In conjunction with the $17 million expansion project by the tech-incubator, Ben Franklin Technology Partners, located at nearby Lehigh University; Bethlehem’s economic department is actively seeking to create an additional technology hub within the city’s confines.
The hub will be created by renting the second floor of an old silk mill on Fourth Street that currently houses Rick and Rose Catelmi’s hardware store on the first floor. Extensive renovations such as adding elevators, modern bathrooms, and making the space handicap accessible, will transform it into 8,500 square feet of office space that can be leased to local tech companies.
This city plans to have this space available by the fall, and filled almost immediately with new business from the Franklin Technology group or from existing ones that have out-grown their space on the Lehigh campus.
A committee meeting is scheduled to consider all the options on how this venture should be financed. In addition to the office space, part of the financial plans include making funds available to offer loans to technology companies wishing to relocate to the area.
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