Credit: R Kennedy/Visit Philly
The Bucks County Industrial Development Authority and the county are piloting a new program to invest in Bristol Borough small businesses.
Bucks County Commissioner Chairman Robert Loughery announced during Monday’s Bristol Borough Council meeting that the initiative will help small businesses along Mill Street by offering grants and low-interest loans for the replacement or repair of lateral sewer and utility connections.
Advertisements
The program will include a match from the business or property owner up to $20,000. One of the caveats that comes with the program has to do with the applicant committing to keep or create jobs.
Loughery said the initial project has $50,000 assigned to it. The program could grow moving forward.
In older towns and boroughs in Bucks County, there is a need for infrastructure upgrades that could help spur growth, Loughery said, adding the problem is also felt at the local, county, state, and federal level.
Advertisements
“We’re trying to pilot this here in Bristol because we think there is a need on Mill Street,” Loughery said.
With a focus on Bucks County’s main streets, the commissioner said the county has been working on ways to support small businesses.
Advertisements
Information for business owners and applications for the program can be found through Borough Manager Jim Dillon at Borough Hall.
Also at the meeting, solicitor William Salerno read a letter from Council President Ralph DiGuiseppe II that was written to “preserve the order of the meeting.” The letter asked speakers to limit their public comment to three to five minutes, keep comments to matters relating to the Council, stop personal attacks, and covered the rules of order. DiGuiseppe said the letter was needed after recent events at Council meetings.
