The Lehigh Valley will increase its workforce by building workforce skills in alignment with local companies’ demand and removing barriers to employment, such as transportation and childcare, for people living in a targeted area in Allentown.
The programming will be funded by a $20 million federal Recompete grant that seeks to prepare residents of the Franklin Park, Center City, and Wards neighborhoods for employment and connect them with opportunities. Nationwide, 565 communities applied for a Recompete grant; only six received them.
Local, state, and federal officials lauded the funding as life-changing for Allentown residents by connecting them to jobs in manufacturing and health care, pillars of the Lehigh Valley’s growing, diverse economy. Health care is the largest employment sector in the Lehigh Valley. Manufacturing is a leading driver of the $50 billion economy, accounting for 16% of the Gross Domestic Product. 
“While the Lehigh Valley has seen tremendous economic growth, not all residents of Allentown have felt the benefits of that growth equally. Disparities in job access, skills alignment, and essential services like transportation and childcare have left some behind,” Mayor Matt Tuerk said at a kickoff event Aug. 5. “We are presented with an opportunity to change that narrative.”
About 120 leaders from business, education, workforce development, economic development, labor, government, and community and regional organizations attended the event. It was held at the new home of Eastern Exterior Wall Systems, created by the Allentown Economic Development Corp.’s redevelopment of the former Allentown Metal Works.
Alejandra Castillo, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, told the crowd the grant’s “transformational” opportunities are personal for her.
“I have family members who moved from New York City to Allentown. I have individuals who are near and dear to my heart, who love the fact that they have an opportunity to build their businesses and raise their families,” Castillo said.
Thirty-eight organizations, including Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. (LVEDC) will partner on the Recompete initiative. It will invest in skills training; improve public transportation; increase the supply of high-quality affordable childcare; and build a network of coaches to connect residents to opportunities.
Karianne Gelinas, Vice President of Regional Partnerships and Talent Strategies at LVEDC, was influential in leading a coalition that prepared the successful grant application.
She convened three of the eight working groups, bringing together partner organizations to draw on their deep local expertise and earned community trust to develop collaborative strategies that build upon the assets of each partner and magnify the impact on the community.
“The contributions and spirit of partnership among so many community-serving partners enabled us to innovate while staying laser-focused on growing systemic solutions to workforce challenges,” Gelinas said.
LVEDC President & CEO Don Cunningham participated in a roundtable discussion to start the Recompete program, joining Tuerk, Castillo, U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, among others.
“If we give folks those opportunities by knocking down those barriers, there are no bounds to what can be achieved,” Casey said at the kickoff announcement.
U.S. Rep. Susan Wild said the Lehigh Valley has “amazing industries” and they need a skilled workforce.
“We've got to ensure that every single person in our community has the tools and support and resources that they need to get those good-paying jobs that will allow them to succeed,” Wild said.
Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis was among those who attended the kickoff event.
“When we eliminate barriers to employment, we're creating ladders of opportunity so families can thrive,” Davis said.
The funding for the Recompete grants comes from the U.S. Chips and Science Act.