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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 the prior year, a signal that business retention has improved.
Diaz described the SPARK technical-assistance program, a grant-based program for Allentown-registered businesses with 50 employees or fewer that connects business owners with local experts for services such as legal support, digital marketing, website development and strategic planning. "This program has been an impactful tool in our toolkit," Diaz said. As of the update, 21 small businesses were enrolled and staff reported roughly 103 hours of technical assistance delivered, with plans to expand enrollment through the rest of the year.
Diaz also described city-managed revolving loan funds run with the Allentown Economic Development Corporation and a self-forgiving retail loan program intended to help businesses acquire equipment or real-estate needs. He said the office conducts proactive outreach—about 510 business engagements in 2024—greeting new licensees and following up six months after opening.
Council members praised the BEAR team’s hands-on work. Members noted examples where staff assistance was credited with helping firms succeed and pointed to the program’s role in increasing compliance with licensing and associated privilege-tax revenue. Diaz credited colleagues Michael Alcall and local partners; he also noted the office provides services in Spanish and coordinates with campus- and neighborhood-focused programs such as pop-up retail and parklet processes.
The update included communications metrics: a small-business social-media campaign devoted to business spotlights produced the city’s top-performing organic post of 2025 with a reach of 166,800, according to staff. Diaz asked council members to continue promoting the city’s businesses and programs.
No formal action was required; council members encouraged continued outreach and partnership with BEAR staff.
