Monday, November 27, 2006

Northampton County aids Main Street Programs

Two Northampton County agencies are preparing to make as much as $1.6 million available to businesses and other organizations in grants or loans.

The money has been collected over several years by the Industrial Development and General Purpose authorities, from fees they earned for providing financing for development projects.

Two weeks ago, the authorities made their first grants, each giving up to $7,500 to the Easton Main Street Program for a tourism kiosk outside Two Rivers Landing, and up to $10,000 to a facade renovation and streetscape programs in Bangor, Bath, Hellertown, North Catasauqua and Wilson.

The county Industrial Development Authority has a bank account of about $1.2 million, generated since the 1990s. Its mission is to create jobs and assist the economy, and should spend its money for those purposes, said John Kingsley, county authorities administrator.

The General Purpose Authority has a bank account of about $450,000, earned since the authority formed in 1999.

It has a broader mission and has financed projects for county government and local universities. It may have a broader latitude for spending its money.

More here.

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