About Southside Bethlehem, PA.
Bethlehem's Southside Business District and its surrounding neighborhoods offer the ideal opportunity to balance urban living and working. Affordable homes and a diverse population are located in this dynamic section of the city creating a region which is both rich with history and forward thinking.
South Bethlehem was home to Bethlehem Steel Corporation, one of the nation's largest steel producers. Its landmark blast furnaces still remain as part of the new Sands Casino complex. Developed during the late 1800s, Southside's neighborhoods near "the Steel" reflect the prominent architectural styles of the era. The cultural diversity of the community echo the immigrant populations that settled in South Bethlehem over the past 150 years.
Recently, Southside Bethlehem has become a haven for artists, entrepreneurs and young professionals, attracted by the historic walkable neighborhoods and urban lifestyle amenities like parks, public transit, shopping and restaurants. It's no wonder that Bethlehem was named one of Money Magazine's Top 100 places to live and work. Visit The City of Bethlehem website for information on arts, theatre, festivals, dining, cultural heritage and more.
An Innovation Hub
At one time, Southside Bethlehem was at the center of the industrial revolution. Now, almost 100 years later, Bethlehem's South Side is at the center of a revolution of ideas and technology. With a large community of college graduates, and recently upgraded infrastructure, Southside Bethlehem has become an ideal place for emerging businesses.
Entrepreneurial and research support can be found at Lehigh University, Ben Franklin Technology Partners and the Small Business Development Center - all located within the KIZ. Join the dozens of startup companies already located throughout the KIZ.
For new companies seeking to take advantage of the new energy and innovation taking place inside the KIZ, the Bethlehem Commerce Center, located minutes away from the interstate highway system, offers prime industrial property in the region's largest rail-served industrial park.
BethIntermodal, a transfer facility for railway to highway freight movement, is at the hub of Bethlehem Commerce Center. BethIntermodal interchanges with two Class 1 railroads, Norfolk Southern Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway. With container service and storage available and the capacity to handle up to 10,000 lifts per year this facility is a magnet for transportation and logistics in the Northeast. Realizing the value of this great location, Conectiv Energy made an early investment by building a 1,110 megawatt power plant to serve the region's needs for years to come.
To learn more about how Southside Bethlehem’s KIZ can help your company thrive contact Steve Melnick, KIZ director at 610.266.7535 or smelnick@lehighvalley.org.