August 2020

As we continue to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, this edition of the monthly News & Views Special Edition: JOBS focuses on the new Hazard Pay Grant Program, available resources for employers and employees and what sectors are looking for workers at this time.

The Pennsylvania Hazard Pay Grant Program – Applications Due Today!

I want to remind frontline workers about the Hazard Pay Grant Program, which is accepting applications through today!

As part of Act 2A of 2020, $50 million was appropriated from CARES Act funding to the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) to provide Hazard Pay for frontline workers. 

Eligible applicants will apply on behalf of the frontline workers in the listed industries.  An applicant who is awarded hazard pay will need to provide documentation, including pay stubs, to show that the payments were made to the employees.  Based off the guidelines, it is anticipated that payments will begin to show up in paychecks within two weeks of the application period closing.  

Eligible applicants/industries include the following:

Healthcare and Social Assistance: 

• Ambulatory and home health care services 
• Hospitals 
• Nursing and residential care facilities 
• Child day care  
• Individual and family services 
• Vocational rehabilitation 
• Community food and housing 
• Emergency and other relief services 

Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation 

• Bus and transit systems 
• Generalized and specialized freight trucking 

Food Manufacturing 

• Animal food 
• Grain and oilseed milling 
• Sugar/confectionery product 
• Fruit/vegetable preserving  
• Dairy product 
• Animal slaughter and processing 
• Seafood preparation and packaging 
• Bakers and tortilla 
• Other food manufacturing  

Food Retail Facilities 

• Grocery and convenience stores 
• Specialty food stores 

Security Services 

Janitorial Services 

Hazard pay will be made to full-time and part-time employees earning less than $20 an hour, excluding fringe benefits and overtime, as a direct increase in their pay. The direct increase in pay for a frontline worker will be $3.00 per hour for ten-weeks for a total of $1,200.  No one company may receive more than $3 million.  The program will not be first come, first served.  Rather priority will be given to risk of exposure by industry, location and prevalence of COVID-19 and average hourly wage paid by employer.  

To apply, please visit www.dced.pa.gov.

Nursing & Community Health Openings Statewide

The Pennsylvania Department of Health wants everyone to know that there are currently hundreds of nursing and other medical positions available statewide. These include a variety of nursing jobs; health facility examiners; public health physician; aging care managers; just to name a few.

Positions can be viewed and applied for by clicking here.

Employment Opportunities Through CareerLink

PA CareerLink, a partnership of the Departments of Labor & Industry and Human Services, has put together a listing of employers around Pennsylvania that are in need of hiring individuals for critical roles. Regardless of whether you’ve lost your job due to a COVID-19 related business closure and would like to work or simply are looking for employment, I encourage you to visit CareerLink’s COVID-19 Employment Opportunities site which can be viewed by clicking here.

The site lists what companies are hiring, the types of positions open, business locations and provides links to apply for positions online. Employers that have openings and are interested in promoting through CareerLink can also access the site to complete an Employer Intake Form so their openings can be listed.

Ben Avon Borough Seeks Borough Secretary

Ben Avon Borough is hiring for the position of Borough Secretary. They are seeking a professional who possesses significant knowledge of the policies, procedures and organization of a municipality, as well as the ability to communicate with residents, professionals and representatives from various governmental agencies.

The successful candidate should: have the ability to work independently and effectively manage multiple projects simultaneously; demonstrate a high level of integrity, trustworthiness, respect, and team collaboration; be flexible and adaptive, demonstrating a willingness to undertake both daily duties and high-profile tasks.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Manage advertisements, paperwork and notices for borough projects and bids.
• Take minutes of public meetings, record & certify documents.
• Update Borough website and social media regularly.
• Act as Open Records officer.
• Work with various agencies & boards
• Work with Council Finance Committee and third party vendor assisting with invoice preparation, financial reports, payroll reporting, budgeting and audits.
• Work with Borough Solicitor on required advertisements, Resolutions or Ordinances passed by Council, and other items as needed.
• Work closely with code enforcement officers and committee on property management issues, rental inspections and building code requirements.

The position requires:

• Experience working in a municipality or government office is strongly preferred.
• High School/GED required, Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• 3-5 years administrative, office management and data/word processing required.
• Multimedia skills preferred; proficient in the use of social media, simple website updates, Cloud-based document storage and MS Office applications.
• Excellent organization, planning and communication skills required.
• Positive attitude and ability to work well with others and as a member of a team.
• Good at building relationships within the organization and externally.
• Flexibility to work some evenings for Council meetings (approx. 2/month).
• Strong problem-solving and reasoning skills.
• Self-motivated with a positive and professional approach.
• Strong editing and proofreading skills.

Interviews will be conducted virtually, on a rolling basis and the start date is as soon as possible. Anyone interested in applying can email a resume, cover letter and references to [email protected].

Housing Authority Hiring

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) is currently hiring for several positions. These positions include: Hiring Inspector; Administrative Coordinator; Plasterers; Accounting; HCV Program Supervisor; and more.

Anyone interested in learning more about these positions and applying can visit the Housing Authority’s Careers Portal by clicking here.  The Housing Authority currently employs approximately 300 people and offers a broad range of career opportunities. 

PPP Extended Through August 8

The federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has extended its deadline to apply for a loan, through August 8. The PPP is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will forgive all loans if all employee retention criteria are met and the funds received through the program are used for eligible expenses. Please click here to learn more about PPP loan forgiveness.

For information on how to apply and for a listing of lenders participating in the program please click here or visit www.sba.gov.

Business to Business Directory

DCED has created a Business-to-Business Interchange Directory to connect organizations and businesses directly to manufacturers producing COVID-19-related products and supplies. The directory can be accessed by clicking here.

Company and product information provided in the directory were gathered in good faith as a means of connecting Pennsylvania businesses and organizations that are seeking various PPE and other related items to combat the COVID-19 crisis. The information made available is from those entities who voluntarily contacted the commonwealth through the Manufacturing Call to Action Portal or the Pennsylvania Critical Medical Supplies Procurement Portal. 

Currently in the directory are manufacturers of N95 masks, fabric and other masks, surgical masks, face shields, thermometers, medical gowns, hand sanitizers, and cleaning disinfectants. Additional supplies and materials will be added to the directory as DCED identifies potential manufacturers. Businesses that would like to be added to the directory or those with questions should contact [email protected].

Pittsburgh Passport

The Allegheny Conference on Community Development has created a program for recent graduates or current students to connect with future employers this summers. The Pittsburgh Passport provides an opportunity to discover, virtually, what it is like to live, work and play in Pittsburgh.

The Pittsburgh Passport Summer Internship Series is an initiative of the Allegheny Conference in collaboration with regional employers and schools to give college students a complete immersion into the Pittsburgh region. The program launched in 2019 with over 1,500 interns from around the country and world participating in activities like a kick-off celebration at Heinz Field, kayaking on the Allegheny River, volunteer opportunities, professional development seminars, Warhol Museum nights, and corporate open houses.

In 2020, the Conference has pivoted to a virtual experience with the opportunity to engage a much broader audience of students, interns, and recent grads.

Participants can: network with hiring managers and learn about local companies and job opportunities; explore Pittsburgh’s arts and culture scene with live musical performances, cooking demonstrations, and more; compete for cash prizes and contribute to moving the region forward; and hear from local innovators working on cutting-edge technology and what’s next.

Anyone interested in participating in this program, can register by clicking here.

Staying Safe

Please continue to observe existing worker and building safety orders. All businesses must follow CDC and Pennsylvania Department of Health guidance for social distancing and cleaning.  

The Pennsylvania Department of Health has launched an online complaint form where customers can report a public health complaint against an existing business not following health and safety protocols. The online complaint form can be accessed by clicking here.

Offices of State Senator Wayne D. Fontana

Brookline District 1039 Brookline Boulevard Suite 2 Pittsburgh, PA 15226 Phone: 412-344-2551 Weekdays – 9 am – 5 pm Harrisburg 543 Main Capitol | Box 203042 Harrisburg, PA 17120 Phone: 717-787-5300 Fax: 717-772-5484 Weekdays – 8:30 am – 5 pm Kennedy Township Kenmawr Plaza 524 Pine Hollow Road Kennedy Twp, PA 15136 Phone: 412-331-1208 Weekdays – 10 am – 4 pm Beechview Satellite 1660 Broadway Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15216 By Appointment