Lisa Boscola’s Office Comments on Her Support of the Bethlehem Co-Op Boondoggle

Oct. 2, 2025

— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs

Back in 2022, state Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Bethlehem) announced a $100,000 state grant for what was then known as the Bethlehem Food Co-Op.

I’ve been asking about that, and yesterday I heard back from the senator’s office.

Now it’s known as the Bethlehem Co-Op Market, but to me, it will always be the Bethlehem Boondoggle: a private enterprise afloat on the public dole. At least $3.1 million of taxpayers’ dollars, mostly federal, went to this 250 E. Broad St. boondoggle, which is still not open.

I have also talked with the City of Bethlehem about its support and had exchanges via phone or email with City Controller George Yasso and three members of City Council.

I still don’t understand how anybody figured this project was worthy of public money — my money — and why better tabs haven’t been kept on the boondoggle.

Unfortunately, our government is bi-partisan in one respect: at all levels, Republicans and Democrats reward donors, supporters and interest groups with tax dollars. The rest of us pay for it.

I can’t do much about it, but I hope local officials will think twice before committing public dollars to private boondoggles.

The senator’s office responded Tuesday to my inquiry about the grant. Below, the comment from Joseph Kelly, Boscola’s chief of staff:

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The grant was announced back in 2022.  The food co-op leadership team at the time came to us for assistance because Covid had greatly impacted the costs for construction.  Our understanding back then was that the co-op was always going to sell food and that members would get discounts.

The Senator provides grants to a variety of projects both for profit, not for profit and local government projects across her district. A food co-op or new grocery store in the Northside of Bethlehem in that area had been a priority for several administrations in the City.  

We are unaware of how much other money the city or federal government have directed to the project.  No one from the co-op has contacted us for additional grant dollars since the 2022 grant.

Thanks

Joe

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And that’s all for today on the Bethlehem Boondoggle, beyond my reposting of Boscola’s 2022 announcement. Note, by late 2022, the opening date had been moved back to 2023. Now it’s October 2025 and the year is winding down fast:

Bethlehem, September 9, 2022 – – State Senator Lisa Boscola announced today that she has secured a $100,000 grant for the Bethlehem Food Co-Op to assist in the construction of the kitchen at the community owned grocery store to be located in Bethlehem’s downtown.

“The Bethlehem Food Co-Op will meet a critical need for a grocery store in the northern section of Bethlehem’s Downtown and it’s kitchen will play a critical role in the Co-Op’s goal of providing nutritious foods to its customers,” Senator Boscola stated. “The Bethlehem Food Co-Op’s overall goal is to provide healthy affordable food with an emphasis on locally sourced food to improve access to healthy foods and thus improve the public health of our community.  This is a goal more than worthy of this state funding,” Boscola added.

The $100,000 state grant will be used by the Bethlehem Food Co-Op for construction related activities associated with the facility’s kitchen on the site of the Food Co-Op, which will be located at 250 E. Broad Street in Bethlehem.

“On behalf of the Bethlehem Food Co-Op Board of Directors, we would like to thank Senator Boscola for her commitment to addressing the issue of food insecurity and her efforts to secure funding to support this much needed community owned grocery store located at 250 E. Broad Street in Bethlehem,” said Carol Ritter, Board Chair.  “This funding will help our dream become reality.”

Co-Op’s are independent organizations owned, operated, and financed by its members, committed to the people it serves and the communities in which they live.  Currently, the Bethlehem Food Co-Op has over 1,100 members and the store is expected to open in 2023.