EASTON, Pa. - Northampton County is hoping to help small businesses emerge from the pandemic with a new round of grant funding from the federal government that totals $15 million.
The pandemic may be starting to fade, but Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure says small businesses continue to struggle.
“Vaccination rates are bringing deaths down. Infections are down. Folks should be streaming back out to small businesses. But, we know from public opinion polling and from our own eyes, folks are very reluctant to come back to small businesses,” McClure says, but, “The devastation that the COVID-19 pandemic caused is not yet over for Main Street.”
As a way to support the economy until consumer confidence returns, small business owners can secure grants of up to $15,000 each. The funding comes from the American Rescue Plan.
The county has partnered with the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce to manage this funding. The first round of grants is for businesses that have not received CARES Act funding and have fewer than 100 employees.
The money can be used for rent, payroll and other operating costs.
For more information or to find out if your business qualifies for the Northampton County Small Business Grant Program, visit LehighValleyChamber.org.
