U.S. Sen Bob Casey visited LVEDC offices to speak with Don Cunningham and his staff about the Lehigh Valley.

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey visited the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC) to learn more about economic development efforts in the Lehigh Valley, and how he can continue to advocate for the region at state and federal levels.

Casey sat down with LVEDC President and CEO Don Cunningham and members of his staff on Wednesday to discuss the organization’s ongoing initiatives and to learn more about the great economic strides the Lehigh Valley has made in recent years.

“The Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation is doing a tremendous and critical service for the people of the Lehigh Valley,” Casey said. “Creating jobs is as important as any public service and your efforts are increasing the community’s quality of life.”

Cunningham said keeping open lines of communication with state and federal officials is crucial to advancing LVEDC’s vision of a Lehigh Valley with a diverse economic base that enable businesses to come here, start here, and flourish here.

“We’ve always enjoyed a strong working relationship and partnership with Sen. Casey, and we very much appreciate that he took the time to meet with us,” Cunningham said. “Engagement like this is extremely important and helps us ensure that he knows exactly what’s happening here in the Lehigh Valley so he can continue to advocate on behalf of the region.”

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey listening to LVEDC President and CEO Don Cunningham.

Casey also agreed to participate in one of LVEDC’s Conversation and Cocktails events later this year. The Conversation and Cocktails series provides LVEDC investors a unique opportunity to have targeted interaction with members of the Lehigh Valley’s legislative body in an intimate setting to discuss pressing economic issues.

During Wednesday’s meeting, Cunningham discussed the Lehigh Valley’s gross domestic product, which has surpassed $35 billion for the first time in its history. Casey was particularly impressed with the diversified nature of the regional GDP, with its top four subsectors all falling within $400 million of each other.

“That’s a very impressive balance,” Casey said. “I knew the Lehigh Valley was going in the right direction, but I wouldn’t have known the extent of it without these indicators. I have to go around the state and brag about what’s happening here.”

Cunningham also discussed how the growing interest international companies have shown the Lehigh Valley. About one-third of LVEDC’s prospects are from outside the country, and Cunningham embarked on an business development tour through Western Europe last year that resulted in new investment for the region.

Additionally, LVEDC provided Casey with several publications recently produced by the organization, including a comprehensive workforce study conducted by Oxford Economics, and the newest issue of the quarterly Lehigh Valley Real Estate Report.

Several LVEDC staff members attended the meeting in addition to Cunningham, including Vice President of Economic Development and Marketing Matthew Tuerk, Vice President of Administration and Investor Relations Jaime Whalen, Director of Business Development Jarrett Witt, Director of Redevelopment and External Affairs Andrew Kleiner, and Director of Communications Colin McEvoy. Janet Smith of the Governor’s Action Team also attended.