Lansdale Small Business Owners Receive Nearly $250,000 in COVID Recovery Funds

John Worthington | The Reporter•

The Montgomery County Recovery Office presents a check of nearly $250,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to 15 small business owners in Lansdale as

Fifteen small business owners in Lansdale are on better financial footing after receiving nearly $250,000 in COVID recovery funds.

The check was presented by the Montgomery County Recovery Office Thursday afternoon on the steps of Lansdale Borough Hall. A handful of small business owners were present to discuss the impact of the funds on their livelihoods.

Bong Pil Yang of Yang’s Martial Arts School described the pandemic as "a very difficult time,” noting that his wife used her retirement savings to keep the school afloat.

"Everybody struggled,” said Yang. "This grant will help me pay the rent and other expenses. Here I am. I am surviving. I never closed my school during the pandemic.”

Tracey Waters of Soleil Luna Hair Salon purchased the salon on the cusp of the pandemic, which she described as a "shock.” While the salon survived the pandemic, the landlord recently sold the building, forcing the salon to move down the block.

"This grant is enabling us to move to that new space with new stations, and we were able to hire a new stylist,” said Waters. "The grant was just invaluable to helping us get back and move forward.”

Other grant beneficiaries included a cafe, a bookstore, a dry cleaner, a shoe repair store and a Mexican restaurant.

The grants are part of the Montgomery County Recovery Office’s small business grant program. Financed through the county’s share of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, the program provided small businesses with 50 or fewer employees and an annual gross revenue of under $500,000 with grants of up to $20,000. Special consideration was given to historically disadvantaged groups, such as women, people of color and veterans.

Stephen Barth of the Barth Consulting Group said that the Recovery Office took a proactive approach to the program, hand-delivering the grant applications, helping business owners navigate the application process and even finding translators when needed.

"Our existing businesses are strong and healthy with the help of this grant program,” said Barth. "And over 35 new businesses opened in Lansdale in the past year.”

Montgomery County Commissioners Ken Lawrence and Jamila Winder similarly hailed the grant program, underscoring the importance of small businesses to the community.

"You are the lifeblood of our communities,” said Lawrence. "You create jobs, you offer high quality goods and services and you give back to our local economy.”

"This was not a program that handed out massive bailouts to mega corporations. It aimed to support local businesses who truly make an impact in Montgomery County,” said Winder. "I know that the community of Lansdale is absolutely behind you, supporting you and excited to see each of you succeed.”

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