On July 2, after two lengthy meetings, Northampton County Council unanimously approved a mechanism under which small businesses (less than 100 employees) hurt by the pandemic will soon be able to seek grants of up to $15,000.

In addition, council unanimously voted to award $1.35 million to several bi-county ventures. The money comes from $27.6 million in CARES Act funding that will be received later this month. Priority must be given to small business grants, tourism, municipal and community assistance, mental health and addiction projects, nonprofit assistance and broadband development.

Council must approve all grants before they are awarded.

$4 million in small

business grants

After a lengthy discussion, council gave its blessing to a process under which the Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce will market these grants in exchange for a fee of $175,000. Though the county’s Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) could perform this task, Executive Lamont McClure told council that the seven-person staff is inundated with numerous other tasks, from administration of hotel tax grants, CIPP grants, HUD grants and the General Purpose Authority. McClure argued that using the chamber would get money into the hands of small business more quickly.

Council President Ron Heckman voiced several concerns about the chamber playing favorites with its own members, while simultaneously denying those are his own feelings. He also suggested that the DCED could expand or hire temporary help. His half-hearted attempt to sideline the chamber, however, found no support among other council members.

Council member John Cusick likened the chamber to a consultant the county hires as needed for a limited task. Council member Tara Zrinski pointed out that the chamber already has administered a grant program of its own cash reserves, and awarded a third of the money to non-members. Council member Kevin Lott is a retired trade union representative and was highly complimentary and said the LV Chamber is “unique” and displays a great deal of diversity.

Jessica O’Donnell, a chamber vice president, told council the chamber already has a large data base of LV businesses, members and nonmembers alike. In addition, she told council the chamber has boots on the ground and will be actively soliciting grant applications from local businesses that may be less likely to use email. She will rely on numerous municipal contacts, as well as staffers who specialize in smaller businesses.

Once applications are in, they will first be reviewed by an administrative committee consisting of the chamber, DCED, fiscal affairs and up to three members of council. Recommendations will be made to council and the executive. Council will have the final say.

The application form should be available soon.

$1.35 million

bi-county ventures

There was no need for several bi-county ventures to file an application. They have been awarded $1.35 million without having to do anything. Council approved $500,000 to Discover Lehigh Valley; $500,000 to ArtsQuest; $250,000 to the Lehigh and Northampton County Airport Authority; and $100,000 to the State Theatre. Lehigh County either has or will contribute similar sums to DiscoverLV, Artsquest and the airport. The State Theatre was added at the request of council member John Cusick, who said this Easton anchor has been hit hard by the pandemic.

State senators Lisa Boscola and Pat Browne summoned both county executives and strongly urged that grants be awarded to the bi-county ventures.