2018 was a big year for economic development in the Lehigh Valley.

The region reached a record-high GDP, ranked in the Top 5 among regions its size in the United States for economic development, and saw 33 major business attraction, expansion, or retention projects resulting in the creation of 4,419 new jobs and the retention of 3,006 more.

All of these stories and much more are highlighted in the new Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC) Annual Report, which was released for the first time at the LVEDC 2018 Annual Meeting on March 19.

The digital version can be read above or downloaded here. Hard copies can be made available upon request.

The 32-page report includes details about the new “Made Possible in Lehigh Valley” marketing campaign unveiled at the Annual Meeting, as well as stories about LVEDC’s increased focus on skilled labor, and downtown development in the cities of Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton.

It also includes a detailed table about all 33 projects tracked by LVEDC in the year 2018, including 18 projects in Lehigh County and 15 in Northampton County, as well as a map showing exactly where in the region each of the projects are located.

Additional details are provided about each of these projects as well, including ADP’s new office in downtown Allentown, the new global headquarters announced by Fortune 500 company Air Products, the long-awaited Lehigh Valley distribution hub by FedEx Ground, and major expansion projects by Air Liquide, B. Braun Medical, Evonik Corporation, and Freshpet, among others.

The LVEDC 2018 Annual Report was designed by Michelle Chrin, who has designed the organization’s annual report for the last four years, as well as its Commercial Real Estate Reports, Investment Opportunities brochure, and other marketing materials.

Last year’s LVEDC 2017 Annual Report won an International Economic Development Council Excellence in Economic Development Silver Medal for Best Annual Report (Population Greater Than 500,000).