Big enough for opportunity, small enough to make a difference -- that’s what is drawing people to the Lehigh Valley, now among the Northeast’s hotspots for growth, according to a panel of professionals at the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation’s 30th Anniversary Annual Meeting. 
From “huge support for small businesses” to “a welcoming place where individuals can thrive,” the region’s blend of opportunity, community support, and quality of life is attracting the talent that is driving the region’s vibrant $56 billion economy.
“I always say that the Lehigh Valley is big enough to have a myriad of opportunities and small enough that every person can make a difference,” said panelist Karianne Gelinas, Vice President of Regional Partnerships & Talent Strategies at LVEDC.
The panelists shared what brought them to the Lehigh Valley, why they stay, and why others should consider the region.
Joining Gelinas on the panel were:
Shahnaz Hanna, Co-owner of Union and Finch restaurant in Allentown
Paul Hodges, CEO and Co-founder of Soltech Solutions in Bethlehem
Orville Trout, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Crayola
The discussion was moderated by Kassie Hilgert, President and CEO of ArtsQuest and a member of LVEDC’s Board of Directors.
The Startup
Hodges said he and his business partners were looking for a location with a strong entrepreneurial system to start their business, which develops state-of-the-art LED grow lights to make it easy to grow plants indoors in all settings.
He found Bethlehem on a CNN list of best places to do business, and they checked it out.
They found the community to be inviting and the business climate to be full of potential. Of particular interest was the Keystone Innovation Zone (KIZ) in Bethlehem, a designated area that fosters entrepreneurial growth in coordination with Lehigh University and Northampton Community College.
Administered by Bethlehem Economic Development Corp., the KIZ offers financial resources and assistance to early-stage companies. Since 2004, the KIZ has invested more than $11.2 million in more than 110 startups.
That’s where Soltech Solutions set up shop a decade ago. Hodges said entrepreneurs in the Lehigh Valley have a lot of resources to lean on.
“There's so many different avenues, just a huge network of support. I was surprised when I came here, just the amount of referrals I kept getting. And I learned so fast just by being introduced to more and more people, more and more resources,” he said.
The Small Business Owner
Hanna shared how she came to the United States from Jordan with her family when she was young. Her parents wanted a better life for their children, and they settled in New York City. 
It was there that Hanna met her husband, a Lehigh Valley native, from Whitehall Township. Seeking a place to raise their family, they relocated to the Lehigh Valley in 2012.
“That's why I'm here in the Lehigh Valley. I fell in love. I fell in love with my husband, and also the Lehigh Valley,” Hanna said.
She had been working in real estate and he worked in the music industry. They opted to try something different, found a restaurant in Allentown for sale, and went into business for themselves.
“There's huge support from the community that you get for small businesses,” Hanna said. “We’re very fortunate to be in Allentown.”
The Executive
Trout moved from Kansas City in 2016, where he had been working for Crayola’s parent company, Hallmark. He and his family quickly felt at home and have since become highly active with community organizations.
“The Lehigh Valley is a welcoming place where individuals can come to thrive and feel welcome,” said Trout, who serves on the Board of Directors at ArtsQuest and Lehigh Valley Inter-Regional Networking and Connecting Consortium (LINC).
“Organizations like ArtsQuest and United Way and others do a wonderful job and continue to uplift the standard of living here,” he said.
The Lehigh Valley’s location on the East Coast, a short drive to New York City, Philadelphia, and shore towns is appealing, he said.
The Boomerang
Gelinas explained how she grew up in the Lehigh Valley, left to attend college and then teach in the West, and returned to raise her family. 
“I'm really honored, and I'm really humbled, to be able to help a region that raised me now flourish and grow, along with so many partners who are here today and across the community,” she said.
There are a variety of living options, from rural to urban, Gelinas said, along with great restaurants and plenty of festivals and other entertainment options.
“We have a great family friendly environment here, which is why I think so many folks come or move back,” she said.
(Photos by Marco Calderon Photography)