Lehigh Valley COVID-19/Coronavirus Response Resources

LVEDC continues to monitor effects of COVID-19 on Lehigh Valley’s economy. We update this page often with information about resources available to businesses.

Our financing page has information about assistance to small businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Visit here for more information.

Pennsylvania Mitigation Measures

Gov. Tom Wolf has lifted the state’s mitigation orders effective May 31, 2021. All businesses, venues, and events may return to 100% capacity.

The order requiring unvaccinated people to wear masks will remain in effect until June 28, 2021, or until 70% of Pennsylvania residents have been fully vaccinated.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health recommends Pennsylvanians refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance and recommendations for ongoing COVID-19 safety measures and procedures.

Paycheck Protection Program Closed

The federal government’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ended May 31, 2021. For information about loan forgiveness and additional Small Business Administration programs, visit www.sba.gov. Visit LVEDC’s Financing Programs webpage for additional information about federal, state, and local financial assistance programs for small businesses.

Shuttered Venue Operator Grant Program

This SBA program provides relief to operators or promoters of live performance venues, theater operators, performing arts organizations, museums, movie theaters, and talent representatives affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The applications portal opened April 26. For details, visit LVEDC’s Financing Programs web page.

COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program

Pennsylvania has allocated $145 million to the COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program (CHIRP), which provides grants to businesses in the hospitality sector affected by the pandemic. Lehigh County has received $4.1 million, Northampton County has received $3.4 million.

The Rising Tide Community Loan Fund is administering the program for Lehigh and Northampton Counties. Visit LVEDC’s Financing web page for additional information.

COVID-19 Resources and Information Sources

• Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf Newsroom
• PA.gov: Responding to COVID-19 in Pennsylvania
• Pennsylvania Department of Health
• Pennsylvania Department of Health Mask Order
• Northampton County COVID-19 Risk and Recovery Training for Businesses
• Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development COVID-19 Resources and Assistance
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Information Toolkit for Employers of Essential Workers
• Coronavirus Unemployment Offerings for Employees Impacted
• Pennsylvania Rapid Response Information Guide

Industry-Specific Guidance from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania:

• Essential Agricultural Businesses
• Farms and On-Farm Deliveries
• Farmers Markets and On-Farm Markets
• Food Processors and Manufacturers
• Dairy Guidance
• Behavioral Health Services
• Aging Services
• Telemedicine
• Child Care Providers

LVEDC Blog Posts Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic:

• Pandemic Produces Complex Changes in Lehigh Valley Employment
• Don Cunningham Discusses Coronavirus Impact on Lehigh Valley Economy
• Don Cunningham: Lehigh Valley and a Tale of Two Economies
• Lehigh Valley Jobs Continue to Grow in January After Factoring in Seasonal Work
• LVEDC Reflects on Unprecedented Year at Annual Meeting Program
• LVEDC 2020 Annual Report, “A Year of Resilience,” Released Online
• Pennsylvania Grant Program for Hospitality Businesses Opens
• Investor Support Helps LVEDC Continue Its Work Throughout COVID-19 Crisis
• Lehigh Valley Chamber Economic Outlook Predicts Better Days Are to Come
• COVID-19 Has Become an Accelerant for Telehealth
• Follett Forms Partnership to Supply Freezers for COVID-19 Vaccines
• Lehigh Valley Unemployment Rate Dipped in December Amid Notable Job Gains
• Follett Joins Fight Against COVID-19 With Company Expansion
• SBDC Information Session to Provide Updates on Paycheck Protection Program
• Long-Awaited COVID-19 Relief Financing Programs Announced
• Don Cunningham Column: The ‘Groundhog Day’ Quality of Pandemic Life
• Region’s Health Networks Administer First COVID-19 Vaccinations
• Lehigh Valley Flexes Its Logistics Muscle as E-Commerce Star Rises During COVID
• OraSure Technologies Draws National TV Attention for COVID-19 Testing Device
• USSF Expanding, Creating Jobs as it Develops COVID-19 Vaccine
• Don Cunningham Column: Pandemic is this Generation’s Catalyst for Changes
• New Data Details How Sharply, Unevenly COVID Recession Hit Lehigh Valley
• Even Amid a Pandemic, Here Are Five Things to be Grateful for this Thanksgiving
• Chamber Highlights COVID-19 Funding Lehigh Valley Businesses Received
• Research Consortium Report Focuses on Lehigh Valley Resilience
• Health Network Laboratories Sees Its World Changed by COVID-19
• Report Shows Lehigh Valley Economy Already Showing Signs of Recovery 
• Discover Lehigh Valley Celebrates Accomplishments from a Challenging Year
• Summit Discusses the Future of Manufacturing in a Post-Pandemic Climate
• Lehigh Valley’s Life Sciences Sector Continues to Thrive
• Unemployment Rate Drops to 8%, But Not All Sectors Are Recovering Equally
• LaunchBox Ladies Discuss Entrepreneurship and “Power of the Pivot”
• Beyond the Unemployment Rate Drop: Where Lehigh Valley Stands Six Months into COVID-19
• Lehigh Valley Poised to Benefit from New Office Trend
• Talent Supply Council Hears Updates on Pandemic Impact on Employers, Educators
• Don Cunningham Column: The Puzzle of Lehigh Valley Economy During the Pandemic
• Commercial Real Estate Outlook: Brighter Times are Ahead
• New LVEDC Report Highlights Population Changes, Development Projects
• Lehigh Valley Unemployment Rate Dropped Slightly in July
• LVEDC, Guardian Life Provide Grants to Companies Impacted by COVID-19
• LVEDC Partners with NBC10, Telemundo62 on Campaign to Highlight Local Businesses
• Nearly 300 Small Businesses in Lehigh Valley Receive COVID-19 Assistance
• OraSure Technologies to Create or Retain 410 Jobs with Lehigh Valley Expansion
• Pennsylvania COVID-19 Small Business Assistance Grant Program Reopens
• Internship Summit to Address Challenges Created by COVID-19
• Measuring the Economic Recovery from COVID-19 in Lehigh Valley
• Economic Heroes: Lehigh Valley Company Develops Thermographic Monitoring System
• Lehigh Valley Unemployment Rate Held Steady in June Amid Pandemic
• Lehigh Valley Entrepreneurs Create Curbside Communications App for Businesses
• Two Programs Announced to Support Small Businesses Impacted by COVID-19
• Analysts: Coronavirus Effect on Lehigh Valley Logistics Market Limited Thus Far
• Don Cunningham Column: What Torch Is Being Passed to this Generation?
• PPP Loan Application Window Extended Until Aug. 8
• Economic Heroes: Allentown Plastic Company’s New Product Making Elevators Safer
• Lehigh Valley’s Unemployment Rate Drops in May Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
• LVEDC Q&A: ArtsQuest’s Kassie Hilgert Discusses Musikfest, Impact of Coronavirus on the Arts
• Ben Franklin Technology Partners Gives COVID-19 Funding to Lehigh Valley Startups
• PPP Adds Flexibility, Federal Reserve Creates COVID-19 Relief Program
• Lehigh University Team Working on Project to Disrupt Spread of Coronavirus
• Businesses Discuss How LVEDC Helped Them Secure COVID-19 Financing Assistance
• LVEDC Q&A: Carol Kuplen of St. Luke’s and Ed Dougherty of LVHN
• LVEDC Continues Municipal and Community Outreach Efforts
• Unemployment Rate in April Shows Rising Impact of COVID-19
• Don Cunningham Column: Sometimes It’s OK to Stop and Watch the Chipmunks
• Susan Larkin Discusses Staffing Challenges During COVID-19
• Economic Heroes: Sharp Expanding in Lehigh Valley as it Fights Against Coronavirus
• Expertise of LVEDC Board Helps to Understand Lehigh Valley Economy
• Lehigh Valley Business Owners Discuss Innovating Amid COVID-19
• LVEDC Releases First Commercial Real Estate Report Since Coronavirus Outbreak
• Lehigh Valley Women Entrepreneurs Discuss Navigating the New Normal
• Economic Heroes: LifeAire Systems Designs Decontamination Unit for N95 Masks
• Essential Work of Owens & Minor in Lehigh Valley Earns President’s Praise
• Economic Heroes: Americold Serves Key Role in Global Food Distribution Network
• Lehigh Valley Construction Companies Resume Activity
• Don Cunningham Discusses Economic Impact of Coronavirus on Lehigh Valley
• LVStartup Provides Coronavirus Information to Lehigh Valley Entrepreneurs
• Economic Heroes: OraSure Technologies on Front Lines in Fight Against Coronavirus
• Don Cunningham Column: A New Chapter for Lehigh Valley Economy
• New Unemployment Data Show Start of COVID-19 Impact in Lehigh Valley
• Online Job Ads Provide Peek Into Lehigh Valley’s Economy During Pandemic
• Analysts Say Lehigh Valley Industrial Market Well-Positioned to Weather Pandemic
• Pennsylvania Issues Guidance for Construction Projects to Resume Starting May 1
• Lehigh Valley Economic Development Activity Continues During Pandemic
• Regional Experts Discuss Coronavirus Pandemic at Virtual Town Hall
• COVID-19 Funding Starting to Flow to Lehigh Valley Companies
• Lehigh Valley Has High Percentage of Essential Jobs that Cannot Be Done at Home
• LVEDC Continues to Connect Lehigh Valley Companies with Emergency Financing
• Lehigh Valley Businesses Step up to Fight COVID-19; Supplies for Care Providers Still Being Sought
• LVEDC Helping Connect Lehigh Valley Small Businesses with COVID-19 Financing
• Don Cunningham Column: Finding a New Way and Maintaining Connectedness
• Lehigh Valley Companies Step Up To Fight COVID-19 Outbreak
• Supplies Sought for Lehigh Valley Health Care Providers
• Financing Options Available for Lehigh Valley Businesses Affected by COVID-19
• LVEDC Reports Initial Findings From Survey of COVID-19 Economic Impacts
• COVID-19 UPDATE: Business Resources Available After Gov. Wolf’s Closure Order
• LVEDC Monitoring, Gathering Economic Data in Response to Coronavirus
• Economic Impact of Coronavirus Discussed at Lehigh Valley Business Symposium