Investing in America tour comes to NEPA

SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — White House officials visited the city of Scranton as part of the Biden-Harris administration’s Investing in America tour.

They stopped in several small businesses to learn how they have used federal funding to start or expand.

It was a celebration as the city of Scranton awards its fourth round of ARPA startup and expansion grants to nine more businesses which makes 28 businesses in all.

Included in Tuesday’s recipients is a local coffee shop in Green Ridge and that’s also where Tuesday’s tour started.

The senior advisor and assistant to President Joe Biden, Director Tom Perez were in President Biden’s hometown Tuesday.

He and the administrator of the U.S. small business administration Isabel Casillas Guzman joined Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti on a tour through the Electric City.

Stopping in small businesses like Zummo’s cafe on Marion Street.

Out and about enjoying the warm weather

“What’s incredibly important about your investments is it’s not just putting people to work, but you took ARPA funds and you made sure you could lift wages as well,” said Perez.

Mayor Cognetti announced more than $540,000 was awarded to more than nine businesses.

Zummo’s Cafe was one of the recipients with more than $16,000 awarded to support recent renovations.

Co-owner Robin Berndt says the funding allows the coffee shop to provide a better experience for her customers.

“We were barely keeping up in our previous layout, and with the new redesign and additional money we are able to service our customers even that much better quicker and you know we’ve updated our style a little bit which is nice,” explained Berndt.

The Investing in America tour continued checking out other businesses that have benefited from federal programs.

Noteology on Wyoming Avenue received its own Scranton ARPA small business expansion grant last summer to support its move.

The “On & On Marketplace” a vintage shop on Capouse Avenue received an SBA loan to purchase the building in 2017 and covid economic disaster loan in 2020.

28/22 News spoke with administrator Guzman inside about the importance of shopping small all year round.

“When you spend money locally you know that dollar it comes back recycled into the community. It’s jobs that are local and then those folks are spending locally so every time you shop and that’s not just going into a store. It’s also online our small businesses are online selling in e-commerce,” stated Guzman.

Other ARPA funding opportunities for small businesses have included facade renovation grants.

There are many examples of those dollars at work in West Scranton or the Bulls Head neighborhood.

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