Lycoming County commissioners voted to approve $1.5 million from the county’s CARES Act funding allocation for 165 small businesses during its meeting Tuesday.

A committee comprised of representatives from the county, the Williamport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce and SEDA-Council of Governments consider the funding requests.

A list of all funding recipients is to be released later this week.

All but three applicants for the grant money were approved.

The funding amounts vary with respect to the business.

Chamber of Commerce President Jason Fink said the funding will help the many small businesses negatively impacted by COVID-19.

Some of them, he noted, are businesses which have been in a family for several generations.

He made a plea for everyone to do what they can to support local businesses.

Commissioner Scott Metzger noted that small businesses make up a big segment of the economy.

“They are the backbone of our community,” he said.

Commissioner Rick Mirabito encouraged the public to buy locally rather than online for products.

Commissioner Tony Mussare criticized this week’s Supreme Court decision allowing the state to count ballots up to three days after the election.

The justices divided 4-4 Monday, an outcome that upholds a state Supreme Court ruling that allowed election officials to receive and count ballots until Nov. 6, even if they don’t have a clear postmark.

Mussare said he felt voters have had sufficient time to obtain a write-in ballot.

He noted there is already unease and concern about voting across the state.

“This is a mockery of our system,” he said.

Metzger said deadlines are in place for a reason.

“Something is backwards now,” he said.

In other matters, commissioners approved a $200,314 agreement with DLT Solutions, LLC for review, scanning and indexing of deed books for the Register & Recorder’s office.

Commissioners agreed to terminate an agreement with Emergent Broadcasting Co., LLC to provide close captioning services for Channel 75.

Metzger said funding for that service is not available.

In personnel action, commissioners approved three personnel for positions.

LeeAnne Rauch was hired to work as a part-time clerk in Voter Services at $12.96 per hour.

Steven E. Elliott was hired as a telecommunicator in the Department of Public Services at 16.59 per hour and Kayla N. Knouse as correctional officer at the prison at $17.23 per hours. Both are filling vacancies.