The Lehigh Valley stands out nationally for its economic development success. It ranked second in the nation in 2022 among mid-sized regions for the number of new economic development projects that were completed or announced. The Lehigh Valley ranked fifth among regions of all sizes in the Northeast.
Those projects included:
OraSure Technologies, a homegrown life sciences company, completed an expansion to increase manufacturing capacity. The 139,000-square-foot addition to its facility in Bethlehem Township allows for the production of nearly 2 million at-home COVID-19 self-tests every week. The expansion created or retained more than 400 jobs.
OraSure Technologies held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for an expansion at its Bethlehem Township facility on Oct. 3, 2022.iDEAL Semiconductor, which is pioneering technology critical to the nation’s economic security, launched a $3.4 million expansion to allow for additional engineering and research development for a product it envisions as a game-changer in the global market. The expansion, at its location at Ben Franklin TechVentures in Bethlehem, increased its workforce by 63 new jobs.
iDEAL Semiconductor, located at Ben Franklin TechVentures in Bethlehem, is expanding as part of the region's growing semiconductor sector. (Photo/Ben Franklin Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania)Pet food manufacturer Spot & Tango opened a 66,700-square-foot facility in Upper Macungie Township capable of producing 32 million meals for dogs each year. The $20 million investment, Spot & Tango’s first manufacturing location, is projected to create at least 96 new full-time jobs over three years.
Products by Spot & Tango, a pet health and wellness company that opened a manufacturing facility in the Lehigh Valley. (photo courtesy Spot & Tango)B. Braun Medical celebrated the completion of a 310,000-square-foot expansion that will add 200 new jobs over several years. The $200 million investment nearly doubled the footprint of the company’s longstanding facility in Hanover Township, Lehigh County.
B. Braun Medical Inc. held a ribbon-cutting on Sept. 22, 2022 for its new 310,000 square-foot expansion in Hanover Township, Lehigh County.Italian company Travaglini chose Allentown as its first U.S. location to service its custom-designed machinery that dries, smokes, and ferments cured meats, cheese, and fish. Travaglini’s equipment is distributed in more than 54 nations, and it employs 135 people worldwide.
Travagllini designs and makes equipment to dry, ferment and cure food. (Photo courtesy of Travaglini)The mission of the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. (LVEDC) is to market the economic assets of the Lehigh Valley and to create partnerships to support the recruitment, growth, and retention of employers and the creation of jobs for people of all skill and education levels.
LVEDC collaborates with business leaders, educators, public officials, nonprofits, and others to carry out that mission.
Economic Development Week was started by the International Economic Development Council – the accrediting body for LVEDC. It is the largest membership association serving economic and community development professionals in the world.