The Lehigh Valley’s economic story continues to gain national attention — from being named the No. 1 mid-sized market for economic development to securing a historic $3.5 billion investment from Eli Lilly and Company.
Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation’s Annual Meeting on March 17 will bring together the leaders and partners behind that momentum to discuss what it means for the region’s future. The program will offer insights into the strategies, partnerships, and projects helping the Lehigh Valley continue its growth. 
Registration is required to attend the meeting, which will be held from 3:30-5 p.m. at ArtsQuest Center in Bethlehem. Register here. Registration will close March 13.
Here are five things to expect at the event.
Strategies That Create Opportunities
Lehigh Valley was ranked as the No. 1 mid-sized market in the U.S. for economic development in 2025, by Site Selection Magazine. The rankings, released March 2, are the benchmark assessment of economic development and growth by the corporate real estate, site selection, and economic development profession.
Guests at LVEDC’s Annual Meeting will hear how the region’s economic growth, particularly among a diversity of manufacturers, is leading to opportunities through a record high number of jobs and a median household income that exceeds the state and nation.
Lilly Lehigh Valley
A senior leader at Lilly will share insights about the company’s historic investment and highlight how Lilly is committed to becoming a community partner and resource.
Daniel VonDielingen, Senior Vice President-Global Parenteral Network Expansion, will oversee the startup of Lilly Lehigh Valley.
VonDielingen has been with Lilly for more than 25 years, holding roles in engineering, quality assurance, and operations across many sites and networks including drug substance, drug product, and external manufacturing.
Lilly’s pharmaceutical 925,000-square-foot manufacturing campus, planned to begin operations in Upper Macungie Township in 2031, will be the largest life sciences project in Pennsylvania.
It will create 2,000 construction jobs, 850 permanent jobs, and drive an estimated $14 billion in regional spending.
Why Lilly Chose Lehigh Valley
More than 300 regions competed for Lilly’s investment.
A panel discussion of local, state, and regional leaders who were involved in the negotiations with Lilly to locate their manufacturing campus in the Lehigh Valley will explain what convinced the company that this was the best location for its new campus.
In addition to VonDielingen, panelists who will explore the project will be:
Jay Biggins, Executive Managing Director, Biggins Lacy Shapiro & Co.
Don Cunningham, President & CEO, LVEDC
Ben Kirshner, Pennsylvania Chief Transformation & Opportunity Officer
The discussion will be moderated by Grover Silcox, a long-time television personality and five-time Emmy Award winner.
Lehigh Valley Trivia
What world leader in medtech relocated its North American headquarters to the Lehigh Valley in 2006? What forerunner of semiconductors was first mass produced in the Lehigh Valley in 1951?
If you answered Olympus and transistors, you’re ready for LVEDC’s Lehigh Valley Trivia challenge at the Annual Meeting. Participants will compete in real time using their phones, with prizes awarded to the top finishers.
Videos
At the Annual Meeting, LVEDC will debut new videos sharing additional information about Lilly’s record investment and share other videos highlighting Lehigh Valley’s exceptional quality of life and why global businesses put down roots here.
Capital Blue Cross is the Presenting Sponsor of LVEDC’s Annual Meeting. Cocktail Sponsors are BSI Corporate Benefits and Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba. Gold Sponsors are Alvernia University; B. Braun; Community Bank; Crayola; Fulton Bank; PenTeleData; Steamfitters Union 420; and WFMZ. Silver Sponsors are Evans Wealth Strategies; Hatzel and Buehler; HNL Lab Medicine; Lehigh Valley Health Network, part of Jefferson Health; Peoples & Co.; St. Luke's University Health Network; Suites at 462 Main by Hotel Bethlehem; Whiting-Turner Company; and Wind Creek Bethlehem. Community Sponsors are ADVANCE at Cedar Crest; Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania; CLA; Ethosource Office Furniture; H.T. Lyons; Lesavoy Butz & Seitz LLC; Moravian University-University Partnerships; OraSure Technologies, Inc.; PPL Electric Utilities; RESPEC; and ServPro Team Davis.