For the last three years, the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC) has been engaging in direct conversations with municipal officials and elected leaders across all 62 municipalities in the Lehigh Valley.

These conversations are meant to spark a two-way conversation between LVEDC and our public sector partners that leads to a better understanding of the economic development goals, priorities, opportunities, and challenges these partners are facing.

Last fall, LVEDC released its first ever Municipal Survey. The purpose of this survey was to take a more scientific look at the trends that had been recorded during municipal visits. The survey was distributed via an issue of LVEDC’s quarterly municipal newsletter, LV Connections, as well as through direct email messages to all 62 Lehigh Valley municipalities.

47 municipal officials or elected leaders completed the survey, representing 42 individual municipalities. In addition to the questions with fixed answers, participants were encouraged to share priority brownfield and blighted sites and their Made Possible in Lehigh Valley success stories. (Learn more about the Lehigh Valley Made Possible initiative here.)

We asked our respondents how welcome different types of development were in their municipalities. The most welcome type of development is retail with office close behind:Respondents were asked about the residential market in their municipalities. The highest residential demand in Lehigh Valley is for new and existing single-family homes and for middle income housing. Other findings from the survey include:

• 39 respondents said that they are concerned about the state of their road infrastructure.
• 25 respondents said that developing new Greenways was a priority for their municipality.
• 25 respondents reported that their municipality is due for a zoning update.
• 22 respondents believe that their municipality needs a multi-municipal comprehensive plan update.

These survey responses will help inform ongoing Community Outreach visits throughout 2020. LVEDC will be releasing and expanding this survey later this year as we continue to improve our knowledge of municipal priorities across the Lehigh Valley.