Economic Development
City Delivers Services:
- The City of Bethlehem has many economic development tools, including the Bethlehem Economic Development Corporation, the Bethlehem Revitalization and Improvement Authority, the Bethlehem Redevelopment Authority, as well as several incentives administered by the Department of Community and Economic Development.
- These programs and tools include the Keystone Innovation Zone, which provides grants and state tax credits to innovative companies in South Bethlehem, incubator space for innovative startup companies at Pi: Partnership for Innovation, property tax abatements through the LERTA program and grants through the Bethlehem CRIZ. The city also administers a façade program for small business in the community.
City Supports Service Delivery through funding sources:
- The City of Bethlehem allocated $25,000 from the Community Recovery Fund towards Economic Development
- The Lehigh Valley Community Foundation: The CORE Fellowship Program is a two-year capacity-building process that brings Lehigh Valley nonprofit leaders together to center equity in themselves, their relationships, their organizations, and the sector.
- Rising Tide (Community Action Lehigh Valley): Administered by the Rising Tide, the Bethlehem Small Business Loan Fund provides financing to eligible business in order to create jobs for people who earn up to 80% of Bethlehem’s median income as determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. These loans are intended to be utilized as gap-financing in conjunction with other traditional funding options. Funds range from $25,000-100,000 and can be used for acquisition of property, construction, substantial renovations, and equipment purchases. Borrowers must create one full-time equivalent position for each $35,000 borrowed within one year of the loan, and submit quarterly financial statements and employment statistics. The Small Business Loan is administered by the Rising Tide Community Loan Fund at CACLV.
- Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Bethlehem Association: The Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Bethlehem Association work towards advancing business interests and promote the City. Together, they receive funding from the city’s general fund to support marketing and other professional services in the city. The mission of the Chamber is to advocate, preserve and advance business and community interests to further economic growth in the city of Bethlehem.
The City collaborates and strategizes with the following partners and programs:
- Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation
- Community Action Lehigh Valley
- The counties of Northampton and Lehigh and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.