Gov. Tom Wolf is offering $50 million to “essential” employees during the COVID-19 pandemic through grant-funded hazard pay.

“These Pennsylvanians have kept our economy going, have kept food on our tables and they've kept us safe,” Wolf said in a news conference Thursday. “They deserve our gratitude.”

The program has the support of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce.

“I think it has the potential to be very positive for our area,” said Jordan Grady, chamber executive director.

Department of Community and Economic Development Deputy Secretary Carol Kilko joined Wolf in announcing the allocation of federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act funding to the new COVID-19 Hazard Pay Grant Program.

“We encourage all eligible employers to please apply for this grant, as it serves to yet be another tool in the toolbox to thank our front-line workers,” Kilko said.

Eligible employers must apply for the grant by July 31. The application became available Thursday on the DCED's website.

If awarded the grant, employers would be able to pay employees $3 per hour more over a 10-week period, which amounts to about $1,200 more for the employee over that period.

The funding would be limited to employees who make a base pay rate, that which they earn during a 40-hour workweek, of $20 per hour or less.

“It's a very short time frame, but we need to get this money on the street as quickly as we possibly can,” Kilko said.

Grady said the grant will achieve its goal of rewarding essential workers, especially those who are on the front lines of service. He said he will likely spend a lot of time in the next few weeks educating himself on the application process, so he can assist employers.

Grady said he did not know if Butler Health System will apply for the grant, but he said it would be the ideal fit for this type of funding.

“One of the top regional health care facilities in the country is right here in our county, and I do think it would be beneficial to them,” he said. “They're a vital part of this community.”

Butler Health System employs about 3,000 people throughout its many services.

Kilko estimated between 45,000 and 46,000 Pennsylvania workers could take advantage of the program; however, the program also relies on employers to seek out the grants. She said the DCED initially considered allowing employees to apply for the grant directly, but the department's leadership agreed it did not have the infrastructure to address that amount of people in the desired time frame.

Employees who are hoping to capitalize on the grant are at the mercy of their employers' willingness to apply.

“If the employer doesn't apply, then there's no extra money going to that employee,” Kilko said.

The following numbers on the coronavirus pandemic were compiled from regular news releases from the state Department of Health.Thursday’s COVID-19 statistics:Butler CountyConfirmed cases: 412Probable cases: 44Negative tests: 9,349Deaths: 13PennsylvaniaNew cases: 781Total cases: 98,446New deaths: 16Total deaths: 6,973Recovered: 76 percentSurrounding CountiesAllegheny: 5,558 confirmed cases; 82,675 negative; and 201 deathsArmstrong: 96 confirmed; 2,912 negative; and 6 deathsBeaver: 866 confirmed; 8,436 negative; and 80 deathsClarion: 64 confirmed; 1,460 negative; and 2 deathsLawrence: 184 confirmed; 3,845 negative; and 9 deathsMercer: 182 confirmed; 5,924 negative; and 6 deathsVenango: 33 confirmed and 2,051 negativeWestmoreland: 1,057 confirmed; 23,469 negative; and 40 deaths.