The Lehigh County COVID-19 Small Business Grant Program is being made accessible to the public. In partnership with the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, Lehigh County will allocate an estimated $5 million in funding for local businesses with 100 or fewer employees. Eligible businesses can apply for up to $15,000 to help mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and its related expenses.

“I’m extremely proud and excited regarding this unique partnership with Lehigh County. We will pursue with a vengeance businesses that are in need of these dollars. In many cases, these dollars will literally keep them all afloat during this most challenging pandemic,” said Tony Iannelli, President and CEO of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce.

The Lehigh County COVID-19 Block Grant is authorized from the $33.3 million received under the CARES Act. Lehigh County Executive Phil Armstrong assembled the COVID-19 Response Steering Committee to efficiently distribute the $33.3 million to Lehigh County factions heavily impacted by the pandemic.

“It is without a doubt that COVID-19 hit our local businesses the hardest. Lehigh County residents depend on their small business for their livelihood, and all of us depend on the goods and services that our local small businesses provide,” said Lehigh County Executive Phil Armstrong. “It is my top priority to help our businesses survive these turbulent times, and this grant will help our local businesses get back on their feet as we continue to face this pandemic.”

After careful consideration, the Lehigh County COVID-19 Response Steering Committee determined the following allocations:

• $8 million for county/municipal government COVID response offset

• $5 million for small business grant pool

• $6 million for drug, alcohol, behavioral health and human services

• $5 million for nonprofit and community entities

• $5.34 million for regional cooperation and tourism

• $4 million for broadband, education and workforce assistance

Applications for the Lehigh County COVID-19 Small Business Grant Program can be found on the Lehigh County website lehighcounty.org or by visiting the Lehigh Valley Chamber website at https://www.lehighvalleychamber.org/lehighcogrants1.html.

For further information, please contact Public Information Officer Laura Grammes at lauragrammes@lehighcounty.org or 610-782-3002.