Northampton County Council met Feb. 17 to discuss small-business grants to be funded by the American Rescue Plan.

Northampton County received a total of $30 million of American Rescue Plan funding to spend on various COVID-19 relief efforts. Council unanimously approved a motion allocating $1,506,797 of that for 113 small businesses across the county.

Many small-business owners were present at the meeting to thank county council for their continued support.

Baljeet and Jasmeet Barsal, co-owners of Aman’s Artisan Indian Cuisine, explained inflation has put their business in a tricky situation.

Helena Lazzarini, the owner of a doughnut shop in Nazareth, also thanked council for the grant money she had received. Small-business owners Lisa Alexander, Erin Grins and John Pavis all echoed similar sentiments to council.

In other business, council approved a motion to accept a donation of $6,700 on behalf of the Department of Corrections toward the purchase and training of a K-9 narcotics dog.

Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure reported the county preserved more than $12 million worth of farmland in the past four years. The county also passed 18,000 preserved acres and 228 preserved farms thresholds.

Finally, council passed Resolution 29-2022: a request for a study of the I-80 resolution regarding a study of the safety, mobility and congestion issues on I-80 from Exit 4-Portland/Columbia Bridge and the Delaware Water Gap Bridge. A regional traffic study can be initiated, and the I-80 Rockfall project may be delayed pending the outcome of the studies.