Articles that celebrated new manufacturers investing in the Lehigh Valley, the region’s blossoming entertainment industry, and cool billboards touting iconic companies were among the most-read in Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation’s weekly e-newsletter, the Lehigh Valley Insider, in 2025.
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The Lehigh Valley’s reputation as one of the top manufacturing regions in the U.S. was solidified in the first half of this year, as several longtime manufacturers expanded and others joined the market.
The investments will create up to 276 jobs and add more than 335,000-square-feet of space.
Many of the manufacturers offered the same reasons for investing here: a talented labor force, a location on the East Coast close to ports and major markets, and competitive costs.
2. Turkish Candy Company Investing $20M to Begin Manufacturing in Lehigh Valley
Kervan USA, a Turkish company that produces gummy, licorice, and marshmallow candies, will open a $20 million packaging and manufacturing facility in the Lehigh Valley.
The company currently has its U.S. headquarters here, in Whitehall Township, and packaging and distribution locations in New Jersey.
It will consolidate those operations, and later add manufacturing, at a 90,000-square-foot building under construction in Lower Nazareth and Bethlehem townships that is expected to be open next year.
“This location made perfect sense, both proximity to the ports and the workforce,” Gokhan Kacmaz, Kervan USA’s Chief Financial Officer, said at a groundbreaking ceremony on June 26. “We saw a big opportunity. All this made the Lehigh Valley a great location to make this investment.”
3. Billboards Tout World-Class Products ‘Made in Lehigh Valley’
Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation launched a “Made in Lehigh Valley” billboard campaign, anchoring the region’s name to the world-class products and companies that have helped define the community.
The year-long campaign began Nov. 3 with Crayola, which has been making its iconic crayons here since 1903, and will expand to include Freshpet, Mack Trucks, Martin Guitar, and more Lehigh Valley companies.
The digital displays, provided by Adams Outdoor Advertising, are located on Route 22, just west of Airport Road, and Interstate 78, just west of the Hellertown exit.
“The Lehigh Valley’s economic output and impact is much bigger than its size, and nothing exemplifies that more than the products made here that are used across the United States and the world,” LVEDC President & CEO Don Cunningham said. “We are grateful for the companies that call the Lehigh Valley home and proud of the products made in Lehigh Valley.”
4. Lehigh Valley Manufacturer Expanding as Demand Grows
A Lehigh Valley steel manufacturer is expanding so it can increase production to meet growing demand for its products.
Phoenix Tube Co. Inc., one of the world's leaders in stainless steel long products, broke ground recently on a 75,000-square-foot expansion in Bethlehem. The company makes stainless-steel tubing, rounds, squares, rectangles, and processed flat bar for ornamental and structural applications.
The expansion is occurring on a property adjacent to Phoenix Tube’s facility on Bethlehem Drive and will create new office, warehousing, and heavy-duty manufacturing spaces.
“The expansion of our Bethlehem facility is a crucial step in expanding our product line,” said Andrew Reale, President at Phoenix Tube.
Lehigh Valley technology manufacturers Coherent and Infinera plan to significantly increase their production capacity with federal funding announced recently.
Coherent, which produces silicon carbide materials for semiconductors in Palmer Township, reached a tentative agreement on Jan. 16 for up to $79 million from the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act. The expansion would create 320 new manufacturing jobs and could increase Coherent’s capacity by more than 750,000 substrates per year and more than double the output of epitaxial wafers per year.
“This proposed investment reflects a shared commitment to strengthening domestic manufacturing, advancing cutting-edge technologies, and creating high-quality jobs in Pennsylvania,” said Rob Beard, Chief Legal and Global Affairs Officer for Coherent.
On Jan. 17, Infinera finalized a previously announced $93 million CHIPS award, for construction of new facilities in Bethlehem and California. Combined, they are expected to create 500 manufacturing jobs and increase Infinera’s domestic manufacturing capacity by an estimated factor of 10.
6. America’s Oldest Nut Company Leases New Facility in Lehigh Valley
One of the Lehigh Valley’s most-storied food manufacturers is positioning itself to grow with the lease of a new facility.
Bazzini, which produces nut, fruit, and chocolate confections and is the oldest nut company in the United States, has leased the former Stuffed Puffs factory in Hanover Township, Northampton County, according to building owner J.G. Petrucci Co., Inc.
Bazzini was founded in New York City in 1886 and has provided peanuts to Yankee Stadium since 1923. It moved its headquarters and main manufacturing operations to the Lehigh Valley in 2011, in Upper Macungie Township.
7. These Five Facts Reveal How the Lehigh Valley Economy Has Leveled Up
At the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation’s recent Annual Meeting, which celebrated the nonprofit’s 30th Anniversary, leaders recounted a regional comeback story powered by innovation, talent, and momentum.
Faced with shifting economic times in the late 20th century, the Lehigh Valley made the strategic decision to use the collective strength of the region to market the Lehigh Valley and rebuild its economy through diversification, moving away from reliance on a few titans of industry and attracting a variety of employers of all sizes.
Today, the Lehigh Valley is experiencing an economic renaissance because of those partnerships that continue three decades later.
“You haven’t relied on others to shape your destiny. You’ve stepped up. You’ve made a difference,” said Jay Garner, a national site selection consultant. “This is a model for how regions can take charge of their own future.”
8. A Community Melody: The Foundry Recording Studio Seeks to Amplify Lehigh Valley Creativity
The partners behind a new creative space in the Lehigh Valley envision the venue as a “5-star resort for musicians, producers, and engineers.”
“That’s something we know we can do really well,” said Justen Blackstone, Founder and Vocal Producer at The Foundry Recording Studio in Bethlehem. “We want to go the extra mile and really provide that experience.”
The Foundry opened recently at 1885 W. Market St. It includes three recording studios, two rehearsal rooms, and three production/writing suites, all with state-of-the art studio equipment including microphones, audio mixers, hardware, and speakers. Along with a lounge and other amenities, the facility has about 6,000 square feet of space.
9. Don Cunningham: More Variety Today for a Night Out in the Lehigh Valley
Back when the Bethlehem morning air smelled like rotten eggs and the Philadelphia Eagles wore Kelly green uniforms, a night out in the Lehigh Valley was quite different than it is today.
In the year 1985, it most often meant going to see a rock n’ roll cover band play whatever was on WZZO (95.1-FM), the region’s top rock radio station, in one of a dozen old roadhouse taverns or inns tucked in and around Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton.
Like the sulfur-infused air created by the Bethlehem Steel coke plant, the places were gritty and a bit rugged, much like that era’s Reggie White and Ron Jaworski-led Philadelphia Eagles.
Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation’s Fall Signature Event, “Making Products & Making Places,” is shaping up for a record turnout as the Nov. 6 registration deadline approaches.
Celebrating the innovation and resilience that has shaped the Lehigh Valley’s economic renaissance, the event will feature an impressive lineup of executives from some of America’s most recognizable manufacturers Nov. 11 at Archer Music Hall in downtown Allentown.
Panelists will share what attracted their companies to the Lehigh Valley, what continues to keep them here, and how they’ve built products and places known around the world.
In addition to the discussion, attendees can look forward to a Lehigh Valley trivia contest, musical performances by the talented employees at Martin Guitar, and several surprises throughout the evening.
(Photos courtesy of Adams Outdoor Advertising, Bazzini, Donna Fisher Photography, Phoenix Tube Co., The Foundry Recording Studio)