The Lehigh Valley is among the nation’s fastest growing mid-sized regions because of its skilled workforce, location in the heart of the Northeast market, and manufacturing heritage that dates back more than a century.
The economy continues to grow because of innovative industry leaders who are adapting to new technology and partnering with the region’s 11 colleges and universities and three technical schools to produce the talent they need.
Over the summer, nearly a dozen trade magazines and out-of-market publications explored why. Here’s a round up of five of those articles:
CPG Specialist: Why Big CPGs Like Nestle Flock to My Smaller Region to Make Stuff
CPG Specialist, a publication of the Financial Times that explores trends in food and beverage production, published an op-ed by Don Cunningham, President and CEO of Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC).
The piece delves into how the region has become a major center for production beverages and food for both people and animals. From Just Born to Freshpet, more than 116 food and beverage manufacturing businesses have acquired a taste for the Lehigh Valley.
Manufacturing.net: Schless Bottles to Relocate to Pennsylvania, Create 100 New Manufacturing Jobs.
Manufacturing.net, who provides industry news and analysis, picked up the story on Schless Bottles, which had been based in New Jersey, relocating to the Lehigh Valley.
Schless Bottles, a premium plastic jars and bottles manufacturer, is investing $7.5 million to acquire and renovate a production facility in Allentown. Over three years, 98 jobs will be created. Schless will receive a $300,000 Pennsylvania First grant and a $196,000 grant to train new workers, from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Allentown Economic Development Corp. is providing a $250,000 Enterprise Zone Loan.
Bio.News: The Lehigh Valley Is Paving the Way for Success in Life Sciences
An industry trade publication is telling the story of the growing life sciences ecosystem in the Lehigh Valley.
Bio.News, a daily news website exploring biotechnology and innovation, published an article Aug. 1 titled, “The Lehigh Valley is paving the way for success in life sciences.” Bio.News has a readership of about 20,000.
Written by Cunningham, the article explores the growth of OraSure Technologies from a startup in the Ben Franklin Technology Partners business incubator to a world leader with more than 700 employees and annual revenues approaching $400 million.
Industry Today: The Region that’s Bridging the Workforce Skills Gap
Industry Today, a leading manufacturing publication, held up the Lehigh Valley as an example of a region where the manufacturing workforce is growing despite national trends of a shortage of skilled workers.
The article explores the role the region’s talent-winning initiatives and partnerships with local schools, employers, community organizations and more plays in that success.
Expansion Solutions: Newly Expanded Terminal at Lehigh Valley International Airport
Expansion Solutions Magazine, a trade publication that tracks economic development news and trends, picked up a story about the $35 million terminal and TSA checkpoint expansion at the Lehigh Valley International Airport.
The story noted that the airport is an important economic engine for the region. Gov. Josh Shapiro joined U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and Congresswoman Susan Wild, who represents the 7th District, which includes the Lehigh Valley, at the July 28 ribbon-cutting ceremony.