The Northampton County COVID-19 Relief Small Business Grant Program has reopened and is accepting applications for grants of up to $15,000 per company to mitigate the impact of pandemic-related expenses.

The county will be distributing $15 million in American Rescue Funds dollars through the program to assist Northampton County businesses with 100 or fewer employees, according to Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure.

Lamont McClure

“Northampton County small businesses are the lifeblood to the county’s economic prosperity,” McClure said. “My administration will continue to prioritize supporting small businesses during these uncertain and challenging economic times.”

This grant program is open to businesses that have not previously received small business relief grants from the county. Eligible businesses must apply by Aug. 31. Visit here for guidelines and to apply.

Information about this program and other coronavirus response resources and financing programs can be found on the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC) website at lehighvalley.org/covid19 and lehighvalley.org/grow-here/financing-programs.

Northampton County is partnering with the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce to distribute the $15 million to ensure rapid deployment of the funds, McClure said. The grant program was approved by Northampton County Council.

“Please remember that we are all in this together and we can make sure Northampton County comes back strong,” McClure said.

The Chamber will conduct outreach and marketing to ensure small, vulnerable and disadvantaged businesses have access to the grant application platform. It will also provide technical assistance to business owners during application preparation and online submission.

Once applications are received, Northampton County Department of Community and Economic Development in partnership with the Chamber will process applications and review for administrative completeness.

Grant applications will be reviewed by a committee consisting of Northampton County administration, Northampton County Council members and the Chamber who will make recommendations to McClure, who will make final recommendations to county council. The council will consider each application for approval or denial.

Priority will be given to businesses that have not received other state or federal COVID-19 grant assistance and/or funding. The Chamber requests that applicants list other grants awarded during the pandemic so they can be considered during the grant application process.

Grants are not to exceed 25% of the business’s 2019 annual gross revenue. Applicant businesses should have been in operation as of March 1, 2020, although companies that opened after that date will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the committee.

Businesses also must currently be operating or have a clear plan to re-open to be eligible, according to the Chamber.

For more information or any questions, please reach out to the Chamber’s Jessica O’Donnell at 610-573-4010 or jessicao@lehighvalleychamber.org or Brittany Keal at 610-295-9824 or brittanyw@lehighvalleychamber.org.