Thirty years ago, business and community leaders made a bold choice: to market the region not as 62 municipalities, but as one Lehigh Valley. Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC) was created to forge partnerships to rebuild a diverse economy for the 21st century. 

Today, the Lehigh Valley thrives – named Site Selection magazine’s No. 3 mid-sized market for economic development. The economy is diverse and supports a historic high of 340,000 jobs. Median household income has risen to $81,000, higher than the national average. 

Lehigh Valley has reversed the brain drain of the 1990s. The population is nearly 709,000 – with young adults playing an outsized role in that growth. As career opportunities grow, the community has welcomed a more diverse population.

LVEDC continues to support this success – fostering collaboration between employers and educators to strengthen the talent pipeline, growing business opportunities, and leading a regional branding effort to showcase Lehigh Valley as a premier place to live, learn, work, and play. 

As we celebrate Economic Development Week, we are sharing six ways you can play a role in maintaining the Lehigh Valley’s vibrant economy.

Invest In Economic Development

LVEDC investors -- ranging from businesses to regional organizations -- fund strategic initiatives in business recruitment, retention, and job creation for all skill levels.

The Latest Data: $913,000+ in investments were made in 2024 from 150 companies and organizations.

Who’s Investing: Full List of LVEDC Investors

Why It’s Important: “We see the benefits of investing in LVEDC and Lehigh Valley partnerships to develop a skilled workforce of local talent, to support our recruitment and retention of employees, and ultimately create a thriving community for us all,” said Stephen Hoff, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Crayola and the Chair of LVEDC’s Board of Directors.

How to Invest: To learn more about investment, click here.

Use the Lehigh Valley Logo

Join us in promoting a unified regional brand. In partnership with Discover Lehigh Valley®, we offer a suite of logos for use in marketing, social media, and promotional materials -- helping everyone from small businesses to global firms and schools to community groups to reinforce our collective identity.

• Review the Brand Guidelines here.
• Learn more about the branding and logo initiative with this video.

Want to know why regional branding is important to your organization? Listen to explanations from the Lehigh Valley’s thought leaders:

Why Regional Branding Matters to Small Businesses and Manufacturers

Why Regional Branding Matters to Employers

Why Regional Branding Matters to Colleges and Universities

Why Regional Branding Matters for Visitor Attractions

Build Your Company’s Talent Pipeline through Internships

Recruiting new employees is one of the biggest challenges for businesses of all sizes. One way to create a pipeline of talent is through internships. LVEDC has developed resources to help.

• Download the Internships Resource Guide, which helps employers build a successful program and provides a directory of college and university career development offices.
• Attend LVEDC’s annual Internship Summit to network and learn best practices with educators and employers. Sign up here.

Share the Hot Careers Dashboard and Guide with Students

Help students explore growing careers in the Lehigh Valley through LVEDC’s Hot Careers Dashboard and Hot Careers Guide. These tools spotlight in-demand jobs across the region and provide a foundation for students’ career exploration.

• The Latest Data: The growing Lehigh Valley economy supports a historic high of 340,000 jobs in a diversity of industries, ranging from health care to manufacturing. Opportunities are growing.
• How to Use the Dashboard: Watch a tutorial video on the Hot Careers Dashboard.
• Go Old School: Download a copy of the Hot Careers Guide publication .

Share Videos of the Lehigh Valley’s Vibrant Economy and Communities

Showcase the Lehigh Valley’s vibrancy by sharing impactful videos that celebrate business success, talent development, and exceptional communities. They can be found on LVEDC’s YouTube channel.  

Among the Videos:

• So Many Peaks: a snapshot of the region’s economic strengths.
• LVEDC and Lehigh Valley: A 30-Year Economic Renaissance: Celebrating 30 Years of Successful Economic Development
• Use the Logo: The video encourages local businesses and organizations to use the new Lehigh Valley logo in their marketing.
• Why Branding Matters: Lehigh Valley is a vibrant mix of 62 diverse communities, offering everything from rich history and culture to top dining, outdoor adventures, and higher education. The video shows how boosting awareness of all the region has to offer benefits everyone who calls it home.
• OraSure Finds Talent in Lehigh Valley: Amy Steigerwalt, Senior Vice President, Human Resources at OraSure Technologies, talks about innovative, self-starting, and problem-solving talent in the Lehigh Valley.
• Olympus Finds Talent in Lehigh Valley: Richard Reynolds, President, Medical Systems Group of Olympus Corporation of the Americas, talks about why the Lehigh Valley is a great place to recruit and retain talent.
• Evonik Finds Talent in the Lehigh Valley: Robert Cuscino, Senior Vice President, Regional Development at Evonik, speaks about the STEM talent in this key hub location in Lehigh Valley.
• Have it All in Lehigh Valley: This 30-second video highlights the rich opportunities the Lehigh Valley has to offer, both professionally and personally.

Subscribe to LVEDC’s Newsletters to Stay in the Know

LVEDC publishes several e-newsletters to share information about the Lehigh Valley economy and its quality of life. Join the conversation and subscribe.

• The Weekly e-Newsletter contains articles to keep up-to-date on projects, economic trends, and more. Sign up here.
• The Talent Newsletter, distributed quarterly, provides information about talent recruitment, retention, and development. Sign up here.
• The LVstartup Newsletter provides information for entrepreneurs and business startups. Sign up here.
• The LV Connections Newsletter provides information about economic development priorities in the region for municipal partners. Sign up here.
• The Interest Rate Newsletter provides up-do-date information about interest rates for loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority. Sign up here.

To learn more about LVEDC and the regional economy, check out LVEDC’s latest annual report and Commercial Real Estate Reports (Q3 2024, Q2 2024, Q1 2024).