On October 8th, 2013, the Lehigh Valley Land Recycling Initiative (LVLRI) was awarded the Gold Award for a Multi-Year Economic Development Program by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).

LVLRI would like to extend special thanks to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the Environmental Protection Agency, and Lehigh and Northampton counties. Without the support of these organizations, this award would not be possible.

What follows is the official program description used by the IEDC for the award.

“The Lehigh Valley Land Recycling Initiative (LVLRI) focuses on facilitating brownfield remediation throughout the Lehigh Valley region of Eastern Pennsylvania. LVLRI is a project of the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC) and is funded primarily by Lehigh and Northampton counties. Since 1998, LVLRI has focused on improving human health and the environment by promoting the remediation and redevelopment of former industrial properties.

"LVLRI provides access to various sources of state and federal financing for brownfield redevelopment.  LVLRI is the only local or regional organization in the Lehigh Valley focused specifically on brownfield redevelopment. As such, LVLRI serves as the region’s single point of contact for financing Phase I and II assessments, marketing brownfields, conducting redevelopment outreach, and securing Pennsylvania voluntary cleanup and reuse of contaminated industrial property ACT 2 releases.

"LVLRI has a strong record of success in the implementation of seven (7) EPA Brownfields Assessment grants. The initiative works with public, non-profit, and private partners to maintain fiscal solvency.”