Fresh off delivering his first budget, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro will attend and address the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp.’s Annual Meeting on Tuesday, March 21 at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks in Bethlehem.

LVEDC’s Annual Meeting celebrates the economic highlights and successes of the Lehigh Valley during the previous year and addresses key issues facing the regional economy. It typically draws a capacity crowd of about 700 of the region’s business, corporate, community, economic development, and educational leaders.

Shapiro’s attendance will be the first by a Pennsylvania governor at the Annual Meeting.

“We are honored to have Governor Shapiro address the Lehigh Valley’s economic development coalition so early in his tenure,” said Don Cunningham, president and CEO, of LVEDC. “Throughout his career, the Governor has been a regular visitor to the Lehigh Valley. He understands our economy and the region’s strength in the Commonwealth.”

Shapiro delivered his first budget to the General Assembly March 7 highlighting an aggressive agenda for economic development, job creation and workforce development, Cunningham said.

“In two months on the job, Governor Shapiro has showcased a deep commitment to growing a 21^st Century economy in Pennsylvania,” Cunningham said. “This is very good for the Lehigh Valley and Pennsylvania.”

The Annual Meeting program begins at 3:30 pm with registration starting at 2:30 pm. Register to attend by clicking here. Because of the anticipated turnout, anyone interested in attending the event should register by the end of business Thursday, March 16.

The Governor’s keynote remarks will be delivered in the shadows of the former blast furnaces of Bethlehem Steel Corp., which once anchored the heavy industrial economy of the Lehigh Valley and Pennsylvania. Today, the ArtsQuest Center on the former steelmaking land, is part of an economic renaissance in the region led by thriving downtowns and a diverse economic base of advanced manufacturing, the life sciences, technology, and industrial supply chain.

In addition to Governor Shapiro, the 90-minute program will feature a welcome message from Lehigh Valley Congresswoman Susan Wild; a roundtable discussion with the mayors of Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton hosted by Cunningham; a forum on the dynamic talent market of the New Lehigh Valley featuring the stories of four, young workers and different career paths they have pursued; and an economic leadership award presented to Pennsylvania’s Acting Revenue Secretary Pat Browne for his career-long support of regional economic development in the Lehigh Valley.

Capital Blue Cross is presenting sponsor of the 2023 LVEDC Annual Meeting.

Cocktail sponsors supporting bar service for the event are Boyle Construction and Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba.

Gold sponsors are First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union, Fulton Bank, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Norris McLaughlin, and WFMZ. Silver sponsors are Aesir Logistics, American Bank, Crayola, DeSales University, D’Huy Engineering, Just Born, Klunk & Millan Advertising, MKSD architects. Community sponsors are ArtsQuest, CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP), EARTHRES, ESSA Bank & Trust, HMK Insurance, Penn Community Bank, Penn Strategies, Penntex Construction, and Promus Financial.