[Lehigh Valley, PA – December 23, 2020] Just in the nick of time, The Chamber is partnering with member businesses to support 100 local restaurants who are struggling through the holidays due to the current COVID mitigation dining restrictions. Last spring, The Chamber was able to leverage its $100,000 contribution and provide over $350,000 to small businesses.

Now, on Christmas Eve, they are putting another $100,000 into a fund for restaurants in Lehigh, Northampton and Warren (NJ) counties, and prioritizing those that did not yet receive other COVID-19 emergency relief. The Chamber is hoping to get more partners to participate to get at least another $50,000. This week’s initiative will have leveraged just over $500,000 total in direct payments to small businesses in 2020.

The Chamber Foundation’s mission is to support business on every main street in the Lehigh Valley. This is usually accomplished through beautification grants, but this year we have shifted to COVID-19 relief funding initiatives.

“Now more than ever, we are counting on our members who are doing well through COVID to help their neighbors who are not doing so well,” said Lorie Reinert, Executive Director of the Chamber Foundation. “Partners like Capital BlueCross, Boyle Construction, Dellicker Strategies, Embassy Bank, Fromm Electric and others didn’t hesitate when we asked them to pitch in.”

“Capital BlueCross has long been part of the Lehigh Valley business community, so we know the struggles that local businesses, especially restaurants, have faced during this pandemic,” Susan Hubley, Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility said. “As always, when we see a need in our community, we look for ways to help – and we’re happy to help restaurant owners during this challenging time.”

Applications will be accepted on the Chamber’s website from 9 – 10am on Thursday, December 24. Restaurants located on a main street or surrounding neighborhood are encouraged to apply.

Learn more: www.lehighvalleychamber.org/restaurantrelieffund

The mission of The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce is to improve the economy and quality of life in the Lehigh Valley Metropolitan Area. We accomplish this through business-to-business networking events and marketing products, affinity programs and exclusive, money saving member benefits, training programs, government affairs initiatives and public policy advocacy, and community development enterprises. With nearly 5,000 members who employ more than 220,000, the Chamber is the largest in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and in the top ten nationwide.