Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC) recently completed a competitive procurement process from firms to develop a marketing strategy targeted to the four targeted industries identified in A Blueprint for Success: An Economic Development Strategy for Sustainable Growth in the Lehigh Valley: High Performance Manufacturing, High Value Business Services, Life Science Research & Manufacturing, and Food & Beverage Processing.

Firms with significant experience in the preparation of economic development marketing plans and business recruitment strategy were invited to submit statements of qualifications along with their proposal. In order to properly address the full scope of services being requested, interested firms were also required to possess expertise in related disciplines such as market assessment, industry specific expertise, trade show knowledge, and economic development.

After reviewing numerous proposals, the selection committee of LVEDC decided that Atlas Advertising was best positioned to provide marketing guidance for a targeted business marketing strategy for the four select target industries. The proposal that Atlas submitted aligned well with the objectives and initiatives of the newly formed 2014-2017 Strategic Plan. Atlas Advertising has extensive experience positioning regions and communities similar to the Lehigh Valley as friendly and conducive to business. The goal of the strategy is to market the economic assets of the Lehigh Valley, strengthen the regional image, and strategically position the Lehigh Valley among the top business destinations in the U.S. and the world for the target industries.

The implementation of the overall strategy to reach each of the four targeted industries will be the responsibility of development and marketing team at LVEDC. Within this strategy, staff will be presented with branding and messaging for each target industry, listings of publications and trade media outlets, trade shows and venues to connect with targeted areas, a digital marketing plan, and a listing of site selection consultants that specialize in the four targeted industries. In addition, the plan will include a list of specific companies within each of the four targeted industries that are strong potential recruitment targets.

A portion of the funding for the targeted business marketing strategy will come from Envision Lehigh Valley funds as part of the 2011 Regional Planning Grant from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).