Don Cunningham, President and CEO of Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp., and state Sen. Jarrett Coleman are among the Pennsylvania leaders invited to a statewide forum where they will share successful and innovative strategies to better Pennsylvania's economy and workforce. 
The Economic & Workforce Development Summit, by City & State Pennsylvania, will be held Sept. 10 from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Hilton Harrisburg. Register here.
The goal of the summit is to address critical challenges and opportunities in expanding Pennsylvania's economy and workforce and how to create jobs, foster innovation and economic opportunity, and build more vibrant communities.
LVEDC’s Cunningham will participate in a panel discussion, “Changing PA’s Economic Trajectory,” with Douglas Brown, Deputy Director of the Dauphin County Department of Community and Economic Development, and Justin Frank, Senior Specialist / Area Sales Manager, Pennsylvania, for L3Harris Technologies.
Coleman, who represents parts of Lehigh and Bucks counties and is Chair of the Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee, will participate in a panel discussion, “Solving Pennsylvania’s Key Workforce Issues,” with Aiisha Herring-Miller, Deputy Director of Diverse Business and Workforce Development at Philadelphia’s Capital Program Office, and Kristen Rotz, President of the United Way of Pennsylvania.
An audience of 150 to 200 government officials, agency leaders, economic and workforce development executives, advocacy groups, business and technology leaders, media, and others is expected to attend the Economic & Workforce Development Summit.
The keynote speaker will be Jonathan Lovitz, Senior Advisor & Director of Public Affairs at the U.S. Economic Development Administration. Harrisburg Mayor Wanda R.D. Williams will deliver welcome remarks. The event emcee will be Greg Salisbury, Editor-in-Chief at City & State Pennsylvania, a print and digital magazine distributed monthly to a statewide audience of decision makers in business, education, and government.
City & State recently spotlighted the Lehigh Valley’s growing economy in its Special Report on Economic Development.
The Lehigh Valley’s economy is growing, with a record Gross Domestic Product of $50 billion. Manufacturing makes up 16% of the region’s economy, compared to 12% nationally. In 2023, the Lehigh Valley was ranked the No. 1 mid-sized market in the U.S. for economic development, by Site Selection magazine.
The Lehigh Valley’s initiatives to attract and retain talent, led by LVEDC, have been recognized nationally. They include the Education and Talent Supply Council, a collaboration of leaders in business and education that supports strategies that position the Lehigh Valley to attract, develop, and retain its workforce.