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Lehigh Valley Talent Strategies Initiative Among Best in the World

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Lehigh Valley Talent Strategies Initiative Among Best in the World

Published Monday, September 8, 2025

by Paul Muschick

The Lehigh Valley Talent Strategies Initiative led by Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC) won a Bronze Award from the International Economic Development Council.

The Talent Strategies program, launched in 2015, convenes a diverse coalition, including employers, educators, and community partners, to align talent supply with regional economic demand. Data-driven strategies are produced to recruit, retain, and develop the skilled workforce that employers need to innovate and grow.

Strategies include the Education and Talent Supply Council, Internship Summit, and the Hot Careers Guide and Dashboard. Research is undertaken to identify talent gaps and measure perceptions of alumni and young professionals considering relocation to the Lehigh Valley.

Here are some of the comments from the IEDC judging panel:

“It shows deep, sustained collaboration with measurable outcomes, and demonstrates how data-driven tools and partnerships can drive real workforce progress.”

“Very robust initiative with demonstrated staying power given in its 10^th year. I like the focus on data driven solutions and metrics to access impact, the wide array of partnerships: industry, schools, colleges and universities, college and career academies.”

“The Lehigh Valley Talent Strategies Initiative seems like an integral component of Lehigh Valley’s thriving economic success.”

The Bronze Award for the Talent Strategies Initiative was one of three Excellence in Economic Development Awards that LVEDC won in this year’s competition. LVEDC also won Gold Awards for the Lehigh Valley Commercial Real Estate Report and for the LVEDC Annual Report.

The International Economic Development Council is the largest economic development association in the world, with more than 4,500 members globally. LVEDC is one of only 90 organizations to meet the council’s rigorous accreditation standards.

LVEDC competed against the largest economic development organizations in the world (those in regions of at least 500,000 people), many of which have bigger budgets and more staff.

Tags:News Releases, Talent, Talent Supply

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