The newly reestablished Carbon County Industrial Development Authority is once again awarding loans to small businesses in Carbon County.

Recently, Warner's Central Garage, located in Weatherly, was the first business approved for the authority's low interest loan program.The company received an $18,750 loan that has a lower interest rate than traditional loans.The garage is a family-owned business, owned by Tod Warner, that has been operating in the borough since 1927. It provides car repairs as well as car rentals to its customers.Kathy Henderson, director of Economic Development for Carbon Chamber and Economic Development said that this loan is just one of many the group hopes to award moving forward."Our Revolving Loan Fund is a great way for a small business to receive low interest funding to help them grow and prosper," she said. "The funds can be utilized for purchasing machinery, equipment and real estate as well as for repairs of machinery and equipment or upgrades."We offer a low interest revolving loan fund to assist small manufacturing, service type businesses and warehouse/distribution firms who are already located in Carbon County or who are looking to relocate to Carbon County," she added. "The funds can be used for machinery and equipment purchases and related expenses including engineering, repairs and upgrades, pollution control equipment, purchase of real estate or construction or renovation of real estate."Henderson is the administrator for the CCIDA fund and thinks the time is ripe for local companies to look towards the future and prepare for the upturn in the economy.She also administrates a low interest Small Business Expansion Loan Fund through the CCEDC.CCIDA has been around for decades, helping businesses through loans and other financial options. In 2013, it merged with the Carbon County Economic Development Corp., county economic development office and the Carbon County Chamber of Commerce to become the Carbon Chamber and Economic Development.The CCIDA board consists of five members appointed by the county commissioners. Current board members include Ron Tirpak, chair; Marshall Walters, treasurer; Mark Sverchek, Craig Zurn and Barbara Green.The organization was reinstated recently by the Pennsylvania Department of Economic Development to be a conduit of bonds in the county.For more information on the CCIDA Revolving Loan Fund or the SBELF Loan Fund contact CCEDC at their Lehighton office at 610-379-5000.