Sen. Casey discusses economic investment with LVEDC

Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) recently visited Don Cunningham, president and CEO of Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. (LVEDC), to discuss economic activity in the valley.

Northampton and Lehigh are two of only 18 counties in the state with population growth since 2010. Northampton County has grown by 7,113 residence since the start of the decade while Lehigh County has grown by 18,424.

A total of 22.4 percent of the state’s population is between the ages of 18 and 34. That percentage is as high as 31.1 percent in parts of the valley.

“I appreciated the opportunity to meet with the region’s economic development leaders to learn about their work and discuss how the Lehigh Valley is strongly positioned for economic growth,” Casey said. “I will continue to fight in the Senate to ensure that LVEDC and communities across our state have the necessary funding to create jobs, spark economic growth, and increase wages for workers.”

Casey and Cunningham discussed which regional sectors were creating the most jobs, LVEDC’s Made Possible in Lehigh Valley initiative, LVEDC’s Education and Talent Supply Council, how Lehigh Valley’s technical and vocational schools were doing to align training with job needs, and the continued demand for manufacturing space.