Northampton County Council met on April 21 to consider the final round of small business grants through the American Rescue Plan (ARP).

“COVID-19 wasn’t just the worst health crisis to the country and the world in 100 years, it was also an economic disaster [specifically for small businesses],” said county Executive Lamont McClure.

He went on to explain the impact, financially and beyond, that the grants had on the hundreds of small businesses in Northampton County.

Under the CARES Act, Northampton county was able to fund 765 businesses with a combined $10 million. To date, the ARP has funded 1,118 with $14,659,255.

McClure also highlighted positive feedback from small business owners.

One quote came from Joe’s Tavern back in September 2020: “To say these last few months have been difficult is a vast understatement. The financial support from Northampton County small business relief fund and your economic leadership in helping small businesses survive has shined a very bright light to what was inevitably the worst year in our 60-year history.”

Another came in January 2021: “I’m literally writing this email in tears. I opened my mail today to find a check for the COVID relief via your office. This is nothing less than a godsend. Being a small business open for the last two years, we have struggled to compete with larger regional change. As a franchisee I have gone weeks without paying myself simply to cover my team member payroll. I just want to express my sincere appreciation for my grant check. You have no idea how much I needed this money to try to keep my business thriving.”

Council unanimously approved the final round of small business grants, dividing a further $715,370 to assisting an additional 60 small businesses.

In other business, council accepted two donations.

One was a $20,000 donation from Buzzi Unicem USA for the emergency management department. The other was 20 tickets for the children, youth, & families staff from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

The next meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. May 5 at 669 Washington Street, and streamed live on the county YouTube page.