August 6th, 2026 Economic Development Committee Meeting

The Northampton County Economic Development Committee met on August 6, 2026, to discuss the annual Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding and related projects. Director Smith presented the 2026 annual action plan requesting approval to secure approximately $2.2 million in CDBG funds, along with additional HOME funds of about $660,000 and ESG funds near $198,000. The funding will support various community facility improvements, including ADA access ramps, a new accessible playground in Lower Saucon Township, stormwater management projects in Bangor Borough and Walnutport, and road resurfacing in Upper Mount Bethel Township. The committee also heard a presentation from ArtsQuest regarding a grant-funded project to improve the flexibility and safety of the SteelStacks plaza area by updating landscaping and hardscaping features. Committee members expressed strong support for both the CDBG-funded projects and the ArtsQuest initiative, highlighting their positive impact on the community. No formal votes were recorded in the transcript, but the discussion indicated consensus to move forward with the funding plans.