NORCO AFFORDABLE HOUSING GRANT: the Northampton County Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) have announced the award of a $1,220,374 Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME) Grant to support Northampton County’s affordable housing efforts at the former Glendon Hotel site. Northampton County is receiving two grants totaling $1,220,374:

• $1,138,814 to Northampton County for homebuyer construction in partnership with Community Action Lehigh Valley.

• $81,560 to Northampton County for a Community Housing Development Organization operating grant on behalf of Community Action Lehigh Valley.

HOME is a federally funded program. Funds can be used in a variety of ways to address critical housing needs, including market-oriented approaches that offer opportunities such as homeownership or rental activities to revitalize communities with new investment. DCED receives HOME program funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through the annual entitlement appropriation process.

FREE RAIL SAFETY TRAINING: Free Norfolk Southern Rail Safety Training for First Responders and Emergency Managements

WHERE: Lower Saucon Fire & Rescue (1995 Leithsville Road. Hellertown Pa 18055)

Northampton County Emergency Operations Center (100 Gracedale Ave., Nazareth, PA 18064)

WHEN: Monday, April 22 at 7:00 p.m.; Monday, May 6, 2024 at 6:30 p.m.

Free rail safety classes will be offered in the wake of the March 2nd Norfolk Southern train derailment, County Executive Lamont G. McClure announces.

Participation in these courses will help first responders understand how to respond to train derailments in our community.

Norfolk Southern Rail Safety Training will include the following topics:

• Safety around the railroad

• Understanding rail shipping documents

• Tank car identification

• Locomotive emergencies

• Responding to Railroad Emergencies

• AskRail Mobile App

Responders and Emergency Management Personnel can register by emailing Mike Rampulla at mrampulla@ncempa.org, or by phone 610-746-3194 X3229.

DIGITAL NAVIGATION TRAINING: The Northampton County Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) recently announced an allocation of approximately $10,000 of the County’s Broadband American Rescue Plan funds to support Digital Navigator Training.

Northampton County is partnering with the National Digital Inclusion Alliance to offer a two-day Digital Navigator Training to bring digital equity to the citizens of Northampton County. The training will take place at Northampton Community College’s Bethlehem Campus on Tuesday, April 30, and Wednesday, May 1, from 9 am – 12 pm.

During training, Digital Navigators will learn:

• How to pair community members with appropriate devices and locate local free and low-cost options

• What resources are available for self-guided digital skills, and how to use resources to teach one-on-one or to small groups

• How a digital navigator program conducts its work, including data collection and client management

• How to identify internet options for low-income community members

Public-facing employees, healthcare, schools, and nonprofits are encouraged to participate. If your organization wants to train a digital navigator, please contact the Northampton County Department of Community & Economic Development at (610) 829-6306.