[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6248718,"mediaKeyId","3209298-eba586b888bdcf535ecd9bf84ca68d0e","parentId",3209298,"title","BEDCO requests $20,000 from Northampton County GPA to sustain South Bethlehem KIZ program","audioSeconds",783,"startMs",815000,"endMs",1598000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3209298-eba586b888bdcf535ecd9bf84ca68d0e&start=815&end=1598","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3209298-eba586b888bdcf535ecd9bf84ca68d0e/thumbnail_815000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6248718/Northampton-County/Pennsylvania/BEDCO-requests-20000-from-Northampton-County-GPA-to-sustain-South-Bethlehem-KIZ-program","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6248718-8d64f709f7d50ed021d582c1a8ec16ba/orig.mp4?Expires=1775775949&Signature=U8UrHRQBWt0O335S255Ws8GLWqsgQ1L9PFxpTQ8TqKMnLi-L5XCzRFbXxz5u-jn5rCTG0fnCCOgy7-cR~XvAKmRHdH1ACaoG~GiWnfY4iV4w1~4n~UYeV5yGIt8scLbmvFw2-K8J4lI2UHCIVe7G-vWOWZJvITZhznTVOc16X~d1Lng~7pFvflb4ybkw~xKkx-iAc2Fnd2uP9jNKRtZUzrshMaoLP7wEa8dSaQU-GZreIT8BW34nIM6gLzur-33RKpnW7BrVwMNQN1581VvzpRfXbkrlcZLBB9mYkk1uH~xwEO~kUoXbirMAQOPQjqRfjeWWr-l4BdoY8CLtDGjU4g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-07T11:43:51.693Z","article","At the May 6, 2025 meeting of the Northampton County General Purpose Authority, Sean Ziller and Alex Miller of the Bethlehem Economic Development Corporation (BEDCO) presented an update on the South Bethlehem Knowledge Industry Zone and requested $20,000 in primary-partner funding from the Authority’s budget.

Sean Ziller, deputy director of economic development for the City of Bethlehem and executive director of BEDCO, and Alex Miller, economic development coordinator, described the KIZ as a Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (PA DCED) program created to spur entrepreneurship and commercialization around urban centers with nearby colleges. They said the zone supports start-ups younger than eight years in targeted industries such as advanced manufacturing, life sciences and software, and that an advisory board of public, private and educational stakeholders helps prioritize grants and services.

Miller said the zone’s current programming includes tech-transfer grants for product development and marketing, an internship reimbursement program that places students from local institutions, access to a fab lab at Northampton Community College for prototyping, and state-administered tax credits based on year-over-year revenue growth. He noted KIZ companies may be eligible for up to $100,000 in state tax credits in a year and said seven companies applied and were granted awards on April 30. Miller said BEDCO has funded about 200 internships, awarded approximately $1.5 million in tech-transfer grants since 2004, and helped enroll roughly 120 businesses; the KIZ tax-credit program has supported more than $9,000,000 in awards (state-administered) over time.

Miller told the Authority, \"We're requesting 20,000 in primary partner funding.\" He explained that in prior years the County had provided $40,000 during the pandemic period and that the current request of $20,000 is intended to maintain a reserve to support companies emerging from local colleges and universities amid uncertain funding from other primary partners.

Northampton County was represented on the KIZ advisory board by a county member (Marek) who participates in advisory funding decisions, the presenters said. Pam (board member) asked Treasurer Ron whether the requested funds would come from the GPA budget; Ron confirmed they would, and Charles (board member) suggested the Authority formally take up the request at the June meeting so the full Authority could consider it with the budget context. Several members expressed agreement with that approach and the chair concluded there was consensus to place the request on the next meeting agenda.

No formal vote was taken at the May 6 meeting on the $20,000 request. BEDCO representatives emphasized that the funds are primarily to sustain access to internships, small grants and shared maker space services that help early-stage companies move toward revenue and larger state-administered supports. The presenters also described local success stories—Mesomatic, Lord and Lily, Soltech and a new enrollee, Seagal Technologies—where KIZ support helped companies secure partnerships, awards or leases in the PIE incubator. BEDCO said it plans to consider a small inventory-financing revolving fund as a new program to address borrowing constraints for small product companies.

Authority members asked that the $20,000 request be added to the June 3, 2025 agenda with the Treasurer’s confirmation of the requested appropriation line; staff will present the request formally at that meeting for consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","May 6, 2025, General Purpose Authority Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Representatives from the Bethlehem Economic Development Corporation asked the Northampton County General Purpose Authority for $20,000 in primary-partner funding for the South Bethlehem Knowledge Industry Zone (KIZ), describing grants, internships and tax-credit administration that support local startups.","taxTitle","Northampton County, Pennsylvania","taxId",2939,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6248723,"Northampton County GPA members press contractor to finish bridge punch lists after invoices approved",474,280000,754000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3209298-eba586b888bdcf535ecd9bf84ca68d0e&start=280&end=754","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3209298-eba586b888bdcf535ecd9bf84ca68d0e/thumbnail_280000.jpg","/articles/6248723/Northampton-County/Pennsylvania/Northampton-County-GPA-members-press-contractor-to-finish-bridge-punch-lists-after-invoices-approved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6248723-46d92b821ad68917872e9f4778941ff9/orig.mp4?Expires=1775775949&Signature=Hd8sHEhPCph-ok0a0Kcm2hpU2aHxuMVL2HS0xVJZsCmhrWvtMky4vxtQBXBWFKbP3CTg9TG7nH-6zPMDe4SHAFjHZZ9-LMqHAeZmP-NhnC9CX2ni4JNBpqHTxHuJRdafhQGO0I7Xl~3ralDb~1FxSQL2AqBs7lBM56ahjvtuLPUCHlVHcOWV9MAJ30jU6dAGb8jMVW0~np3Xk-b9dSAjNoGwhl3sorPremIzsmF-V-1MNLq2cR2m42dgsnWPLdO8-sqhVYkETPSmDG15vuif1bQ1HoXdtRiueEVbaYPWveQjk6xGmvcRGL-TuMRAqVi6m090fr9Rs2vcTdNMWykgkw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Northampton County General Purpose Authority meeting on May 6, 2025, members received project updates on multiple county bridge repairs and raised concerns about approving final contractor payments while punch-list items remain uncompleted.

The updates, delivered by Greg (staff member), covered recent completions and outstanding items on several projects, including Bridge 124, Bridge 101, Bridge 41 and Bridge 54, and prompted members to question whether the Authority should delay certain payments despite having approved invoices earlier in the meeting.

Greg said Bridge 124 is effectively complete except for two items “waiting for the grass to grow” and for temporary utility poles to be moved; he noted Verizon has not responded to requests to relocate poles. On Bridge 101 he reported substantial completion was given on April 23, with three punch-list items remaining (a hazard sign on the eastern approach, incomplete pavement markings, and removal of a compost filter sock). He said as of the status call the remaining items were expected to be completed by the end of the week, weather permitting. For Bridge 41 Greg said only one item remained: working with the property owner to address landscaping, which Krieger planned to resolve by planting trees. At Bridge 54 he said completion remains contingent on a utility pole relocation by Frontier so Med-Ed can move a guy wire.

Members confirmed that invoices were reviewed and approved earlier in the meeting, including an additional late invoice added to the packet. The invoices listed in the packet included Alfred Benish and Company for $2,316.44, Norfolk Southern (amount read in the meeting as “18 42 and 77 cents”), and PPL for $31,125.45, for a total the presenter gave as $35,284.66. A motion to approve the invoices passed with all members saying “aye.”

After Greg’s update, several members said payment to certain contractors could wait until the outstanding items are finished. Charles (board member) said, “I see no reason to pay, if that's what you're asking,” and added that he thought the contractor “can wait a month” to complete the remaining small items. Other members noted that some punch-list items—such as installing a sign—could be completed regardless of weather and questioned why they were still outstanding months after inspection. Board members and staff repeatedly framed their remarks as requests for Krieger (the contractor identified in the report) to finish remaining items before final administrative closeout and payment.

No formal motion was made at that point to withhold or rescind payment after the invoices were approved. Authority members characterized the exchange as discussion of follow-up and expectations for completion rather than a binding change in payment status. Greg and staff said they would continue to pursue the outstanding items with the contractor and with utility companies where required.

Treasurer Ron had presented the Authority’s year-to-date financial statements earlier in the meeting. In that report he stated a year-to-date net position and provided figures for the general fund and the GPA capital budget project fund; he also reported year-to-date expenses of $32,203.95 and a reported year-to-date net of negative $30,590.29. The GPA capital budget project fund was presented as a pass-through account with year-to-date revenues of $126,848.89 and expenditures shown to net to zero. Several numbers in the Treasurer’s spoken report were transcribed unclearly during the meeting; staff confirmed copies of the financial packet were provided to members.

The Authority did not enter executive session and took no additional formal action on the bridge items during the meeting. Members asked staff to continue monitoring contractor progress and to provide a status update at the next meeting. That update will inform any administrative decisions on final payments or formal acceptance of remaining items.","At the May 6, 2025 Northampton County General Purpose Authority meeting, members reviewed bridge project punch-list updates and expressed preference to withhold final contractor payments until remaining items are finished, after invoices had been approved earlier in the session.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

BEDCO requests $20,000 from Northampton County GPA to sustain South Bethlehem KIZ program

Northampton County GPA members press contractor to finish bridge punch lists after invoices approved