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Northampton County executive commits $10 million to help small businesses through the pandemic

Morning Call - 4/13/2021

In his annual State of Northampton County address, County Executive Lamont McClure said he would direct $10 million into grants to help small businesses continue to weather the devastation wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last year, the county floated $10 million to 767 small businesses thanks to funding from the CARES Act, the first coronavirus relief package passed by Congress. For some businesses, the money meant the difference between keeping the lights on and a permanent closure, McClure said in his address Tuesday.

McClure said his administration plans to repeat those efforts this year, making $10 million from the American Rescue Plan available for more small business grants. He urged residents to shop local, stressing that their support is as crucial as any government effort.

“The pandemic won’t last forever, but its economic impacts will be extended if we have to rebuild our shops, stores and services from scratch. So please support them now so they can serve us later,” McClure said.

In his 13-minute speech, McClure reviewed the work his administration has done over the past year, ranging from assisting seniors with social distancing and getting vaccinated, investing in parks and open space, and hosting the high-turnout 2020 election. The county achieved this without raising taxes, which haven’t gone up since 2015.

But like most things over the past year, the coronavirus dominated the speech. Despite shutting their doors early to visitors and volunteers, the pandemic still swept through Gracedale and the Northampton County Jail. In an effort to slow the spread, the county offered employees a $750 bonus if they agreed to be vaccinated. Almost half of the staff at Gracedale have done so. McClure said that 87% of Gracedale residents have been vaccinated as well.

With in-person events on hold, the county took steps to help residents stay connected online. A $650,000 portion of the CARES Act helped every school district in the county obtain internet access for students in need. The Area Agency on Aging started a tablet lending program, helping seniors stay in touch with loved ones and letting them remotely access exercise classes and wellness courses.

“Every year in the Lehigh Valley, an estimated $351 million is spent on outdoor recreation, which is why we’ve prioritized linking our vast network of trails and increasing out number of parks,” he said.

COVID-19 made indoor events unappealing, which drove more people than ever before to county parks. McClure praised his administration and county council for improvements to Minsi Lake and the Nor-Bath Trail as well as the acquisition of new open space properties, including Hexenkopf Ridge Preserve, 169 acres in Williams Township that became the newest county park in December.

The annual address was cancelled in 2020 year because of the pandemic. While typically a breakfast affair hosted by the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. that grants business leaders and local government officials an opportunity to network, McClure delivered his remarks virtually from the Northampton County Council Chambers in Easton.

Morning Call reporter Tom Shortell can be reached at 610-820-6168 or tshortell@mcall.com.

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