HARRISBURG — Restaurants, bars, and other businesses received nearly $72 million in pandemic relief in 41 additional counties through the Wolf Administration’s successful COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program (CHIRP), Gov. Tom Wolf announced Monday.

The $72 million is in addition to the nearly $50 million provided to 13 other counties highlighted last week.

“The CHIRP program is doing exactly what we intended: provide more than $100 million to our state’s hospitality industry to help these important businesses to recover and retain and create jobs,” said Wolf. “This program is allowing many small businesses to get back on their feet as more people get fully vaccinated and customers increasingly return to the industry. This is an important investment in our businesses and workers as we look to build a stronger economy for everyone.”

State funding has already been provided to all 67 counties; most recently,

Wolf secured a transfer of $145 million that was appropriated by the legislature into grants for businesses under the CHIRP program. Since the governor made the funding available earlier this year, the state has worked with counties and economic development partners to quickly send assistance to the hospitality industry.

Counties are administering the funding through one or more designated Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) or Community Economic Development Organization (CEDO), which began processing applications from businesses in each county on March 15. Funding must be provided to businesses by July 15, 2021. Eligible businesses are encouraged to apply for a grant if their county has funding available. Local counties see funds in hospitality recovery program.