There are 15,000 businesses in the Lehigh Valley. Our exciting new Getting Down to Business video series will shine the spotlight on 10 of them in 2014.

The 2- to 3-minute videos, produced by THRIVE Media of Allentown, will not only reveal the inner workings of these great industries, but will also show how LVEDC was able to get these firms to come here, start here or grow here.

“THRIVE’s managing director, Jeff Tintle Jr., has done a fantastic job showcasing these companies that include Coca-Cola Refreshments, Cantelmi Hardware, Michelman Steel, Lightweight Manufacturing, Ocean Spray Cranberries, Palram Americas and American Millwork & Cabinetry,” said John McGran, LVEDC’s vice president of marketing.

“You get a great feel for what prompts business owners and managers to stay here and want to expand their business. You also catch a look at the many ways LVEDC can help a business grow and thrive.”

LVEDC Director of Communications Stephen Althouse handpicked the companies that made the cut, then worked as the middle man with THRIVE to schedule the video shoots.

“Steve did a great job convincing these firms to take part in this worthy project – one that we expect to roll out in the first week of January,” said McGran.

“When you’re working with national firms like Coca-Cola and Ocean Spray, there are layers of corporate bureaucracy that must be dealt with. Steve was dogged in his pursuit of attaining the corporate blessing.”

Each video will get “Premiere Week” treatment that will result in its release via the LVEDC newsletter as well as a one-month run on the lehighvalley.org website home page. McGran said LVEDC may arrange for premiere showings at the companies involved in this project. The videos will reside on LVEDC’s YouTube page and will also be used by our economic development department to entice clients to choose Lehigh Valley.

“The purpose is twofold – to tell the story of great Lehigh Valley businesses and to show the outside world the opportunities and business help that await them here in Lehigh Valley,” said McGran.

LVEDC is a one-stop shop for just about all business needs. The Getting Down to Business series highlights how LVEDC can help with financing, site remediation, Foreign Trade Zone status, attraction projects, business retention, and job retention and creation.