Lehigh Valley’s robust economy, growing population, and thriving quality of life are highlighted in the newly released 2024 Annual Report of Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC).
The 44-page report, and an accompanying timeline marking key events over the past three decades that shaped Lehigh Valley’s economic renaissance, will be distributed to those who attend LVEDC’s Annual Meeting on Tuesday. The report and timeline also are available on LVEDC’s website. 
The report documents LVEDC’s activities last year working with our partners to attract new businesses, to help existing businesses expand, to develop a skilled workforce for employers, to support entrepreneurship, and to promote the Lehigh Valley brand.
Highlighted in the annual report are the Lehigh Valley’s advantages that are driving economic expansion – including a skilled and ample workforce and a convenient, accessible location. The report shares stories of key new additions to the business community, new venues that are reshaping the region’s downtowns into vibrant destinations, and the strategies that have helped to grow and train the region’s workforce.
Lehigh Valley’s Gross Domestic Product is now nearly $56 billion. In 2024, Lehigh Valley was ranked the No. 3 mid-sized region in the U.S. for the number of new economic development projects. In regional rankings, Lehigh Valley was No. 5 in the Northeast, among communities of all sizes, beating out many larger communities.
The most important statistic is the growth in median household income, to a record $81,709. The purpose of economic development is to create opportunities for people of all skill and education levels, so they can find their own slice of the American Dream here in the Lehigh Valley.
In 1995, when LVEDC was formed, Lehigh Valley was facing shifting economic times, like the rest of America. The future required moving away from reliance on a few titans of industry, such as Bethlehem Steel, and attracting a diversity of employers of all sizes. The region also had to begin acting regionally, marketing itself as one community.
The 2024 Annual Report shares how that brand marketing has evolved three decades later, with promotional videos, targeted social media aimed at corporate decision makers, and temporary tattoos and T-shirts given to visitors at Musikfest.
LVEDC’s annual report has been honored as among the best in the country for each of the past seven years by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), which accredits LVEDC.
The report is designed by Michelle Chrin, who also designs several other LVEDC publications including the quarterly Commercial Real Estate Reports, the Board of Directors directory, and the Investment Opportunities brochure. The report was printed by Nacci Printing in Allentown.