L-R: Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion’s Christopher Borick, a nationally recognized public opinion researcher who conducted the survey; Candace Moody of the Color Outside the Lines initiative at Community Action Lehigh Valley; PBS Reporter Brittany Sweeney, Alan Jennings, former executive director of the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley; and LVEDC President and CEO Don Cunningham

Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Don Cunningham was featured this month in an hour-long PBS program “Conversations: Life in the Lehigh Valley” where he highlighted the region’s economic growth and improving quality of life.

The interview program, hosted by reporter Brittany Sweeney, delved into the findings of a recent survey about perceptions of the Lehigh Valley.

Cunningham said the biggest change in recent years has been population and economic growth which has led to a balanced economy.

“Today, we have life sciences, we have med tech we have health care that’s abundant, and we also have a manufacturing economy that is the largest part of the economy in the Lehigh Valley again today. We have 750 manufacturers making every product under the sun and our largest employment sector is in the industrial sector, again,” he said. “People have opportunity.”

Other guests on the show included Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion’s Christopher Borick, a nationally recognized public opinion researcher who conducted the survey; Alan Jennings, former executive director of the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley; and Candace Moody of the Color Outside the Lines initiative at Community Action Lehigh Valley. To watch the show, click here.

The survey, presented on an immersive landing page dubbed “Life in the Lehigh Valley," examines the region’s changing demographics, education, environmental issues, the local economy and more through graphics, video, photographs and stories.

The survey results show a substantial majority of residents surveyed – 86% — describe the quality of life in the Lehigh Valley as “excellent” or “good.” Those who believe life is getting better credit the arrival of more business, better employment opportunities and more things to do in the region. The primary factors leading to pessimistic outlooks were perceptions of worsening crime, cost of living and overcrowding. Younger people had more optimistic views, and life-long residents tended to have more pessimistic views, according to the survey’s key findings.

Borick said the survey’s findings are a snapshot of perceptions in a moment of time and has to be viewed not only in a local context but a national one. The sample was taken in the fall during the height of election season when many campaign messages centered around crime and inflation was rising nationwide.

Jennings called for the need to focus community efforts on more affordable housing as prices increase and that the lack of it is “everybody’s problem.”

Moody acknowledged that the survey showed that a majority of residents had a positive view of race relations but also questioned how much could be gleaned from a broad question. She said improvements have been made but more work needs to be done.

LehighValleyNews.com, a local nonprofit local news website launched last year, commissioned the survey, which was funded in part by LVEDC and the Lehigh Valley Partnership.

The survey supplements LVEDC’s three-year strategic plan, released in 2021, which calls for research and analysis to increase the understanding of the Lehigh Valley’s economy and competitive position while staying ahead of new developments and economic and social change driving opportunities and challenges. It is important to know how well that data matches the public perception. Understanding the power and influence of perception in the market is valuable in marketing the region’s assets.

One of the Lehigh Valley’s critical economic assets is the talented workforce spanning diverse industries and occupations as well as across all education levels. Talent is drawn to regions with a high quality of life.

LehighValleyNews.com is part of Lehigh Valley Public Media, a community-owned nonprofit that is also home to PBS 39 and 93.1.