The Greater Lehigh Valley Realtors has joined the Made Possible in Lehigh Valley alliance, helping to market the Lehigh Valley for prospective businesses and workers, particularly through homeowner recruitment. Each quarter, the Realtors magazine will run a story from the perspective of the Made Possible initiative in its quarterly e-magazine. Below is an excerpt of the first story. Full editions of the magazine can be found here.

Over the past few years, economic development has become increasingly focused on the ability to attract and retain a talented workforce. Companies will choose to remain or relocate to regions that are growing their talent pool, particularly younger professionals aged 18 to 34. These employees are placing more importance on their quality of life and life-work balance, seeking affordability, accessibility, and opportunity for themselves and their families.

Lehigh Valley offers all that and more. The region is a hotbed for development and has been ranked as one of the top five growing metropolitan markets in the Northeast for the past five years. New houses, apartments and offices are being built across the Lehigh Valley and the population continues to grow – the percentage of young workers living here exceeds the rest of Pennsylvania and even Philadelphia.

Lehigh and Northampton counties are two of only 20 counties in Pennsylvania that have grown in population since 2010 and there is a direct correlation between economic growth and population growth. The economies that are successful are the ones with growing communities, and we need to continue our work to tell the story of this wonderful place we call home.

We all know the benefits the region offers people; we’re living examples of it. But the outside world is mostly unaware of what the Lehigh Valley is and what it represents for people. With that in mind, a coalition of Lehigh Valley regional partners came together to form the Made Possible in Lehigh Valley Alliance, an effort that will increase outside awareness of the Lehigh Valley, enhance a positive image of the region, and market it as a desirable and attractive place for talent, particularly among the 18 to 34 age demographic.

Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation, Discover Lehigh Valley, and the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce officially kicked off the Alliance earlier this year, and have brought in the Greater Lehigh Valley Realtors as a partner in the housing and relocation effort.

Working together allows us to combine our strengths and pool resources around common strategies to position the Lehigh Valley as an attractive and welcoming place for visitors, professionals, families and companies, while celebrating and enriching the quality of life in our region.

“The time has come that we tell a consistent message the same way about the quality of life, the attractiveness, and the unique place that is the Lehigh Valley,” said LVEDC President & CEO Don Cunningham. “It’s a natural alignment, because we’re all here for the Lehigh Valley.”

To read the full story, read or download the full issue of the Greater Lehigh Valley Realtors e-magazine.