Northampton County and Lehigh University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) have been awarded $500,000 from the CARES Act to provide specialized training assistance to small business owners.
“We will be showing owners how to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on their businesses and teaching them how to prepare for a successful, resilient recovery from the pandemic,” said Brett Smith, Lehigh SBDC director.
The online programs will be led in part by Lehigh University’s Vistex Institute for Executive Learning & Research and include industry experts. Live training topics include, but are not limited to:
- High-Performance Teamwork: Communicating and Collaborating for Results
- Strategic Decision-Making and Leadership in a Crisis
- Value Creation
- Creating and Executing Strategy: The Business Model Canvas
- Building a Resilient Organization: Surviving in an Era of Rapid Change and Disruption
Additional programs will be offered in a mix of live and on-demand formats, focusing on social media, marketing, eCommerce, digital transformation and more.
Participants will have access to all live and on-demand sessions. They will also receive a resource guide with additional tools provided by industry experts.
“There is no cost to business owners,” said Smith, “but they need to apply and be accepted into the program.”
Successful applicants must meet all of the following criteria:
- Principal place of business is within Northampton County, Pa.
- Have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Have 100 or fewer full-time employees.
- Currently operating or has a clear plan to re-open if currently closed by Pennsylvania mandate.
The application will open on Tuesday, Nov. 24, at 11 a.m.
The SBDC will administer the program and approve applications. Applications that meet the guidelines will be approved in the order they are received. The SBDC anticipates awarding approximately 150 grants to Northampton County small businesses.
For the application and more information go to: https://go.lehigh.edu/smallbizgrant.
Contact Brett Smith: NorCoGrant@lehigh.edu or 484-893-0186.
