Striking a balance between government and business

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The purpose of a government is to provide services, primarily to those who can’t afford to pay for those services.

A business can choose to be socially responsible, for a government that’s its entire reason for existence.

When a franchise or outlet starts losing money, businesses can close it down.

Governments don’t have that option. No one cares if the emergency management department is turning a profit; they just expect the guys in the yellow suits to be available when a flood sweeps their car into a river or a local nursing home needs to be evacuated.

Although their goals are often at cross-purposes these two entities need each other. Businesses need governments to establish and enforce rules so that they can confidently engage in commerce and governments need businesses to provide their citizens with jobs and a healthy economy.

I often ponder as how I, as a county executive, can support the various industries in the region without showing favoritism.

Ethics counsel against governments interfering in the private sector. The free hand of the market is supposed to pick winners and losers, not elected officials, and yet it is in the county of Northampton’s interest for local businesses to thrive. Fortunately, my Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) is up to the challenge using education, focus and grants to keep our economy humming.

Over the past year, DCED has offered many free workshops to Northampton County residents, as well as a few stragglers who crossed our borders, on subjects such as starting a business, growing a business and writing grants. These seminars provide extraordinary value at a low cost by using in-house talent and business-savvy volunteers. Most of these workshops have cost the taxpayers nothing beyond the purchase price of coffee and donuts, but they’ve inspired many people to open up a side business or launch a new career in photography or pet grooming.

One of the most important powers an elected official wields is focus. Problems can only be solved after they are recognized as such and a county executive carries a pretty big spotlight.

One of the issues I’ve chosen to focus on is blight. Blight isn’t just unsightly, it can be dangerous, with structures harboring mold and vermin, often deteriorating to the point of collapse.

In 2018, I worked with county council to pass an ordinance allowing for tax exemptions on blighted properties in Upper Mount Bethel Township. The local economic revitalization tax assistance act, or LERTA, provides exemptions for deteriorated industrial, commercial and other business-owned property to spur improvements.

This March, I took a tour of blighted properties in Bangor and Pen Argyl with Neal Weaver, the executive deputy secretary for the Pennsylvania DCED. We both agree, along with Gov. Tom Wolf, that it is in the county’s interest to get these properties cleaned up and productive again so they can pay taxes.

So where does the money for these improvements come from?

This year, our county Department of Community and Economic Development is projected to make $3.5 million available for local projects, including grants made through the Hotel Tax and Community Investment Partnership programs, which are popular with businesses. The grants can be used to promote tourism, host events and combat blight by improving facades.

Our seminars have educated residents to successfully apply for grants so they have the resources to make positive change in their own communities. Positive change affects everyone within its orbit — residents, municipalities, tourists and, yes, businesses.

The free hand of the market should be free, but everyone benefits from positive change in our communities, no matter which institution delivers it.

Lamont McClure is county executive for Northampton County.