SLATE BELT RISING RECEIVES DONATION FROM NESTLE WATERS

Contribution supports community and economic development in Slate Belt Boroughs of Bangor, Pen Argyl, Portland, and Wind Gap

Nestlé Waters announced a $2,500 donation to Slate Belt Rising, a program of Community Action Lehigh Valley (Community Action), to support its work of fostering comprehensive community and economic development in the Slate Belt Boroughs of Bangor, Pen Argyl, Portland, and Wind Gap. Slate Belt Rising brought together the four boroughs to collaborate and amplify their collective voices to help strengthen their ability to compete with other communities for investment.

“As a member of the Slate Belt community, Nestlé Waters was pleased to support the work of Slate Belt Rising,” said Eric Andreus, Natural Resource Manager at Nestlé Waters North America Inc. “The Slate Belt community has a rich history, and the work being done by Slate Belt Rising is strengthening the community through several important initiatives. We are proud to be a part of making a positive impact in the region.”

Since 2016, Slate Belt Rising has secured, leveraged and invested over $1 million in projects throughout the Slate Belt, across a number of project focus areas including façade improvements, community events, youth programming, streetscape improvements, and municipal planning.

Most recently, Slate Belt Rising launched a Commercial Lease Subsidy Program to attract new and expanding businesses to the Boroughs of Bangor, Pen Argyl, Portland, and Wind Gap. The pilot program provides financial support to a minimum of five businesses during their first six months of operation.

“We are thrilled to offer our thanks to Mr. Andreus and his many colleagues at Nestlé Waters for supporting our effort to make a long-overlooked region in northern Northampton County a better place,” said Stephen Reider, Director of Slate Belt Rising. “For this proud but struggling community, support like theirs can make a profound difference.”

About Community Action

Community Action operates a wide range of programs designed to improve the quality of life for low-income people in the region. Those programs include the Second Harvest Food Bank, the Sixth Street Shelter, housing initiatives like homeownership counseling and foreclosure mitigation, rehab and new construction. The agency operates entrepreneurial programs that make loans and offer small business training. It also does extensive neighborhood revitalization work in downtown Allentown, south Bethlehem and the Slate Belt, ranging from façade improvements and creating pocket parks to planting trees and streetscaping. Only 32% of its budget comes from government funding, a proportion without equal among more than 1,000 Community Action Agencies in the nation.

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