NORTHAMPTON COUNTY

BUSINESS SEMINAR: The Northampton County Department of Community and Economic Development, Lehigh University Small Business Development Center, Slate Belt Chamber of Commerce, and Slate Belt Rising will host an event for those interested in starting or accelerating their business on Tuesday, Oct. 17.

This free event will feature an expert panel of local resource partners and legal and accounting professionals who will share tips on running a business and what resources are available to you in Northampton County. This discussion provides attendees an opportunity to network and learn about managing a business, creating business plans, including accounting, legal, and zoning resources.

To register, visit Lehigh University Small Business Development Center’s website.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING GRANTS: County Executive Lamont McClure and the Department of Community and Economic Development announce that the County of Northampton are accepting applications for 2023 Affordable Housing Program grants. AHP funds are available to eligible nonprofits, public agencies, local governments, government authorities and private, low-income housing providers. Grants must maintain or increase the availability of quality affordable housing for residents of Northampton County whose annual incomes are below 80 percent of the household median income for the county using the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Section 8 income limits for 2023.

Proposed projects must fall into one of three categories:

• Create, retain or improve rental units or owner-occupied housing

• Emergency housing services

• Transitional housing facilities and affordable housing supportive services

Applications close Oct. 20. Interested organizations can apply by visiting the Northampton County Participant Portal hosted by Neighborly Software at: portal.neighborlysoftware.com/NORTHAMPTONCOUNTYPA/participant

Registration is required on the Participant Portal in order to apply.

Program inquiries should be directed to Sarah Ortiz, Northampton County DCED, 610-829-6308, sortiz@norcopa.gov

PRISON ACCREDITATION: Northampton County Prison has again earned accreditation from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) by demonstrating compliance with NCCHC’s nationally recognized standards of care for correctional health services in jails.

Reaccreditation recognizes Northampton County Prison’s ongoing commitment to providing quality health services for the incarcerated population. To maintain NCCHC accreditation, Northampton County Prison underwent a rigorous professional assessment in June. During the assessment, a team of experienced physicians and experts in correctional health care surveyed the facility for compliance with jail-specific standards in several areas, such as patient care and treatment, health promotion, safety and disease prevention, governance, and administration, personnel and training, special needs and services, and medical-legal issues.