Lehigh County to Ponder Use of $1.78 Million in Federal Funds; $283,729 Allocated for Administration, and $15,000 for Therapeutic Riding?

July 1, 2026

— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs

Lehigh County has $1.78 million to dole out courtesy of two federal programs.

The county expects a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) of $1.3 million and another $478,000 from HOME Investment Partnership. The proposed uses of the money will be presented at a public hearing July 14.

Most of the proposed uses are public, such as money for road work and sewers. A hefty $283,729, or 16%, goes to administration.

Then there are some smaller grants proposed for food, veterans’ housing and an interesting one, $15,000 for “therapeutic riding” at Manito Equestrian Center in South Whitehall Township.

It looks like an interesting place, but is this the kind of thing federal dollars should go toward? Perhaps. I’d like somebody to explain this and other grants at the hearing.

Another $15,000 is designated for mental health therapy. Is this for any county resident, even somebody flipping out over a property-tax bill?

Our government compels us to send it money. That money goes to the military and federal departments and funds a huge bureaucracy and a lot of pensions, and now and then the government sends a little back via grants. Lots of money disappears along the way.

Back in the old days, I remember local government deciding which social clubs deserved a new bathroom and then sending money their way. That was a ridiculous exercise.

I’m not sure where some of these 2026 uses fit in to the public good, but all will be explained I hope at the public hearing. I’d like to see money go to something that benefits all taxpayers. Roads, for example, and not something as vague as “outreach.”

Lehigh County should at least make a good case for each use and explain why some boroughs will get money for road repairs, while others don’t.

The review of the 2026 Annual Action Plan (it’s an action plan, not an inaction plan) will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, July 14 in Room 524 of the Lehigh County government center, 17 S. Seventh St., Allentown.

Here’s the notice of the public hearing as posted in The Morning Call classified advertising section. I was not able to find it on the county website yet:

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
FY 2026 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN
Notice is hereby given that Lehigh County, Pennsylvania will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at 1:00 p.m., prevailing time, in Room 524 of the Government Center, 17 South Seventh Street, Allentown, PA.
The Government Center and the Public Hearing Room are accessible to persons with physical disabilities. If special arrangements are needed to accommodate residents in order for them to participate in the public hearing, please call Ms. Laurie A. Moyer, Grants & Housing Manager, at (610) 871-1964 or by email at LCCOMMDEV@LEHIGHCOUNTY.ORG to make arrangements. Persons with hearing and/or speech impediments may contact Lehigh County through the “Pennsylvania Relay Service” by dialing “7-1-1” or going online to http://www.parelay.net. If requested, a foreign language and/or sign language interpreter will be provided if the County is notified three (3) days in advance of the meeting.
The purpose of this public hearing is to present the FY 2026 Lehigh County Annual Action Plan which shows the proposed use of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) funds. Lehigh County has been notified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that it is eligible to receive a Federal CDBG allocation of $1,299,773 and HOME allocation of $477,899.43. The FY 2026 Annual Action Plan must be submitted to HUD on or before August 14, 2026, to receive FY 2026 Federal funds.
In order to obtain the views of residents, public agencies and other interested parties, Lehigh County has placed the FY 2026 Annual Action Plan on display from July 1, 2026 through July 31, 2026 at the following locations in Lehigh County, as well as the Lehigh County website – http://www.lehighcounty.org/Departments/Community-Economic-Development:
– Lehigh County Department of Community and Economic Development – Lehigh County Government Center, 17 South 7th Street, Allentown, PA 18101
– Catasauqua Public Library – 302 Bridge Street, Catasauqua, PA 18032
– Coplay Library – 49 South 5th Street, Coplay, PA 18037
– Emmaus Public Library – 11 East Main Street, Emmaus, PA 18049
– Lower Macungie Library – 3400 Brookside Road, Macungie, PA 18062
– Parkland Community Library – 4422 Walbert Avenue, Allentown, PA 18104
– Slatington Library – 650 Main Street, Slatington, PA 18080
– Southern Lehigh Public Library – 3200 Preston Lane, Center Valley, PA 18034
– Whitehall Township Public Library – 3700 Mechanicsville Road, Whitehall, PA 18052
These documents will be available to the public during normal hours of operation for a period of thirty (30) days until July 31, 2026 after which time the FY 2026 Annual Action Plan will be submitted to HUD on or before August 14, 2026, for HUD approval.
The proposed FY 2026 Annual Action Plan was prepared in accordance with the County’s Five-Year Consolidated Plan for FY 2024-2028 and after conducting public hearings on the housing and community development needs in Lehigh County.
The County’s FY 2026 CDBG Program Year begins October 1, 2026, and ends September 30, 2027.
The County proposes to use the FY 2026 HUD funds it receives as described below, subject to public comments received and the approval by the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners:
Summary of FY 2026 Annual Action Plan
FY 2026 CDBG Allocation $ 1,299,773.00
FY 2026 HOME Allocation $ 477,899.43
Total: $ 1,777,672.43
FY 2026 CDBG Program Budget:
Lehigh County proposes to undertake the following activities with the FY 2026 CDBG funds:
1. Black Heritage Association of the Lehigh Valley – Section 3 Training – $20,000.00
2. North Penn Legal Services – Fair Housing Outreach – $4,000.00
3. CDBG Administration – $235,954.00
4. Aspire – Mental Health Therapy – $15,000.00
5. Communities in Schools – LCTI Support – $15,000.00
6. CALV – Second Harvest Food Bank – $35,000.00
7. HonorBridge Veterans Housing Corp – $22,059.00
8. LCTI – Workforce Training – $20,000.00
9. LVCIL – PLACE – $18,913.00
10. Manito – Therapeutic Riding – $15,000.00
11. North Penn Legal Services – $15,000.00
12. Via of the Lehigh Valley – $125,000.00
13. Catasauqua Borough – Curb Cuts – $89,100.00
14. Coplay Borough – Fire Equipment Replacement – $122,912.00
15. Emmaus Borough – Curb Cuts – $24,190.00
16. Fountain Hill Borough – Curb Cuts – $199,650.00
17. LCDCED – Main Street Initiatives – $100,000.00
18. Salisbury Borough – Sewer Slip Lining – $70,000.00
19. Slatington Borough – Road Reconstruction – $152,995.00
Total CDBG: $1,299,773.00
FY 2026 HOME Program Budget:
Lehigh County proposes to undertake the following activities with the FY 2026 HOME funds:
1. HOME Administration – $47,789.00
2. CHDO Set-Aside – $71,685.00
3. Affordable Housing Project – $358,425.43
Total HOME: $477,899.43
All interested residents are encouraged to attend this public hearing and they will be given the opportunity to present oral or written testimony concerning the proposed use of CDBG funds under the FY 2026 Annual Action Plan. Written comments may be addressed to Ms. Laurie A. Moyer, Grants Management Specialist, Government Center, 17 South Seventh Street, Allentown, PA 18101, or by email at LCCOMMDEV@LEHIGHCOUNTY.ORG or oral comments may be made by calling (610) 871-1964.
Laurie A Moyer
Grants Management Specialist
Lehigh County
94004