A Mechanicsburg firm will help county officials with a $16 million County Relief Block Grant that the state Department of Community and Economic Development made available to counties that have declared health emergencies as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Delta Development Group will assist the county with developing policy and guidelines for the funds; develop applications and agreements for loan and grant programs for small businesses, municipalities and other entities; conduct outreach to educate local officials on the grant; assist with inventory of county facilities to determine necessary improvements; work with Ben Holland, the county controller, to develop reimbursement forms and procedures; collaborate with the DCED on the county's behalf; and other tasks.

The funds will be drawn down as they are used as opposed to the DCED giving the county a lump sum.

Delta Development will bill the county $7,750 per month for eight months, which is the company's retainer fee.

The retainer fee will be paid from the CRBG funds.

Leslie Osche, commissioners chairwoman, said small businesses and others who qualify for grants from the CRBG funds could begin seeing disbursements by September.