More than 350 interns working at companies across the Lehigh Valley for the summer joined together for one of the region’s unique talent development initiatives, one that offers great benefits for the community.

Intern Impact Day is designed not only to let interns make an impact on the community, but for the community to make an impact on them. 

On June 13, the interns participated in community service events and had the opportunity to network and get to know the Lehigh Valley more deeply, with the hope they will want to work here after graduation.  

The annual event is coordinated by the Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley, supported by Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC), and sponsored by Freshpet, Air Products, PPL, Crayola, St. Luke’s University Health Network, Olympus, Whiting-Turner, Barry Isett & Associates, ADP, and Mack Trucks.  

“We know that Intern Impact Day has become a means to summer interns making new friends, an opportunity to give back to our nonprofit community, and a contributing factor to their making the Lehigh Valley their home,” said Karen Smith, CEO of the Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley.

The Lehigh Valley is at all-time highs in economic output (Gross Domestic Product of $55.7 billion); jobs (more than 340,000); and median household income (more than $81,000, higher than the state and nation).

The population and economy both are growing. Lehigh Valley was ranked as the No. 3 mid-sized market in the U.S. in 2024, by Site Selection magazine.

Attracting and retaining talent is a top priority for employers, and since interns often go on to work with the companies they intern with, encouraging interns to get involved in the community roots them more deeply here.

Participating in Intern Impact Day were interns from ADP; Air Products; Barry Isett & Associates; Crayola; Freshpet; Lehigh Valley Health Network, part of Jefferson Health; Mack Trucks; Olympus; PPL; St. Luke’s University Health Network; Victaulic; and Whiting-Turner.

They began at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, courtesy of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, for a group photo and to collect lunches to keep them fueled for the day. Then the interns headed to sites throughout the Lehigh Valley, where they engaged in a variety of projects: cleaning, painting, gardening, packing food boxes, and more.

Many of these young folks are participating in their first professional experience as interns; on Intern Impact Day, they were also focused on giving back. Shae Billmyer, a junior at Lehigh University studying Population Health and a current Research Scholar at Lehigh Valley Health Network stated, “Part of the reason why I wanted to study Population Health and go into medicine was to help the community that I grew up in.”

Billmyer hails from just outside the Lehigh Valley, in Quakertown, and cited the Lehigh Valley’s location as desirable. “It really does have everything. You’re not far from Philly; you’re not far from New York; you’re not far from the beach. It really is such a great community.”

A fellow Research Scholar at LVHN, Chideraa Emma Ugwuoke, a student at Case Western Reserve University majoring in Biology, sees the appeal of the Lehigh Valley as well. Interested in pursuing a career in medicine, he recognizes the importance of living in a region where healthcare is accessible. “Having [healthcare] resources available is very important,” Emma-Ugwuoke said.

The Lehigh Valley’s excellent location and access to healthcare are well known, as are the growing opportunities for those starting a career. According to Omar Ehussini, a long-time Bethlehem resident, current Boston University student, and Operational Excellence Intern at Freshpet, “It’s the place to be” for building a career.

In a large city, Ehussini says, “you can sometimes feel like a statistic.” He wants to build a career in a place “where I feel like I can make the most impact … and where I can grow.”

More and more young people feel they can make an impact in the Lehigh Valley, which accounts for the recent growth in the 18 – 34 age group in the region.

While some areas are experiencing “brain drain” as members of the labor force move away or retire, the Lehigh Valley is experiencing a “brain gain” as more young folks stay in and move to the area for the opportunities that exist here.

The population between 18 and 34 years old has grown by nearly 3% since 2020, with Northampton County ranking among the Top 100 counties in the U.S. for growth among that demographic.

Strong internship programs are an important piece of building and expanding the Lehigh Valley’s workforce. LVEDC works with its partners to help employers create impactful internship programs.

LVEDC publishes an annual Internship Resources Guide and holds an annual Internship Summit where leaders from major Lehigh Valley employers and career services professionals from the Lehigh Valley’s colleges and universities share best practices and trends in successful internship programs. This year’s summit will occur July 23 at DeSales University. There is no cost to attend. Register here.

Many of the interns working this summer in the Lehigh Valley had never been to the region before accepting their positions. Several said they got a lot out of Intern Impact Day by connecting with their peers.