Northampton County is fiscally strong, a safe place to live and work, and focused on balancing economic growth and land preservation, County Executive Lamont McClure said in his annual State of the County Address. 
“We are on our way to being a model for others to copy all around the Commonwealth, all around the country,” he told about 170 business, community, and government leaders at the State Theatre in Easton on June 11.
“I truly believe that the Lehigh Valley is going to be a destination not just to live and play and work and retire - which it is a wonderful place to do those things - I think it's going to be the premier destination to relocate your high-tech manufacturing jobs to.”
The State of the County Address was hosted by Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. (LVEDC) and President & CEO Don Cunningham introduced McClure. State Theatre President & CEO Shelley Brown opened the event by welcoming the crowd to the theatre.
Northampton County partners with LVEDC, and McClure is a member of LVEDC’s Board of Directors.
“In terms of our balance of land preservation and economic development and job creation, we can't lose sight of either,” said McClure, who is in his second term as County Executive after serving several terms on Northampton County Council.
Northampton County seeks to attract more manufacturing businesses because they pay higher wages than other occupations, he said. He said while logistics is an important piece of the Lehigh Valley economy, he believes there are enough warehouses.
Manufacturing is a leading driver of the Lehigh Valley’s growing economy. More than 700 manufacturers generate a collective annual output of $8.1 billion, representing 16% of the region’s record $50.2 billion Gross Domestic Product.
Those companies will seek a place with a high quality of life for their employees, McClure said, and Northampton County is doing its part.
It continues to invest in building parks and trails, recognizing that ecotourism is an economic driver. And by the end of this year, the county will have preserved more than 20,000 acres of farmland on more than 270 farms. It also has preserved about 3,600 acres of environmentally sensitive land.
Quality of life begins with public safety, McClure said, and the county has focused on that, from managing the COVID-19 pandemic to preventing fentanyl overdoses to preparing for and responding to emergencies such as floods and train derailments.
More housing for people of all income levels is needed and creative projects like the planned conversion of the long-vacant Dixie Cup factory in Wilson into apartments are critical, McClure said.
Northampton County is fiscally responsible with taxpayer dollars, McClure said. Of the six annual budgets adopted since he was elected County Executive in 2017, five kept the tax rate steady and one cut taxes.
Since taking office, the county has cut $120 million from its budget, McClure said. It has kept about $50 million a year in savings, which may allow for another tax cut, he said.
“Your vital services are being delivered. We're not raising your taxes. We're cutting the size of your government. Your bond rating’s good. What's not to like?” McClure said.
The presenting sponsor of the State of the County Address was Workforce Board Lehigh Valley. Gold sponsors were BSI Corporate Benefits and Lehigh Valley International Airport.
The address was livestreamed by WFMZ. Watch it here.