BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — On Wednesday afternoon, Kern County started the Kern Recovers Personal Protective Equipment Support Program that helps businesses access PPE.

The program allows Kern County purchasing power to get PPE, sanitation supplies and other items.

Businesses can get these items at no cost.

Applications are now being accepted through the Kern Recovers program on their website.

“As we spoke with local businesses, we heard from so many of them that securing PPE was one of their greatest challenges. As a County we have tremendous buying power. We’ve decided that we would leverage the CARES Act funding and our purchasing power for the benefit of our local businesses," said Kern County’s Chief Operations Officer Jim Zervis.

This program is funded through the CARES Act.

Information about this program and eligibility requirements can be found here.