Allentown Good News - Week of January 25

Here's a sampling of what you'll find on the Allentown Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) page on Facebook and Twitter feed for the week of January 25, 2010:

A-Treat Let's spotlight a really fun Allentown manufacturer: A-Treat! Growing up in Eastern Pennsylvania, we always drank A-Treat. A-Treat has been producing high-quality soft drinks in Allentown for over 90 years, including all of your favorites (I am partial to the grapefruit soda). Using essential oils and sugar instead of chemicals is one of the ways that A-Treat distinguishes its product from other soda companies. They've been making those great drinks from their building on Union Boulevard for almost 70 years now. So let's raise a weekend toast to the Lehigh Valley's very own soda: A-TREAT! If you are out of the area you buy their soda at A-Treat's web store

Bridgeworks by the Creek One of AEDC's signature projects over the past decade was the remediation of a brownfield on former Mack Truck land at South Tenth Street. That remediation, coupled with assistance from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development facilitated the construction of a modern industrial building that we call Bridgeworks by the Creek. This 90,000 square foot building was divided into 4 units, 3 of which are now occupied by Eastern Surfaces and Blend-Pro, providing over 100 jobs to Lehigh Valley residents. There is still 1 unit left, with over 14,000 square feet of space, 24' ceilings, dock doors, ample parking, and easy access to I-78 and and US-22. Best of all, this property is a Keystone Opportunity Zone through 2019, meaning you pay no corporate income tax. To learn more, download the Bridgeworks by the Creek informational flyer.

La Placita Looking for great Mexican food that goes beyond the tofu tacos of Mexi-Cali or flavorless "salsa of the big chains? Try La Placita Mexico Deli, one of the Lehigh Valley's favorite poblano restaurants. George and Ana run a top-notch place with super-authentic food. Wondering what to order? If you like it spicy, go with the enchiladas (green is spicier than red). If you need something milder, go with the carnitas (pork) taco special. Whatever you decide to go with, you will be stuffed and happy afterward! La Placita is on the corner of 12th & Turner and open for lunch and dinner. Lear more and read reviews at the La Placita Mexico Yelp page.

Deli Plaza This weekend for lunch: good deli! Here's how you warm up when it's 19 degrees out, but it feels like 8: sit down for a great reuben at Deli Plaza. Mike and Mohammed put tremendous care into each sandwich and will personalize your meal. You absolutely must top it off with a milkshake, made to order. Deli Plaza is at 10th & Hamilton. After you eat there, head over to the Deli Plaza UrbanSpoon page and write a review.

Quick Links

In the Next Industrial Revolution, Atoms Are the New Bits | Wired Magazine This is an area in which AEDC is trying to be active. We anticipate that much manufacturing in this country will be smaller in scale, and we hope to make Allentown one of the homes of craft manufacturing over the next 10 years.

Smart Growth: The Business Opportunity for Developers and Production Builders | Smart Growth | US EPA A series of white papers on smart growth. Essential reading.

Valley cities report crime down significantly | themorningcall.com Just the facts, ma'am.

Instead of building new green places, let’s green the ones we have | NRDC

Pennsylvania Career Guide | Center for Workforce Information & Analysis Interesting document, especially for those that find themselves thinking about a career transition.

Jobs for America report | Milken Institute Excellent set of policy recommendations for improving economic development. President Obama clearly looked at this prior to his State of the Union address.

The ASD asks the community to take part in naming new buildings

As Allentown School District completes Phase I of the Comprehensive Facilities Plan (CFP), there is an opportunity to celebrate this historic school improvement plan with new names for one new school and two new 9th grade centers. Between the months of April and June 2010, the District will be welcoming the public to view the upgrades or expansions of six schools with grand openings. A key part of these grand openings are naming three of the new buildings:

• New Elementary School on Allen Street (in front of Jackson Elementary)
• 9th Grade Center at Louis E. Dieruff High School
• 9th Grade Center at William Allen High School

Nominations can be submitted here and more information can be found about the official process in ASD Policy 701.1, Naming/Renaming District Facilities on the ASD website.

Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Economic Outlook Luncheon Roundup

AEDC attended the Economic Outlook Luncheon hosted by the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce on January 26, 2010. This annual event features a look at the year to come and reflections on the economy, and this year featured inaugural Community Development Awards presented by the mayors of Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, and Phillipsburg.

The centerpiece of the event was an economic outlook given by Jay Bryson, Global Economist at Wells Fargo. Bryson presented economic data for the year past, but focused the presentation on 2010 projections. In short, he delivered projections similar to those presented by the Philadelphia Fed at the Community Jobs Forum hosted by CACLV earlier in the month: economic growth should occur in 2010, but it will be weaker than necessary. This growth will not be accompanied by hiring, which will make the average citizen feel like we are still mired in a recession. They expect nonresidential (commercial) construction to continue to contract through 2010, which looks like bad news for a city hoping to rebuild its productive real estate. Additionally, they foresee upside risk in that other OECD economies could begin to rebound at the same time, making life nicer for exporters.

After the global perspective, Kamran Afshar gave a regional snapshot summarizing hiring and purchasing opinions of local firms. Overall, survey respondents reported feeling optimistic about equipment purchase and hiring in 2010, but the numbers are still not what they were in boom times.

In addition to the conjecture, a few local businesses were awarded with Community Development awards. Mayor Ed Pawlowski presented JG Petrucci with an award for Allentown, spotlighting their commitment to rescuing commercial and industrial sites in the city, such as the Mack Corporate Headquarters and the Exide Battery site. Petrucci's purchase of Mack's building will allow Lehigh Valley Health Network to consolidate its administrative functions in Allentown, while their development of the Exide brownfield will create a new, green home for Bennett Toyota.

Mayor Sal Panto of Easton awarded George Mereiles with an award for helping to rebuild Easton's downtown with his restaurant ventures. We are hoping that Mr. Mereiles has the same success here in Allentown with his investment at Ninth & Hamilton, in the Butz Corporate Center.

Allentown Good News - January 25, 2010

Here's a sampling of what you'll find on the Allentown Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) page on Facebook and Twitter feed today, January 25, 2010:

Bridgeworks Enterprise Center Business Incubator Are you with a start up and looking for space to grow? AEDC manages the Bridgeworks Enterprise Center Business Incubator on South Tenth Street, and there is space available to the right business. The incubator offers low-cost suites from 1300 to 3400 square feet with 15' ceilings and great light. The building is a former Mack Trucks plant rehabbed in 1989 to house small manufacturing. Current tenants include a manufacturer of industrial prototypes and a supplier to the cryogenics industry. Loans are available for a variety of activities, from equipment purchase to leasehold improvements. The incubator staff is available for technical assistance, and the Bridgeworks Incubator is a proud member of the Ben Franklin Technology Partners network. Learn more here and become a fan on Facebook: Bridgeworks Enterprise Center Business Incubator

Brew Works on the Green We know that you've tried the Brew Works in Allentown and probably Bethlehem, but have you checked out the Brew Works on the Green yet? They have many of the same beers and all of the quality of the downtown location in a quiet, pleasant spot on the Allentown Municipal Golf Course. With such a rainy day in front of us, why not take in a moment's peace and appreciate the natural beauty of the area around the golf course, all from the comfort of the bar. I recommend a Copper Kettle Pale Ale.

Quick Links

Analysis of state employment data for December 2009 available from Philadelphia Fed Research. Looks like things did not get much better in December.

Golf season is approaching. 2010 memberships now available at Allentown Municipal Golf Course. If you have not had a chance to check out the course, you MUST see it. One of Allentown's treasures.

Bringing Manufacturing Back to the United States (Area Development Online). Complex supply chains and intellectual property issues are cited as reasons that manufacturing firms are bringing some production back to North America.

Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum New Exhibit to Teach Consumers How to Conserve & $ave Energy.

The NACFAM Weekly: President & CEO of Ben Franklin Technology Partners Testifies before U.S. Congress

Lehigh Valley Economic Development's Boost Talent and Innovation Workshop

Today, Lehigh Valley Economic Development hosted the Boost Innovation and Talent workshop, attended by AEDC, various economic development professionals, and representatives from the higher education and entrepreneurial communities. We came together to hear about part of the LVED's strategic plan: to develop programs and strategies to attract and retain entrpreneurs and young professionals, and assist start up and small businesses that bring a diverse workforce to the Lehigh Valley. Erik Pages of EntreWorks Consulting gave us his perceptions of the challenge in the Lehigh Valley and then we broke into groups to further brainstorm on three broad topics: how to build on existing assets in improving services to entrepreneurs and small businesses, how to leverage higher education, and how to become a talent magnet.

Mr. Pages' observations included three deficiencies for fostering an entrepreneurial culture in the Lehigh Valley. First, entrepreneurs here (and just about everywhere) do not know where to go to access resources. They also have weak peer connections, with few opportunities to network with one another. Finally, he saw a service gap, where start ups did not have an entrepreneurial education and high-growth, gazelle companies did not have good access to capital. He had more limited feedback for developing university relations, but stressed the importance of working with the community colleges, and fostering systemic entrepreneurship at four-year colleges. He suggested that most entrepreneurs "start their businesses where they live," implying that it's "not about recruiting talent, but nurturing existing talent."

The groups generally repeated his suggestions in their brainstorming sessions, including development of co-work space and creating more opportunities for students to do internships with local start ups. Additionally, the groups encouraged better collaboration between LVED and groups like the Network of Young Professionals with the hopes of getting at what it will take to keep talent in the Lehigh Valley. Their was some discussion about better access to capital for start-ups with a suggestion that a bank do a large deal with an economic development entity that would then make smaller loans to start-ups. The need for an entrepreneurs portal also came up, with some debate as to the value of a physical space versus a virtual one-stop shop.

The next step in this process will be the formation of a working group to address the need to retail talent and foster innovation. Although these premises are pretty well-known to everyone working in economic development, they have yet to gain real traction in the Lehigh Valley. It seems that things have changed, according to many in the room, and the time is now to implement some of these ideas.

I am glad that we are talking about undertaking some of these initiatives. Facilitating entrepreneurship is something we should have been doing better for a long time, especially when so many small business owners have effectively laid out the deficiencies at hand in our region. I am not confident that Mr. Pages is correct when he states that we can get there by nurturing local talent. There is a need for cultural change to develop an entrepreneurial environment, and a region with an economic history dominated by corporate giants like Bethlehem Steel has a long way to go before becoming an innovation hub. It is critically important that we focus on leveraging our existing strengths--as pointed out all morning long--and not on trying to create a sui generis economy that has no roots in our present capabilities. Teaching entrepreneurship is part of the solution, but importing ideas from outside is hugely important to the continued transformation of the Lehigh Valley.

Allentown Good News - January 21 & 22, 2010

Here's a sampling of what you'll find on the Allentown Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) page on Facebook and Twitter feed today, January 21 and 22, 2010:

Prior Coated Metals We haven't done a spotlight on a great Allentown business in a while, so why not turn to one of our amazing Southside manufacturers? Prior Coated Metals has nearly 50 years of innovation under its belt as a producer of high-quality steel and aluminum. They provide the pre-treated metal for a variety of industrial applications and have been recognized by the National Partnership for Environmental Priorities for reduction of their naphthalene usage. Check out their web site for an interesting tutorial on the treatment of steel coils. Trust us, this is interesting to us manufacturing geeks. Know anything else that can handle a 14-ton chunk of steel?

Louie's Restaurant How about taking a trip to the southside to visit an old favorite this weekend? Louie's Restaurant has been an Allentown tradition for over 50 years. They have a great Italian menu and plenty of lunch specials. Be sure to grab a jar of their famous marinara to take home!

House of Chen One of our favorite Chinese restaurants is the House of Chen. The decor is fantastic and they have a delicious lunch buffet. They also birthed Allentown's own Chen Arts Group. Normally, I would make this a lunch recommendation, but TODAY IS SPECIAL! It's Malaysian Night at House of Chen, when they go from being a very good Chinese restaurant to being a true food mecca in the Lehigh Valley. There are amazing dishes that you will definitely not see anywhere else in the region. It's certainly worth a drive from anywhere in the Lehigh Valley, nay Eastern Pennsylvania! The Malaysian menu is a once-a-month event, so make sure you get in there tonight.

Quick Links
The Worst Commutes in America Planetizen.com US-22 is number 57 on this list. I would call that a ringing endorsement for living downtown, in a compact, urban environment. Living and working in the downtown let's you dramatically reduce commute times by walking to work.

Business Outlook Survey for January 2010 released. (Philadelphia Federal Reserve)

St. Luke's Hospital & Health Network Reduces Carbon Footprint with Purchase of Renewable Energy (story)

Governor Rendell: Supporting a Low-Carbon, Green Economy Leads to Regaining competitive edge (story)

Flexing Its Muscle: Why Manufacturing Is Bouncing Back - Knowledge@Wharton

NAM Recommends Strategies to Create Manufacturing Jobs IndustryWeek Among the ideas we really like is

Continue to improve our education system to enhance the pool of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) graduates and support programs of technical training and certification.

Allentown Good News - January 20, 2010

Here's a sampling of what you'll find on the Allentown Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) page on Facebook and Twitter feed today, January 20, 2010:

Clusters As an economic development tool, the idea of industry clusters is largely attributed to Michael Porter. Porter suggested that mid-level and advanced development depends on the formation of those clusters, which form as a result of the nature and extent of inputs required by a firm to produce, the demand for local services, and the quality and extent of suppliers and related industries. Some classic examples given by Porter include life sciences in Boston and Italian shoes. As a result of this research, regions all over the world sought to identify the industry clusters operating in their area and the potential clusters that they could "create" with the appropriate mix of incentives and leveraging existing capabilities. In the Lehigh Valley, researchers determined that there are existing clusters worthy of attention in the following industries: Life Sciences, Financial Services, Healthcare, Technology Intensive Manufacturing. Allentown seems to have an expanding healthcare industry, but not much participation in the other clusters (with the exception of a few metal fabrication firms). Recently, the Economic Development Administration received direction from Congress to build an industry clusters program to foster economic development. Let's all keep on eye on this development to see how it plays out here in the Lehigh Valley and if it allows us to go into greater depth in the exploration of the existing industry clusters at work in our region and cities.

Quick Links

Good article for manufactuers looking for new customers. As demand for certain products ebbs, some manufacturers are exploring product reinvention and entering entirely new industries. For producers unable to make the necessary capital expenditures, tweaking an existing product line is an option. Read more: IndustryWeek : The Case for Product Reinvention

The Lehigh Valley InSite blogger expands on her love of Nana's Grill & Cafe at Hamilton & Hall, right next to Lehigh Carbon Community College: FOUND: Comfort food in downtown Allentown!

Productivity increased in 2009 by 2.5% as work hours offset a decline in output (decreased GDP) U.S. Productivity Rises in 2009, Despite the Recession

Here's another view of President Obama's Framework for Revitalizing American Manufacturing. The author raises some interesting points about the contributions of manufacturing to wealth creation in the US and despairs that green industry is thus far largely theoretical. (opinion piece from Industry Today)

Don't forget
Thursday, January 21
Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber Mixer at Lehigh Valley Grand Prix. 5-7 p.m. More Info
Live Argentinean Tango at Symphony Hall, 7 p.m. More Info

Allentown Good News - January 15, 2010

Here's a sampling of what you'll find on the Allentown Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) page on Facebook and Twitter feed today, January 15, 2010:

Sustinability Today, AEDC attended a meeting of the Lehigh Valley Land Recycling Initiative, a project hosted by Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation. Among other things, we discussed continued efforts to drive sustainable development in the Lehigh Valley by working with our regional partners and the Environmental Protection Agency. You may remember that Allentown signed a sustainability partnership agreement with the EPA back in October. As part of this initiative, we will continue to work with the EPA to make all economic development projects that happen in the city and the region more sustainable. Look for more news in this regard over the coming year.

Bada Bingg After we found out that WFMZ would be at Bada Bingg--33 North Ninth--focusing on the delectable creations made with amore by chef Dustin Selvaggio, we decided to make them our restaurant recommendation for today. Bada Bingg features lots of great sandwiches, all with pickle and sweet potato chips. My favorite is the Capone, but the Goomba is always tempting. Parking is easy at the Farr Lot (enter from 8th Street), and it's worth the trip. Check out their menu, and if you couldn't make it today, don't despair: they have a location at the Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers' Market!

Quick Links
A job-rich US recovery is still plausible (Financial Times)
ENERGY STAR National Building Competition
Group: Tax breaks to lure firms ineffective, costly. A thought provoking article analyzing PA incentives
Buy-Local Campaigns Deliver Above Average Holiday Sales (BusinessWeek)

Allentown Good News - January 14, 2010

Here's a sampling of what you'll find on the Allentown Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) page on Facebook and Twitter feed today, January 14, 2010:

Seventh Street Redevelopment As part of a press conference to update the City's 2009 budget, Mayor Ed Pawlowski announced that the City has signed an agreement of sale with a developer to redevelop a parcel on North Seventh Street between Hamilton and Linden. This will rebuild the street wall in a manner consistent with the existing architecture of downtown Allentown. The project will be mixed-use development, featuring a major retailer on the first floor with living space on upper stories. Developments like this are critical to the revitalization of Allentown's Central Business District in a number of ways. Turning surface parking lots into buildings rebuilds the street wall as mentioned before. Mixed-use developments support livable communities and return residents to the downtown, furthering the vibrancy necessary to turn the downtown around. Look for more news like this in the future!

Kow Thai Looking for great Thai food in the Lehigh Valley? You'll find it in Allentown, home of ethnic authenticity. Our best Thai? Kow Thai! New management has turned an old favorite into something truly remarkable. From new dishes with great names (Crying Tiger, Drunken Man soup) to adding vegan choices, Kow Thai has turned into the go-to place for authentic Thai in the Lehigh Valley. They are open for lunch and dinner at 12th & Linden and definitely worth a look. After suggesting this restaurant on Twitter, we saw a line of people taking advantage of the warmer weather and walking to Kow Thai. It's a downtown favorite! Check out their menu.

Quick Links

Pennsylvania cuts another $161M from budget - Philadelphia Biz Journal
IndustryWeek : Industry Group Says Manufacturing is Rebounding
American Cleantech Opportunities Reach Globally - Portfolio.com
Here’s a look at some of the more skill-intensive jobs in America & how long it takes to prepare for them - GOOD
From the Lehigh Valley AdClub: If you know a small biz owner in LV who could use some help/advice with their marketing, please send them to our 1/29 seminar
Now at America On Wheels: “Imagineering At Its Best – Cool, Crazy and Creative.”

YOU'RE INVITED - CITY OF ALLENTOWN LOGO RELEASE

Dear Allentown Stakeholder,

Please join Mayor Ed Pawlowski at Symphony Hall on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 11am to view a presentation of Allentown’s new Marketing and Branding Initiative. The event will include the unveiling of a new City Logo and Tagline. It’s confirmed: A special guest from the Iron Pigs will also make an appearance! You will not want to miss this exciting presentation!

This is an open invitation to any and all who want to attend. Please feel free to pass this along to any entity or individual that would be interested to participate. Attendees are asked to RSVP no later than 4pm on Friday, January 15, 2010. We look forward to having you with us and sharing this special event with you!

Parking: Courtesy of the Allentown Parking Authority, there will be free parking in the deck at the Transportation Center for the event. The deck is located at the corner of Linden & 6th Streets and can be accessed from 6th Street.

YES! I want to attend! Click here to RSVP. Or contact Caitlin Osmun: 610-435-8890, cosmun@allentownedc.com

Allentown Good News - January 13, 2010

Here's a sampling of what you'll find on the Allentown Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) page on Facebook and Twitter feed today, January 13, 2010:

Lehigh Valley Community Jobs Forum In cooperation with the Recession Response and Recovery Task Force and Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley (CACLV), Mayor Pawlowski of Allentown, Mayor Panto of Easton, and Mayor Callahan of Bethlehem hosted a Community Jobs Forum in downtown Allentown, at the Center City Holiday Inn. AEDC live-tweeted the event providing updates and commentary. We came together to find solutions to tight credit for small businesses in the Lehigh Valley, but we started off with some regional perspectives. Esther Wenck of CareerLink gave us some workforce dilemmas we face in the Lehigh Valley, principally related to an undereducated, low-skill labor pool that face a dynamic work environment. Herb Taylor from the Federal Reserve of Philadelphia then gave some projections for economic growth in the United States, some indicators and some regional perspective. Overall they present a picture of growth over the next 2 years with slow job recovery. Finally, a panel of lenders convened to field questions from the audience and seek solutions. Kim Edwards of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Dave Dixon of the Small Business Administration of Eastern Pennsylvania (SBA), Chris Hudock of the Rising Tide Loan Fund, Gerald Nau of Lafayette-Ambassador Bank and John Kingsley of Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC) presented their perspectives on the lending environment in the Lehigh Valley and tried to help attendees answer questions about access to capital. In general, the panel advised that borrowers develop a strong relationship with their local banks and investigate available programs from the cities and aid agencies (SBA, LVEDC, AEDC) for available funds.

Despite the excellent efforts of CACLV and the really good turnout, it didn't seem like the group accomplished anything new. Assurances by bankers that they have a commitment to their communities didn't do much to allay concerns on the part of small business owners and entrepreneurs that they do not have access to capital for start up and business expansion. Optimism about growth from the Federal Reserve did not do much to bolster the spirits of those gathered, who are either struggling to find new business or struggling to find a way to lend to businesses without the cash flow to support their debt service. Confirming what we generally know about the state of the Lehigh Valley's workforce does not equate to presenting solutions to improve the problem.

Although there were limited suggestions for solutions, starting to talk in a large forum is a good step in the right direction. Having the mayors of the three cities cooperate in this way is another good step. Mayor Pawlowski talked about the commitment of the federal government to help regions like ours and urged us to look to the future. Mayor Panto stressed the importance of banks developing strong ties to their communities and getting to know the small business owners and entrepreneurs that make up our regional economy. Mayor Callahan made the important recommendation that businesses looking to grow seek assistance from the economic development departments of the cities and from LVEDC and AEDC. LVEDC's CEO Phil Mitman suggested the creation of a one-stop shop for those looking for financial assistance in the Lehigh Valley. The beginnings of a site like this can be found on their web site now, but it needs help to become more user-friendly. As we have mentioned many times, AEDC has funds available to businesses looking to relocate or expand in Allentown's Enterprise Zone, comprising much of the industrial land in the city and much of the commercial areas. Minority businesses can also take advantage of the PAMBDA loan fund. Small loans are available city-wide through the CBOP Loan Pool.

The task force should be applauded for this step, but we need to continue to work toward solutions. Watch this space for more news in that regard.

Dog Star Cafe Looking for a quick bite to eat in a place where you are sure to run into someone significant? Dog Star Cafe, at 29 North Sixth Street, is right around the corner from Symphony Hall and a very short walk from the County Courthouse, City Hall and the Lehigh County Government Center. This is the place to have a chance encounter with an elected official and a delicious soup. Since it is just a few hundred feet from the Morning Call, this is also the place to have a planned encounter with your friendly neighborhood newspaper reporter. This family-run cafe has amazingly friendly and attentive service and since a few month ago, homemade cookies to top off your meal. Definitely worth your time for breakfast or lunch.

Quick Links

Lehigh Valley Workforce Investment Board gets $4 million in stimulus money to promote green jobs
IndustryWeek : White House Says Stimulus Bill Created 2 Million Jobs

Allentown Good News - January 12, 2010

Here's a sampling of what you'll find on the Allentown Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) page on Facebook and Twitter feed today, January 12, 2010:

Bradley Pulverizer I am constantly surprised by the rich history of manufacturing still present in existing Allentown firms. We've already covered great older firms like Olson Technologies and Raxon Fabrics, and there is so much more to learn. Today I got a better appreciation of one of Allentown's oldest firms, Bradley Pulverizer. Since inventing the Griffin Mill back in 1886, Bradley is in the business of--you guessed it--pulverizing! In addition to the manufacture of pulverizing equipment (which you can find operating in over 40 countries), Bradley does custom design and service of their products. Learn more about this great company at their web site.

ACI Halal Did you know that the Lehigh Valley's only Turkish restaurant is in Allentown? ACI Halal at 2nd & Linden serves great lunches and dinners in its unique environment, sharing space with a great Middle Eastern grocery. You'll find lamb and chicken kebabs, turkish yogurt bread, and other dishes and drinks you may have never tried before. There is plenty of parking on their site and are easy to get to from any place in the Lehigh Valley. Did I mention that the portions are HUGE and you will definitely take leftovers back to the office or home? Believe all the great reviews on Yelp!

Quick Links
November Manufacturing Technology Consumption Down 16.2% Year-to-Year
Lehigh Valley Grand Prix. One of my favorite places in LV If you've never been, check it out (LV InSite)
November U.S. Trade Deficit Widens
Seven priorities for EPA's future
Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation on Facebook

Capital BlueCross Named As January's Business of the Month

Capital BlueCross was selected by members of the Business Recruitment and Retention Committee of Allentown Ahead, a volunteer group of AEDC, on the basis of its tenure as an anchor in Allentown’s Central Business District. Capital BlueCross employs more than 200 people at the Downtown Allentown location, which it has occupied since 1970, in such professionals fields as customer service, claims, clinical and sales. “Capital BlueCross is honored to be named Allentown’s first Business of the Month recipient by Allentown Ahead,” said Bill Lehr, Capital BlueCross president & CEO. “This is particularly special considering how strong the business community is in Allentown, making for many viable candidates and healthy competition. The Allentown area and its wealth of business and civic offerings have always been a huge part of our history, our success and our reason for being. We are looking forward to serving the people of this community, its businesses and its merchants for years to come.” With corporate headquarters in Harrisburg and a 21-county service area, Capital BlueCross is one of the region’s most significant employers with more than 2,100 total employees and over 70 years of business. Capital BlueCross is committed to supporting the communities in which employees live and work, which is where their energy is focused and where they intend to stay.

“It’s important to recognize the valuable contributions made by businesses to make Allentown a better place to live, work and play,” said Pawlowski. “The “Business of the Month” designation is one way of bringing attention to their outstanding efforts.”

Allentown Ahead is a group of business and community leaders dedicated to continuously improving the business climate in the city. Members lend their time and expertise toward solving some of the more difficult problems related to economic development in the City Of Allentown. The Allentown Ahead committees – Business Recruitment & Retention, Real Estate Development & Marketing – make policy recommendations to city officials, facilitate meetings with local business owners, coordinate with neighborhood groups, guide economic development strategy, advise on branding decisions and work tirelessly to promote Allentown as a destination for work and play. "The Business Recruitment and Retention Committee created the Business of the Month program because we believe outreach to and recognition of the extraordinary businesses in the City is one of the best ways to retain businesses in the City and encourage new ones to move here. As this program moves forward we plan to recognize businesses of all sizes and types and hope that community members will nominate other worthy recipients,” said Jack Gross, Committee Chair and Partner at Gross McGinley LLP. The Business Recruitment & Retention Committee is accepting nominations to be reviewed in February. Please send nominations to businessofthemonth@allentownahead.com along with a brief description of how the business exemplifies excellence.

Allentown Good News - January 11, 2010

Here's a sampling of what you'll find on the Allentown Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) page on Facebook and Twitter feed today, January 11, 2010:

H.I.M. On Call One of the outstanding businesses that calls downtown Allentown home is H.I.M. On Call, provider of health information management services. H.I.M. On Call has lowered the cost of doing business in the health care industry since 1998, all from their headquarters in Allentown's Central Business District. Providing the whole spectrum of health record coding services, as well revenue cycle management and consulting is HIM On Call's core business, with features including data quality review, document improvement, and consulting. As an employer of over 20 people in their downtown location, HIM On Call is a huge asset to the downtown merchant community. They've also recently renovated their building's facade, using funds from the City's facade grant program (more information below). Learn more about HIM On Call at their web site.

Wally's Deli Last week I had my first "Hog" from Wally's Deli. I can't believe I went this long without trying this magnificent sandwich! You've probably tried this Allentown institution, but if you haven't, you will find them at 17th & Tilghman and online at their web site. Wally's serves breakfast and lunch Monday through Saturday, featuring tons of different types of pork sandwiches. Lots of parking available, so they make a perfect lunch trip from anywhere in the Lehigh Valley.
Hamilton District Facade Loans Want to know more about the loans that helped to transform 1033 West Hamilton into one of the jewels of the Commercial Business District? The Hamilton Street Facade Loan program is available to owners of commercial property on Hamilton Street between Fifth & Twelfth, including corner properties. Projects may borrow up to $40,000 subject to approval by the Hamilton District Facade Review Board. For more information, visit AEDC's loans page

Quick Links
Parkettes builds athletes one at a time in Lehigh Valley (Lehigh Valley InSite)
This escaped our attention on Friday, but Obama announces $2.3 billion for green jobs. Will some come to LV?
NYTimes: Factoring Walkability Into Home Values
from Spokane, WA: the importance of urban forests

Allentown Good News - January 8, 2010

Here's a sampling of what you'll find on the Allentown Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) page on Facebook and Twitter feed today, January 8, 2010:

Capital Blue Cross Allentown Ahead's inaugural Business of the Month is Capital Blue Cross! As a downtown resident since 1969, Capital Blue Cross has shown a dedication to Hamilton Street that singles it out for recognition. Capital Blue Cross serves the insurance needs of over 1 million customers in 21 Pennsylvania counties. Over 200 employees make a tremendous impact on the downtown every day and we are glad to have them! Learn more about this great Pennsylvania company at their site.

Nana's Cafe & Grill We were torn about making a restaurant recommendation today with so many great choices, then we got some STRONG endorsements for making it Nana's. We mentioned them in a post when they opened back in August and they have held strong, serving a great menu of sandwiches and grill items to hungry downtowners and LCCC students. Visit them at 722 West Hamilton Street.

Advantage Grant Do you run a small business that would like to make energy efficiency improvements? The PA Department of Environmental Protection has a grant program that can decrease your outlay. The Small Business Advantage Grant will provide a match of up to 50% of a project that improves energy efficiency or prevents pollution. You could get assistance for architectural insulation, motor controller upgrades, water conservation, general process upgrades and more. The total assistance is capped at $7,500 and the deadline is January 15, 2010. For more information, check the DEP web site

Quick Links

New data on office rents signals the rise of D.C. and fall of New York -- as business hubs, that is. Allentown rents less than half of NYC and offer easy access to New York and Philadelphia.

Survey: Manufacturers Want Social Media, Green Monitoring in ERP

SBA lending up in Eastern PA > suggests that businesses are getting to capital:

Allentown Good News - January 7, 2010

Here's a sampling of what you'll find on the Allentown Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) page on Facebook and Twitter feed today, January 7, 2010:

Raxon Fabrics Don't look now, but you may be sitting on an Allentown product! Raxon Fabrics was established in 1942 as a manufacturer of Jacquard neckties and quickly grew into the upholstery business. Today, Raxon manufactures high-quality Jacquard upholstery on modern equipment in its historic 12th street location and ships its product around the world. Raxon's design team works closely with customers to create a unique, beautiful product that reflects the company's passion. To fully recognize the beauty of Raxon Fabric's work, visit the company web site

Popeye's Louisiana Kitchen Normally we like to make a lunch recommendation for a downtown business since they so often get overlooked, but with all the buzz about the opening of a Popeye's on the south side, we just have to point you over there. Maybe the cajun spice will help make up for the cold, cold weather today. Find them at 1756 South Fourth Street.

921 Hamilton Street Budding restaurateur? There is space available on Hamilton Street with low start-up costs. Check out 921 Hamilton in the heart of Allentown's commercial district. Less than a block away from PPL, Butz, and the Holiday Inn, this restaurant space counts on a daytime population of 41,000 within one mile. Full-service restaurants on Hamilton Street are eligible for up to $50,000 in restaurant grants and may borrow up to $40k for facades and an additional $40k for fit out costs. For more information: tolson@allentowncity.org

Quick Links
Cigar friendly establishments in Lehigh Valley? Liberty Street Tavern!
Dog friendly venues in the Lehigh Valley? WoofWorld!
Visiting Nazareth, Sen. Bob Casey hears business credit still tight for smallest businesses: Morning Call Story
10 Ways to Smarter Cities

Allentown Good News - January 6, 2010

Here's a sampling of what you'll find on the Allentown Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) page on Facebook and Twitter feed today, January 6, 2010:

Vistacom To whom did Lehigh Valley Health Network turn when they needed a solution for off-site 24/7 critical patient monitoring? Where did Wharton School of Business go when they needed to fit out Huntsman Hall with a state-of-the art A/V system? When SEPTA needed a Control Center design solution, which Allentown firm delivered? Vistacom is the answer! For over 50 years, Vistacom has helped businesses improve communications through technology, all from Allentown. Vistacom provides full-service a/v solutions, ranging from design to installation to service. To learn more about another great Allentown company, visit Vistacom's web site

Delicioso's Need a really quick lunch in downtown Allentown? Try the best slice on Hamilton Street at Delicioso's Pizza & Subs.

817 West Cumberland To all entrepreneurs looking to get out of the garage: check this space out! 817 West Cumberland is a 8,000 square foot flex space in South Allentown. A 2-story building built in 1925 with lots of parking and 2 dock doors, 817 W Cumberland is IN the enterprise zone, making it eligible for a wide array of state incentives. This is an excellent opportunity for an owner operator looking to invest in Allentown.

Foreign Trade Zones Are you a Lehigh Valley firm that imports products? You may want to investigate the benefits of Foreign Trade Zones. Some of those benefits include duty deferral, reduction or elimination. To learn more about this program, check out Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation's info page on FTZs

Quick Links
Allentown Afterthoughts: a new blog
Looking to advance or change your career? Come to an open house 1/7 at Cedar Crest College.
Gen Y's Top 5 List for How We Think and Act at Work: IndustryWeek
A Morning Call story on stimulus funds directed at Lehigh Valley Small Businesses
Thoughtful critique of Richard Florida and the attraction of creatives as revitalization strategy

Allentown Good News - January 5, 2010

Here's a sampling of what you'll find on the Allentown Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) page on Facebook and Twitter feed today, January 5, 2010:

China Wok You have many choices if you want great Chinese food in the Lehigh Valley; one of my favorites is China Wok on 7th Street (333 North Seventh). Peter Lewnes and 7th Street Allentown worked with them to redesign the facade, and it looks GREAT! Give them a call and order some takeout today. Make sure taht you go an pick it up so that you can see their great facade! China Wok on UrbanSpoon

Diefenderfer Electrical Employing over 200 motivated technicians, Diefenderfer Electrical has been serving the Lehigh Valley's electrical needs since 1920. Diefenderfer has a long, extensive history of large, regionally focused projects ranging from wiring the 500,000 square foot, 25 acre Olympus America campus in Center Valley to security systems at the Allentown Art Museum. Providing the gamut of electrical services, from design to installation to service, out of their conveniently located HQ at 2nd & Walnut in Allentown, Diefenderfer Electrical is one of Allentown's stronger companies and a Lehigh Valley force. To learn more about this great company, check out their site.

2200 South Twelfth Street Attention corporate real estate specialists: great opportunity in Allentown at 2200 South Twelfth Street. Property features 200k square foot industrial building on 22+ acres in South Allentown. 24' clearance, 50' column spacing, 6 truck doors, 2 drive-ins, easily re-established rail service, and incredible access to I-78. 2200 S 12th is also located in Allentown's Enterprise Zone, making it eligible for a variety of state incentives, including tax credits and low-interest loans. For more about the property, visit Hawley Realty's site.

WorkKeys Are you familiar with WorkKeys? It is a job skills assessment program that Lehigh Carbon Community College hopes will catch on in the Lehigh Valley. LCCC's Leadership and Workforce Development Center is working with the Lehigh Valley Workforce Investment Board to implement WorkKeys as a tool for assessing the "real world" skills of the Lehigh Valley's workforce. It will help employers make better hiring decisions and help employees to better display their talents. Here's a pamphlet with more information.

Allentown Good News - January 4, 2010

Here's a sampling of what you'll find on the Allentown Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) facebook page and twitter feed today, January 4, 2010:

It's time to pull your lunch order together? 4 Aces Grill at 13th & Hamilton has just the thing to warm you up. I just got off the phone with the chef and they have oxtail soup and chicken tortilla soup today, just thing thing to warm your bones. If you are not up to soup, try something else from their eclectic menu. 4... Aces has an adventurous menu and great coffee in a great downtown space. Plenty of parking. Check them out here on Urban Spoon.

Luminaire Testing Laboratory (LTL), an Allentown company, helps make your day brighter! As an independent source of photometric test reports for the lighting industry, LTL performs a variety of tests designed to verify lighting standards. They have operated out of the Bridgeworks Enterprise Center Business Incubator si...nce 1989, and are the anchor tenant for the building. Helping improve the lighting industry is one of the ways that LTL is contributing to the green economy from Allentown.

Excellent real estate opportunities abound on Hamilton Street, downtown Allentown, PA. The Butz Corporate Center at the corner of Ninth & Hamilton has Class A office space available from 3,000 square feet to nearly 12,000 square feet. This property has Keystone Opportunity Zone (KOZ) benefits through 2010, ample parkin...g, and complete access to the full range of downtown amenities, including hotel, banking, entertainment, and restaurants. Click here to learn more from the realtor

Eastern Pennsylvania Business Journal reports in this week's (1/4/2010) edition that business customers are finding banks reluctant to lend and that business financing is hard to access. Not so in Allentown! The writer overlooks alternative financing methods, such as state and local incentive programs, including loans,... grants, and tax abatements. If Weather Trends International (one of the subjects of the story) had been in Allentown, they would have had access to a wide range of incentives, including Enterprise Zone loans, Workforce Training grants, and more. For more on available business resources, visit AEDC.