Fifteen Butler County businesses received more than $1 million in state grants to give their employees an additional $3 per hour hazard pay.

The businesses — which ran the gamut from security service companies to health care and food manufacturing operations — also spanned the length of the county, from Northgate Bilo Foods & Pharmacy in Jackson Township to Oneida Valley Grocery in Venango Township.

By far, the majority of the money — roughly $775,000 — went to businesses engaged in providing health care services, while the one food manufacturer, Miller’s Quality Meats in Butler, received slightly more than $14,000.

The program that granted these funds, the COVID-19 PA Hazard Pay Grant Program, is administered by the Department of Community & Economic Development and was designed to keep employees in “life-sustaining” businesses working.

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