Effective this year, as an additional investor benefit, there will be no attendance costs for investors to any events organized by the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC).

A minimal charge for non-investors will help offset expenses generated by the organization of the events, and will free up more funds to spend on marketing the economic assets of the Lehigh Valley, which is consistent with the organization’s mission.

However, attendance will remain free for select events – for investors and non-investors alike – including the upcoming Lehigh and Northampton State of the County addresses, and the 2017 LVEDC Annual Meeting on March 23.

“Any costs will be nominal compared to the advantages these meetings provide, including high-quality economic data, access to thought leaders and legislative representatives, and networking opportunities with stakeholders from across the region,” said Michael Keller, LVEDC Director of Marketing.

LVEDC’s public-private mission is to market the economic assets of the Lehigh Valley, recruit companies, and work with existing companies on strategic initiatives to support job growth and development, along with serving as a regional shared services center.

Investments in the Lehigh Valley make it possible for our community to grow, develop, and improve our quality of life, and for our organization to remain competitive in marketing, recruitment, and strategic initiatives to support business growth and job expansion.

“Without the investment of the private sector, we could never have the success we’ve experienced in economic growth in recent years,” Cunningham said. “We compete every day with markets much larger than our own to tell the story of the Lehigh Valley. Investment makes that possible.”

LVEDC events for the upcoming year include four Conversation & Cocktails events, four Brokers & Developers Council events, one redevelopment event, and the LVEDC Fall Signature Meeting, which spotlights a company in the Lehigh Valley that exemplifies a particular industry.

The Conversation and Cocktails series allows LVEDC investors a unique opportunity to have targeted interaction with members of the Lehigh Valley’s legislative body in an intimate setting to discuss pressing economic issues. Past hosts of this series include U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, U.S. Rep Charlie Dent, and state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie.

Brokers and Developers Council events offer an opportunity to learn about a timely topic and discuss issues affecting real estate brokers, site selectors, developers, bankers, and other professions. Past events have focused on the role of research in commercial real estate, panel discussions on the office market, and due diligence and redevelopment financing.

LVEDC received more than $500,000 in private sector investment and sponsorship last year, making 2016 the single largest private investment year in the organization’s 22-year history. That figure does not include contributions from both county governments, which include annual investments of $80,000 from Lehigh County and $75,000 from Northampton County.

More than three dozen of the leading investors, will be featured in a series of digital billboards along Route 22 during the first quarter of 2017.