The Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation’s Annual Meeting on March 21 drew more than 700 people to a 90-minute program that celebrated the Lehigh Valley’s economic strengths and accomplishments and featured a keynote speech by Gov. Josh Shapiro.
The event was held at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks in Bethlehem where the former blast furnaces of Bethlehem Steel Corp. are a symbol of the region’s economic renaissance and diverse economy. The redeveloped steel plant offers a nod to the Lehigh Valley’s roots anchored in its heavy industrial history, legacy of innovation, and transformation into a powerhouse 21st century economy.
The event marked LVEDC’s first live Annual Meeting since 2019. It was also live streamed on WFMZ.com Among those in attendance were U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, PA-7, Acting Secretary of Revenue Patrick M. Browne and Acting Secretary of Community and Economic Development Rick Siger.
Here are highlights from the program:
Gov. Josh Shapiro Delivers Keynote Remarks
Before a standing-room only crowd, Shapiro extolled Lehigh Valley's economic strength and said the region's success is an example of what could happen across Pennsylvania. "The Lehigh Valley has long been a driver of our economic progress, here in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, long been an economic leader. You’ve got a rich tradition, of course, in manufacturing and innovation," he said during his 21-minute speech. "The worldwide commercial success of Crayola to the cutting-edge medical device manufacturing happening down the street at B. Braun."
He pointed out that B. Braun Medical, which has its U.S. headquarters in the Lehigh Valley, recently unveiled a 310,000-square-foot expansion that will add 200 jobs. He said he marveled at the innovation as he toured the facility last year, and that innovation will have benefits for businesses downstream, he said.
“That's the kind of innovation and growth that I want to see not just more of here in the Lehigh Valley, but also across Pennsylvania,” Shapiro said. “This community is rich in both Innovation and opportunity creation.”
He said he saw that innovation first-hand when he spoke with Jared Isaacman, who founded a tech company called Shift4 that now employs 2,000 around the world.
“Two very, very different companies. Two examples where Pennsylvania is helping lead the nation in innovation and opportunity creation, and the Lehigh Valley is the driving force behind that progress we are making,” Shapiro said.
Shapiro said the region's economic success is the result of the strength of its unique partnerships between all levels of government and other organizations
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He called for policies that will continue that growth statewide. His appearance came two weeks since the governor unveiled his $44.4 billion budget proposal which contains key investments in Pennsylvania’s workforce and its manufacturing sector.
This speech also marked the first time a sitting governor spoke at LVEDC’s Annual Meeting.
Lehigh Valley Economic Update
LVEDC President and CEO Don Cunningham talks about the economic strength of the Lehigh Valley.LVEDC President and CEO Don Cunningham said the Lehigh Valley is experiencing a 21st Century economic renaissance that started when Bethlehem Steel’s blast furnaces went silent over 25 years ago and continues today.
“From this location, steelworkers made the steel that built the skylines of our cities, and the armaments that helped to win two world wars,” Cunningham said, noting the blast furnaces just outside the ArtsQuest Center. “It’s hard to beat the poetry of that. Today, we make a little bit of everything.”
From Crayola to Mack Trucks, the Lehigh Valley is home to more than 750 manufacturers, and manufacturing employment is growing five times faster than the national average. With an output of $8.4 billion, manufacturing is the biggest contributor of the Lehigh Valley Gross Domestic Product of $47 billion.
And the interest in the Lehigh Valley is growing among manufacturers and businesses in many other sectors.
Last year, the Lehigh Valley was ranked once again in the Top 10 in the United States for regions of our size in new economic development projects, placing second in the U.S. for regions of 200,000 to 1 million.
“What’s most impressive – and most important – is that those 46 projects were in nearly every sector of our economy – from life sciences to technology to health care to advanced manufacturing and lots in between. Our strength is a balanced economy,” he said. “We’ve been ringing up the wins. 2022 continued that streak.”
He said among the most "critical ingredient" to a region's success is talent because companies locate and expand where they have access to a skilled workforce. He noted that the Lehigh Valley is growing, getting younger a more diverse. The Lehigh Valley is among Pennsylvania's faster growing regions for young people. Colleges and universities in the Lehigh Valley produce 10,000 graduates a year.
Cunningham introduced two videos, which were produced by ASR Media, that tell the region’s story of growth and economic development. The videos are available on LVEDC's YouTube channel.
A 21st Century Lehigh Valley: Lehigh Valley’s Dynamic Talent Market
ArtsQuest CEO Kassie Hilgert, an outgoing LVEDC board member, facilitated a conversation about talent, a key driver of company location decisions. Employers are looking for growing communities that provide access the skilled workforce they need to be successful.Hilgert interviewed four people who followed their career aspirations to the Lehigh Valley. The panelists included:
- Trey Cornish, a senior project mechanical engineer at Lutron Electronics, grew up in North Carolina. An accomplished wrestler, Cornish was recruited by Lehigh University where he studied engineering. He interned with local companies and decided to stay and build his life here in the Lehigh Valley. He works at Lutron Electronics, a global lighting company known for its light-dimming technology, that is headquartered in Upper Saucon Township. In his free time, Cornish also coaches girls wrestling at Easton Area School District.
- Giana Jarrah is an Allentown native and recent Lehigh University graduate who launched a life science business With Meraki Co. Jarrah developed a women’s health supplement that won the 2022 Lehigh Valley StartUp Competition, Shark Tank-style pitch competition that showcases regional entrepreneurs and the innovation taking place in the Lehigh Valley. She is also a product engineer at ABEC.
- Nate Snyder graduated from Lehigh Career & Technical Institute and was hired as an apprentice at B. Braun Medical while he completed a Tool and Die Machinist Apprentice Certificate at Lehigh Carbon Community College. He interned at B. Braun’s global headquarters in Germany and returned to the Lehigh Valley where he is now an injection mold designer. B. Braun, which has its U.S. headquarters in the Lehigh Valley, recently completed a $200 million expansion to its production facility.
- Steph Wilbow is chief operations officer at Easy Signs, which makes high-quality, digitally printed signs. Wilbow worked her way up in the company, which is based in Australia, starting as a dispatch coordinator. She also worked as operations manager of the customer happiness team, graphic design team and front office before coming to the Lehigh Valley where Easy Signs opened its first U.S. location
Mayors Panel: Quality of Place Drives Economic Growth
Cunningham moderated a panel discussion with the Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk, Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds and Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr.They lead growing cities that are driving downtown renaissances with new residential construction, community attractions, office space and community investments. The quality of place taking shape in the urban core is attracting new residents, priming the pump for economic development.
The mayors recently announced the creation of a 3-city collaboration that will develop shared solutions to address issues common to all Lehigh Valley municipalities.
Leadership Award for Commitment to the Lehigh Valley
LVEDC honored former state Senator and current Acting Secretary Browne with its Leadership Award for Commitment to the Lehigh Valley.Browne has long been a champion for economic development in the Lehigh Valley and a dedicated partner with LVEDC in initiatives to grow the regional economy.
As a legislator, he helped secure state funding that supported Lehigh Valley economic development efforts, including the LVEDC-led regional talent strategies initiative, the Made Possible in Lehigh Valley regional marketing partnership, and the work of LVEDC’s Education and Talent Supply Council.
Board of Directors Recognition
LVEDC Board Chairman Ed Dougherty told the crowd that LVEDC’s partnership for economic development “is producing impressive results.”.
“Our partnership for economic development is producing impressive results,” Dougherty said. “We’re fortunate the LVEDC board represents a wide range of Lehigh Valley businesses and organizations with a shared commitment to regional growth.”
Dougherty, Senior Vice President & Chief Business Development Officer at Lehigh Valley Health Network, will remain on as the board chair. Along with Dougherty, the LVEDC executive committee includes Vice Chair Stephen Hoff, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Crayola; Treasurer Chris Brown, Senior Vice President & Director SBA Lending at Fulton Bank; and Secretary Dan McCarthy, Secretary of the Lehigh Valley Partnership.
Dougherty then recognized the changes on the board. To see a full list of the board changes, click here.
LVEDC Investment
LVEDC received a record level of $810,000 in sponsorship and investment from its regional partners, said Jamie Marie Whalen, LVEDC Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff.
More than 130 companies and organizations invested in LVEDC in 2022, including 18 that were either new investors or increased their investment. The largest investors in the coalition are Lehigh and Northampton counties. Their public-sector investment totaled $155,000 in 2022. She said LVEDC nearly doubled its private sector investment since 2013 and is almost 20% more from just five years ago.
The coalition led by LVEDC delivers a regional strategy and approach to shape, grow, and diversify the economy. The results have been impressive. Today, the Lehigh Valley is strong, resilient, and ready for the future.
"We succeed because we work together. The Lehigh Valley is unique and so is our regional economic development coalition," Whalen said. "We feel fortunate to have so many regional leaders and stakeholders in the Lehigh Valley who understand and prioritize economic growth."
Annual Meeting Sponsors
LVEDC would like to thank the sponsors that made the 2023 Annual Meeting possible:
Capital Blue Cross is presenting sponsor of the 2023 LVEDC Annual Meeting.
Cocktail sponsors supporting bar service for the event are Boyle Construction and Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba.
Gold sponsors are First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union, Fulton Bank, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Norris McLaughlin, and WFMZ.
Silver sponsors are Aesir Logistics, American Bank, Crayola, DeSales University, D’Huy Engineering, Just Born, Klunk & Millan Advertising, MKSD architects.
Community sponsors are ArtsQuest, CLA, EARTHRES, ESSA Bank & Trust, HMK Insurance, Penn Community Bank, Penn Strategies, Penntex Construction, and Promus Financial.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_raw_html]JTNDdmlkZW8lMjBjb250cm9scyUyMHdpZHRoJTNEJTIyNjAwJTIyJTNFJTBBJTA5JTNDc291cmNlJTIwc3JjJTNEJTIyaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ2b2QuZmllbGQ1OS5jb20lMkZ2b2QlMkZfZGVmaW5zdF8lMkZzbWlsJTNBYmltdmlkLXN0b3JhZ2UlMkZXRk1aJTJGMTY3OTQ1MTg0NS0xNzMzZjVjNDUwOWRlZTJlNzQzNWFhNWY4ZGM1MmVlYTYwYTBmZjBkLnNtaWwlMkZwbGF5bGlzdC5tM3U4JTIyJTIwdHlwZSUzRCUyMnZpZGVvJTJGbXA0JTIyJTNFJTBBJTNDJTJGdmlkZW8lM0U=[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]