A west Indiana county earlier this month received a $250,000 for local businesses.

State Reps. Alan Morrison (R-Brazil) and Beau Baird (R-Greencastle) said in a press release from the House of Representatives that Parke County can use the funds to provide financial assistance to business owners or employers who have concentrations of low- to moderate-income families and people.

Morrison said the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic fallout has been especially hard on rural communities.

“Our neighbors need help rising above these hardships, and targeted funding like this can keep more Hoosiers employed as we get our economy back on track,” he said in the release.

Baird reported that 42 communities were recipients of the funding distributed through the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs’ COVID-19 Response Program, adding that more than $20 million has been awarded to counties, cities and towns so far.

“Hoosiers are getting back to work, but revenues may be lower than before,” he said in the release. “That's why these funds are important. Indiana's economy and the spirit of our communities depend on locally owned businesses maintaining through this difficult time.”