Sample pages from the Lehigh Valley Relocation Guide.

Last summer, the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC) and Discover Lehigh Valley partnered in the development and release of a relocation guide for newcomers to the region or those curious to learn more about what makes Lehigh Valley such a special place.

Now, the two organizations, along with the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, are collaborating on an updated version of the guide, one that will provide even more information and incorporate more stories from Lehigh Valley residents and visitors.

“This guide seeks to help attract professionals to the region and provide an understanding of the amazing things made possible here,” said Michael Keller, Marketing Manager for Made Possible in Lehigh Valley. “We’ve received great feedback about our inaugural version, and with collaboration and feedback from our regional stakeholders we will make the next version even better.”

The new relocation guide is expected to be completed by March and released at the LVEDC Annual Meeting, which will be held on March 19. Attendance is free, but pre-registration is required.

The guide is a collaborative effort via Made Possible in Lehigh Valley, which seeks to increase outside awareness of the positive attributes the region has to offer, develop a positive image of Lehigh Valley, and market it as an attractive place to live, visit and locate a business.

The original guide, called “Welcome to Lehigh Valley: A Guide to Relocation,” is available digitally here as well as in print form. It provides an overview of everything you need to know to visit, work, live, learn, and play in Lehigh Valley.

This includes information about the region’s economy, average wages for key occupations, housing costs, educational institutions, and quality-of-life assets, from the Easton Farmers’ Market to Historic Moravian Bethlehem, from Musikfest to Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Keller said changes already expected for the new guide include expanding the size from eight pages to 16, adding more regional demographic information, and highlighting the continuum of education in Lehigh Valley.

In addition to assisting newcomers, the guide serves as a recruitment tool for employers in Lehigh Valley, and has been provided to regional colleges and universities for distribution at major events for returning and new students and their parents. It has also been distributed to local hotels for event packaging.

Keller said the relocation guide serves as an excellent companion piece to Discover Lehigh Valley’s “Guide to Lehigh Valley,” which provides information about regional history, arts & culture, family fun, outdoor recreation, and more. A digital version can be found here.

Keller was appointed this month to the new position of Marketing Manager for Made Possible in Lehigh Valley as part of a new alliance between LVEDC, Discover Lehigh Valley, and the Chamber with the purpose of advancing the Made Possible in Lehigh Valley initiative.

Made Possible seeks to share the perspectives of the people and companies in our region and let them explain why Lehigh Valley is a special place where you can create a life, a business, or a career, on your terms. A two-minute video about the initiative was recently nominated for an Emmy Award.