The cover of the second edition of the Lehigh Valley Economic Development magazine.

A newly-released magazine developed by the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC) will serve as a showcase for the region, as well as an important marketing tool to attract businesses and site selectors to the Lehigh Valley.

The second issue of the popular Lehigh Valley Economic Development magazine highlights the region’s competitive advantages for targeted sectors like manufacturing and food and beverage processing, as well as providing an overview of the region’s business climate, livability, education, energy, health-care, and transportation.

The 44-page publication, which also includes local advertising, will be key marketing material for LVEDC as it travels to trade shows and business recruitment forums. It will also be disseminated nationally and globally to site selectors, economic development professionals, commercial and industrial real estate brokers, and corporate executives looking at new markets.

“The first magazine was always one of our most popular marketing items, and this latest edition is even more targeted in its approach to publicizing the economic assets and success stories of the Lehigh Valley,” said Don Cunningham, LVEDC President and CEO. “This ties directly into our mission to tell our economic story and increase awareness throughout the United States and abroad of the economic advantages of the Lehigh Valley.”

Content from the magazine can be found online here.

The magazine is a collaboration between LVEDC and Journal Communications, a nationally-recognized company that produces dozens of similar products for states, regions, chambers of commerce, and economic development organizations. This is the second of at least three issues expected to be produced.

One of the lead stories from the newest issues is a question-and-answer article with executives from major companies explaining why they have chosen to operate in the Lehigh Valley. This includes Seifi Ghasemi, CEO of Air Products; Mike Perry, President and CEO of Crayola; and Nacho Abia, President and CEO of Olympus Corporation of Americas.

It also features stories about the four targeted sectors of the Lehigh Valley, as defined in an LVEDC-commissioned report by the Atlanta-based firm Garner Economics: high performance manufacturing, high value business services, life science research and manufacturing, and food and beverage processing.

One article focuses on the success several food and beverage manufacturers have enjoyed in the Lehigh Valley, including Ocean Spray, Bimbo Bakeries, Boston Beer, and Coca-Cola. Another discusses how large a part manufacturing still plays in the regional economy, making up $4.95 billion of the region’s $35.4 billion gross domestic product.

The magazine is available for use by any business, organization, or government official in the Lehigh Valley involved in recruiting people or companies to the region. It targets a defined audience of potential residents, new businesses, and visitors.

“We’ve used this magazine at many of our local events and at every trade show we’ve attended over the past year as a tool to market the Lehigh Valley for companies looking to come here, grow here, and start here,” said Michael Keller, LVEDC Director of Marketing. “We plan to use the upcoming edition as an even more targeted tool to help attract business to the region.”

Copies are available upon request or at the LVEDC office at 2158 Avenue C, Suite 200, Bethlehem, PA 18017. For more information or to request copies, contact Keller at 610-266-2217 or via email at mkeller@lehighvalley.org.