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businessclimate.com/lehigh-valley
ECONOMIC DeVeLOPMeNT
Investment in downtown development energizes area cities Education, health care fuel jobs, innovation
LEHIGH vALLEY
ECONOMIC DeVeLOPMeNT
CONTENTS
20
MANUFACtUrING
26
EDS AND MeDS
32
FOOD AND BeVerAGe INDUStrY
38
TrANSPOrtAtION
ON THE MOVE
A strong infrastructure that includes interstates, airports and rail lines connects Lehigh Valley to customers and suppliers in major population centers in the U.S. and around the world.
Lehigh Valley offers top food and beverage producers, such as Ocean Spray and Coca-Cola, the right ingredients for growth and prosperity.
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CONTENTS
ON THe COVeR A worker assembles steel-string acoustic guitars at Nazareth-based C.F. Martin & Company, one of many manufacturers making iconic products in Lehigh Valley.
Photo by Michael Tedesco
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42
11 OVERVIEW 12 DISCOVER 50 ECONOMIC PROFILE
61 51
46
EDUCAtION
17
BUSINeSS CLIMAte
57
LIVABILItY
A VIVACIOUS VALLEY
Lehigh Valley communities offer unrivaled culture, attractions and quality of life appeal
Lehigh Valley boasts one of the hottest business climates in the country
42
ENerGY/TeCHNOLOGY
51
61
ACCELERATING INNOVATION
Incubators, enterprise zones, mentors and capital give Lehigh Valley technology firms a strong start
QUALItY OF LIFe
HeALtH CAre
DOWNTOWN VITALIZATION
Public and private investments pump life, economic vitality back into downtowns across Lehigh Valley
ON CALL
Lehigh Valley health care providers expand services, reach into communities
All or part of this magazine is printed with soy ink on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste. PLeAse ReCYCLe THIs MAGAZINe
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Whats on businessclimate.com/lehigh-valley
Business Climate
Read more about the competitive advantages of the Lehigh Valley.
Online
Cool Companies Trends
Meet more innovative, fast-growth businesses finding success in the region. Learn more about whats shaping business in the Lehigh Valley.
Top Employers
Find out who the major players are in the Lehigh Valley.
Demographics
Drill down on the numbers behind the regions powerhouse economy with a full set of statistics and data.
Top Industries
Learn more about the key industry sectors and top companies that make the region work.
LEHIGH VALLEY
businessclimate.com/lehigh-valley
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Investment in downtown development energizes area cities Education, health care fuel jobs, innovation
Tablet
Take the region with you with a digital edition optimized for tablet viewing.
LEHIGH VALLEY
2014 edITION VOLUMe 1
eCONOMIC deVeLOPMeNT
EdITOR | EmilY mCmacKiN CONTRIBUTING WRITeRs | Marc ActoN, PamEla CoYlE, NaNcY MaNN JacKsoN, JoE Morris, StEpHaNiE VoZZa, GarY WollENHaupt CONTeNT COORdINATOR | JEssica WalKEr BoEHm STAFF WRITeR | KEviN LitwiN PROOFReAdING MANAGeR | RavEN PEttY LeAd desIGNeR | matt wEst SeNIOR GRAPHIC DesIGNeRs | StacEY Allis, Laura GallagHEr, Kris SEXtoN, JaKE SHorEs, ViKKi Williams GRAPHIC DesIGNeRs | jacKiE ciulla, liNdsEY HiggiNs, KacEY PassmorE CReATIVe TeCHNOLOGY ANALYsT | BEcca ArY LeAd PHOTOGRAPHeR | micHaEl tEdEsco SeNIOR PHOTOGRAPHeRs | JEff AdKiNs, BriaN McCord STAFF PHOTOGRAPHeRs | MicHaEl CoNti, wENdY jo obarr, fraNK OrdoEZ COLOR IMAGING TeCHNICIAN | alisoN HuNtEr INTeGRATed MedIA MANAGeR | art davis SALes SUPPORT PROJeCT MANAGeR | Sara QuiNt SALes SUPPORT COORdINATOR | CHristiNa MorgaN Ad PROdUCTION MANAGeR | KatiE MiddENdorf Ad TRAFFIC AssIsTANTs | KrYstiN LEmmoN, Patricia MoisaN WeB PROJeCT MANAGeR | David DAY WeB DeVeLOPeR I | NEls NosEwortHY WeB DesIGNeR II | ricHard stEvENs DIGITAL PROJeCT MANAGeR | Jill RidENour DIGITAL PROdUCTs desIGNeR | Erica lamplEY
CHAIRMAN | GrEg THurmaN PResIdeNT/PUBLIsHeR | Bob ScHwartZmaN EXeCUTIVe VICe PResIdeNT | RaY LaNgEN SeNIOR V.P./SALes | Todd PottEr SeNIOR V.P./CLIeNT DeVeLOPMeNT | JEff HEEfNEr SeNIOR V.P./OPeRATIONs | CasEY HEstEr V.P./SALes | JarEK SwEKosKY V.P./CONTeNT OPeRATIONs | NatasHa LorENs MedIA TeCHNOLOGY DIReCTOR | CHristiNa CardEN PHOTOGRAPHY DIReCTOR | JEffrEY S. Otto WeB seRVICes DIReCTOR | AllisoN davis CONTROLLeR | CHris DudlEY SeNIOR ACCOUNTANT | Lisa OwENs ACCOUNTs PAYABLe COORdINATOR | Maria McFarlaNd ACCOUNTs ReCeIVABLe COORdINATOR | DiaNa IafratE IT DIReCTOR | DaNiEl caNtrEll EXeCUTIVe SeCReTARY | KristY GilEs HUMAN ResOURCes MANAGeR | PEggY BlaKE
Lehigh Valley Economic Development Guide is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation. For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by email at info@jnlcom.com. FOR MORe INFORMATION, CONTACT: Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation 2158 Ave. C, Ste. 200 Bethlehem, PA 18017 Phone: (610) 266-6775 Fax: (610) 266-7623 www.lehighvalley.org VIsIT LEHIGH VAllEY ECONOMIC DEvElOPMENT GUIdE ONLINe AT BUsINessCLIMATe.COM/LeHIGH-VALLeY Copyright 2014 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Ste. 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent. Member Member The Association of Magazine Media Custom Content Council
Ensuring a world-class workforce delivery system to meet business and industry needs.
The Lehigh Valley Workforce Investment Board, Inc. assures that the employment, training, labor market services and data you receive through our workforce delivery system are professional, comprehensive and on target. Patricia Hartwell, Chair Lehigh Valley Workforce Investment Board, Inc.
The premier Lehigh Valley workforce system designed to meet business and industrys workforce needs.
Access to the Pennsylvania JobGatewaySM job-matching system Hiring resources through Keystone Works and On-the-Job Training Recruitment, screening and candidate referral Rapid response services for industry start-ups and right-sizing Labor market data, tax credits, wage and benefits information Training, education, assessments and business resources Targeted job fairs customized to workforce needs Industry Partnership incumbent worker training resources Connections to a diverse community network
For more information, please contact the PA CareerLink Lehigh Valley Employer Services Team at 610-841-1006 or visit our website at www.careerlinklehighvalley.org.
OVerVIeW
For more information, contact: Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation 2158 Avenue C, Bethlehem, PA (610) 266-6775 www.lehighvalley.org
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STRIKING A CHORd
Some of the worlds best known brands have their roots in Lehigh Valley, and are still made in the region. For more than 175 years, C.F. Martin & Company has been producing its handcrafted guitars and ukuleles in Nazareth. The largest, most respected manufacturer of acoustic guitars and acoustic guitar strings in the U.S. also produces vintage recreations, limited and special editions, and travel and backpacker guitars. Fans can design their own Martin through the companys custom shop or tour the factory. Other local companies known for their iconic products include: Crayola: Makes 3 billion crayons a year enough to circle the globe six times from its Forks Township factory, which employs 1,200 workers. Just Born Quality Confections: Produces 2 billion marshmallow Peeps a year at its Bethlehem plant, along with Hot Tamales, Mike and Ike candies, and Teenee Beanee Jelly Beans. Majestic Athletic: Makes uniforms from its Palmer Township facility for every Major League Baseball and National Basketball Association team, along with jerseys for college athletes and sports fans. Allen Organ Company: Operates the worlds largest organ-building factory in Macungie. Known for making the first digital organ capable of producing an authentic pipe organ sound.
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Commercial Industrial Residential Institutional Telecommunications Data Fire alarm/Security/Control Systems Solar Comprehensive Customer Service 24/7 On-Call Service
1325 Clay Street Bethlehem, PA 18018 (610) 868-3535 Fax: (610) 868-7357 www.westsidehammer.com
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BY tHe NUMBerS
WHOS Here
sTeeRING INNOVATION
Lehigh Valley is a center of activity for nationally and internationally known companies. Mack Trucks, Inc. assembles all of its trucks for North America in Macungie, employing more than 1,500, and operates a customer service center in Allentown. Other influential area firms include: Air Products & Chemicals: The worlds largest supplier of hydrogen and helium employs 3,500 at its Trexlertown-based Fortune 500 firm. PPL Corporation: One of the nations largest utilities with 10 million customers, the Fortune 500 firm employs more than 2,400 at its Allentown headquarters. Lutron Electronics: The maker of the worlds first dimmer switch and well-known patent holder is headquartered in Coopersburg. Olympus America: This leading manufacturer of digital cameras, voice recorders and other imaging items runs its operations from Center Valley. LSI Logic Corporation: This Silicon Valley electronics firm operates a research and development center in Allentown.
650,000
people, Lehigh Valley is the third-most populous region in Pennsylvania and the fastest growing in the state. Its location also offers access to a market of more than 30 million people within 100 miles. tHINGS tO DO
HAVe A BALL
Lehigh Valley has a lot going on, especially during baseball season. Every spring and summer, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the Triple-A affiliate team of the Philadelphia Phillies, takes the diamond at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, where fans can catch some of the future Phillies in action while also enjoying quirky in-game contents and giveaways. Learn about Allentowns Revolutionary history with a trip to the Liberty Bell Museum at the Zions Reformed United Church of Christ, where Philadelphias original Liberty Bell was hidden from the British from 1777 to 1778. More must-see attractions in Lehigh Valley include: See how crayons are made at the Crayola Experience in downtown Easton. Along with the worlds largest crayon, the interactive museum and visitors center features exhibits, activity stations, a Crayola-themed store and a kid-friendly machine that makes personalized labels. Play the slots at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem , or dine at one of three restaurants operated by noted chef Emeril Lagasse. Catch a concert at SteelStacks , or take a glassblowing, pottery or ceramics class at ArtsQuests Banana Factory. Peruse the Moravian Book Shop or enjoy scuba diving at Dutch Springs lake.
COOL COMPANIeS
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BUSINeSS CLIMAte
T
By Marc Acton
he importance of location in economic growth is a given and Pennsylvanias Lehigh Valley area has one of the best. But the story of the regions $32 billion economy is about more than just easy access to transportation pipelines, a Foreign Trade Zone and major cities like Philadelphia and New York. For years, Lehigh Valley has been investing in its future. From infrastructure to workforce development, the Valleys industrial and economic leaders have poured time, effort and dollars into building the region into one of the countrys most desirable places to start, relocate or grow a business. And its working.
Fourth Economy Consulting, a national economic development firm specializing in identifying potential growth areas around the U.S., ranked Lehigh County seventh in the nation among large-size counties with populations between 150,000 and 499,999, based on its amount of investment, available talent, sustainability, location and economic diversity. Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation CEO Don Cunningham says the national recognition has come from a combination of intrinsic factors and intentional strategy. Lehigh Valley has a unique combination of assets, Cunningham says. We have great access to the entire market of the northeastern part of the U.S. Its a large metropolitan area, but one with a small-town quality of life. We have a great labor force, and our costs of doing business are a lot lower than most of the larger Northeast areas. From tax benefits to the development of pockets
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in the area, the driving force behind its growth has been the combination of location and strategic positioning.
Accolades
Two national publications and a business trade organization have identified Lehigh Valley as one of the countrys top spots to do business in 2013. Accolades include: Three Lehigh Valley development projects representing investments by Ocean Spray, Bimbo Bakeries and Westport Axle were cited by Area Development magazine for helping Pennsylvania earn a coveted Silver Shovel Award. Lehigh Valley was chosen as one of the countrys top 10 performing regions by Site Selection magazine. Lehigh County was selected as a top 10 area poised for growth by Fourth Economy Consulting.
30%
Nearly 30 percent of people living in Bethlehem currently work in technology- or creative-based careers.
538,233
647,232
579,159
715,226
48%
Since 2004, the Southside Bethlehem Keystone Innovation Zone increased technology jobs in the city by 48 percent.
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Investment Magnet
The Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation has helped attract many new companies to the region, including:
Mack Trucks, Inc. assembles all of its trucks for North America in Lehigh Valley.
Westport Axle: $5.2 million investment, 514 jobs Quality Packaging Systems International: $10 million investment, 280 jobs Ocean Spray: $110 million investment, 150 jobs Flowserve Corp.: $1.5 million investment, 124 jobs Pratt Industries: $35 million investment, 110 jobs Bimbo Bakeries: $75 million investment, 100 jobs Ice River Springs: $21 million investment, 64 jobs CAPS (a B. Braun Co.): $2 million investment, 80 jobs AmericureRX: $550,000 investment, 51 jobs
MANUFACtUrING
MAKING It IN tHE
VALLEY
LEHigH VallEYs maNY assEts aNd advaNtagEs attract a stroNg aNd divErsE maNufacturiNg basE
SEvEral icoNic AmEricaN braNds HavE EstablisHEd maNufacturiNg facilitiEs iN tHE LEHigH VallEY rEgioN.
THE arEas EducatEd worKforcE, coNvENiENt locatioN aNd low costs coNtiNuE to draw maNufacturErs.
Just BorN QualitY CoNfEctioNs, CraYola, C.F. MartiN & Co. aNd otHEr top compaNiEs HavE HEadquartErs HErE.
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C.F. Martin & Company has been making steel-string acoustic guitars in Lehigh Valley for more than a century.
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By Gary Wollenhaupt rom a factory in Bethlehem, multicolored marshmallow Peeps candies make their way across the country and onto store shelves, bringing delight to shoppers young and old. Peeps have been made in Lehigh Valley since 1932, when Russian immigrant Sam Born decided to move his burgeoning candy business, Just Born, to the area from New York City. It was a big step to relocate a company in the midst of the Great Depression, but the move has continuously paid off over nine decades. Peeps are just one of the iconic American brands that have their roots in Lehigh Valley. The region has a long manufacturing heritage, from steelmaking and other heavy industries to food and beverage production. Today, manufacturers specializing in everything from consumer products to auto parts thrive in the area. For a family-owned company that moved here during the Depression and has been able to survive and thrive to become one of the largest candy companies in the U.S. speaks to the strength of Lehigh Valley, says Matt Pye, vice president of trade relations and corporate affairs for Just Born Quality Confections, which also produces popular brands like Hot Tamales, Mike and Ike candies and others. Theres no doubt this is a strong, growing community, Pye continues. In addition to all the great amenities that are here, all of the people in companies, city governments and nonprofits are working together to make this a great place to work and live. Where Brands Are Born Crayola has been making crayons in Lehigh Valley since the turn of the 20th century. The company, formerly known as Binney & Smith, expanded its industrial pigment supply operation to Forks Township in 1902 to produce slate school pencils. Soon, the company began introducing carbon black colorants into the mix and the crayon was born. Now as the premier maker of kid-friendly arts and crafts products around the globe, Crayola has grown its local operations to include additional manufacturing and distribution facilities, along with the Crayola Experience, a museum and visitor center in downtown Easton that showcases how crayons are made. Many other longtime Lehigh Valley businesses have also built internationally known brands, including C.F. Martin & Company, which produces guitars and stringed instruments used by many top musicians. A fixture in the Valley since 1833, the Nazareth-based company makes top-quality instruments that are valued as much for their
Made in Nazareth, Martin guitars are highly regarded for their craftsmanship.
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craftsmanship as their sound. In Palmer Township, about 500 employees of Majestic Athletic sew uniforms for Major League Baseball teams, including the legendary New York Yankees pinstripes. The company also produces authentic licensed wear for sports fans sold in stores across the country as well as online.
of-the-art manufacturing site built to meet global market demand for its products used in computer chips. Located in the Portland Industrial Park, the facility positions us well to execute on technical and strategic initiatives in several high-growth markets and to provide our customers with higher capacity and improved redundancy, says Mark Wilkinson, executive vice president of Voltaix. We look forward to working closely with the local communities as we establish and grow our manufacturing capabilities in Pennsylvania.
Well Connected
Lehigh Valleys multimodal network of highways, railroads, and air and port access is another draw for companies. That highway network has allowed George Reitz, owner and president of American Millwork
and Cabinetry in Emmaus, to expand his markets for custom millwork for commercial clients. We are at the crossroads of major highways, and that gives us the opportunity to expand, Reitz says. Were now able to move into markets in New York and Long Island, and as far south as Virginia. Reitz started his business in 2002 outside the area and was drawn to Lehigh Valley by the work ethic of some of his employees. By 2006, the business had outgrown its original location, and he found a suitable building in the area to remodel. Despite a factory full of stateof-the-art machines, Reitz knows his most important assets leave the building at the end of each day. I understood the workforce that was coming from Lehigh Valley, Reitz says. It was very heartwarming in the sense that they had an old-fashioned work ethic and I appreciated that.
Lehigh Valleys location has allowed Emmaus-based American Millwork and Cabinetry to expand into new markets.
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1833
Just Born Quality Confections makes enough Peeps annually to circle the earth twice.
1922
Martin Guitar introduces ukuleles fashioned from Hawaiian koa wood the first production guitars made just for steel strings.
1839
Selling off his merchandise but keeping his guitar tools, C.F. Martin moves his family to Bushkill Township in Pennsylvania.
More than 1,200 workers create 650 crayons a minute and 12 million crayons a day at Crayolas Forks Township factory.
1932
Born relocates his candy factory to an empty printing facility in Bethlehem, where he grows production by acquiring other candy companies.
2013
Just Born celebrates its 90th anniversary. The popularity of its brands make it one of the top U.S. candy companies.
1996
The 100 billionth Crayola crayon rolls off the production line in Forks Township, and the interactive Crayola Experience opens in downtown Easton.
2007
Binney & Smith becomes Crayola LLC, reflecting the companys top brand, which has 99 percent name recognition in the U.S.
1987
Crayola introduces colored pencils and washable markers, acquiring the manufacturing rights for the Magic Marker brand the next year.
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1842
Martin creates the earliest X-braced guitar ever documented for popular 19th-century guitar soloist Madame Delores N. De Goi.
1885
Edwin Binney and his cousin, C. Howard Smith, take charge of a chemical company started by Edwins father Joseph, calling it Binney & Smith.
1917
Russian immigrant Sam Born opens a candy shop in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he advertises his creations with sign that says Just Born.
1859
Martin buys land on Main Street in Nazareth, building a new house and a small factory next door.
1953
Just Born acquires a candy company in Lancaster that makes 3-D marshmallow products, and Peeps are born.
1900
Binney & Smith produces slate school pencils in Forks Township and wins a gold medal for its black colorants at the Paris Exposition.
Martin Guitars opens its custom shop, where musicians can design the guitar of their dreams.
1979
Manufacturing a single Martin Guitar from rough lumber to finished product takes more than 300 steps to complete.
1964
Acoustic guitar sales soar due to the folk music boom, so Martin Guitar moves into a new facility in Upper Nazareth Township.
1976
Binney & Smith relocates its headquarters from New York City to Northampton County, where it has several plants.
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Named after the Marquis de Lafayette, Lafayette College in Easton enrolls 2,400 students.
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By Stephanie Vozza
ike much of the nation, Lehigh Valley is rebounding from the recession and some sectors are making up ground more quickly than others. Leading that recovery are the regions education and health care industries, also known as eds and meds. With thousands of jobs added over the past few years at area colleges and universities, hospitals, and medical device and pharmaceutical firms, eds and meds are transforming the business landscape of Lehigh Valley. Education and health care jobs in the local private sector peaked at 65,400 in July 2012 80 percent higher than the 36,400 jobs representing these industries just 20 years before. Whats more, jobs in private education and health care in Lehigh Valley grew during the nations downturn, rising from 52,300 to 65,400 between 2000-2012, with health care jobs among the highest in demand.
Healthy Returns
Lehigh Valleys top two employers are nationally recognized health care providers: Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) and St. Lukes University Health Network. Both are consistently ranked among Americas Best Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report for their excellence in patient care and safety. LVHN operates the largest network, employing more than 12,000. Its focus on quality care and reduction of medical errors makes it one of the nations top hospital systems, says LVHN president and CEO Ronald Swinfard. Being able to change with the times is another reason we continue to be successful, Swinfard says. We have good alignment from the top of our organization to the front lines. Not only does LVHN impact the local economy, but it also plays an influential role in the community through its employees, Swinfard notes.
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80%
rise in local education and health care jobs over the past 20 years
St. Lukes
= 1,000 employees
Most volunteer within the community to make it a better place, he says. We are also compulsive collaborators. We sponsor the Lehigh Valley IronPigs Triple-A baseball team, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms AHL hockey team and the Lehigh Valley Health Network Via Marathon. And we partner with local businesses to bring our services to more people in the area. We see it as an opportunity to help rejuvenate the region. With 9,300 employees, St. Lukes, whose network includes six hospitals and more than 150 health centers and clinics across the region, is Lehigh Valleys second-largest employer and its only health care provider named among the nations top 100 hospitals by Truven Health Analytics not once but twice. Two other hospitals are also major employers in the area: Sacred Heart Hospital in Allentown and Easton Hospital in Easton. Specialized health care providers also abound, including Coordinated Health, which offers sports medicine, orthopedic and pain management programs at 15 locations throughout the region. Its accolades include recognition as one of the safest hospitals in Pennsylvania by
Consumer Reports and as a top performer by the Joint Commission for its excellence in meeting accountability measures. The award, together with our documented leadership in patient satisfaction and cost, speaks of our commitment to our patients, says president and CEO Dr. Emil DiIorio. Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network is a nationally recognized leader in rehabilitation for people with physical and cognitive disabilities. Treating more than 60,000 people each year, its one of the few North American health care organizations equipped with bionic suit technology to help patients with paralysis regain function. Along with hospitals, Lehigh Valley is also home to global leaders in the medical supply chain. B. Braun Medical Inc. develops, makes and markets medical products for infusion therapy and pain management. The Bethlehem-based company, which is building a new headquarters in Center Valley, is known for its innovation. The firm recently received FDA approval for large-volume irrigation containers made without DEHP, a potentially toxic material.
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Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest is one of three hospitals in the Lehigh Valley Health Network.
Education Impact
Lehigh Valleys strong medical community is bolstered by its emphasis on education. More than 50,000 students are enrolled throughout the regions nine colleges and universities. Lehigh University, a private institution, is the largest, with more than 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Founded in Bethlehem in 1865, it ranks among the nations top-tier research universities, according to U.S. News & World Report. Current research includes testing cancer drugs using a chip that mimics the body to determine how to best target the drugs and
reduce their costs. Founded in Easton in 1826 to advance the regions agricultural and industrial industries, Lafayette College went on to become the first college to establish a chair for the study of the English language and literature. Its mix of programs still draws students who attend the college for its reputation in everything from liberal arts to engineering. The liberal arts-focused Muhlenberg College ranks as one of the nations best institutions for undergraduate education, according to The Princeton Review, and its top-ranked theater and
dance departments attract students from all over the country. Founded in 1848 in Allentown, one of the colleges most popular fields of study is its neuroscience program, which combines biology, psychology, chemistry and engineering in an effort to better understand the brain and behavior. Another influential employer in the education sector is Bethlehem-based Northampton Community College, which educates 36,000 students annually and has an economic impact of $16 billion a year a total expected to grow as its enrollment continues to rise.
We partner with local businesses to bring our services to more people in the area. We see it as an opportunity to help rejuvenate the region.
Ronald Swinfard, Lehigh Valley Health Network, president and CEO
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PHArMACeUtICAL PACKAGING
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LEHigH VallEY offErs food aNd bEvEragE producErs tHE rigHt iNgrEdiENts for growtH
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Coca-Cola operates a bottling plant in Bethlehem and a syrup plant in Upper Macungie that serves East Coast foodservice operations.
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C
By Kevin Litwin
ompanies producing some of the top-selling food and beverage brands on the shelves are choosing Lehigh Valley to make their products. In early 2014, Ocean Spray will open a new 215,000-square-foot bottling facility in Upper Macungie Township, along with a facility in Weisenberg Township to distribute Ocean Spray products produced in the region. The bottling facility, which is moving to Lehigh Valley from New Jersey, will serve as the hub for Ocean Sprays Northeast operations, producing about 40 percent of its beverage volume. The bottling and distribution operations combined will employ more than 250. Not only was Ocean Spray impressed by the Valleys skilled workforce, company leaders also cited lower taxes, utility rates and transportation costs as key reasons for locating in the region. Ocean Spray is one of many food and beverage companies moving to Lehigh Valley. Bimbo Bakeries USA is opening a $75 million bakery in Upper Macungie Township in early 2014 to produce bread and buns for distribution throughout the Northeast. The company will employ 100 at its new facility. Coca-Cola Effervescence Proximity from Lehigh Valley to East Coast markets has also been a positive factor for Niagara Drinking Water and Nestl Waters, both of which operate bottling plants in Lehigh County. And its why companies like Kraft Foods and Kelloggs ship many of their products from distribution centers located here. Coca-Cola conducts business at two facilities in the region a Coca-Cola Refreshments syrup plant in Upper Macungie and a Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of the Lehigh Valley in Bethlehem. We produce about 53 million gallons annually of food-service syrup to distribute along the East Coast, from the northern portions of North Carolina up to Maine, says Tim Fischbach, Coca-Cola Refreshments syrup plant manager. The syrup supports the fountain drink aspect of our business, and we have recently installed noncarbonated assembly lines
to make Powerade, vitaminwater and Fuze. Fischbach credits low energy costs, skilled workforce and proximity to major East Coast markets as reasons why the company has remained in the Lehigh Valley. We have been a part of this regions community and economy since 1997, he says. Our 145 employees have good jobs and enjoy a good quality of life. At the Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of the Lehigh Valley in Bethlehem, vice president and general manager Joe Brake points out that Coca-Cola has made investments as a top employer and corporate citizen in the community. The Lehigh Valley IronPigs is the Minor League Baseball Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, and we purchased the naming rights to Coca-Cola Park where the IronPigs play in Allentown, Brake says. It is the first sports venue in the U.S. to have Coca-Cola in its name, and Forbes ranks the IronPigs as the second most valuable franchise in Minor League Baseball. Its just one of many ways that Coca-Cola plays a part in the continuing growth of Lehigh Valley.
40%
Beverage volume expected to be produced by Ocean Sprays new plant in Upper Macungie Township the new hub of the fruit juice giants Northeast operations.
A Thriving Mix
Other food and beverage companies in the region include Ice River Springs Water Co., which operates a bottling and manufacturing facility in an existing 100,000-square-foot building in Hanover Township and has plans to create up to 50 jobs over the next three years. Ice River Springs also makes the bottles and caps that package its products, using recycled plastic for about 50 percent of its bottles. A new producer calling Lehigh Valley home is Freshpet, a pet food company that moved into a renovated building in Hanover Township. The company employs 100 at its Lehigh Valley plant. Freshpet leaders expect the move to grow the companys annual sales by $200 million, up from its current $50 million. The Boston Beer Co. has also been investing millions of dollars in its facility in the Breinigsville section of the Upper Macungie Township. As a result, the company whose beer products include Samuel Adams now produces twothirds of all its beer in Lehigh Valley.
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7 6
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Coca-Cola Products
The Coca-Cola Refreshments syrup plant in Upper Macungie produces 53 million gallons of soda syrup annually for its food-service operations on the East Coast, along with non-carbonated beverages like Powerade, vitaminwater and Fuze.
Boston Beer
The Boston Beer Co. produces two-thirds of all its beer, including its Samuel Adams Boston Lager brand, at its brewery in the Breiningsville section of Upper Macungie Township.
No r t h a m p t o n Co u n t y
Historic
Ocean Spray
Ocean Sprays new Upper Macungie Township facility will bottle the companys juices, as well as Nestl Juicy Juice products. A new facility in Weisenberg Township will distribute the products.
to the cities of Bethlehem and Easton and manufacturers of Just Born, Crayola and Martin Guitar.
Home Located 60 miles from Philadelphia and 70 miles from New York; an optimal location for manufacturing,
distribution, health care, research and development.
Our Commitment
Nestl Waters
Nestl Waters bottles its Pure Life brand of fruit-flavored water, along with its new environmentally designed eco-shape bottles, in Upper Macungie Township.
Attract new business and employment opportunities Retain and expand existing business and industry Stimulate capital investment and entrepreneurship Ensure a ready workforce Provide public policy leadership to maintain a positive business climate Ensure adequate real estate opportunities Offer an affordable urban/suburban/rural lifestyle
669 Easton,PA PA18064 18042 669Washington WashingtonSt. St.Easton, (610) (610) 559-3200 559-3200 Fax Fax (610) (610) 559-3775 559-3775 www.northamptoncounty.org www.northamptoncounty.org
Freshpet
Freshpet cooks and refrigerates its preservative-free brand of pet food at its facility in Hanover Township.
Kraft Foods
Kraft Foods Upper Macungie Township facility makes A.1. Steak Sauce, Grey Poupon mustard and drinks for home brewing systems.
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TrANSPOrtAtION
ON tHE MovE
Road, rail aNd air accEss liNK LEHigH VallEY to tHE world
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W
By Gary Wollenhaupt
hen a house-sized transformer needed to be shipped into Lehigh Valley, the region had the infrastructure to accommodate the giant piece of machinery on its journey. Located on the former grounds of Bethlehem Steel, the shortline Lehigh Valley Rail Management offers
Lehigh Valley offers easy access to I-78, I-80, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and U.S. 22.
intermodal and carload services as well as oversized cargo transport to and from the area, allowing local firms to easily connect with national and international customers. The rail line is just one asset that makes Lehigh Valleys convenient location 60 minutes north of Philadelphia and 90 minutes west of New York such a winner with manufacturers and distributors, including Amazon, Bridgestone, BMW, Walmart and others.
within a days drive of one-third of all U.S. consumers and half of all Canadian consumers. Key transportation assets in Lehigh Valley include direct connections to interstates 78 and 80, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and other major routes like U.S. 22, along with two Class I rail service providers, the Lehigh Valley Rail Managements intermodal terminal in Bethlehem and the Lehigh Valley International Airport. Served by four major carriers with nonstop flights to top travel destinations along the East Coast and Midwest, the airport draws about 130,000 passengers annually and recently completed a $7.2 million renovation of its main terminal. Its services, which include air travel, air cargo and small-package handling, are critical to business. The strong increase in passenger traffic at Lehigh Valley International Airport has been encouraging, says Charles R. Everett Jr., executive director for the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority. We look forward to continued growth. The region is also located within 60 to 90 minutes of international airports in Philadelphia and Newark.
Expansion Plans
Located less than a mile from I-78, Lehigh Valley Rail Managements terminal at the Bethlehem Commerce Center offers parking for more than 1,200 truck trailers and 4.6 miles of track for intermodal shipments. It handles multiple trains seven days a week and provides space for transloading and storage in-transit, as well as full carload services. In 2007, parts of the Lehigh Valley region were designated a Foreign Trade Zone, which allows companies to store goods as if it were outside U.S. boundaries. Goods located in the FTZ is not subject to customs duties and other tariffs and taxes. The FTZ allows for direct delivery from the ports into the zone, saving time and money and reducing customs processing fees for companies.
Good Connections
When the holidays roll around, festive marshmallow Peeps candies find their way to store shelves across the country after a journey that begins at the Just Born Quality Confections factory in Bethlehem. Just Born is one of the many companies that take advantage of the regions location
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We will continue to add capacity to better serve our existing customers and those companies that locate within the Bethlehem Commerce Center.
In 2013, several interested parties met to discuss the possibility of opening an inland port at the Bethlehem Intermodal Yard to handle shipments to and from the Port of Newark. Customs inspections could be conducted at the port, and it would connect via the Lehigh Valley Rail Management line to Norfolk Southern, a Class I rail carrier that moves freight across the U.S. The intermodal terminal has capacity to support the additional traffic, says Pat Sabatino, general manager for Lehigh Valley Rail Management. In 2012, it added space for an additional 75 rail cars and theres room to grow. We will continue to add capacity to better serve our existing customers and those companies that
NEW Route 33 interchange now under construction Join Porsche, Nabisco/Mondelez and other newly announced projects 600+ acres fully zoned for industrial, office and retail development Nearby access to Route 22, I-78 and I-80 (to the north)
Ben Franklin TechVentures at Lehigh University has helped more than 400 startup firms develop and launch new technologies.
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ENerGY/TeCHNOLOGY
Accelerating Innovation
INcubators, ENtErprisE ZoNEs, mENtors aNd capital givE LEHigH VallEY tEcHNologY firms a stroNg start
N
By Pamela Coyle
o challenge is too big for entrepreneurs in Lehigh Valley. Technology developed by new companies in the region solves problems across a range of markets. The first and only FDA-approved rapid HIV test for at-home use came out of Lehigh Valley, as has a genetic test for connective tissue diseases. The area is home to a firm that uses advanced technology to create micro-thin wafers for semiconductors, as well as a startup that makes lights and pumps for reef aquariums that are designed to promote coral growth without harming fish.
money, equipment grants, mentorship and networking. Technology sector jobs are vital to Lehigh Valley, and thats why nurturing startups is such a priority for the region, says Chad Paul, president and CEO of Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Ben Franklin TechVentures is a job creation factory that accelerates our regions economic growth, he says. Incubators, innovation zones and mentor programs abound in the area. Wayne Barz, manager of entrepreneurial programs for TechVentures, says he is seeing more software startups and more student-run startups, but the need for early guidance is still a constant. Every person, every company is different, but what we offer is deep experience, he says. We can help clients avoid some pitfalls to dramatically increase their chances of success. The impressive track record of Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania includes starting 429 new companies; developing
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1,127 new products and processes; creating 15,479 new jobs and retaining 21,459 existing jobs in northeastern Pennsylvania since 1983. Ben Franklin is part of a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem that
outside the tank, and the firm rolled out wireless control in September 2013. That same month, the company, which started in 2006 with three co-founders, hired its 51st employee. New, larger space allows on-site assembly of circuit boards, which makes the company more competitive in price and more flexible in product development, says Pat Clasen, a founder and director of finance. Soon we will be manufacturing all circuit boards in-house, giving us the ability to grow purposefully and carefully and expand while retaining our high degree of quality, Clasen says. EcoTech has grown substantially over the past three years and generated more than $12 million in revenue in 2012, increasing 2011 sales by more than 50 percent.
By the Numbers
Since 2004, the Southside Bethlehem Keystone Innovation Zone has provided technology transfer grants and assistance to startup and early-stage businesses. Since its inception in 1983, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania has: Started 429 new companies Developed 1,127 new products and processes Created 15,479 new jobs Retained 21,459 existing jobs
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includes Southside Bethlehem Keystone Innovation Zone, which grants tax abatements and awards technology transfer grants to earlystage companies, and Bridgeworks Enterprise Center in Allentown. Bridgeworks, a project of the Allentown Economic Development Corp., is housed in a former Mack Trucks property that has high ceilings and interior docks ideal for light manufacturing. Some of its current tenants include The Colony Meadery, which brews gluten-free meads, and ColdEdge Technologies, which makes cryogenic equipment used by government and university labs to conduct materials research and development. Ben Franklin alumnus EcoTech Marine has its own facility in Hanover Township. The company, started by Lehigh University students, designs and manufactures high-tech products for reef aquariums, a growing niche market. Its pumps and lights create water flow and mimic the suns spectrum, fostering coral growth without harming fish. The rigs are
Two fast-growing tech ventures and Ben Franklin alumni graduated from the startup category years ago. One is IQE, which began in 1989 with one founder and produces semiconductor wafers used to make chips for electronic, telecommunications and optoelectronics applications. With sales of $125 million and two strategic acquisitions of other epiwafer manufacturers, IQE, which is publicly traded, now employs nearly 600 people in 11 facilities worldwide. Another is OraSure Technologies, which pioneered quick at-home HIV test kits. Clinics, health care providers and, in some cases social services and court programs, use OraSures nasal swab flu tests, saliva tests for alcohol, and quick tests for HIV and Hepatitis C antibodies. Its fluid drug test doesnt require urine or hair sample collection and analysis. OraSure got off the ground in Lehigh Valley, started trading on NASDAQ in 2000 and isnt going anywhere, says Ron Ticho, senior vice president of corporate communications. The tremendous resources in Lehigh Valley have served as the foundation that fuels our ability to drive innovation in health care on a global level, he says. It will be an extremely valuable asset to our success moving forward.
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33
80
33SOBeCOWOrKS
Provides co-working space for entrepreneurs to collaborate, network and develop ideas.
309
Bethlehem Allentown
78
22
22
78
teCHVeNtUreS Offers 60,000 square feet of LEEDcertified high-tech office and wet lab space with a loading dock and shared resources that include Internet service, audio visual equipment and more.
BrIDGeWOrKS ENterPrISe CeNter Offers 45,000 square feet of industrial space with a shared loading dock in a location convenient to Interstate 78 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Muhlenberg College in Allentown is one of several highly ranked liberal arts colleges in Lehigh Valley.
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EDUCAtION
W
By Kevin Litwin
hen PPL Corp. faced skill gaps in its operation due to an aging workforce approaching retirement, the energy firm turned to Northampton Community College for help. PPL worked with the college to develop a training program for potential new employees. As a result, if you walk onto the colleges Bethlehem Township campus today, youll see climbing poles installed for a seven-week certificate training program for students who want to eventually work for PPL. When companies talk with us, we can quickly put together programs in response to their business needs, says Mark Erickson, president of Northampton Community College. The line worker program for PPL has already attracted many applicants. Erickson says the college is now talking with Pocono Medical Center, Lehigh Valley Hospital and St. Lukes University Health Network because of the changing landscape of The Affordable Care Act, and the new types of health positions these medical groups will need. Future titles for people in that specific industry will include health navigators and health coaches, so were putting together a curriculum for people in
that field, he says. We have training programs ranging from welding and truck driving to physics and sports medicine, and we recently added an environmental science curriculum, as well as courses for licensed massage therapy. Also in place is a culinary arts offering, and we even have a funeral services program for anyone looking to become a mortician. Another popular program is dental hygienist, with a median income for those graduates starting at around $50,000. Nearly 90 percent of our graduates in all fields stay in Lehigh Valley to begin their careers, Erickson says. What we offer students is heavily tied to the needs of existing business and industry, along with new technology companies.
High Marks
Colleges and universities in Lehigh Valley rank highly for their excellence and affordability. Recent accolades include: Known for its research programs, Bethlehem-based Lehigh University was recognized among Americas 50 best universities for 2014 by U.S. News & World Report. The Princeton Review also named the universitys entrepreneurship programs at the graduate and undergraduate level among the top 25 in the nation. Lafayette College in Easton ranked among Americas top 50 colleges by Forbes for its return on investment. Moravian College in Bethlehem was named among the best institutions for undergraduate education by the Princeton Review. Kiplingers Personal Finance magazine also included the college among its list of private colleges offering the best value. Muhlenberg College in Allentown was recognized as one of the nations best institutions for undergraduate education by the Princeton Review and one of the best values in private colleges by Kiplingers Personal Finance magazine.
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LAFAYette COLLeGe
www.lafayette.edu Location: Easton Founded: 1826 Enrollment: 2,400 students
LeHIGH UNIVerSItY
www.lehigh.edu Location: Bethlehem Founded: 1865 Enrollment: More than 7,000
MUHLeNBerG COLLeGe
www.muhlenberg.edu Location: Allentown Founded: 1848 Enrollment: 2,422
Programs: Lafayette College offers a bachelor of arts in 37 fields, and a bachelor of science in 10 areas of science and four fields of engineering. Students can also combine courses from several fields to create their own interdisciplinary major.
Programs: Lehigh University offers more than 90 undergraduate programs and majors within its four colleges and 12 degrees at the undergraduate and graduate level. The university ranks among the nations top private research universities.
Programs: Muhlenberg College offers 40 majors in the humanities, fine arts, social sciences and natural sciences, along with pre-professional programs in such areas as medicine and allied health, law, theology, business and education.
Bethlehem-based Lehigh University, recently recognized as one of Americas 50 best colleges by U.S. News & World Report, is known for having top research programs. One of its current projects, backed by the National Science Foundation, is creating a new method of producing renewable fuel from just carbon dioxide, sunlight and water. Soon the university will also debut a Health Research Hub to provide a collaborative environment for researchers working on projects in bioengineering and other areas of health care innovation. In fall 2013, Moravian College in Bethlehem introduced an accelerated program that allows students with a bachelors degree in other areas to earn a bachelor of science nursing degree in 16 months. Lafayette College in Easton is boosting its initiatives in science, technology and engineering, thanks to a $27.9 million gift from Class of 1966 trustee Kent Rockwell to advance innovation at the college. The college also received $700,000 grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to support training in digital humanities, a discipline that integrates liberal arts subjects with computer technology. At Cedar Crest College in Allentown, funding from a National Science Foundation grant is giving biology students the opportunity to work with high-tech instrumentation. Graduates from Lehigh Valley tend to do well in the workforce. A recent report by PayScale, an online
source for salary information, ranked Lehigh University graduates with undergraduate degrees among the nations top 10 earners, with a starting median salary of $56,900. The university tied with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for graduates earning the highest starting and mid-career salaries.
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Cedar Crest College in Allentown DeSales University in Center Valley Penn State University - Lehigh Valley Campus in Center Valley Lehigh Carbon Community College in Schnecksville Northampton Community College in Bethlehem Township Moravian College in Bethlehem
PHoto bY CHrista NEu
Covering more than 2,350 acres, Lehigh University is one of the largest private universities in the U.S.
EcoNomIc pRofILE
Population of Cities within Lehigh Valley
Allentown: 118,974 Bethlehem: 75,103 Easton: 26,951
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
$
Health care and social assistance 62,320 Retail trade 47,862 Manufacturing 36,783 Accommodation and food services 26,884
Population
Lehigh Valley: 654,512 Lehigh County: 355,245 Northampton County: 299,267
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Construction 20,478
Top Employers
Lehigh Valley Health Network St. Lukes University Health Network Air Products & Chemicals Inc. Federal government Allentown School District Lehigh County Government Center Giant Food Stores LLC Northampton County Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Lehigh University
Income
Average annual wage:
$44,850
Labor Force
Civilian Labor Force:
Home
340,000
Source: Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation
Sale Price:
$76,584
$87,934
$185,000
THIS SECtION IS SPONSORED BY
Sources: Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation, Lehigh Valley Association of Realtors
Northampton County
Thriving Downtown Revitalizes Easton
P ENNSY LVANIA
Wealth of Resources Attract Business to Northampton County Strong Higher Education System Preps 21st-Century Workers Business-Friendly Bethlehem Is People-Friendly, Too
www.northamptoncounty.org
| Special Advertising Section |
Easton Farmers Market Quadrant Book Mart and Coffee House specializes in rare, used and out-of-print books an Easton staple for more than 20 years.
| 610-559-3200 www.northamptoncounty.org |
Defense contractor Curtiss-Wright is moving its Engineered Pump Division from Phillipsburg, N.J., to Northampton County. The move will bring 95 high-paying jobs to a purpose-built, 179,000-square-foot facility in the Bethlehem Commerce Center. A combination of nearly $3 million in loans and grants from state, county and city entities lured Curtiss-Wright to make the $7 million investment the move will require.
| 610-559-3200 www.northamptoncounty.org |
Adjunct Professor John Grogan, author of Marley and Me, teaches students in Coppee Hall at Lehigh University.
County workers are well-educated, Dischinat adds, with 27 percent holding bachelors or graduate degrees, and eight percent holding associates degrees. Sixty-seven percent of the countys population is over age 25, which means employers benefit from the experiences of seasoned workers. And the pool of desirable employees continues to grow. Northampton Countys comparatively low housing prices, hip urban neighborhoods and a vibrant arts scene draw young professionals from nearby New York City, New Jersey and Philadelphia. They want to both live and work here, Dischinat says. It adds to the knowledge and skills that are available to employers looking to expand in or relocate to Northampton County. Also adding to the workforces knowledge and skills are a variety of training and development programs. The LVWIB is at the forefront of these initiatives, with its youth-oriented CareerFORCE project. CareerFORCE focuses on career awareness and preparedness, educates high school students about high-demand careers, and guides them toward appropriate training or courses of study. In Northampton County, LVWIB operates CareerFORCE Centers at Bethlehems Freedom and Liberty High Schools. The centers serve students as well as the teachers, guidance counselors, and parents who support them. Our world-class educational institutions also help to continuously develop and upgrade the skills of Northampton Countys workforce, Dischinat says. We have strong alignment between workforce development, education and economic development.
Bethlehems Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania Spurs Business Growth
Bethlehem is a nexus for innovation and business development, thanks to Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania (BFTP/NEP). From Lehigh Universitys Mountain Top Campus, BFTP/NEP oversees a 21-county partnership between businesses, government, and colleges and universities. In the 1980s, then-Governor Dick Thornburgh recognized the need to replace all the disappearing heavy industrial jobs with equally high-paying technology jobs, says Chad Paul, BFTP/ NEPs President and CEO. Created by the state, BFTP/NEP fosters the development of new tech companies and helps existing manufacturers use technology to increase cost efficiency. The organization is so successful that, for every $1.00 invested in it, $3.60 comes back to the state in the form of new business and employee taxes. Among other assistance, BFTP/NEP connects businesses with otherwise costprohibitive research equipment. In 2005, for instance, BFTP/NEP helped startup CICLON Semiconductor use Lehigh Universitys electron microscope to make a super-efficient chip for mobile devices. Four years later, CICLON sold its invention to Texas Instruments. Another success story is OraSure, which came to BFTP/NEP with plans to make a sunscreen-infused towelette. After Schering-Plough bought the product, OraSures owners used the money to develop the worlds only saliva-based HIV test. The company now employs 330 people at its Bethlehem facility. For Paul, though, its not just about the numbers. I was in business for 25 years, and this is an opportunity to give back to the community that supported me, he says. Im helping people create their dreams, and in the process, theyre building Pennsylvanias economy.
| 610-559-3200 www.northamptoncounty.org |
NORTHAMPTON
Leading LOcal EMplOYers: St. Lukes Hospital & Health Network, Giant Food Stores, Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem
Pennsylvania
COUNTY
TOtal POpUlatiOn: 297,735 Located within 90 miles of Philadelphia and New York City markets FOUR MaJOr highwaYs: Route 80, Route 22 and I-78 (east-west) and Route 33 (north-south) Higher EdUcatiOn InstitUtiOns: Lehigh University, Lafayette and Moravian Colleges, Northampton Community College
For additional information, demographics and to schedule an appointment, visit www.northamptoncounty.org or contact us directly at 610-559-3200.
Northampton County Department of Community & Economic Development 669 Washington Street Easton, PA 18042 610-559-3200 www.northamptoncounty.org | This publication is a partnership between the County of Northampton and the Cities of Bethlehem and Easton. |
QUALItY OF LIFe
Downtown Vitalization
Public aNd privatE iNvEstmENts pump lifE, EcoNomic vitalitY bacK iNto dowNtowNs across LEHigH VallEY
DowNtowN Districts iN AllENtowN, BEtHlEHEm aNd EastoN arE growiNg aNd flourisHiNg.
THE FormEr BEtHlEHEm StEEl plaNts campus Has bEEN traNsformEd iNto aN ENtErtaiNmENt dEstiNatioN.
NEw REstauraNts, rEtailErs aNd rEsidENtial spacEs arE drawiNg morE YouNg adults dowNtowN.
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Formerly home to the Bethlehem Steel plant, the SteelStacks campus now hosts concerts and festivals.
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By Nancy Mann Jackson or many years, the heart of cities in Lehigh Valley could be found in their downtown business districts and that is once more becoming true. After decades of disuse and abandonment due to suburban sprawl, the urban cores of cities like Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton are experiencing a reawakening. An increased focus on redevelopment from local leaders, along with new public and private investments and energy, are transforming the Valleys downtown districts into sought-after destinations for offices, retail, dining and entertainment. In Allentown, construction is booming downtown, with more than 900 workers assigned to various projects. A tax incentive created by the Pennsylvania Legislature for downtown developers, known as the Neighborhood Improvement Zone, has been the catalyst for redevelopment. Our urban core was dying, and downtown is the heart of our city, say Mayor Ed Pawlowski. We needed to redevelop and replace that heart, and the tax incentive program is allowing us to do in about two years what would have taken 20 years. The city currently has more than $1 billion committed in new development projects, Pawlowski says, including the PPL Center arena, which will house the Lehigh Valley Phantoms hockey franchise and provide seating for up to 10,000 people for concerts and other entertainment and sporting events. The arena is part of the larger City Center Lehigh Valley project, which consists of four complexes being built by area developer J.B. Reilly. Alongside the arena is the seven-story One City Center building that includes retail on the first floor and a sports performance fitness center run by Lehigh Valley Hospital on the second and third floors. Other City Center complexes nearby will include multipurpose facilities with hotel, retail, residential and office space. In addition to new construction, businesses are also contributing to the vitality downtown, Pawlowski says. Several firms are moving into renovated historic buildings. New York City-based Ruckus Brewing Co. is investing $30 million to revamp the former Neuweiler Brewery along the riverfront, and high-tech fiber optic firm United Fiber & Data is spending
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$6 million to renovate a former furniture store into office space. National Penn Bancshares Inc. is also moving its headquarters downtown. All this development and redevelopment is bringing nearly 4,000 new jobs downtown, Pawlowski says. In addition, plans were recently approved for the first phase of a $285 million development project along the Lehigh River waterfront, which will eventually include a river walk development and 10 buildings with space for offices, retail stores, restaurants and apartment lofts.
We have so many specialized festivals and events that we really are becoming a go-to destination for many types of people, says Kasara McLaughlin, manager of the Downtown Bethlehem Association. If youre a vegan, we have VegFest. If youre a beerdrinking, music-loving guy or gal, we have Musikfest. Heck, if you just came to the U.S. from Ireland, you can feel right at home with Celtic Classic. All in one city!
Downtown Rebound
Eastons downtown has also made a turnaround, thanks to the Easton Main Street Initiative launched five years ago by the Greater Easton Development Partnership. In the beginning, one of our challenges was to overcome the perception in the community that we were not a fun and safe downtown, says Kim Kmetz, manager of Easton Main Street Initiative. A downtown hospitality program, followed by public and private investment and development and community events, helped transform the area into a destination for shopping, dining, working and living. In 2005, the Easton Farmers Market had dwindled to one vendor. Easton Main Street cleaned it up, hired a manager and added a Wednesday night market as well as an indoor winter market to the traditional Saturday warm-weather market. Today, the market draws 40 vendors and has a waiting list for more. Its a hot spot for listening to live music and sampling local food. Eastons growing population of young adults is fueling the demand for new dining destinations, retail and residential spaces. Developers are meeting this need by renovating historic properties into mixed-use sites, including the long vacant Pomeroy Building and the former Simon Silk Mill. Another newly restored historic building, Two Rivers Brewing Co., serves local craft beer and farmfresh comfort food. With everything from a Brazilian steakhouse to a French brasserie, Easton has become the hottest foodie town in Lehigh Valley, Kmetz says.
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Eastons historic Centre Square is the center of activity for young adults who are flocking downtown for dining, shopping and more.
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LIVABILItY
A Vivacious Valley
LEHigH VallEY commuNitiEs offEr uNrivalEd culturE, attractioNs aNd qualitY of lifE appEal
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By Joe Morris f the goal is to get the same answer again and again, then the question shouldnt be Why did you move to Lehigh Valley? Along with a mix of cities and towns of different sizes, the region offers all the key elements for a high quality of life, including top-notch education and health care systems, a unique arts and cultural scene, and parks and green space in every direction. You can be in the midst of our urban centers one minute and out on a hike the next, which is a big draw, not only for visitors, but new residents as well, says George Wacker, communications manager for Discover Lehigh Valley. The dichotomy of having urban centers that celebrate the arts and music, mixed with nature preserves, parks and other outdoor draws, means that we run the gamut when it comes to all activities. Variety is a great asset when attracting people.
Allentowns Appeal
Lehigh Valleys largest city has a storied history and a future thats just as promising. Rooted in manufacturing, Allentowns economy has diversified to include service-oriented industries and a revitalized downtown core full of new boutiques, restaurants and bars. Visitors can find parks galore Allentown has more park space per capita than any other city its size in the U.S. All that land gets put to good use by sports teams like the IronPigs, the Triple-A affiliate team of the Philadelphia Phillies known for packing the stands at the 8,200-seat Coca-Cola Park each season. The Phantoms hockey team, an American Hockey League affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers, will take to the ice in 2014. The city offers plenty of cultural gems, too, including an art museum, a 1,200-seat symphony hall with a professional orchestra and the
Downtown Bethlehem
historic art deco Civic Theatre. Mix in historical neighborhoods and the citys reputation as Band City USA for its four citysupported bands, and Allentowns appeal is evident.
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Eastons historical Centre Square hosts the nations longest-running outdoor farmers market, along with a growing cluster of shops, galleries and eateries and the interactive Crayola Experience, a kid-friendly museum that showcases how crayons are made. Live entertainment fans can catch plays, concerts and other shows at the restored vaudevilleera State Theatre Center for the Arts, and kids can experiment with early machines used in civil engineering or go for a boat ride at the National Canal Museum.
Emmaus is home to Rodale Inc., publisher of Mens Health, Prevention and other well-known magazines, and Nazareth draws admirers for its pastoral beauty and history as the birthplace of Martin guitars. As more and more people are drawn here, Lehigh Valley is becoming a place of continuous reinvention where everything old is new again. Lehigh Valley history is vast, and varies from early Colonial settlement to Bethlehem Steels reign as one of the worlds largest companies, Wacker says. Lehigh Valley has been diligent in combining historical places with modern events. The blast furnaces that were once the focal point of Bethlehem Steel during its heyday are now the focal point of a new ArtsQuest Center and Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem.
NAtUrAL AttrACtIONS
Play Hard
LEHigH VallEY givEs outdoor buffs plENtY to sEE aNd do
Residents in Lehigh Valley never have to go too far to get active. Here open spaces in the countryside coexist with urban green space, making it easy to find places for biking, hiking and other outdoor activities. For winter fun on the slopes, dont miss Pennsylvanias highest vertical at Blue Mountain Ski Area & Resort in nearby Palmerton or skiing, snowboarding and snowtubing at Bear Creek Mountain Resort in Macungie. If you like your water unfrozen, visit the Valleys many waterways for fishing, rafting or just paddling around. Anglers favor the Jordan and Little Lehigh creeks, two of the areas most heavily stocked trout waters, and the Saucon Creek in south Bethlehem and Hellertown are known for their wild trout. Boaters enjoy Lake Nockamixon, just east of Quakertown, which also has a public pool complex for swimmers. Another favorite swimming hole is the Aqua Park at Dutch Springs in Lower Nazareth Township. Those looking to tee up can find plenty of ground to cover at the areas many golf courses, including the Allentown Municipal Golf Course, Eastons Riverview Country Club and Wedgewood Golf Course in Coopersburg. For weekend getaways, the Pocono Mountains are just a short drive away, where must-see attractions include Bushkill Falls, known as the Niagara of Pennsylvania, and other natural wonders like Crystal Cave, which is the states oldest operating cave and includes millions of glistening rock formations. Joe Morris
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HeALtH CAre
On Call
LEHigH VallEY HEaltH carE providErs EXpaNd sErvicEs, rEacH iNto commuNitiEs
Sacred Heart Hospital in Allentown is known for its specialty care, especially in bariatric and vascular surgery.
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B
By Kevin Litwin
The Bethlehem Township-based Richard A. Anderson Campus is one of six hospitals in St. Lukes University Health Network.
ob Martin believes a region needs strong health care to attract new businesses and talent, and he knows Lehigh Valley has a top system in place. As senior vice president of St. Lukes University Health Network, Martin says one of his goals is to provide as many services as possible under one roof throughout the most visited sites in St. Lukes six-hospital system to give patients easier access to medical treatments. At our new St. Lukes West End Medical Center in Allentown, we brought together a large variety of services, including urgent care, fitness, rehab, orthopedics and more, he says. We want to continue consolidating into the most convenient sites. Martin adds that the St. Lukes network, which also includes six hospitals and more than 150 local health centers and clinics across
Pennsylvania and New Jersey, is aiming to provide at least one primary care physician within 10-15 minutes of anyone living within its eight-county service area. We have been successful in surgeon recruiting and now have 90 students enrolled in our Temple University-St. Lukes Medical School, which is good news because the medical industry will face a shortage of physicians over the next 10 to 15 years, Martin says. To meet increased demand for its services, St. Lukes recently expanded several of its facilities, including the acute rehabilitation center at its Bethlehem campus and the emergency department at its Warren County N.J. campus. And more growth is on the way for the network.
A Healthy Network
In addition to St. Lukes, Lehigh Valleys health care network is led by three other providers: Easton
Hospital in Easton, Sacred Heart Hospital in Allentown and Lehigh Valley Health Network. The 254bed Easton Hospital serves 300,000 residents in Northampton County and five surrounding counties, with services that include an accredited Chest Pain Center, a bariatric weight loss program, a Sleep Disorders Center, Easton Regional Cancer Center and a newly renovated Center for Orthopedics, Joint and Spine. The 215-bed Sacred Heart Hospital has been nationally recognized as a Center of Excellence for Bariatric Surgery. It also offers specialty care in obstetrics, vascular surgery, rehabilitation and behavioral health, as well as a network of physicians who practice throughout Lehigh and Northampton counties. Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) recently opened a new health center in Bangor to bring more outpatient services closer to the public. The location joins nine other LVHN health centers
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The 215-bed Sacred Heart Hospital has been serving Lehigh Valley since 1912.
throughout the Lehigh Valley, including three hospitals. In early 2014, LVHN will also open a Center for Orthopedic Medicine at the former Westfield Hospital on Tilghman Street in west Allentown. Orthopedic care there will focus on total joint replacement and spine surgery. Opening the Health Center in Bangor helps keep people out of the most expensive environments for health care delivery, which are inpatient hospitals, says Dr. Ronald Swinfard, president and CEO of Lehigh Valley Health Network. But if a patient needs to be admitted to a hospital, LVHN has three excellent campuses. One of those is the networks flagship hospital, Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, which is adding a four-floor tower that will open in late 2014. We will fill only one of those floors and keep the other three available for future use, giving us flexibility to expand in whatever future direction is needed for
patient care, Swinfard says. The hospital has ranked on U.S. News & World Report s Best Hospitals list for the past 18 consecutive years, earning recognition in a total of 14 areas. The most recent list named the hospital among the top 3 percent in the nation in seven categories, including cardiology and heart surgery, GI surgery and gastroenterology, geriatrics, gynecology, orthopedics, pulmonology and urology. Were also doing fine work at our LVH-Muhlenberg and LVH17th Street hospitals, and in 2014 are merging with Hazleton General Hospital in Hazleton for our fourth hospital within the LVHN system, Swinfard says. The network is also becoming known across the state for its telemedicine program, which uses interactive technology to allow clinicians to examine, diagnose and treat patients in remote or underserved areas without access to specialty health care. The
program offers care for stroke, burn, infectious disease, high-risk pregnancies and many other conditions. And when the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers, take the ice in their new arena in Allentown in the fall of 2014, LVHN will be there, too, providing medical services to the team.
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HEALTH CARE
LEHIGH VALLE Y HEALTH PROVIDERS CARE EXPA REACH INTO ND SERVICES, COMMUNITI ES
Sacred Heart Hospital in known for Allentown its is in bariatric specialty care, especially and vascular surgery.
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19 AIR PRODUCTS & CHEMICaLS INC. 30 B. BRaUN MEDICaL INC. 49 CEDaR CREST COLLEGE 41 CHaRLES CHRIN COMpaNIES 8 CITY CENTER LEHIGH VaLLEY 4 CITY OF ALLENTOWN COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEvELOpMENT 56 CITY OF EaSTON COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEvELOpMENT 64 COMpaSS POINT CONSULTING 60 EaSTON HOSpITaL 30 FITZpaTRICK LENTZ & BUbba PC 64 LaFaYETTE COLLEGE 14 LaNTa 2 LEHIGH CaREER & TECHNICaL INSTITUTE C2 LEHIGH VaLLEY ECONOMIC DEvELOpMENT CORpORaTION 1 LEHIGH VaLLEY HEaLTH NETWORK 10 LEHIGH VaLLEY WORKFORCE INvESTMENT BOaRD INC. 31 NaTIONaL PENN C3 NORTHaMpTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE A1 NORTHaMpTON COUNTY BEDCO 37a NORTHaMpTON COUNTY COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEvELOpMENT 6 PENNCap PROpERTIES 45 RCN C4 SaNDS CaSINO RESORT BETHLEHEM 64 SpECIaL EvENTS TENT & PaRTY RENTaLS 9 ST. LUKES UNIvERSITY HEaLTH NETWORK 16 THE WaTERFRONT 50 UGI 14 WEST SIDE HaMMER ELECTRIC
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