Op-Ed: How Northampton County can keep the roller coaster on the tracks

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Now that COVID-19 vaccines are in wide circulation, people keep asking me when we’re going to return to normal. Unfortunately, “normal” may take a while to arrive. As stated by Newton’s third law of motion, “for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” Last year, oil companies were scrambling to find enough storage containers for what they produced; this year, the American Automobile Association is warning vacationing motorists to plan carefully in the event of fuel shortages. Last year restaurants had to lay off employees; this year, they’re struggling to find enough cooks and wait staff. Last summer, airlines mothballed planes; this year, you may scramble to find a hotel room or a rental car when you reach your destination on a fully booked flight.

Many of these shocks will be temporary as everyone rushes to make up for the opportunities they lost in 2020. Eventually we’ll get to a balance between supply and demand. For now, we’re stuck on a roller coaster – one that’s running in a dark tunnel so you can’t anticipate all the hills, twists and spirals that make up the ride. What’s truly worrisome is that this roller coaster doesn’t have seat belts, which means some people may fall off or go bankrupt when their car hits a nasty corner.

A big part of government’s job is to keep the roller coaster on its tracks and install safety nets. The county’s Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) and the Department of Human Services (DHS) have put a lot of thought into what needs to be done so the cars keep moving forward and no riders get ejected into an abyss. 

Our first priority is to crush the pandemic. Since the virus began spreading in our area, Northampton County has worked to increase access to testing. Now we’ve added vaccinations to our services. Our collaboration with Lehigh Valley Hospital Network for a drive-through COVID-19 testing site at 3100 Emrick Blvd in Bethlehem now has appointments for vaccines. While vaccinations have become more accessible in recent months, a drive-through clinic is an important option for residents with mobility problems. The clinic offers both the Moderna and the Johnson & Johnson shot. You can make an appointment at LVHN.org/appointments or by calling 833-584-6283.

During 2020’s economic meltdown, the most direct form of economic help the county was able to provide was through Small Business Assistance grants. Funded through CARES Act money, we provided over $10.7 million to 767 small businesses in Northampton County. The average amount per grant was $13,789. That money went to every type of business: florists, gyms, retail stores, restaurants, dance studios, hair salons, dentists, etc. We understand that the economy is still feeling the effects from the pandemic, and that’s why, with the American Rescue Plan in place, we are looking to approve another $15 million for small businesses grants this year.

One of the biggest fallouts from the pandemic has been the housing market. While sellers are doing well, prices have risen sharply for both home buyers and those looking to rent apartments. Affordable housing is a key factor for ensuring that businesses have access to workers. That’s why DCED and DHS launched the county’s Community Mediation Eviction Program (CMED) and the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). Under CMED, services are free to low- and moderate-income households and owners of rental units that house low- and moderate-income tenants. The CMED program is used to satisfy overdue rent payments. At the time of this writing, that has enabled over 400 households to remain in their homes and, just as important, provided a safety net for landlords. The county understands that landlords are small businesses and provide important housing options for many of our residents. ERAP provides assistance to renters, helping them pay their utility bills. Both programs reduce the risk of homelessness and help protect a landlord’s business. 

DCED has organized a “Meet the Buyers” expo on Oct. 6 to provide small businesses the opportunity to network with large businesses and federal, state and local government agencies. The platform will match buyers and attendees to provide one-on-one meetings and educational sessions. I encourage business owners to sign up for this event at www.lvmeetthebuyers.com

It’s important for everyone’s economic well-being and mental health that we get back to business, and our kids get back to school, as soon as possible. The pandemic delivered a shock to our public health and the economy, but Northampton County knows that, eventually, the roller coaster will clear the hills and drops and travel along a level path. When we get there, we want to make sure everyone is still sitting in the cars, able to enjoy the return to normal.

Lamont McClure is the County Executive of Northampton County.