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City reports growth in business licensing and expands SPARK technical assistance; BEAR program highlights outreach
Summary
Allentown’s business development staff reported rising business-license counts, an expanding SPARK technical-assistance program for small businesses, and ongoing outreach efforts aimed at retention and recruitment during a council update.
City business development staff delivered an update on growth in business licensing and local small-business support programs, emphasizing outreach and technical assistance offered through the BEAR (Business Expansion, Attraction and Retention) office.
Dan Diaz, business development manager and director of BEAR in the Department of Community and Economic Development, said 561 city business licenses were issued in 2024, a 7% increase from 2023, and that year-to-date the city had issued 231 new licenses. He told the panel that the city sent 5,307 business-license renewal notices in November 2024, up from 5,284…
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