburse each grantee directly for detailed receipts or itemized invoices.

Any organization interested in an application should contact Pamela Burlingame, Chief Clerk, at 887-3202. Applications should be returned to the Commissioner’s Office for immediate consideration. Allocations will be awarded beginning on Aug. 25, 2020, in a rolling funding disbursement, as applications are received.