158-B Northampton Street • Easton, PA 18042 • 610-330-9947 • 610-330-9950 Fax

Easton Business Improvement And Development Loan Program

You may be eligible for a loan with 2% interest if you are a commercial or industrial business located in or relocating to the City of Easton. This loan program seeks to provide employment opportunities by giving business owners incentive to create and expand their business in Easton.

Funds must be used for constructing or renovating existing property or purchasing machinery and equipment, including store fixtures. This loan must benefit the City of Easton by creating or retaining low or moderate income employment. Rehabilitation of property to enable occupancy is permitted. Projects must use some private investment

GEDP Loan Clients
Atiba Art Beauty Supply Easton Yoga Edible Arrangements The State Café and Grill 1125 Northampton Street (coming soon)

and measurably add to the economic activity of Easton. Special consideration will be given to projects that develop or rehabilitate vacant or unused buildings in the Easton Downtown Area or the Lehigh River Business Parkway.

You are eligible to borrow $15,000 for each job created, up to $30,000. These jobs must be filled by persons meeting Easton’s standard for low or moderate income status. A commitment to create these jobs is also acceptable.

Facade Loan Program

The Facade Program is a zero interest loan designed to help address or prevent any building code violations on the exterior of your building, help prevent the deterioration of the outside surfaces, enable historic rehabilitation and create a more visually appealing downtown Easton.

Funds must be used for the permanent rehabilitation or improvement to the building’s exterior. The rehabilitation must restore the building to its near original state. Restoration must fall within all building codes and standards. Facades include exterior walls visible by the public, gutters, signage, windows, paint, and decorative features, storefronts and windows.

The total loan amount will be based on estimates from three licensed general contractors. A two hour meeting with a participating architect is provided free of charge by GEDP.

Design Challenge Grant Program And Guidelines For Building Facade Improvements

In order to encourage rehabilitation of building facades and improve signage in the central business district, the Easton, PA Main Street Program is able to use funds from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to assist property owners in paying for improvements. Eligible buildings must be located in the targeted Main Street Area and must include commercial activity. Any exterior improvement will be considered for the grant including paint, maintenance, signage or facade repair.

Easton Enterprise Zone Loan Fund - EEZLF provides low-interest financing to industrial, manufacturing and commercial projects that will create or retain jobs in Easton’s Enterprise Zone. Funds may be used for building construction and renovation, machinery and equipment, environmental remediation and infrastructure. Loans are available up to one hundred percent of project costs with a cap of $50,000. Businesses must be located along the Lehigh River Business Parkway.