Allentown Good News

Art Museum Cafe Opening Tomorrow!

2011-12-05T13:37:00.001-05:00

Good news for downtowners! The Cafe at the Allentown Art Museum will open its doors tomorrow, adding another great lunch option to downtown Allentown. Operating hours are Tuesday through Saturday 11am to 3pm and Sunday noon to 3pm.

The Museum café will be operated by Karen Hunter, a self-taught cook who began her career preparing hors d’oeuvres for friends at their parties, and built an incredible reputation in catering for Lehigh Valley businesses such as Sayre Mansion and The Eastonian. She has been the exclusive caterer at Museum events for the past eight years, has been voted “Best of the Valley” by Lehigh Valley Magazine readers five year in a row and voted “Favorite Foodie” in 2011 by readers of Lehigh Valley Style.

The Museum Café’s menu includes a variety of sandwiches, paninis, salads, soups and desserts. Everything will be made fresh daily and available for takeout.

Downtown Allentown Tree Lighting

2011-11-30T15:45:00.002-05:00

The weather should be perfect for kicking off the holiday season the right way tomorrow! Join Santa and a host of local musicians on the 800 block of Hamilton Street from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 1 as Allentown lights its tree. There's free parking in the Farr Lot and refreshments available for sale. The horse and carriage rides will be back, as will the ice sculptors. Let the kids know that Pip the Mouse should be making an appearance as well. Sounds like fun!

Wise Guys Moves In On Allentown Beer Market

2011-11-29T16:34:00.001-05:00

New Beer Depot To Offer Knowledgeable Service, Local Brews, Sampling and Tasting Events

Allentown, Pa. – The Wise Guys Beer Depot is moving in on the Allentown beer market with great selections, a knowledgeable sales staff and offers that can’t be refused by beer lovers across the region. Located at 209 W. Union near the heavily traveled intersection of Union and Second Street, Wise Guys will also offer a convenient stop for commuters when it opens on Nov. 18.

Allentown businessman and company partner Jeff Barber said the goal is to update and upgrade the traditional beer distributor model to provide a “convenience store” merchandising system for shoppers.

“We will be set up like a convenience store, but with a large variety of beer,” Barber said. “Our customer service representatives will have vast knowledge of the beer business and brews that we're selling and will on hand to help customers with new selections of beer that they may want to try.”

The Depot will also host weekly beer and food samplings from area restaurants and breweries in an effort to support other businesses in the City of Allentown, Barber said, adding praise for city officials and staff who worked with the partners to facilitate the review and permitting process that led to Friday’s opening.

Barber and partners Bob Chapleski and Phil Casciano say the upscale atmosphere will cater to the Center City residential market but also appeal to the daily professional commuter traffic on Hamilton and Union streets because of its convenient location.

The “Wise Guys” theme was suggested by Barber’s son during a family brainstorming session and the concept of a “depot” as opposed to a distributorship was suggested by Casciano to differentiate the business from other beer stores in the region, but also because it pays homage to the railroad and manufacturing history of the neighborhood, he said.

“I truly believe in the revitalization of Allentown and this location for a business,” said Barber, who purchased and renovated the building over the past several years. “I felt that if nobody else had the guts to rent the space and start a business, I would. I'm an entrepreneur by nature and have always taken risks on things, but I felt that this was one business I understood very well based on my own career and experience.”

Barber said the partners used Allentown businesses for the building renovations, including Meinser Services for HVAC, ElecTek for all commercial electrical work, Lugo Roofing and Construction, CSI Inc. for the video and surveillance and Lehigh Valley PreCast for concrete work.

The business will employ two full-time and three part-time customer service representatives.

“This was totally beneficial for Allentown tradesmen,” he said. “Also, we're working with PA CareerLink to fill our staff positions locally.”

Reading Make It in America, Chapter 1 The Rise and Fall

2011-07-25T14:05:00.000-04:00

A few months ago, we started to read more about a book with some strange peripherals. For one, the book advocated strengthening American manufacturing, a sector thought dead by many. Secondly, the author, Andrew Lieveris, was an Australian arguing for American investment in advanced manufacturing. Finally, Make It in America is penned by the CEO of Dow Chemical, one of the largest companies in this country. We decided to read the book and share our thoughts on its connections to urban manufacturing.

The first chapter, tells the story of Amazon's Kindle and the company's difficulty in manufacturing the device in the United States. This opens the door to talk about how the economic trajectory in the US led people away from careers in manufacturing and toward the service sector. Liveris makes an argument that the multiplier effect of manufacturing is much greater than that of the service sector, meaning that $1 of GDP from the manufacturing sector supports an additional $1.40 in other sectors while the same dollar spent in the service sectors generates only an additional $0.71 of additional output. If any creative economics students out there want to do the research, we'd love to see how the multiplier effects differ between urban manufacturing and suburban manufacturing.

Further, manufacturing drives the innovation sorely needed to remain competitive in a modern global economy. Thus, Liveris contends that we should build an advanced manufacturing sector with a focus on high technology, rather than the basic production of the past. Two points on this for urban manufacturing: 1) We know that cities are existing hubs of innovation. Building those advanced manufacturing centers in urban environments plays on an existing strength. 2) The diversity and richness of cities can support both advanced manufacturing for export and basic manufacturing for local and hyperlocal markets.

As a matter of comparison, he compares the economic fortunes of the UK and Germany, suggesting that Germany's relative strength is a reflection of its investment in advanced manufacturing. From what we've seen, Germany has similarly invested in its cities that had existing strengths in manufacturing (i.e. Leipzig). He recommends that the USA follow the path of Germany rather than that of the UK. "Globally, manufacturing isn't dying. It's evolving."

Bloomberg Talks Manufacturing in NYC

2011-06-13T10:07:00.000-04:00

New York city Mayor Mike Bloomberg has taken a great step forward in encouraging urban manufacturing. It is very encouraging to see the mayor of America's largest city taking an active stand on promoting urban manufacturing. Mayor Bloomberg announced on his website a program of 22 initiatives to help small industrial businesses stay and grow in New York City. NYC has experienced loss of manufacturing in the past few decades in line with the national average and officials hope that its location will give it an advantage as manufacturing grows nationwide. Industrial sectors provide 16 percent of New York city's private employment, and over 25 percent of employment in the four boroughs other than Manhattan.

The programs are designed to revitalize, modernize, and preserve underutilized industrial space, create and retain jobs, and generate revenue for businesses and the City. The program is the result of an inter-agency review of the City's industrial policy.

The 22 initiatives are designed to meet one of three goals: increase access to modern industrial space, increase access to and create new financing resources, and better align City resources with industrial business needs.

Increase access to modern industrial space:

This includes several Request For Proposals (RFP), in which the City is beginning a competitive process to find developers for several industrial sites throughout the city. The City is favoring industrial uses including manufacturing for potential developments on these sites.

The City is also developing a food manufacturing step-up space. The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) will offer several food manufacturing spaces to companies wishing to expand their production capacity and hire more workers.

Create new financing resources and increase access to existing programs:

In partnership with Goldman Sachs, the City is creating a $10 million fund to provide loans to food entrepreneurs. The City also formed the Industrial Development Program to fund City-sponsored industrial projects alongside traditional lenders. At least 20 new businesses will be given financial assistance from the Industrial Development Authority. The City is also funding the creation of new Business Improvement Districts that will provide funding for services such as sanitation, public safety, and graffiti removal.

Better align City resources with industrial businesses' needs:

NYCEDC will create a new full-time "desk" to focus on industrial sector policy. NYCEDC will also manage a public competition to identify innovative ideas from start-ups in the industrial and manufacturing sectors. NYCEDC will also conduct on a study on how to enhance the prototyping and fabrication sub-sector and meet entrepreneur's needs in this area.

This program of action can serve as a blueprint for other cities. Not all of these initiatives are appropriate for all cities, however. For example, New York City's use of RFPs to develop land may be less realistic for cities who have a large amount of available land but no demand from developers. However, the three basic points of Mayor Bloomberg's program could be helpful in the promotion of urban manufacturing in cities like Allentown.

Krugman on Manufacturing

2011-06-01T11:16:00.002-04:00

Economist Paul Krugman recently wrote for the New York Times about the recent growth and success of the manufacturing sector in the United States. He calls manufacturing "one of the bright spots of a generally disappointing recovery."

It's fantastic news that American manufacturing is being reinvigorated. In a response to Krugman's piece, New Deal 2.0 gave six reasons why manufacturing is still important. I won't list them all here, but having a lively manufacturing sector creates good jobs and is the foundation of a strong economy. Krugman mentions Caterpillar and General Motors as examples of strong American manufacturers. These companies contribute a lot to the economy and their communities, but it's not just the household names that make up the manufacturing sector. We should also remember the smaller and urban manufacturers "hidden in plain sight." According to a report by the Pratt Center and Brookings Institution on small urban manufacturers, the large and vertically-integrated companies of the past are being replaced by smaller "webs of production and distribution." Some provide components and parts to other manufacturers, some produce custom or niche products, others produce artisanal foods or beverages. Urban environments are perfect for these types of firms - the businesses win by locating in the middle of both a large potential workforce and large market for their products, and the community receives the benefits of a stronger local economy. This is a true win-win situation.

Paul Krugman and others have written about the manufacturing sector making a comeback. But what has come back is not the manufacturing sector of the 20th century. Manufacturing can not only be reinvigorated, but reinvented. This means bringing manufacturers back from the suburban industrial parks and into our cities.

Coworking in Allentown

2011-05-02T15:42:00.002-04:00

The Morning Call ran a story this morning detailing our efforts to start a coworking space here in Allentown. It coincides with the soft opening of our permanent space at Hive 4A in the Bridgeworks Enterprise Center.

Starting today, independent professionals with workplace flexibility can work in the Hive 4A coworking space Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm. The cost is $25 a month, and members are expected to abide by the core values of coworking: collaboration, openness, community, accessibility and sustainability. Amenities include abundant parking, wi-fi, shared reception services, good coffee, and shared conference room space. We are continually improving the space with member input.

Our goal is to promote entrepreneurship and business start up in Allentown and the Lehigh Valley. We believe that by providing low-cost and low-risk space to potential entrepreneurs, the natural creativity of our regional professionals will lead to exciting new businesses and growth for existing small businesses.

Manufacturing Innovation in Cities

2011-04-26T10:32:00.000-04:00

In a recent interview, Gary Pisano and Willy Shih of Harvard Business School outline the importance of maintaining manufacturing capabilities in the United States. They argue that the loss of manufacturing in the United States endangers our ability to innovate and that American students presently misperceive manufacturing to be all brawn and no brains. We agree and would argue further that focusing on improving opportunities for manufacturers to locate in urban environments can help stem this tide.

Pisano and Shih offer the manufacture of flat panel displays as an example of an activity that does not take place on American soil and thereby hampers our ability to innovate. Basically, when an industry ceases to produce, a firm understanding of the product ceases along with the production. The likelihood of theoretical innovation in an industry falls off a cliff when researchers cannot be part of the commercialization process.

They also point out that the American university system has put a premium on "knowledge" work and has at the same time separated manufacturing from that classification. That effort has stigmatized the process of making things. Fortunately, there seems to be renewed interest from students in getting into making and hacking, evidenced by the popularity of Make magazine and television shows like Mythbusters.

We think that industries should not only return their manufacturing to the United States, but focus on dense urban environments when locating production facilities. "Knowledge work" industries understand this, choosing to locate in New York, Philadelphia, Austin and other cities. Because manufacturing is, in fact, knowledge work, manufacturers stand to gain many of the same innovation benefits by being in urban environments, principally the chance interactions between like-minded individuals and the well-documented creative class density.

Lehigh Valley Commercial Real Estate

2011-04-21T14:58:00.000-04:00

Today, the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce hosted a Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Luncheon, which included some awards given by the Chamber and a CRE Outlook presented by NAI Summit. AEDC tweeted from the event (follow along at #commRE).

Three of the awards piqued our attention. Spillman Farmer Architects received an award for their design of the Sigal Museum, a former opera house in Easton converted to a historical museum. St. Luke's Hospital Network received an award for their healthcare conversion of a retail site in a small, urban environment. Finally, Serfass Construction received recognition for their Oral Dynamics Cosmetic Dentistry project, part of which was financed from AEDC's Enterprise Zone Revolving Loan Fund. The projects were of note because they represented reuse of existing sites in urban environments, one with economic development financing assistance. The St. Luke's project is a harbinger of things to come, and underscores the importance of healthcare and educational institutions to continued investment in our urban areas. St. Luke's, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Sacred Heart Hospital and Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network will all have a significant impact on Allentown and the Lehigh Valley as they make decisions about providing healthcare to the citizens of the region.

NAI Summit's outlook confirmed much of what we have already seen in the Lehigh Valley and didn't do much to buck conventional wisdom. Industrial and office vacancy are on the decline, stabilizing or driving up rates in existing spaces as few speculative office or industrial sites are planned. With capital not yet returning to the region, speculative construction will remain on hold. There was a clear tension between the allure of brownfield sites like LVIP VII and the potential greenfield sites on the outskirts of the Lehigh Valley. We have a strong belief in brownfield reuse and would encourage developers to consider urban sites when planning future speculative construction. Allentown has a very attractive KOZ site on Hamilton Street in the Colonial Theatre Site that would work well for an office site given its proximity to other downtown businesses. There are also many opportunities in Allentown for revitalizing existing industrial sites for further industrial uses.

Advantages of Urban Manufacturing

2011-04-15T16:16:00.001-04:00

The recent Brookings Institution report on small, urban manufacturers has such an unbelievable wealth of information that presenting it will take up many blog posts here. One of the sections discusses the advantages and challenges of urban manufacturing.

Among the advantages posted by Joan Byron and Nisha Mistry is that cities "provide unparalleled access to workers of every level and variety of skill." They cite the ability of transit in cities to deliver workers to central locations and the availability of a variety of educational programs for training. In larger cities, competition promotes innovation in management practices and the tremendous diversity of national origin in cities promotes global perspectives.

It's true that transit helps to deliver workers to central locations, and in many cities the proximity of manufacturing sites to residential neighborhoods permits connected manufacturers to source labor from around the corner. Manufacturing in these environments means employees that can walk to work, receiving the benefits of a healthy, car-independent lifestyle which accrue to the manufacturer. It's probable that absenteeism rates decline in shops that have an urban presence, as winter weather is less of a factor in the employee's ability to get to work.

Cities like Allentown, PA not only have a wealth of academic resources available in the heart of the downtown, but also benefit from a concentration of workforce development programs in urban environments. Manufacturers can easily take advantage of both resources, keeping their employees well trained.

Historically, cities grew with immigrant populations that helped to define the character of the place where they landed. Immigration is still one of the major drivers of population growth in the United States, and is helping cities to maintain population. Integration of immigrant populations into urban manufacturing helps those companies innovate as different perspectives come along. They also provide insight into competing in global markets.

Cities provide an overwhelming advantage to urban manufacturers. Learn more at urban-made.org.

Federal Role for Urban Manufacturing?

2011-04-12T16:45:00.000-04:00

The Brookings Institution' Metro Policy Program recently published a report on urban manufacturing. You can read the full text here, but the basic recommendations to the federal government are as follows:

Develop a new narrative about manufacturing and metropolitan economies and use it to inform and guide its policies and programs
Support small urban manufacturers' role in regional cluster development
Ensure that small urban manufacturers have the physical assets that they need to thrive

Sounds pretty good to us and consistent with our goal of promoting urban manufacturing through Urban Made. The greater detail calls for federal support for researching regional supply chains, strengthening of workforce policies to help workers get the needed skills, designing export initiatives at the state level, and more.

We are glad to see organizations like Brookings investigating the role of urban manufacturing in regional economic development and look forward to future research. What are your thoughts on this work?

Local Manufacturing + Urban Manufacturing

2011-03-31T16:22:00.000-04:00

You may have already seen this in your various feeds, but this week Allison Arieff authored a piece on local manufacturing in a New York Times blog.

The post, titled The Future of Manufacturing Is Local piqued my interest and fanned the flames of AEDC's passion for urban manufacturing. Just rereading it now got me jumping up and down with excitement. Here are some folks in much larger cities repeating what we've been saying for a while now: the 100-mile diet of "locavorism" is coming to manufactured products, people's relationship with their possessions is changing, and small manufacturers that focus on specialization and being lean will be winners in the next economic wave.

In case you aren't familiar with locavores, they are the folks that help make the Emmaus Farmers' Market such a special place. They are willing to pay a slight premium for high-quality produce that comes from places that they have heard of and is sold to them by the same people that planted and harvested it. In San Francisco, that looks like Rickshaw Bags selling a uniquely San Francisco product out of their own factory. As their found Mark Dwight said, "People want to buy stuff that's made locally. It started with food, but it's permeating fashion, woodwork and the like."

Also, we are watching a rejection of the throwaway culture (Dwight calls it the culture of disposability) that has taken root in America. It turned deck chairs into commodities and allowed the production of those chairs to move off-shore. But now it seems like people are more interested in a higher-quality product that will last more than one season. Additionally, they are looking for products that are made for the environment in which they are sold. A consumer looking for that same deck chair in Phoenix will be shopping for something different than a buyer in Maine. Radically different environments, with radically different local aesthetics.

Finally, smaller manufacturers that have walked away from commodity products are finding their niche here in the US. And they are at home in cities. Small manufacturers are more at home in the smaller shops and buildings that are readily available in our urban environments, but not so much in the 10-acre buildings built on 50 acres of former cornfield in the suburbs.

Read the article yourself and post some feedback here. Learn more at our Urban Made web page and let us know about your favorite urban-made products.

This or That? Site Selection Edition

2011-03-24T16:32:00.000-04:00

Imagine that you own a small business owner that manufactures a product. You decide to move to a new city and need to find a place to call home for your business. Most of your workforce is earning around $50,000 per year (an average salary for manufacturing). Do you choose a location with a relatively low population spread across a wide area (car-dependent), high home value ($340,000) and high median household income ($97,000)? Or do you choose a densely populated location, with median household income around $40,000 and home values around $126,000? What if I told you that the denser environment featured lower rents?

Seems like a simple choice, but a lot of companies on the move find themselves directed to higher rent environments where they cannot access their workforce. Urban environments feature accessible, affordable workforce at low cost.

Your First Time Coworking at Hive 4A

2011-03-15T14:18:00.001-04:00

We recently read a short article in Deskmag by Angel Kwiatowski of the Cohere Coworking Space in Fort Collins, CO providing some guidance on how to welcome new members to a coworking space. The pointers inspired us to prepare a blog post guide to your first day at Hive 4A.

Your first time in the space. You should know a couple of things, best illustrated in pictures. First, if you're driving, you can take advantage of free parking in a secure environment. Use our water tower as your landmark. If you are bicycling, feel free to bring your bike into the space. Here's the first thing you will see when you get out of your car and look toward the building. Go up the ramp to get to the front door.

follow the arrows to Hive 4A

When you enter the building, you'll be greeted by our friendly receptionist Marsha Cox. She will ask you to sign in and she will point you to the space, presently located in Unit 105. If it's your first time in the space, you'll get some history of the Bridgeworks Enterprise Center from Matthew Tuerk, AEDC's Assistant Director, followed by a tour of the building. Matt will then introduce you to the coworkers in the space and ask you to tell them a little bit about yourself. You'll get a password to Hive 4A's wifi network and you can get to work!
Matt will give you some ideas about ways to be part of the community and point you to space resources that you can take advantage of. We are working on a calendar for Hive 4A that will include coworking events and hackerspace events (and some that blend the two).
By lunchtime, you'll want to know where to get something to eat, unless you've brought your lunch (we do have a microwave, in case you want to bring something to heat up). Amigo Mio, Anastasi's Pizza, and Zandy's Steak Shop are all within a short walk of the building. If you want to bike or drive, Allentown's restaurant row is just on the other side of the 8th Street Bridge.
You should have no reason now to not at least give us a try. Remember we are coworking in the temporary space every Tuesday until we can get the permanent space open. The permanent space will be just across the hall and will be open during business hours.

Public Private Partnership Roundtable

2011-03-14T15:35:00.000-04:00

Public-private partnerships have changed. As illustrated by the anticipated Allentown Arena/Entertainment District project, we are in a new era of public-private partnerships. If they are structured well, they are proving to create powerful new opportunities with winners on all sides.

The ULI Philadelphia Lehigh Valley Council and roundtable sponsor City of Allentown invite you for a presentation and roundtable discussion being held on March 30th about current and future opportunities that will define a successful public and private collaboration in our urban cores. You will hear a brief presentation from Sara Hailstone, Director of the Department of Community and Economic Development for the City of Allentown. Ms. Hailstone will discuss the role of financing, sustainability, and leveraging existing infrastructure to produce the highest return for your real estate development project. In the process, she will uncover why the future of the most successful public-private partnerships is hidden in a return to core urban development values and building long-term relationships that change a single development project into a thriving economic engine for generations to come.

This program will be held at on March 30th at Sangria Restaurant, 840 W. Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 18101 from 12:00-1:30pm. Be sure to register before the March 25 deadline as only 25 people can attend. Learn more and register by clicking here.

Show & Tell Event at Hive 4A Hackerspace

2011-03-09T16:07:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow, March 10, at 6:30 p.m., MakeLehighValley and Hive 4A will host a Show & Tell event in the Hive 4A makerspace. After the presentations of MakeLehighValley projects, the space will be open to networking.

Josiah Ritchie plans to present Electronic Discovery, an arduino-based toy. "The idea is to create something that is able to engage the whole family in construction, coding and play," said Ritchie.

Scott Piccotti will bring one of his pinhole camera projects, in anticipation of World Pinhole Photography Day on April 24. Make Lehigh Valley is planning a pinhole camera workshop on April 23, location TBD.

Hive 4A is an entrepreneurial development initiative of the Allentown Economic Development Corporation, located in the Bridgeworks Enterprise Center at 905 Harrison. Both a makerspace and a coworking space are in the works at Hive 4A, and events like this build toward the creation of those spaces. Learn more by following Hive 4A on Facebook.

MakeLehighValley is a collection of makers, crafters, artists and tinker-ers who love to build and make things. MakeLehighValley is local to the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania and meet to discuss projects they are working on and help each other. "If you have even the slightest interest in making crafts, electronics, software or hardware, please come and join us. We'd love to hear what you are interested in, share, and learn together as we build really exciting things."

Waste Reduction in Urban Manufacturing?

2011-03-07T16:39:00.002-05:00

We are presently working on a post about waste reduction and industrial efficiency in urban manufacturing. We are wondering if urban environments facilitate lean manufacturing by virtue of their physical layouts. Any thoughts out there to help guide our research?

Young Engineers Growing in Allentown High Schools

2011-03-03T16:48:00.000-05:00

The Allentown School District recently introduced the ACE Mentor Program to Allen High School and Dieruff High School, allowing students to investigate the application of science and math as they explore an industry that is central to sustained urban revitalization.
The ACE Mentor Program’s mission is “to engage, excite and enlighten high school students to pursue careers in the integrated construction industry through mentoring.” ACE stands for architecture, construction and engineering and students have the opportunity to explore all of the careers under that heading, including landscape architecture, civil engineering, construction management, and interior design. What makes the program really special is that it provides students with an opportunity to work next to industry professionals who can show the students that there is some reward for hard work.

These industries all require that students have a depth of understanding in science and math. Investments in those fields of study will position Allentown’s youth for success in the construction industry and elsewhere. As a region, the Lehigh Valley is counting on our students to bring technological and technical innovation to our economy. We need to keep pushing at the edges of innovation to remain globally competitive.
To sustain our cities, we need fresh minds to explore these fields. Allentown’s buildings and infrastructure are aging and we will need creative approaches to revitalization of our built environment to make us an attractive destination for individuals and industry. We will continue to see our city embrace its urban character when we engage these young residents to imagine new ways of living, working and playing in our built environment.
Kudos to the Allentown School District and to Langan Engineering for their role in bringing this concept to Allentown.

Temporary Coworking Space every Tuesday in Allentown

2011-03-01T17:05:00.002-05:00

Hive 4A hosted the second of its weekly coworking events today at the Bridgeworks Enterprise Center.

While AEDC builds the environment that will eventually host the permanent coworking space, members of Hive 4A have been getting together to work in temporary space across the hall. After two coworking parties, we have had 11 different people join us to work on their individual projects. Their areas of expertise include graphic design, photography, professional writing, computer programming, computer coding, urban planning consulting, and nonprofit consulting. We’ve also had interns from a couple of different area schools get away from their offices to work with us for a bit. Members have reached across the table to help their fellow coworkers solve some simple problems and have consulted with each other on design decisions. Our interns have gotten guidance on their projects and some members have begun to develop formal working relationships. We’re still getting feedback on the space, but overall input has been positive.
The space that we are building will feature 16 seats for coworkers at “community” tables. They will have access to the space, be able to book conference room space to meet clients, share wifi and printing, and benefit from a thriving community of independent professionals, at a basic rate of $25 per month. The 2,200 square foot space will also feature 4 desks, available to full members at $150 per month. Those full members will be able to access the space after hours and will have a dedicated desk where they can count on sitting every day that they come to work. We are also building dedicated office space that will be a little larger for $250 per month and an even larger office space suitable for a small firm at $400 per month. Every member of the coworking space at Hive 4A will benefit from having ample, free parking, a business address at 905 Harrison and the collective wisdom of the brightest creative professionals in the Lehigh Valley.
While we build the space, we will open coworking every Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. We have space for up to 16 concurrent coworkers and can make the existing conference room space available by reservation. For more information and to book your space for next Tuesday, join the Coworking Lehigh Valley Meetup or email info@hive4a.org.

Industrial Site for Urban Manufacturer - Allentown, PA

2011-02-25T16:43:00.002-05:00

From time to time, AEDC will spotlight properties that are particularly appropriate for urban manufacturers.

The building at 1130 Hanover Ave in Allentown, PA is an excellent site for light manufacturing in a dense urban environment. It features over 12,000 square feet of manufacturing space and offices for support staff. Two tailgate height dock doors and great access to US-22 and I-78, make this a great location for a successful manufacturer shipping a lot of product. Parking is available for approximately 20 cars, but with a dense neighborhood the right urban manufacturer may find that they can field a staff of more than 20 without filling the lot. Manufacturing executives making frequent trips overseas to meet with export clients will find amazing access to Lehigh Valley International Airport as well. The building is in a neighborhood with a very high walk score, with many amenities for employees within a quarter-mile.
For more information about this site, see NAI Summit's website.

Manufacturing in Pennsylvania

2011-02-24T15:14:00.000-05:00

Last week, Pennsylvania’s Industrial Resource Center Network issued a report titled Pennsylvania’s True Commonwealth: Manufacturing. You probably didn’t know because the Morning Call did not report on the story, despite the Lehigh Valley being a historically significant manufacturing center for both Pennsylvania and the nation. The report serves both as an overview of manufacturing’s contribution to our state economy and as a recommendation for future decisions related to strengthening that sector.

The report is the product of a research team led by the excellent Ned Hill of Cleveland State University (featured here in a great podcast from Smart City Radio). His team found that manufacturing is still competitive in Pennsylvania, but that it needs guidance to remain a force in the next economy. Even after the recent recession, manufacturing is responsible for almost 14% of the state’s industrial output, far more than any other industry, and employs over 600,000 Pennsylvanians, ranking it #4 among largest state employers. Pennsylvania manufacturing firms that did not shrink their workforce between 2006 and 2008 either employed 20 to 99 people or 250 to 499 people. Perhaps most importantly to the future, Pennsylvania manufacturers employ 22% of all “technology” jobs in the state. Locally, the team reported that most of the Lehigh Valley manufacturers operate in industries that are not very technology-intensive, principally electrical equipment manufacture and “other” transportation equipment manufacture.

Not surprisingly, given its sponsors, the team recommends continued investment in Industrial Resource Centers (IRCs) in Pennsylvania. They suggest that manufacturers must undergo enterprise transformation if they wish to remain competitive, and that the best tool available is the expertise offered by the state’s IRCs. These centers are funded in part by the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program of the National Institute of Science and Technology. Locally, our IRC is the Manufacturer’s Resource Center (MRC). They offer manufacturers an opportunity to learn new manufacturing techniques critical to improving productivity and competitiveness, including lean manufacturing.

Obviously, AEDC understands the importance of manufacturing to Allentown and our nation’s cities. AEDC’s Urban Made initiative is an additional support to the goals of the MRC. Urban Made is a way to promote our existing urban manufacturers and to communicate the benefits of manufacturing in dense urban environments. We think cities are a great home to those smaller manufacturers (employing from 20 to 99 workers) and that they are the best place to innovate. Cities make great environments for cost-conscious companies and force a manufacturer to think lean. Best of all, cities are great idea incubators and the collaborative environment facilitates new product development, another critical consideration for firms hoping to escape commoditization.

As a footnote, check out the Brookings Institute Metropolitan Policy Program's recent report on accelerating advanced manufacturing. What do they recommend? Investment in research (resource) centers.

ASGCO Manufacturing, Allentown Business of the Month

2011-02-18T14:14:00.002-05:00

ASGCO's Allentown Plant

ASGCO Manufacturing, Inc., was recognized as the February 2011 “Business of the Month” at a press conference held at their downtown facility, located at 301 W Gordon Street.

The Business Recruitment and Retention Committee of Allentown Ahead selected ASGCO in recognition of their 40 years as a manufacturing leader in Allentown’s Center City and for their continued investment in the City of Allentown. ASGCO employs over 85 engineers, technicians, welders, material handlers and warehouse staff from an urban campus well integrated into the fabric of the surrounding neighborhood. “ASGCO Mfg. Inc. is comprised of people who care about their jobs, spend the attention to detail that is necessary and above all we are full of talent and smart working Americans. We have Quality People and it takes that to manufacture quality products. Allentown has been our home for over 40 years and we want to continue in that tradition,” said Todd Gibbs, President of ASGCO.

ASGCO provides complete conveyor solutions to a variety of industries, including power generation, aggregate mining, paper production, and shipping. Their manufactured products include belts, belt cleaners, conveyor belt accessories, and safety equipment. Additionally, ASGCO has a large service division and provides engineering solutions to material conveyance.

ASGCO is a locally-owned and family-operated business with a manufacturing history spanning to 1970s. Founded by Alfred Gibbs in 1971, the company is currently managed by his son Aaron and Aaron’s son Todd. Todd was recently appointed President of ASGCO with Aaron maintaining his role as CEO.

The company has grown over the years by diversifying its products and expanding its service offerings. ASGCO takes care of the customer with “great quality products and exceptional service.” They can attribute their growth to making substantive productivity improvements for their clients, large and small.

Like other Allentown businesses, ASGCO is a great example of the quality of urban manufacturers and their importance to the local economy. ASGCO was chosen as an Allentown Business of the month for its commitment to Allentown and for being a model among urban manufacturers. Urban manufacturers provide excellent jobs to city residents that can reach the plant on foot or by bicycle, keep innovation native to America by continuing to produce things here, and are really the greenest of companies by continuing to invest in existing buildings rather than building anew. “Urban manufacturers, like ASGCO, are the future of the Lehigh Valley and Pennsylvania’s economy,” said Scott Unger, Executive Director of the Allentown Economic Development Corporation.

"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 will continue to review nominations for the award. Please send nominations to businessofthemonth@allentownahead.com along with a brief description of how the business exemplifies excellence.

Innovation in Urban Manufacturing

2011-02-16T15:59:00.000-05:00

Our friends at the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation recently passed us a story from the New York Times that lamented the loss of manufacturing and the subsequent impact on innovation in the United States. At Allentown Economic Development Corporation, we are acutely aware of manufacturing’s importance to local economies, and are working to strengthen urban manufacturers and communicate the benefits of urban environments to manufacturers.

The article discussed the loss of entire industries in the United States with the recent closure of certain plants. When a Sherrill Manufacturing plant in upstate New York closed last year, it shuttered the US flatware manufacture industry. The story then tied the loss of such manufacturers to an overall trend of companies using imported components and to an industrial policy that diminished American innovation. It sprawls around a bit, but the final point is solid: that there is a link between our innovative capacity and our ability to make things.

Allentown and the Lehigh Valley have a long history of innovation, most notably the production of the transistor at Western Electric, but also seen through the patenting activity of companies like Air Products, Lutron, and the various iterations of LSI. Central to this history of technical improvements is our manufacturing base, and the quality of its output. We believe that as we continue to stimulate existing manufacturers to invent new ways of doing things, we will help the region start to lead again.

Manufacturing Space in Allentown

To that end, we have focused the efforts of our Bridgeworks Enterprise Center Small Business Incubation Program on manufacturing. We converted a 60,000 square foot former Mack Trucks plant into a multi-tenant industrial building with manufacturing suites ranging in size from 1,200 square feet to over 6,500 square feet. All of the manufacturing environments have space appropriate for small, creativity-driven industries and our entire organization is focused on helping those producers to be successful. From operating low-interest loan funds to providing technical assistance, AEDC is preparing itself to be an asset to urban manufacturers.

We have also pledged to promote urban environments as ideal locations for the next generation of entrepreneurial manufacturer. Urban environments offer a multitude of benefits to people who make things, but for the purposes of this post, consider the creative collaboration opportunities that come from chance encounters. When we have an agglomeration of manufacturers in a dense population, the opportunities to connect at the local bar or restaurant increase. These connections should result in increased joint ventures, supply chain improvements, and a community that draws other creatives in from around the world. These collaborations are the building blocks of innovation. Imagine where the possibilities could lead this region.

Rather than read stories about the loss of the next industry, let’s write stories about the creation of the next industry here in the Lehigh Valley. We’ll start small and with a lot of innovators buzzing together in close proximity to one another. They will live close to where they work and make a high-quality product in an old building in a dense urban environment. They will sell outside of our borders and attract other people like them as well as capital. Support our efforts to make this happen.

Job Creation and Entrepreneurial Development

2011-02-14T10:51:00.003-05:00

On Friday we asked some questions about what type of entrepreneurs and companies would be targeted by a Lehigh Valley entrepreneurial development initiative. This stemmed from a group discussion hosted by Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation that covered a wide range of topics related to stimulating entrepreneurial activity and startups in our region.

The group also asked itself about the relative merits of helping companies that create a lot of jobs locally versus companies that stay small and outsource the bulk of its activities. Many economic development organizations measure their success on job creation and are evaluated by the communities that they serve by the same metric. All economic developers understand that government/economic developers do not directly create jobs, but our efforts can facilitate the creation of jobs by private industry. The most visible way to do that is to recruit existing firms to the region, such as when Olympus America moved its North American headquarters to the Lehigh Valley. Another way is to assist existing firms with growth that requires them to bring in new employees. Growing companies like Eastern Surfaces in Allentown, benefit from low-interest loans to fund growth.

Another significant way to facilitate job creation is by helping early-stage entrepreneurs and startups get off the ground.
Our group wondered if we would derive some benefit from focusing on entrepreneurial companies that promised significant job creation versus smaller companies that may not create a lot of jobs. The arguments for job creators are obvious: we are still recovering from the Great Recession and have 8.7% unemployment. When we help a new company startup and they employ 100 people at the end of 3 years, everyone in the community looks at the results as a win, independent of other conditions. There is a much larger discussion looming behind this, but not all jobs are the same. Would you rather have your regional economic development practitioners concentrate on helping a startup that will employ 50 call center jobs or a small business that will create 5 jobs for chemical engineers and inventors? Not an easy question to answer.

The other apparent option for startup assistance is to focus on the company independent of what they say they will do for job numbers. With companies like those in the Bridgeworks Enterprise Center and the Southside Bethlehem Keystone Innovation Zone, the job creation happens outside of the organization. They tend to operate small and lean, outsourcing most of what they do and integrating those activities into the company when it makes strategic sense. But those small companies do a lot for job creation. They create a network of companies, many local, that need people to satisfy the demands of the initial entrepreneur. Most importantly, perhaps, it is this diverse network of startups and entrepreneurs that will deliver the innovation that we need to be successful as a region. Millions of years of random mutation got us to today. The more chances that we take on individuals, the more likely it is that we will see the next great American company come out of the Lehigh Valley.

In the end, the one thing that we know for certain is that startups as a group have driven job growth in this country for the past 30 years (read the Kauffman Foundation report) and we are counting on them to continue to create jobs and drive innovation in the future.

Industrial cluster focus or growth-concentrated strategy?

2011-02-10T16:35:00.000-05:00

Today, AEDC participated in a group discussion focused on the development of programs and strategies to attract talent to the Lehigh Valley, retain our existing and future entrepreneurs, and assist the startups that will bring us a diverse workforce. We covered a range of important topics, from job creation to networking, and we want to share some of our thoughts here. The whole discussion is worthy of multiple blog posts, so we will tackle these topics over the course of the next few weeks.

To this point, the focus of most of the entrepreneurial development in the Lehigh Valley has been in the South Bethlehem Keystone Innovation Zone (KIZ). Dovetailing the efforts of the State's Department of Community and Economic Development with the existing competencies and research priorities of Lehigh University, the KIZ invested in companies from a group of targeted clusters with great success. As entrepreneurial development initiatives expand beyond the shadow of Lehigh, the focus will shift. The group--which included entrepreneurs from the KIZ and from Allentown's Bridgeworks Enterprise Center--suggested spending time with growth entrepreneurs of all industries, rather than targeting particular industries.

You've read about these clusters here before: life sciences, financial services, healthcare, technology intensive manufacturing. Those clusters are industries in which the Lehigh Valley should have a competitive advantage over other national and global regions. Our region should be driving innovation in those fields and should have increased productivity as a result of the clustering. Most importantly to this discussion, the presence of those clusters should stimulate new firm development. Although not all of those clusters are central to the economic vitality of Allentown, we are not so sure that as a region we should back away from a focus on entrepreneurial development within those industries. We are competing with every other region in the country and the world for the talents of entrepreneurs. Every place would like to see more high-growth companies decide to locate within its borders. We need to be flexible in our efforts to stimulate firm creation by all entrepreneurs in the region, but we should not abandon the industrial clusters in which we have a competitive advantage.

The discussion will bear this out, but we think that the focus should remain on our industrial clusters, but that we should make sure that the efforts toward improvement can benefit entrepreneurs of all stripes. Infrastructure improvements and network improvements will help connect our future startups to the necessary resources that they need to launch.

Urban Manufacturing Site Availability

2011-02-09T16:20:00.000-05:00

AEDC will sometimes use this blog to highlight properties that would make good candidates for investment in the City of Allentown. In most cases, we will feature properties that could host urban manufacturing and discuss the benefits of those sites.

One of Allentown's historic manufacturing districts is situated along Sumner Avenue, north of Tilghman Street. This area includes a variety of existing manufacturers and wholesale suppliers occupying buildings constructed during Allentown's boom years. With a labor force of over 10,000 people and great access to markets, this neighborhood is a great location for urban manufacturing.

One site in this neighborhood is 713 N 13th Street. This building is the former home of George Humidac Sr.'s Mechanical Services Company. George was one of the great innovative minds of the Lehigh Valley, contributing to the development and manufacture of a wide range of products. The manufacturing site is home to a 19,200 square foot, 2-story building with a single drive-in door. Being in the city, power and water are plentiful, with 3-phase electric service and City Water and sewer. A nice feature of this property is a paved parking lot for out-of-town employees, but with so many employable people within walking distance, the lot may not be needed for parking. The site is also walkable for a variety of services, and just down the street from Bellisimo Ristorante and Rookie's Restaurant, making a great place for lunch and a great spot for an after work beer. Finally, the site is only 1.6 miles from US-22, making shipping and receiving no problem.

This site is a great location for companies interested in being part of Urban Made, focused on urban manufacturing. For more information, contact Hawley Realty.

What We've Learned While Stimulating Collaboration

2011-02-07T15:41:00.000-05:00

When AEDC first started exploring the idea of creating collaborative workspace in the Lehigh Valley, we looked at it from the perspective of our space. As we have planned, we have significantly shifted our thinking about Hive 4A.

We manage the Bridgeworks Enterprise Center, a 60,000 square foot former Mack plant that we converted to a 45,000 square foot multi-tenant building in 1988. The intent of the renovations was to create space suitable for hosting a light manufacturing business incubation program, which we have done for over 20 years now. Over the past few years, in part as a result of the recession, we have seen two of our units remain totally empty with no prospects. These two spaces, totaling almost 6,000 square feet have some limitations that make them poor fits for manufacturing businesses, and we struggled to lease them.

At the same time that we explored creative ways to lease space in our building, we also started thinking about the core mission of the incubation program. We have to create jobs, and one of the greatest ways to do that is to help new businesses get started. It was clear to us that we needed to stimulate entrepreneurship.

So when we read an article talking about the rise of tinkering amid the crisis, we saw it as an opportunity to fill our space and stimulate entrepreneurship with one initiative. Thus began our effort to create makerspace in Allentown. As we proceeded thinking about this type of organization, we also learned about coworking space and added it to our to-do list.

But during planning, we have learned a very important lesson: collaborative workspace is SO much more about the collaborators than it is about the space. Don't think for a second that we want to present second-rate space, but as we've talked to entrepreneurs, would-be entrepreneurs, job-seekers, and independent professionals, we have seen that this is going to be about the individuals that make up the space. We've met with some really talented people with exciting ideas and we really look forward to seeing all of those individuals working together and growing their businesses.

If you are interested in this process, please join us at the space to learn more about how you can be part of this community.

Urban Manufacturing and Natural Resource Protection

2011-02-03T16:32:00.003-05:00

AEDC's goal of promoting urban manufacturing gives advocates of cities and economic development a lot to wrap their arms around, but it should also appeal to those tasked with the preservation of land and nature.

Firms that choose to operate in urban environments build on the industrial legacy of cities, while protecting our natural resources. For over 50 years, developers have built industrial parks and commerce parks in greenfields in a misguided attempt at stimulating economic growth at the expense of economic development. The construction of these parks sparked unhealthy patterns of exurban sprawl that exacerbated the threat to our natural environments. At the same time that American manufacturing began to control its air and water emissions, suburban development erased the gains presented by those controls by damaging new sectors of ecological resources. Capping off all of the problems of suburban manufacturers is the car-dependency of the facilities, increasing the vehicle miles traveled in the communities with an overabundance of this type of development.

Now, as firms that expand or relocate consider their next building, many should consider urban environments. The availability of manufacturing facilities in cities eliminates the need to further build in our country's rural areas. In some cases, those existing buildings need rehabilitation, but an investment in rehabilitation in an already dense, urban environment is also an investment in natural resources. In many cities, there are brownfield sites available as well, presenting the developer with opportunities to build modern buildings on land that has already been environmentally impacted. Lehigh Valley Industrial Parks recently found its right note with LVIP VII, built on former Bethlehem Steel in the heart of the City of Bethlehem.

Firms locating in cities have a huge opportunity to protect air and water quality by not impacting watersheds in the country. A new industrial building in a suburban environment creates acres and acres of new impervious surfaces that invariably impact rivers and streams. In cities, those buildings already exist and redevelopment efforts using sustainable architecture can improve upon them, reducing their impact. Furthermore, with most of manufacturing workers living in cities, reducing their vehicle miles traveled reduces emissions, thereby improving air quality.

So the promotion of urban manufacturing makes AEDC a natural partner of organizations like Wildlands Conservancy with a mission to

preserve, protect, restore, and enhance the land, water, ecological, and recreational resources of the Lehigh Valley and the Lehigh River valley.

Startup America and the Lehigh Valley

2011-02-01T14:24:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, White House announced the launch of the Startup America Partnership, which will act as an independent private-sector alliance intended to dramatically increase the development, prevalence and success of innovative, high-growth U.S. firms.

The partnership's core goals will be to increase the number of firms creating economic growth, celebrate entrepreneurship and inspire a diversity of communities and individuals to build companies. They will focus on three key areas:
Acceleration and Scale, as they replicate successful programs with an emphasis on mentorship and large-company partnerships.
Education in entrepreneurship.
Commercialization, as they tap academic innovation resources to spur economic growth.

At its core, the effort seeks to educate future entrepreneurs, to make sure that those entrepreneurs have the capital that they need to start up, and to lower the barriers to commercialization. We face similar difficulties in the Lehigh Valley, and AEDC is working with its partners to ameliorate that situation.

The Bridgeworks Enterprise Center in South Allentown has housed an incubation program for small businesses and light manufacturing since 1988, with support from Ben Franklin Technology Partners and the City of Allentown. That program has helped launch over 30 businesses employing over 300 people in the Lehigh Valley. Along the way, it has stood as a leader in entrepreneurial development in our region, hosting educational programs for entrepreneurs and providing a necessary network node for fledgling companies.

Work on coworking space and makerspace as part of the Hive 4A initiative is the next step for AEDC's entrepreneurial development efforts. The makerspace will serve as informal science space for a certain community and a laboratory for innovative experimentation among future Lehigh Valley entrepreneurs. Our coworking space represents the future of work, with independent professionals coming together to exchange ideas and build the next economy.

All the while, AEDC will continue to be part of the conversation and drive innovation in the region, through forums offered by Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation; area colleges like Muhlenberg, LCCC, and Lehigh; and Ben Franklin. There are still significant hurdles to entrepreneurship in the Lehigh Valley, including a lack of significant capital resources, that we have to resolve before we can be a truly innovative and entrepreneurial region.

As always, the feedback of our existing entrepreneurial community is hugely important, and we hope to share what we learn here on the blog.

What is a Green Job?

2011-01-28T15:42:00.001-05:00

Last week, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry released The Pennsylvania Green Jobs Survey Report, which showed that the Lehigh Valley is both a current leader in green jobs in PA and will have the greatest growth in the sector in the state.
This is tremendous news. L&I's definition of a green job is one that "employ[s] workers in producing or offering products or services that:

Promote energy efficiency
Contribute to the sustainable use of resources or renewable energy
Prevent pollution
Clean up the environment
Promote the reduction of harmful emissions
Provide green education/training, awareness or compliance"

We should see increases in the numbers of green manufacturing jobs as firms like fiberAmerica scale up. Waste-to-energy project proposals are starting to cross the desks of business development professionals across the Lehigh Valley. And with a company like PPL anchoring our downtown, you can expect to see many of their employees qualify for "green job" designation.
But, in the context of urban manufacturing, we have a slightly different take on green jobs. We believe that any time a firm chooses to locate in a dense urban environment, they are creating green jobs. By choosing an urban site over a suburban site, that firm contributes to the sustainable use of resources by not creating demand for new transportation and utilities infrastructure. They are preventing pollution by locating near their workforce, reducing vehicle miles traveled in our region. Compliance with regulations in place in dense urban environments makes it easy to promote the reduction of harmful emissions.
It gets even better when a firm, faced with the decision of building on a greenfield in a rural area or building on a brownfield in an urban environment, goes the route of reusing existing industrial sites. The brownfield firm will employ environmental services firms to assist with the cleanup from past polluters. They also, through their example, provide "green" awareness. Since they will naturally choose to build to EnergyStar standards, they will also promote energy efficiency with their new building.
So good for us that we project so many green jobs in the future. Better for us that we have so many dense urban environments offering an opportunity to create a REAL green job.

Why AEDC Is Investing in Coworking

2011-01-26T15:21:00.001-05:00

Work progresses on the creation of coworking space in the Lehigh Valley. We've met with many independent professionals that have told us about what they expect from the space, including ample networking opportunities, reliable WiFi, limited distractions, and good parking. We hope we can meet all the demands on their wish list and look forward to continued input. While we have met with entrepreneurs, we have also had an opportunity to explain to them why we are investing in the concept.

Coworking in San Francisco

One of AEDC's core strategies in encouraging strategic business opportunities for the benefit of Allentown is to attract innovative people to the city. One way that we hope to do that is to promote entrepreneurship in the Lehigh Valley. Coworking space will provide an environment for networks of creative, independent professionals to work together and grow their businesses. Collaboration should lead to new firm starts and ultimately job opportunities for Allentonians. Professionals in transition can hatch business plans from the community tables with the support of enterprise development professionals and their coworking colleagues. This will boost entrepreneurship in general.

Another big reason for investing in this kind of space to attract innovative people to the city is that we know that regions where people want to live do things like this. Cities that don't have things like this are typically places where creative professionals and entrepreneurs do not want to live. Spaces like this are already popping up all around us, from Lancaster to Philadelphia to New York City. We plan to be their equal.

We expect this to be successful and we want to let you know why.

LVEDC Annual Meeting 2011 Recap

2011-01-24T10:59:00.000-05:00

After Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation's Annual Investor Meeting on January 20, 2011, their keynote speaker, Christopher Leinbeger took the stage to speak about walkable urbanism.

Leinberger, a visting fellow at the Brookings Institution, is recognized as one of the leading thinkers on strategic downtown redevelopment and walkability. His presentation covered some national trends, outlining the ways that we used to live, how we got off course, and how a new generation is steering development toward sustainability. His points that resonated with the crowd were that we are heavily subsidizing unsustainable development, we have made walkable urban development illegal and that suburban living shifts a signifcant portion of a family's income from discretionary spending to transportation.

He also supplied the Lehigh Valley with a to-do list (his to-do items in italics, our commentary afterward):

1) Visit comp[arable metropolitan area]s: Chattanooga, Boise, Lancaster. We might have some difficulty getting to Boise, Idaho but Lancaster is a 90-minute drive from here. Check out AEDC's experiences with co-working in Lancaster.

2) Understand "export" industries & business/employee locational requirements. LVEDC and the Lehigh Valley Workforce Investment Board have begun this work. Healthcare and higher education dominate employment in the Lehigh Valley, although research by the LVEDC and the WIB has that there are six industrial clusters present.

3) IF knowledge economy, determine where your walkable urban places will be and make it legal to build them (LANTA's toolkit). Mr. Leinberger suggested that we not only develop our existing urban cores, but begin the long process of rebuilding the suburbs as walkable places as well as build new communities. At AEDC, we would like to see efforts concentrated on our existing urban environments and if the Lehigh Valley builds new communities, we hope that they are built on brownfield sites rather than farms and open spaces.

4) Plan a transit system (even rail) to get you there, recognizing you will pay for it locally (tax increases & private value capture). After the meeting, Leinberger had a conversation with members of the Lehigh Valley economic development community, and expounded on this notion. He suggested that the return on an investment in a transit system would be significant and encouraged us to think streetcars rather than commuter rail.

5) Develop non-profit management. Much of this effort needs committed civic leadership and nonprofit management. Business improvement districts can help steer development in the right direction.

We hope to expand on some of these thoughts in blog posts over the year, so stay tuned here.

Walkable Urbanism and Manufacturing

2011-01-20T14:05:00.003-05:00

If you follow the various media streams from AEDC, you will know that one of our major initiatives is to promote urban manufacturing. For a variety of reasons, we believe that strengthening manufacturing in dense urban environments will help lead to economic recovery and define local economies in the next 15 years. One of the major benefits to manufacturers is that they have tremendous access to their workforce.

Industrialization in the United States and in the Lehigh Valley had a tremendous impact on location decisions for families. Prior to the invention of the automobile, manufacturers built factories and often built worker housing close to those factories. Workers could easily get to their jobs and communities developed around certain industries. There were a lot of bad things associated with this early period of industrialization, but working close to where one lived was not one of them.

As factories and production changed, the relationship between factories and workers changed as well. Urban density made building new, sprawling factories in city centers difficult and people did not want smokestacks in their back yards. For these and a whole host of other reasons, factories and people started moving to suburban environments, which were wholly dependent on the automobile. This trend continued to very recent times and is still the choice for some less forward-thinking companies.

Changes to both manufacturing and personal location decision-making have opened up new possibilities. In many ways, manufacturing no longer looks like it did in 1890, but it also doesn’t look much like it did in 1990. Most manufacturing processes have gotten religion when it comes to environmental sustainability, doing away with belching smokestacks and noise pollution. Smart manufacturers are also going lean, doing away with the need to have enormous warehouses to house enormous inventories. It is entirely possible for them to be in dense, urban environments again.

People have shifted their preferences to downtown living, choosing to be close to amenities and jobs. You can see this at play in places like Chicago, where population growth in the downtown has outstripped population growth in their vast suburbs. Most of these folks have been office workers and creative professionals, whose jobs are in downtowns. But people who build trucks and make epoxy have the same basic desire to live near restaurants, entertainment and their work.

So smart companies should look to be in urban environments where they can access a great labor pool and eschew sprawling greenfields where they cannot be reached by the people that want to work for them. Walkable urbanism works for manufacturers too.

Show & Tell at Hive 4A Recap

2011-01-19T15:44:00.005-05:00

On Monday, January 17 AEDC hosted MakeLV's first Show & Tell event at the hackspace at Hive 4A, in the Bridgeworks Enterprise Center. Tinkerers and hobbyists from Pennsylvania and New Jersey came to the Lehigh Valley to network, talk about projects, exchange knowledge and eat pizza.

The crowd included members of MakeLV, a group of Lehigh Valley hackers working on a wide variety of projects and the driving force behind the establishment of the hackspace at Hive 4A. Tyler Worman, of MakeLV, helped organize the event and maintains the MakeLV wiki. Also in attendance were Amy and Tony Buser of Berks CoLab, a Reading, PA group working toward the creation of a Berks County makerspace.

Tony Buser gave a demonstration of his RepRap, a 3D printer that fits on a desktop. He made the machine himself, using parts that he made with a makerbot. RepRaps are self-replicating, so he has used the machine to make the parts that other users will need to build their own printers. Tony told a story about breaking a latch on his screen door, and going to his basement to recreate the part on the printer rather than needing to head to the hardware store.

Tyler gave a description of the difficulties of making 3D scans for 3D printing and showed off his homemade 3D scanner, cobbled together using an inexpensive laser and a PlayStation 3 camera.

MakeLV will continue to strive toward a fully-productive hackspace at Hive 4A over the next few months. A collaborative work environment will allow MakeLV members to work together on projects using shared equipment and generate new ideas. MakeLV will hold a business meeting in the first week of February to discuss governance.

The next MakeLV Show & Tell at Hive 4A is in planning and should be announced shortly.

Coworking at Hive 4A Update

2011-01-18T13:39:00.003-05:00

AEDC's entrepreneurial development initiative, Hive 4A, had a busy 7 days last week.

Coworking Info Session

On January 10, a group of independent professionals working out of the Lehigh Valley gathered at the Bridgeworks Enteprise Center to discuss the creation of a coworking community in Allentown. Like many coworking spaces, the Lehigh Valley group is comprised of mostly creative professionals, including photographers, freelance writers and video editors, but also included a serial entrepreneur, jobseekers, and a financial planning professional. The group members discussed their space needs and what they hoped to gain from coworking, focusing mostly on the wide variety of opportunities for intragroup collaboration and low-cost access to shared services. The group finished with a tour of the space that AEDC has proposed to dedicate to coworking at Hive 4A, a 2,240 square foot area with 15' ceilings and copious natural light. If the group grows out of the space, AEDC has an additional 1,000 square feet that it would incorporate into the coworking space. Since this initial meeting a number of local professionals have inquired into getting involved. One of the results of the meeting was the creation of a Meetup group.

Field Trip to Lancaster

The next day, Matthew from AEDC made a trip to the Candy Factory in Lancaster, PA to meet with one of the space's founders Anne Kirby. Becuase he arrived a little early, he had a chance to take the space for a test drive. "They really have a great thing going there," reported Matthew. In only 7 months of existence, they have recruited over 30 area professionals and are in the process of expanding in their building. Their group hatched from an existing arts group that increasingly demanded shared working space, until one of the members launched the Candy Factory. They employ a membership structure similar to the one that AEDC has proposed, with grades of membership allowing for access to community tables up through semi-private office space. The space itself is another amazing effort, featuring local artwork and great atmospherics in a prime, downtown location.

Coworking

Learn more about coworking at the Coworking Wiki. In brief, coworking offers independent professionals an opportunity to be part of a work community by sharing space. Unlike executive suites, coworking asks members to sit next to each other, sharing ideas and collaborating on projects. Coworking is an excellent alternative to working from home, where a person's work has to compete for attention with things like animals, kids, and dirty dishes. It is also a great alternative to working out of the local coffee shop, where $5 lattes can price business people out of the market and chatty baristas can erode value. Think of a coworking space as you would the college library, full of like-minded individuals concentrated on work, elbow-to-elbow with the creative peers that can help them create something great.

CoWorking Lehigh Valley Info Session

2011-01-07T15:01:00.000-05:00

On Monday, January 10 at 9 a.m. Allentown Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) will hold an information session on CoWorking in the Lehigh Valley. The meeting will take place in AEDC's Bridgeworks Enterprise Center at 905 Harrison, Allentown, PA.

CoWorking is a fairly new approach to getting work done, and has been described by many as the future of work. The idea is that independent professionals work better together than they do alone. To facilitate this, coWorking spaces have popped up around the country to allow people to work together. The space is for people who want to work from home, but soon discover that home is full of distractions that prevent one from getting any work done. The space is also an alternative to the "Starbucks office" of the local coffee shop, allowing people who are serious about work to do their jobs without the distractions of being in a retail environment.

In Allentown, coWorking will soon take place at the Bridgeworks as part of Hive 4A. AEDC has dedicated over 3,000 square feet of space in its business incubator to a coWorking space. The space will feature no fewer than 18 seats at community work tables, six dedicated desks in the open floor plan, shared conference facilities, lounge space, a kitchenette, shared reception, wifi and some of the brightest creatives in the Lehigh Valley. Basic membership in the Hive will allow members access to all services and a seat at a community table, while full membership will purchase a 24/7 seat at a desk. Additionally, AEDC will open its Home Office Alternative offices to the Hive, providing 5 private offices to businesses wanting to tap into the creativity.

AEDC will execute the project with the assistance of inaugural members, the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation, Corporate Facilities of the Lehigh Valley, and the support of the Bridgeworks Enterprise Center staff. Members will benefit not only from being part of a great collaborative environment, but from being right next to tremendous entrepreneurial development resources designed to help businesses take the next step toward success.

Learn more by joining the conversation on Monday, January 10 at 9 a.m. For more information, contact AEDC at info@allentownedc.com or call 610.435.8890

Positive Small Business Story

2011-01-07T14:42:00.000-05:00

When Terry Sands purchased the Chevrolet dealership in Allentown, he had no idea he would be forced to close the business a short while later. GM notified Sands that he would have to shut down Sands Chevrolet only 18 months after he opened.

Sands didn’t let GM stop him from reaching success, though. Even though Sands Chevrolet officially closed Oct. 31, Sands opened a new business less than a month later. Meineke Car Care Center and Econo Lube N’ Tune opened in Allentown on Nov. 29 at 1211 Hanover Ave.

Sands opened Meineke and Econo Lube, which are part of Driven Brands, parent company to six franchised automotive brands, through Driven Brands’ Jump Start program. The program offers dealerships faced with closing their doors or becoming used car service dealers the opportunity to become franchisees of the company’s nationally recognized brands at highly discounted costs.

By opening Meineke, Sands was able to maintain most of his employees and continue selling and servicing vehicles. He also has maintained his current customer base. For more information, visit www.meineke.com.

AEDC Is Out for the Holidays...

2010-12-22T15:29:00.005-05:00

but you can still count on us to point out fun activities for New Year's Eve. Plan now so you don't miss out!

Allentown Brew Works will be serving up their fantastic seasonal, Rude Elf's Reserve and they have planned a great special in collaboration with Holiday Inn Center City.

Free tastings and New Year’s giveaways from Don Julio Tequila, &

complimentary Champagne toast at midnight!DINE & STAY package with the Holiday Inn Center City Allentown (9th & Hamilton, Allentown). Mention

Brew Works for: Overnight accommodations in one of the spacious guestrooms, a bottle of Champagne to celebrate, breakfast for two on New Year’s Day morning, and overnight parking in the staffed pa

rking deck–All for $159.00 per Room! More info/reservations: 610-433-2221

Sangria, up the block, is also hosting a New Year's party, which will surely include dancing and

great cocktails. Call 610.432.3280 for more details.

And don't forget the newest addition to the downtown, the Cosmopolitan, where the party starts at 7 p.m. with live jazz and great wine.

Local Philanthropist Makes a Contribution to America on Wheels in Honor of Her Father

2010-11-19T10:17:00.003-05:00

More great news from America On Wheels!! The entry wall to the South Gallery at America On Wheels has been dedicated in memory of former UPS Chief Executive Officer, Harold Oberkotter. The dedication was made possible by a generous $100,000 contribution from his daughter, Bethlehem philanthropist, Marlene “Linny” Fowler.
Mrs. Fowler said the contribution in her fathers name was made to inspire the young people who visit the museum. The dedication took place Tuesday and marks the 56 years of service that Mr. Oberkotter spent with the UPS company, beginning as a messenger and working his way up to become the company’s fourth Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. The dedication plaque showcases Mr. Oberkotter in 1925 as a messenger and his official portrait as Chairman and CEO of UPS from 1974-1980.
Mrs. Fowler was delighted to dedicate the wall in her father’s memory and hopes that the contribution will help inspire the young visitors of the America On Wheels Museum.
“We are very fortunate and grateful to receive the Fowlers’ support and honored to display Harold’s story, which is truly an inspiration for all of our visitors but especially for the young people who visit America On Wheels every week,” said America On Wheels Executive Director, Linda Merkel.
Additional naming opportunities are available at America On Wheels. Pleas contact Merkel for details at director@americaonwheels.org

Rail Freight Grant

2010-11-18T12:03:00.000-05:00

Exciting news!! AEDC received a $1.8 million Rail Freight State Grant to restore an abandoned section of the Barbers Quarry branch rail corridor. It will connect 80 acres of industrialized zoned land near south 10th street to an Allentown rail line operated by RJ Corman, a rail freight company based in Nicholasville, Kentucky. The corridor was abandoned about 10 years ago and originally serviced industries along the Little Lehigh Creek and into the west side of Allentown. The project is pending the ability to obtain match dollars, but the hope is that it will become an asset to local manufacturers and future industrial development for the area. Can’t wait to hear the sound of train whistles blowing!!!

Hive 4A Taking Shape

2010-11-18T09:55:00.002-05:00

On Tuesday night, a group of hackers got together at the Bridgeworks Enterprise Center to discuss the creation of a Lehigh Valley hackerspace in Allentown. Josiah wrote a great summary on his blog. Read it here

AIA SDAT Allentown Preliminary Report

2010-10-14T09:26:00.001-04:00

Here's the preliminary report from the Sustainable Development Assistance Team that visited Allentown in September. Please share your comments with us below.

AIA SDAT Allentown Preliminary Report

View more presentations from Allentown Economic Development Corporation.

Sprucing Up Hamilton Street

2010-09-23T12:55:00.000-04:00

Allentown Department of Community and Economic Development Director Sara Hailstone and Community Banking Regional President for Wachovia in Greater Pennsylvania David Miree made an exciting announcement today about a new Hamilton Street Façade Self Forgiving Loan Program, which will be a great way to help pay for removal of modern inappropriate materials, brick cleaning, window replacement, and lighting and sign repair or replacement.
It’s going to be awesome to watch the facades of our local downtown businesses get makeovers. How fun would it be to keep track of who’s getting the grants and post some before and after pictures!
“There is a lot of historic beauty on Hamilton Street,” said Hailstone. “This is a fantastic opportunity for commercial building owners to improve the appearance of their properties.”
The program has a total of $200,000, which includes city CDBG-R funds and a $100,000 grant from Wachovia Bank. Commercial building owners on Hamilton Street between 6th and 10th streets are eligible to apply for loans ranging from $20,000 up to $30,000. The program requires a dollar for dollar match and includes a 0% interest rate on a five-year self-forgiving loan.
The program is the result of a partnership made up of the city of Allentown, Wachovia Bank, The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the Hamilton District Main Street program.
Eligible applicants must be current on all taxes, licenses, and fees with the city. Property must be code compliant and proposed improvements must meet design standards and receive approval from the Hamilton Façade Self Forgiving Loan Application Committee.
Want more information? Contact the City of Allentown Business Development Liaison Duane Tolson at 610-437-5964

Protective Coatings Named Business of the Month

2010-09-22T16:10:00.002-04:00

PC-Products was announced as Allentown’s business of the month for September at a press conference with Mayor Pawlowski at their factory located at 221 South Third Street.

Their slogan is “Make the impossible easy,” and that’s what their products are made to do. They produce sixteen different epoxies that aid in heavy-duty repairs, quick repairs, anchoring, and wood restoration. They can be used to fix leaky pipes, put together broken flowerpots, repair your deck, or even make missing parts such as bolts or nuts. These Allentown made products can be found across the country in stores such as Ace Hardware, Home Depot and True Value and are even found in stores in other countries such as Japan, Canada and Saudi Arabia.

Steve Long is the president of the company and employs about 25 people, most of whom are Allentown residents. The last hire the company made was a man from the Allentown Rescue Mission, giving him an opportunity to change his life.

As a third generation family owned business customer service with PC-Products is excellent and done the old fashioned way. Anyone who calls can expect the phone to ring no more than twice; they will never deal with automated messages shuffling them from department to department and if needed someone will walk the caller through proper use of a product.

One of the benefits of being selected as Business of the Month is a promotional video made by THRIVEMedia’s Jeff Tintle, which is sponsored by Capital Blue Cross. Check it out!

The Business Recruitment & Retention Committee is currently accepting nominations for the next business of the month. Please send nominations to businessofthemonth@allentownahead.com along with a brief description of how the business exemplifies excellence.

Retro Treats Coming to America On Wheels

2010-09-09T12:44:00.001-04:00

Exciting developments are happening at the America On Wheels Museum down by the waterfront! They are making two hip additions to their facilities, a recreation of an authentic 1950’s soda fountain as well as an education center. The recreation will be called the Hubcap Café and will include an authentic soda fountain from Greenville, Indiana; expected opening date December 3.
Visitors will be able to hang in the fully operational café and enjoy classic soda fountain fare such as Coke floats, ice cream sodas, egg creams, ice cream, Cherry floats, hot dogs and packaged sandwiches. Guests can come down with their families and learn about road transportations evolution legacy, enjoy a delicious treat and bask in the 1950’s ambiance. .
The Hubcap Café will be available for rental to accommodate group tours, events and even birthday parties. Having a 50’s themed party can be even more fun and authentic when hosted at the soda fountain in a poodle skirt or leather jacket. What a great place to hold a surprise party for grandma! “The room will accommodate 100 guests and we will use caterers for all affairs over forty. We plan to offer ice cream soda parties for all ages.” Said Linda Merkel, AOW’s Executive Director.
America On Wheels is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Tuesday hours (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) resume March 30. Ticket prices are $7 for adults, $5 for senior citizens, $3.50 for students ages 6 to 16. Children 5 and under are admitted free.

New Jamaican restaurant on Hamilton Street

2010-07-29T16:55:00.003-04:00

Another addition to the existing flares of diverse cultural eateries in the City will open tommorow!

Island in the Sun, located at 921 W. Hamilton St (former Spooner's) will be celebrating the new location in downtown Allentown on Friday, July 30th from 11:00 - 9:30 PM. They offer the finiest Jamaican cuisine incuding: beef, chicken or veggie Patties (with or without Coco bread), jerk chicken, fried chicken, curry goat, oxtails, ackee & saltfish, fish (escoveitch fried fish, steam, brown stewed, or any way you request it) roti dishes, stew beef, ital stew (vegetarian), coconut curry shrimp, jerk chicken salad, summer- fest salad (Veggies/Fruits) and much more!

Island in the Sun's Hours of Operation:
Mon – Thurs: 11:00 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Fri & Sat, 11:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Closed on Sundays.
Tel: 610 435 4347.

We hope to see you there!

A Night at the Museum

2010-07-23T13:50:00.003-04:00

Approximately 350 participants invovled with the 2010 Pennsylvania Greenways Sojourn pulled into the America On Wheels (AOW) museum last Thursday afternoon for on of their final stops in a 250-mile journey that includes treks along trails such as the Ironton Rail Trail, Lehigh Canal Towpath and Delaware Canal Towpath.

The journey started last Saturday with an overnight on the battleship USS New Jersey before heading out along the Schuylkill River, Perkiomen Rail and Lehigh Gorge trails and then down the Lehigh River for a 10-mile raft trip before an overnight at AOW. Participants camped inside and outside of AOW (see picture above of the 220 pop-up tents behind the museum), enjoying the scenic views of the riverfront and a screening of “Night at the Museum” before departing for their return back to Camden and the Big J battleship.

The sojourn is conducted by the Rails to Trails Conservancy (RTC) to draw attention and support to nationwide efforts to create more trails. According to the RTC, trails encourage healthier, more mobile lifestyles by making possible places to walk, bike and more. They develop healthier economies by promoting tourism and local businesses, and increasing property values. They support a healthier climate and environment by making active transportation a viable alternative to the automobile. They contribute to healthier, more vibrant community interaction, connecting people to the places they live, work and play.

America On Wheels is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Ticket prices are $7 for adults, $5 for senior citizens, $3.50 for students ages 6 to 16. Children 5 and under are admitted free. For more information on the museum’s exhibits, visit their website.

Energy Saving Assistance

2010-06-14T13:51:00.007-04:00

Save energy. Reduce consumption. Cut costs. These are all excellent goals, but how can they be achieved?

The City of Allentown’s Sustainability Office is teaming with the Sustainable Energy Fund, AFC First Financial Corporation/Keystone HELP, PPL Electric Utility’s E-POWER Program, and the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley (CACLV) to provide considerable help to city residents, commercial property and small business owners, and small not-for-profit organizations.

Each of these partners is offering programs that can help property owners make energy-saving (which means money-saving) building improvements. Financial support is available for the upgrading of HVAC systems, window replacement, house insulation and weatherization, the installation of alternative heating systems (wind, solar, geothermal), and more.
The Allentown Energy Conservation Program has special funding to significantly reduce – to rates as low as 1½% – the cost of borrowing money for energy-saving projects. The city also has a rebate program for not-for-profit organizations and for small businesses that qualify. The Sustainable Energy Fund is providing low-interest loans of $10,000 to $750,000 to commercial and not-for-profit property owners. AFC First Financial Corporation/Keystone HELP is providing unsecured, low-interest loans of up to $15,000. Depending on the scale of the property-owner’s project, the cost of the loan could be as low as 1.99%. The details about these three programs can be found on the city's website

Additionally, PPL’s e-POWER energy-efficiency programs include rebates, incentives, and tools that can make a substantial difference in energy consumption in your home or business.
The Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley has a well-established weatherization program that works to help property owners tighten-up those energy-wasting leaks and even replace furnaces.

Come to a free session to learn about how one or more of these programs can help you find the financial resources to complete energy-saving projects on your home or place of business, and to start saving money. On Thursday, June 17th three sessions – 7:30 AM for contractors, 10:00 AM for commercial property owners and 7:00 PM for residents - will be held at Muhlenberg College’s Shankweiler Building. On Tuesday, June 22nd an additional session will be held at 7:00 PM for residential property owners in Dieruff High School’s Freshman Auditorium.

For more information about these programs and the events, contact Tom Kerr of the Allentown Sustainability Office at (610) 437-8713 or kerrT@allentowncity.org

Certification Made Simple

2010-06-02T11:22:00.003-04:00

On Friday, June 11th, the Lehigh University SBDC and PTAC will host a FREE information session with the PA Department of General Services, Bureau of Minority & Women Business Opportunities that is aimed at guiding attendees through the certification process for the Deparment's Women/Minority Business Enterprise Program. This will be a "hands on", step-by-step review of the actual application. If you operate a woman-owned or minority-owned business and plan on marketing your goods or services to the State of Pennsylvania, we encourage you to register but seating is limited so make sure that you do so immediately. To register, call 610-758-3980 or send an email to insbdc@lehigh.edu

City of Allentown on YouTube

2010-06-01T14:55:00.001-04:00

One of the benefits of being selected as the "Business of the Month" is that the company will recieve a promotional video produced by another successful Allentown entrepreuner, Jeff Tintle of Thrive Media. Olson's video is about the rich history behind their operations. Visit the City of Allentown's YouTube page to see the video for Olson Technologies as well as Lehigh Valley Grand Prix and Capital Blue Cross.

Olson Technologies Named as May's Business of the Month

2010-05-28T13:50:00.005-04:00

Olson Technologies was recently named the May 2010 "Business of the Month" at a press conference held at their downtown facility, located at 160 W. Walnut Street. Olson Technologies was selected by members of the Business Recruitment and Retention Committee of Allentown Ahead based on their long history of operating as a successful urban manufacturer in downtown Allentown. Olson Technologies employs--as well as pays family-sustaining wages to--45 people between their manufacturing plant and office buildings, with jobs ranging from valve assembler, machinist and plant superintendent to receptionist and chief engineer. "We are very pleased to be recognized by the city for our long-standing contributions to the work force and manufacturing process in downtown Allentown," said Peter Farkas, CFO.

Olson Technologies is a specialty valve manufacturing company that serves a variety of different industries including power, water, industrial and construction. Their products range from small, one-inch valves up to larger 122-inch valves composed of cast iron and steel. In the Allentown plant, the valves are machined, assembled, tested, painted and shipped world-wide.
Under its current management, Olson Technologies is a locally owned, family-operated business but they also have a rich manufacturing history dating back to the Civil War era. Olson is comprised of two older companies - W.F. Mosser and Son, which operated in Olson’s current facilities, and Homestead Valve Company which was based out of Pittsburgh. Purchased and renamed in 1985 by its current President Jim Olson, Olson Technologies is a continuation of the original companies, touting a remarkable 148 years of operating in the same building and maintaining the same brands for its products.

In its current product line, Mosser is a specialty valve manufacturing group which identifies large valves that are made to special order. Homestead is a commodity value manufacturing group that is used to identify valves made for inventory.

Growth has been, and is projected to remain, steady for Olson Technologies, which reached a milestone of $10 million in sales in 2008. Success can be attributed to the sale of the large Mosser valves, as well as from the growth of some newer products for the water and wastewater markets. Olson Technologies’ position in the waste and wastewater markets will continue to drive business forward.

In addition to the longevity of its location and brands, Olson Technologies also prides themselves on their low turnover in employees, with many employees having 35 years under their belts. Olson attributes this to "keeping a low profile, making a nice profit and treating our employees well." As they continue to experience growth and increase employment, they have the accessibility of a talented and local workforce due to the closing of major manufacturing companies like Mack Trucks and Bethlehem Steel.

The location of the plant and its proximity to Lehigh Valley International Airport, Philadelphia and New York has been positive for Olson Technologies being that their customers frequently visit to witness the testing of the valves. "It’s important to make our customer feels comfortable. We are excited about the restaurants and hotels that are being promoted downtown. Customers stay anywhere from 1 day to a week, we are always looking for ways to keep them entertained," said Farkas. Olson Technologies operations encompass four buildings along Walnut and Front Streets, with the current manufacturing operations and warehouses consisting of over 140,000 square feet. Two buildings are used for office functions, housing the sales and executive staff, as well as the engineering, accounting and inventory control functions, and the two plants are where the valves are made, assembled and tested.

The Business Recruitment & Retention Committee is currently accepting nominations to be reviewed in June. Please send nominations to businessofthemonth@allentownahead.com along with a brief description of how the business exemplifies excellence.

Civic Theatre of Allentown Presents RENT: The Lehigh Valley Premier

2010-05-06T08:58:00.004-04:00

RENT, the biggest Broadway musical of the past 20 years, opens at Civic Theatre on May 7th and runs through May 23rd. Ticket prices range from $26 to $31; they are on sale now online, by calling 610.432.8943 or by visiting Civic's Box Office at 527 N 19th Street in Allentown.

RENT is widely considered to have boosted the popularity of musical theatre amongst younger generations, which is evidenced by the impact the show has had on the member's of Civic's 19-person cast, who range in age from teenagers to 40-somethings.

The show tells the story of a group of artists and musicians in New York's bohemian Alphabet City struggling to live and love, survive AIDS and pay their bills. Rent is currently the 9th-longest running musical in Broadway history, having wrapped a twelve-year run in late 2008. Along the way it picked up the Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Book and Best Score, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Musical and Outstanding Book.

All shows will be produced at Civic Theatre, 527 N. 19th Street, Allentown, PA. Free parking for the shows is available along Liberty and Allen Streets near 19th Street and in the Wachovia Bank parking lot at 19th and Liberty (after the bank is closed).

Civic Theatre, in conjunction with the Young Professionals Council of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Valley YP's of the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation, is also hosting the next Young Professionals Mixer on Thursday, May 13th from 5:30 - 7:30 PM. Young Professionals that attend can purchase tickets to the 8PM production of RENT for that evening at a discounted price of $22 (normally $29). If you are interested in purchasing a ticket, use the purchase code "YPC". For more info and to RSVP email, Adrian@CivicTheatre.com or call 610-433-8903 ext 201.

2010-04-30T15:15:00.007-04:00

Summer is just around the corner and the City’s Special Events Manager Tara Craig has been very busy organizing events that will make for the perfect summer day or night. With exciting events like the SOTA Designer Showhouse (starts this weekend), Mayfair (May 27th – May 31st) Blues, Brews & BBQ (June 12th) or catching an Iron Pigs game there’s fun for all ages to be had in the City Of Allentown!

Just how much fun? According to researchers affiliated with a chain of business publications, the Allentown area (in the studys case, this spans across the Lehigh Valley or what we like to call “Greater Allentown”) ranks as the nations 54th most fun city out of the 100 largest metro areas, ahead of other prominent cities such as Virginia Beach, Kansas City, Colorado Springs and Phoenix. The Greater Allentown area received above average rankings for access to cultural and historic sites, access to high-impact sports and recreation sports centers. Coverage from the Morning Call can be found here

To find out whats happening in Allentown this and every week, make sure you subscribe to Tara's weekly events e-newsletter by emailing craigt@allentowncity.org. You can also find a full listing of events and activities by visiting the city's events calendar.

Where has the Allentown Good News blog been?

2010-04-08T09:09:00.001-04:00

Where has the Allentown Good News blog been?

We hope that your good news about Allentown has been coming from other sources! Allentown Economic Development Corporation manages this blog and has had two unexpected interruptions that prevented us from regularly posting. First, our Marketing Specialist, Caitlin Osmun, had a skiing accident that has had her out of the office since early February. With a small staff, blogging went by the wayside as we scrambled to pick up the slack around the office. Then, as you may have seen with some of our posts, the Google Fiber for Communities project commanded a disproportionate amount of our time.

We will try to return to regular blogging as soon as possible, but Caitlin is expected to be out through May, so you may not see regular news until this summer. We apologize, but hope that you will still follow us on Facebook and on Twitter until we get back to blogging.

Allentown Good News - March 3, 2010

2010-03-03T16:31:00.006-05:00

Here's a sampling of what you'll find on the Allentown Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) page on Facebook and Twitter feed for March 3, 2010:

~~Trail Network Feasibility Study~~ Council's hearing of the study was rescheduled for March 17

Zandy's Today's a cheesesteak day! Take a trip to one of the coolest little neighborhoods on the south side and grab a steak at Zandy's Steak Shop! The food's fast, but not "fast food". While you are there, be sure to walk around a bit and see a neat little commercial district. One great destination for after lunch is Double Decker Records, one of the best record stores on the East Coast

Quick Links

Great article from @BrandYou- How to Grow Your Facebook Fan Page Following. Many Allentown businesses would benefit greatly from having a facebook presence. Be sure to check out the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce social media sessions for help. If you are interested in Twitter, check out Be the Bee Social Media Coaching.

From the Urban Land Institute For Generation Y, American dream becomes an apartment in the city. There are lots of housing choices in Center City Allentown, including great apartments in the Farr Lofts

Senator Robert Casey (D-PA) introduces the Green Communities Act (S 3055), aiming to help urban areas adopt green strategies. Allentown has put considerable effort into the planning for sustainability and we have some resources dedicated to implementation. Assistance with adoption would be very welcome.

Allentown Good News - March 1, 2010

2010-03-01T16:14:00.006-05:00

Here's a sampling of what you'll find on the Allentown Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) page on Facebook and Twitter feed for March 1, 2010:

LANTA Bus Shelters Here's a repost from LANTA Lehigh Valley Metro this morning. Some of these designs would be hard to do here in Allentown Pennsylvania, but we like that LANTA is looking at a creative approach to bus shelters. LANTA and the City Planning department will be getting together later this week to discuss moving forward with great bus shelter design. They are hoping to work closely with neighborhood groups to coordinate the design work. Check with the AEDC twitter and Facebook pages to track progress.

Bellissimo Ristorante I can't believe we went nearly a week without making a restaurant recommendation! To make up for it, we will give you a SUPER-recommendation today: one of the best authentically Italian restaurants in the Lehigh Valley. Bellissimo Ristorante has a great location and 13th & Tilghman with ample parking. Inside, you'll find a very cozy restaurant serving AMAZING Italian dishes. I've heard good things about the gnocchi and I have never been disappointed by anything on the menu. Best of all, they have a good espresso machine to finish off your pranzo italiano.

Quick Links

Google Fiber for Communities: We continue to work on Allentown's response to the RFI from Google. We are getting some fabulous feedback from the business community and we are learning a ton about fiber optics and telecom. This project is why we had NO blog posts last week. Please remember to nominate Allentown for this project at the Google Fiber for Communities page. Click "Nominate your community". This takes less than five minutes and is critical to Google choosing the Lehigh Valley.

Good article in Morning Call about "Starry Nights in Allentown" art exhibit

Planetizen.com: Breathing Life Back into Seattle's Alleys. What would this look like in Allentown? Here we call them half-streets, but those same spaces seem prime for appropriate development. Imagine having Hamilton Street just outside your back door.

Believe it or not, it's that time again! Register for LVHN Marathon for Via! You can run, walk or volunteer.

Next RenewLV Brown-Bag: March 12th, 12 to 1:30 at Lehigh Valley Heritage Center (432 West Walnut) in Allentown. Topic is Redevelopment in the Lehigh Valley

Small House Living in Allentown

2010-02-26T11:28:00.005-05:00

Recently, urban-issues twitterer extraordinaire Carol Coletta posted a profession of her love that there is a "small house movement" (featured in the Small House Style blog). We love it too! Although the homes of Center City Allentown may not be as tiny as the plans you will find on the Tiny House Blog, they are a dramatic departure from the McMansions of the Lehigh Valley suburbs, and illustrate a couple of key benefits of downtown living.

Some of the benefits of living in a smaller space include lower energy costs, less house to clean, character, coziness and something to show off to friends. In Allentown, small homes, such as those found on the periphery of our prime business corridors offer a great historic home-ownership opportunity to a wide variety of people interested in living in a compact, walkable neighborhood.

Many of the homes within walking distance (a quarter mile) of the Hamilton Street business district and Seventh Street business district are both small and historic. Nearly all of homes in the Old Allentown Historic District were built before the post-World War II building boom, when there was a dramatic decrease in the quality of materials and methods. Over 25% of the houses in Old Allentown are smaller than 1,300 square feet, a manageable home for singles, young professionals or small families. Contrast that with the super-sized homes of the sprawling suburbs, where you could get lost in your own house.

Because of their small size, many of the small homes on the market in our Center City can be purchased for less than $100,000. Many financial advisors suggest that one spend no more than 28% of their gross income on mortgage payments. This ratio is easily attained by a young professional living in a small home in center city. At these rates, a young professional or entrepreneur could afford to fully participate in the numerous benefits of downtown living.

One of the amazing features of the small homes in Center City Allentown is their proximity to arts, culture, restaurants, and business opportunities. The Allentown Art Museum, Allentown Symphony Hall, the Baum School of Art, West Park, Allentown Brew Works, dozens of authentic ethnic restaurants, and so much more are all no more than a few blocks from Old Allentown and the Old Fairgrounds Historic District. There are also banks, grocery stores, drug stores, galleries, coffee shops, and government services.

So consider the benefits of living in a small house in downtown Allentown, and come check us out.

Allentown Good News - February 18, 2010

2010-02-18T16:40:00.004-05:00

Here's a sampling of what you'll find on the Allentown Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) page on Facebook and Twitter feed for February 18, 2010:

Google Fiber for Communities AEDC just met with City of Allentown staff to discuss our community's response to the Google Fiber for Communities Project. We are coordinating our response, but will definitely need good business community feedback. Among the questions that we have is how fiber will change business for you in the Lehigh Valley? We are thinking about users like PPL and the hospitals, and how they will be able to differently deliver services. We are also wondering how developers can provide apps that will capitalize on expanded broadband. Please let us know through by commenting here or at Bring Google Fiber to the Lehigh Valley, a Facebook fan page dedicated to executing this project. We will be reaching out to community partners over the next month and will share our findings here

El Rey del Mofongo Are you familiar with mofongo? If not, it is time to get to know this Dominican dish. What better place than El rey del mofongo, at 937 Hamilton! They have an excellent spanish-american buffet, featuring all your favorites plus MOFONGO! Don't know what it is? It's delicious, and you can try it there.

Quick Links

Treasury Secretary Geithner announces New Markets Tax Credits for 2011

Be sure to check out the IronPigs newly redesigned website!!

February Business Outlook from the Philadelphia Fed: increase in current new orders index suggesting an improvement in demand for manufactured goods.

Allentown Good News - February 17, 2010

2010-02-17T15:29:00.007-05:00

Here's a sampling of what you'll find on the Allentown Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) page on Facebook and Twitter feed for February 17, 2010:

Pawlowski Nominates DCED Director Happy to pass on the news that Mayor Ed Pawlowski has nominated Sara Hailstone as the Director of Community and Economic Development for the City of Allentown. Sara comes from years in a similar role in Scranton and at the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. We expect to have a great working relationship with her and look forward to the positive impact she will have on the department. Let's hope that council approves her nomination!

Sweet Italian Pizza Authentic dining on Seventh Street is on our mind today! One of our favorite lunches is a slice from Sweet Italian, a pizza place with a Mexican twist. The pizza is fabulous, the people are great, and the prices are very reasonable. The best part is that if you have a craving for tacos al pastor, you can get those too! Ask to see the poblano menu. Another great example of the diversity of Allentown and 7th Street Allentown! Dine indie with Sweet Italian Pizza

Quick Links

IndustryWeek: The Case for Investing in Manufacturing | US has not changed its percentage of investment in manufacturing R&D since the 1960s!? US has dropped to eighth in the world in this percentage. Ugh.

DOT announces $1.5 billion distributed through 51 TIGER grants nationwide. | Regretfully, no awards to Allentown. We had applied for freight rail funding and bike/ped improvements. The good news? Philadelphia/Camden got funding for bike/ped improvements, and Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia will get $98 million for freight rail.

Allentown Good News - February 9, 2010

2010-02-09T16:41:00.003-05:00

Here's a sampling of what you'll find on the Allentown Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) page on Facebook and Twitter feed for February 9, 2010:

Walkable Allentown Thinking about walkable Allentown. Downtown residents that work downtown (I live in Old Allentown and work at 4th & Hamilton, some live in Old Fairgrounds and work at PPL, some live in West Park and work at Lehigh Valley Health Network) have nothing to fear with the pending snowstorm! We can walk to work through just about any snowfall and walk to our favorite restaurants for a beer afterward. Lots of drugstores, grocery stores and corner stores will keep us fed and we are only a few blocks away from West Park, where I hope to make a snowman tomorrow after work. Read more about walkable neighborhoods at Walkscore.

Mancino's Pizza & Pasta Fasul You're in a rush, you need food, you need a restaurant recommendation: Mancino's Pizza & Pasta Fasul! Whether you need a quick slice of pizza or you have time for a sandwich, Luigi's ability with dough will impress. Right downtown, at 707 Hamilton! Read some reviews of Mancino's

Quick Links

Loan fund available for small manufacturers in Valley area | mcall.com | MRC loosens restrictions on lending. Up to $30k

As businesses look to recover from hits companies have taken, first order of business is finding capital

Allentown Good News - February 4, 2010

2010-02-04T22:13:00.002-05:00

Here's a sampling of what you'll find on the Allentown Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) page on Facebook and Twitter feed for February 4, 2010:

Council Approves BYOB in B1/R Not long ago, 4 Aces Grill discovered that they could not allow their customers to bring wine into the restaurant to enjoy with a meal. BYOB was legal in all business-zoned areas of the city with the exception of B1/R (Limited Business/Residential). Due to the hard work of the City's Permit Specialist, legislation was presented to Allentown City Council last night that would permit BYOB in B1/R restaurants. Council passed the ordinance, allowing restaurateurs to pay a $35 permit that will allow their customers to enjoy their own drinks. Making these types of changes is the beginning of a process of rationalizing the existing zoning code in the city of Allentown to reduce obstacles to operating a business. Look for more changes that will facilitate the kind of compact, urban development that helps create walkable communities.

La Mexicana Grill One of the restaurants that will benefit from the new BYOB legislation is La Mexicana Grill on Seventh Street, part of the Seventh Street Main Street neighborhood. La Mexicana Grill serves some of the finest tex-mex style Mexican food that you will find in the Lehigh Valley, and acts as a good introduction to Allentown's authentic cuisine. Anyone familiar with more commercial Mexican food will recognize and enjoy many of the dishes at La Mexicana Grill, including great guacamole and amazing fajitas. Learn more at La Mexicana Grill's listing on Yelp.

Quick Links

From the Keystone Edge blog Ben Franklin give nanotech $5.7M boost The grant includes $700,000 for Lehigh University's Materials Research Science and Engineering Center. This is an area in which the Lehigh Valley has a real opportunity to excel.

Allentown Good News - February 3, 2010

2010-02-03T21:43:00.003-05:00

Here's a sampling of what you'll find on the Allentown Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) page on Facebook and Twitter feed for February 3, 2010:

American Manufacturing More thoughts from the front in American manufacturing in this Wall Street Journal Article (Radical Shifts Take Hold in U.S. Manufacturing). It seems like a lot of the pessimism about manufacturing in this country comes from very large companies. Allentown is minimally focused on these giants, preferring to direct attention to entrepreneurs and small businesses. Does most of the impact of our local "giants" (like Air Products) come from their purchasing and supply chain activity or direct investment? What is your experience?

Venture Capital Just processed the Brookings Institution report on venture capital in Great Lakes states (including Pennsylvania). The focus of the report is on the lack of VC investments in the Great Lakes region, including Western PA, but stimulates thinking about VC availability in the Lehigh Valley. Pennsylvania received less than 2.5% of all VC investments in the United States in 2009, and although no data exists to support this thought, I would suspect that the share of VC investments in the LV is disproportionately low. Originate Ventures and Mid-Atlantic Venture Fund are the two major VC firms here, but it seems like they make the bulk of their investments outside the region. Do you think that there are some great unfunded ideas floating around the Lehigh Valley? How can we improve VC networks here? Ben Franklin Tech Ventures is probably the best resource that an entrepreneur can access, but do they know to head in that direction? What are your thoughts?

Damascus I can't believe we have gone this long without suggesting that you try Damascus Restaurant, one of the best middle eastern meals in the Lehigh Valley. Damascus is one of those amazing places where you can totally fill up on appetizers and leave the restaurant VERY happy. The menu is incredible, but I am particular to the kibee and the EXCELLENT babaghannouj. Enjoy it!

Quick Links
How to encourage small innovations (Harvard Business Review)

Cultivating entrepreneurs is the best way to create jobs in Allentown (Lehigh Valley SCORE)

Mapping innovation networks: Exploring regions (McKinsey/Purdue)

ITIF says 162,000 jobs can be created in the short term by simply expanding the R&D tax credit (ITIF: Create Jobs by Expanding the R&D Tax Credit)

Allentown Good News - Week of January 25

2010-01-29T15:02:00.005-05:00

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

2010-01-29T09:29:00.004-05:00

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

2010-01-27T14:28:00.004-05:00

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

2010-01-25T16:37:00.004-05:00

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

2010-01-22T16:43:00.001-05:00

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

2010-01-22T16:34:00.006-05:00

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

2010-01-20T16:35:00.005-05:00

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

2010-01-15T16:10:00.003-05:00

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

2010-01-14T16:39:00.002-05:00

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

2010-01-14T10:07:00.003-05:00

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

2010-01-13T16:49:00.004-05:00

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

2010-01-12T16:22:00.004-05:00

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

2010-01-12T13:53:00.006-05:00

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

2010-01-11T17:04:00.006-05:00

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

2010-01-08T16:43:00.004-05:00

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

2010-01-07T16:54:00.005-05:00

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

2010-01-06T16:43:00.005-05:00

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

2010-01-05T17:07:00.002-05:00

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

2010-01-04T16:12:00.003-05:00

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.

Allentown Good News - December 31,2009

2009-12-31T16:19:00.002-05:00

Here's a sampling of what you'll find on the Allentown Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) Facebook page and Twitter feed today, December 31, 2009:

International Polymers Corporation Plastics are an important part of Allentown's economy. A significant player in that industry is International Polymers Corporation (IPC), an anchor of Allentown industry since 1953. IPC compounds polypropylene for the automotive, construction, and agricultural industries and has production capacity of over 140 million pounds. Employing over 50 people in a 200,000 square foot plant on the Lehigh River, IPC is growing and central to Allentown's small business-driven economy. Learn more about IPC at their web site

Sun Light Restaurant Thinking about lunch on a snowy day? You need some sunlight! Sun Light Restaurant at the corner of 8th & Hamilton (downstairs) has a great Spanish-American buffet with distinctive Dominican flavors. They have a great lunch special. Visit them this holiday weekend; check their web site for hours.

Happy New Year Allentown had a great 2009 and we look forward to an even better 2010. We hope to finalize the deal to bring the Phantoms to Allentown, look forward to seeing many more great restaurants opening on Hamilton Street (including the Cosmpolitan), plan on having even better special events, and being part of the continuing revitalization of the Lehigh Valley. It will be great to put the difficult parts of 2009 behind us and start a new decade the right way. See you again in 2010!

Allentown Good News - December 30, 2009

2009-12-30T16:35:00.005-05:00

Here's a sampling of what you'll find on the Allentown Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) Facebook page and Twitter feed today, December 30, 2009:

Hospital Central Services is one of the largest healthcare support service providers in the Mid-Atlantic and is headquartered in Allentown. HCSC started in 1967 to provide laundry and linen services to non-profit hospitals in the Lehigh Valley. Since then, they have grown by leaps and bounds and now serve over 450 facilities with laundry and linen, group purchase and blood banking services. HCSC employs over 200 people in Allentown, providing good jobs at livable wages and leads the way in green laundry solutions for the health-care industry. Learn more about one Allentown's largest employers: http://www.hcsc.org

Bada Bingg not only serves some of the best hoagies in Allentown, but has one of the most distinctive breakfast menus that you will find in the Lehigh Valley. From the "Friggin' Wrap" to the Bootlegger, you will find some of the richest dishes before 10 a.m. at 33 North Ninth Street, right next to the PPL tower. Bada Bingg's breakfast menu

SCORE LV can help you make an investment in Allentown in 2010. The Service Corps of Retired Executives of the Lehigh Valley provides FREE start-up counseling to aspiring entrepreneurs. You get one-on-one consultation from an experienced business person matched to your schedule. This is a great first step for budding small businesses. Schedule an appointment now!

Pioneer Fire House Looking for a great investment opportunity in the City of Allentown? Want to be near 7th Street Allentown, the booming commercial corridor linking downtown to US-22? Check out the Pioneer Fire House, a 5,800 SF former fire station, located 1 block from 7th & Tilghman. With Zoning Hearing Board approval, this property c...ould become an excellent office building or really interesting (and large) live/work unit. For more information, check the AEDC web site

19 Fun Facts About the 19th St District

2009-12-08T16:27:00.003-05:00

1. Urban planning initiatives are underway. A comprehensive streetscaping and land-use plan will be released in early 2010 and will be used a guideline for future development.

2. The West End and Fairgrounds area has received $1.5 million in RACP funds for streetscape improvements.

3. The Allentown Fair generates more traffic to the West End than Musikfest draws to downtown Bethlehem.

4. Several large employers are within distance. Lehigh Valley Hospital employs over 1000, while St. Luke's Hospital and Muhlenberg College employee 400 – 500.

5. The neighborhood is pedestrian and bicycle friendly.

6. There are 7 bars within the business district that are walkable.

7. There are 12 places to eat within walking distance, ranging from upscale restaurants like Henry’s Salt of the Sea to Chinese take-out.

8. Zoning is appropriate for mixed-use neighborhood development within this district.

9. There is an outstanding stock of quality and affordable housing, all within the $150,000 - $250,000 range that are filling up quickly with young families.

10. The West End is attracting the creative class. Many residents are professionals in marketing, computer programming, higher education and graphic design.

11. 19th Street is a center for the arts, including the Civic Theatre, Pines Dinner Theatre and Muhlenberg productions.

12. If you want to look good, this is the place to be! There are many salons, spas and 2 body art establishments within the district.

13. There are over 3,000 college students with disposable income living in the West End.

14. This area is easily accessible for those coming in from west and north via Tilghman and 19th St.

15. Fairgrounds Farmer Market attracts thousands of people weekly from Thursday – Sunday.

16. Events such as the Allentown Fair, St. Patrick’s Day Parade, St. Patrick’s 5K, Oktoberfest and various Muhlenberg events draw additional people to the neighborhood.

17. The 19th Street district has support from the City of Allentown and is identified as a strategic planning area in the city’s comprehensive plan.

18. The West End has momentum. Some of the movement over the last 3 months includes TTC Salon, West Side Diner and Pines Dinner Theatre

19. The area has support of neighbors, merchants and other stakeholders.

NEW GALLERY OPENING IN DOWNTOWN ALLENTOWN PROVIDES AN OPTION FOR PEOPLE TO SHOP LOCALLY FOR HOLIDAY GIFTS

2009-11-30T13:35:00.004-05:00

Allentown’s newest gallery and art emporium Art Mart, located at 813 W. Hamilton, opened on Black Friday (November 27th) just in time for the start of the holiday season!

The inaugural show – “Holiday Gifts” curated by Gregory Coates - features original artwork from photography and paintings to sculpture and glass, as well as handmade goods, like jewelry and handbags.

The Art Mart will have special hours during the city’s Tree Lighting Ceremony at Ninth and Hamilton from 4-7 p.m. December 3. The public is invited to step inside for some hot cocoa and peruse the goods offered by the area’s talented professional artists. The shop will maintain regular lunchtime hours from 11 am - 2 pm Wednesday through Friday, as well as evening hours from 5-8 on Friday and Saturday.

Art Mart was founded by local Chen Artists Group members Gregory Coates, Sarah Fulton, Matt Lewis and Diane Teti. The Art Mart project is a collaboration between volunteer artists and arts enthusiasts striving to showcase local art in downtown Allentown with the support of the Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Allentown Brew Works. Proceeds of all sales will be split between the artist and the Art Mart with the hopes of saving to find a permanent home on Hamilton Street.

This project is made possible by the generosity of the building's new owners, 809 West Hamilton Investors, LP. They readily agreed to let the group use the vacant retail storefront, across from the Allentown Brew Works, free of charge, following the path of the Arts on South initiative in Philadelphia.

AEDC Partners with SCORE to Provide Counseling for Allentown Small Businesses

2009-11-25T10:14:00.002-05:00

Last week, AEDC hosted their first Roundtable Series small business discussion at the Bridgeworks Enterprise Center , 905 Harrison Street, Allentown. The roundtable was well received with approximately 40 people attending, including representatives of incubator companies, minority companies, community development, enterprise zone companies, and focused driven entrepreneurs. Those companies/entrepreneurs that attended all sought advice on how to create a money-making business.

The roundtable discussion was led by the Lehigh Valley chapter of SCORE, a national association dedicated to helping small business owners form and grow their businesses. SCORE’s business consultants are all volunteers that are willing to share their knowledge and experiences to help entrepreneurs understand how to create a profitable business.

The main facilitator was Peter Seymour, who successfully owned and operated a car dealership. Peter focused on five main agenda items; marketing, expense control, managing growth, financial analysis, and cash management. Peter’s presentation spurred discussions in regards to technical financial understanding and questions that were synonymous with challenges that the companies faced.

In order to capitalize on SCORE’s services, AEDC will provide a satellite office in the Bridgeworks Enterprise Center. AEDC and SCORE will continue to partner and host roundtable discussions. Please be on the lookout for the next Roundtable Series on the Bridgeworks webpage (www.thebridgeworks.com). It is expected that the next meeting will take place in early spring. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact Lewis Edwards, Director of Enterprise Development ledwards@thebridgeworks.com (610) 770-1015.

The Most Wonderful Time of Year

2009-11-19T09:33:00.002-05:00

It’s that time of year again! The holiday season is rapidly approaching! Are you ready?

How’s this for a glimpse at the magic of the season: performers from A Christmas Carol and The Nutcracker grace the stages at beautiful historical theatres, trains chug throughout the transportation museum, numerous musicians play the tunes of familiar holiday carols and spectacular displays transform a city park into a magnificent wonderland filled with brilliant lights? Art institutions offer unique gifts at their special seasonal shops, historical locations display relics of Christmases past and act out skits which remind the audience of yesteryear also calling visitors to the city.

To me, the holidays are the perfect opportunity to spend quality time with your family and friends, enjoying both the spirit of the season and company of loved ones. As you start to plan your family outings and holiday events, we hope that you will take part in the array of activities that are taking place this holiday season in the City of Allentown.

In addition to the holiday traditions like the Lehigh Valley Christmas at Symphony Hall, Civic Theatre’s A Christmas Carol and Pip the Mouse at the Liberty Bell Shrine Museum, you’ll have to check out the holiday show at our newest entertainment venue – the Pines Dinner Theatre (located in the Fairgrounds). You can also visit the City Of Allentown to find lots of great treasures from the Holiday Store at the Allentown Art Museum and the new Art Mart. Not only will you be crossing everyone off your list, you’ll be shopping locally, supporting Allentown’s emerging artist community, and avoiding the crowds at the mall!

The city’s Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony will take place from 4pm-7pm on Thursday, December 3 in the Pocket Park in the 800 block of Hamilton Street. This year’s celebration includes a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, Pip the Mouse, Nutcracker and Clara, free horse-drawn carriage rides, an elf parade, live stage performances, strolling entertainers, arts and crafts, face painting, and ice carving demonstrations. The Elf Parade is sure to be one of the highlights of this event. Children are invited to dress like elves and get their faces painted with those recognizable rosy red cheeks before being led on a parade by Mrs. Claus. The Italian American Band will provide strolling entertainment. Stage performances are scheduled by Civic Theatre of Allentown, O’Grady Quinlan School of Irish Dance and Lehigh Valley Charter School for the Performing Arts. All entertainment is free!

Allentown’s 14th annual Lights in the Parkway celebration will brighten Lehigh Parkway beginning Friday, December 11. This year patrons can enjoy the thousands of twinkling lights and accompanying music at a reduced price or while seated as a passenger in a horse-drawn carriage (new for this year!). After a journey through the spectacular displays, visitors can stop by the Gift Barn which hosts vendors selling everything from candies to handmade treasures. Visit with Santa every Thursday-Sunday and the whole week leading up to Christmas. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $5 at City Hall and at all area Wegmans and will be available soon. $1 off coupons can be printed out from http://www.lightsintheparkway.com/

Please go to the City’s Holiday Website for a complete listing Holiday Happenings. As always, visit the Events Calendar for up to date information on daily activities.

SEASONS GREETINGS!!!

Great Things Happening on 19th St

2009-11-17T15:30:00.003-05:00

Have you seen the transformation that is taking place on the 19th St Corridor?

In addition to trendy boutiques and businesses moving in, the city has recieved a $30,000 planning grant to support greening, infrastructure and other inititatives in that area.

If you haven't visited first hand, click here to see the WFMZ story.

AEDC Hosting Small Business Roundtable

2009-11-10T10:53:00.002-05:00

AEDC is hosting a Roundtable Series small business discussion on Thursday, November 19, 2009 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon at the Bridgeworks Enterprise Center , 905 Harrison Street, Allentown PA, 18103.

The Roundtable Series will be presented by members of the Lehigh Valley Chapter of SCORE. Facilitators will lead a discussion about the various issues that affect businesses. If time permits, SCORE will provide counseling services at the end of the session to address specific needs. Business owners should feel free to speak with the Facilitators in order to gain information about how one may receive one on one mentoring advice from SCORE Counselors.

SCORE is the premier free and confidential business mentoring and advice service in the United States . SCORE “Counselors to America ’s Small Business” is a nonprofit association with 364 offices across the country. For 45 years, SCORE’s 12,400 working and retired business professionals have volunteered to help entrepreneurs who are just getting started or those looking for answers on growing or managing an existing business. The Lehigh Valley Chapter maintains almost 50 retired and in-business professional mentors who are eager to help a new generation of entrepreneurs.

We are encouraging you to participate in this event. Please reply no later than Friday, November 13, to Marsha Cox, mcox@thebridgeworks.com or 610-770-1015, with your RSVP.

Made in Brazil Opens in Downtown Holiday Inn

2009-11-03T22:06:00.003-05:00

If you like the idea of an all you can eat menu featuring a wide variety of seasoned and grilled meats, then you should plan a visit to Made in Brazil, located in the Holiday Inn at 9th and Hamilton Streets in center city Allentown.

Having opened today, this Brazilian steak house is a welcome addition to Allentown's downtown restaurant choices. In the traditional Brazilian style, people keep coming over to your table with large skewers of grilled meat to tempt you. Even though today was their first day, about 80% of their tables were full.

We brought our extended family. Everyone (from parents to teenagers to kids) left pleased. Our table sampled filet minon, skirt steak, pork sausages and lamb. The salmon I ordered had an incredible mango sauce, and the salad bar was interesting and varied.

Open for lunch and dinner, this is one place you should experience.

Low-interest Small Business Loans available for Energy Efficiency Projects

2009-10-30T10:40:00.002-04:00

The City of Allentown has received received approval of an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) of $1,038,800, as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. It is intended to assist cities, counties and states to develop and manage energy efficiency and conservation projects which will 1) reduce fossil fuel emissions, 2) reduce the total energy use of the municipality, 3) improve energy efficiency in transportation, building and other sectors and 4) create and retain jobs.

All departments of the City of Allentown will receive assistance as part of the grant. Improvements include installing efficient lighting in public buildings, improving fuel efficiency in the diesel-powered fleet with fuel catalysts, deployment of solar-powered trash compactors on city streets, master-planning for park facilities and improving bicycling infrastructure by installing shared lane markings (SLM) and bike racks throughout the city.

Of particular interest to Allentown's business community is a buydown of interest rates on loans from the Sustainable Energy Fund. These loans are available to businesses and non-profits to realize economically viable energy efficiency projects. Loans up to $750,000 are available, and as part of the City of Allentown's EECBG plan, the first $25,000 of those loans will carry at 1.5% to 3.99% over 5 years. For more information, visit the Sustainable Energy Fund's web site at www.thesef.org

In Allentown's Enterprise Zone, these efficiency loans can be supplemented by Enterprise Zone Loans. Learn more about the Enterprise Zone at www.allentownedc.com

Homeownership Project in Old Allentown is Underway!

2009-10-20T15:07:00.002-04:00

The former Hess Employee Parking Deck, located at 826 W. Turner St, has been an “eye-sore” for people living and working in Downtown Allentown. This week Pennrose Properties began the demolition of the parking deck, marking the start of a homeownership project in one of Allentown’s historic neighborhoods.

As part of this homeownership initiative, Pennrose will renovate 18 existing rowhomes throughout the Old Allentown district, 17 of which will be de-conversions to single family homes and all that will be owner occupied, and construct 22 new dwelling units where the parking deck once stood. There will be a total of 8 units, a combination of 4 new construction and 4 rehabs, which will be priced affordably to meet the needs of low to moderate income families.

Pennrose will be completing this project in two phases. Phase 1, which is now underway, includes the demolition of the parking deck and the rehab of 12 existing homes. Pennrose will be closing on the first 12 rehabs by November and will immediately begin renovations on 6 of them. Once the first 6 homes are sold, Pennrose will begin the rehabs of another 6. The second phase, consisting of the construction of the 22 new units and the remaining 6 rehabs, is expected to start directly following the completion of Phase 1.

Once completed, this project will have significantly reduced the blight in one of Allentown’s most desirable neighborhoods, improving the quality of life for its residents and businesses. Pennrose has been diligently working with the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Allentown (RACA), the Allentown Economic Development Corporation (AEDC), the County of Lehigh and the Old Allentown Preservation Association (OAPA) to make this project a shared success. RACA has already acquired 14 of the properties to be rehabbed and is in the process of gaining site control over the remaining 4. The County of Lehigh has also been an important partner and has provided funding for the demolition of the parking deck. AEDC will assist Pennrose throughout the projects development and will serve as the primary contact between Pennrose and the community by coordinating public meetings, developing and implementing a marketing strategy and identifying funding sources for neighborhood beautification.

Free Energy Saving Ideas & Freebies

2009-10-15T23:38:00.003-04:00

Allentown is thinking green!

This weekend at the Allentown Energy Expo on Saturday, October 17th you can learn energy saving ideas, hear about NEW low interest loans for homeowners and small businesses and pick up a few free energy saving freebies.

And, the event, being held at the Allentown Brew Works from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. is free.

2009-10-15T21:57:00.005-04:00

Oct

Nov

Dec

Word Wednesdays at The Allentown Brew Works every 2nd Wednesday in Silk Lounge

Okay, the spoken word art form may not be for everyone. However, I heard that there was a poetry slam happening monthly in downtown Allentown and was curious to check it out.

Last night I had the distinct pleasure to experience it for myself, in the lower level of the Allentown Brew Works in the Silk Lounge.

About 40 people, a little drumming, a variety of readings, a digital art display and one really beautiful original ballad sung by a woman who strummed a pink guitar.

It was a supportive environment for the kind of creativity that can move mountains...or transform communities.

Touted as, "A hot spot for sweet lines to flow, touch, provoke and arouse.

Join us in SILK Lounge…

Poets, writers, musicians, the inspired and the inspirational come together for Word Wednesdays, every second Wednesday at 7:30pm."

They’d love to include your poetic, literal, or lyrical talents in this evening of Words on Wednesdays.

For more information call or e-mail the hosts Kari Holmes at CommunityRP@mail.com and 610-433-7777 or Yodi Duane Vaden at daven27@hotmail.com."

The next two Word Wednesdays will be November 11 and December 9th. It's different every time depending upon who shows up to share. Warning: this is high octane art -- the kind you didn't know was accessible at the local Lehigh Valley level...not your high school English teacher's stuff. I didn't know that there were this many talented writers in our midst.

Word Wednesday. It's certainly worth checking out.

Downtown Allentown at Dusk

2009-09-27T17:37:00.002-04:00

I ran into a neighbor of mine last week outside of our apartment building, and we were talking about things we like about Allentown.

He grabbed his phone and showed me this picture he had recently taken.

We live in the shadow of an architectural treasure and Lehigh Valley icon, the PPL tower.

With a picture like this, it's hard to take it for granted.

You can see it from all directions in the region. It's been in movies where it has doubled sometimes as the Empire State Building. It has been home to some falcons (who we hope come back).

Fifteen thousand people work downtown. If they, hurry home before dusk, though, they miss the beauty and the majesty of breathtaking views of the PPL tower at dusk.

Neighbor, thanks for the picture.

New Race Simulator at the Lehigh Valley Grand Prix!

2009-09-24T11:48:00.011-04:00

If you're looking for something new to do to meet your need for speed, check out the Lehigh Valley Grand Prix at 649 S. 10th Street in Allentown.

Tomorrow (9/25/09) a new race simulator will be delivered!

This simulator is like nothing you have seen before!

This is the ultimate hardcore experience for the racing enthusiast!

Laugh in the face of those unrealistic arcade games.

Forget the two dimensional experience of your game console and get ready for a real racing experience that puts you in the center of the action.

For more information: www.lehighvalleygrandprix.com

Or call: (610) 432-7223all 1.610.432.RACE to reserve a session or book it for an event!

Mark Your Calendars for 10/3 for Old Allentown's House Tour

2009-09-22T20:44:00.005-04:00

The PA Dutch have a polite word for the kind of curious person who likes to take a walk at dusk so they can see how their neighbors have decorated the insides of their houses.

They call it being a "Wunnerfitz." The rest of us call it being a nosey neighbor.

Whatever you call it, there is a little bit of a Wunnerfitz in all of us. And, the best place in the area to indulge your curiosity about how people have decorated their houses is the Old Allentown House Tour on October 3rd.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. this is the time when people come from far and wide to ooh and aah at the classy downtown Allentown homes.

Even if you take the tour every year, I guarantee you will still be amazed at these house interiors.

Whether you are curious about those people you've heard about who live comfortable lives in historic townhouses and walk to work, or you've admired the facades of these properties, but wondered what they are like inside, now is your chance to have all of your questions answered.

The tickets are cheaper if you buy them in advance. Call 610-740-9919. Or, go to their website at oldallentown@enter.net

Brazilian Steakhouse to Open in Allentown

2009-09-16T20:35:00.002-04:00

Made in Brazil, the latest restaurant from the owners of Rios Brazilian Steakhouse in Nazareth, will be opening soon in downtown Allentown.

At a press conference today, the owners talked about their excitement for their new restaurant to be located in the first floor of the Holiday Inn at 9th and Hamilton Streets. They expect to open by October 31st or sooner.

Welcome to Allentown!

Big Bike Race to Take Place in Downtown Allentown 9-11

2009-08-17T22:07:00.015-04:00

You won't want to miss this.

Mark your calendar for Sept. 11th for the Univest Grand Prix. The team time trials taking place in Allentown for this important bike race is a big deal, and we would be smart to make arrangements to be there.

By the way, it's free.

The first of three days of bicycle racing is scheduled to kick off in Allentown, then head to communities south of here, Souderton and Doylestown.

When and where exactly is this happening?

In the Lehigh Valley, the race will be in Center City Allentown, basically over an extended lunch hour starting at 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, September 11th.

So, we're inviting all of Allentown and the Lehigh Valley to find an place on the course to cheer on the cyclists. The killer hill on Jefferson Street (our cars don't even like climbing this hill), is sure to be a point of interest.

I've got it in my mind how the neighborhoods of NYC come out to support the people who run in the NYC Marathon.

“The Univest Grand Prix has traditionally served as a gateway to the highest levels of the professional racing world for young riders from around the world. When we see our ‘graduates’ performing in the Tour de France, from Tom Boonen (2nd as an amateur in 1999) to Will Frischkorn whose first-ever pro win was at the Univest, we remain certain the event is moving in the right direction,“ John Eustice, the race organizer said.

Here's the insider's strategy...

1) You're going to want to be here. If you don't either take a vacation day or schedule the middle part of the day as a personal day, you are likely to regret it.

2) If you are driving to Allentown, find parking downtown (the Guggenheim-like parking garage at 8th and Linden would be my pick), otherwise, take the LANTA bus, walk over, or BIKE to the race.

3) Find something to eat (call ahead to pick up take out from the Allentown Brew Works or another downtown restaurant).

4) Then, find a good location along the route. 9th and Hamilton will be the center of things.

5) Stand back, enjoy your lunch and watch the cyclists go by...and by...and by.

The course is shorter than the last bike race, so there will be less waiting and more action. The last time a big bike race came to Allentown, many admitted that they needed to learn more about the sport of cycling. Guess what? This time we have a little time to study up, learn who's who and what's what.

Background: the Allentown stage -- which will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. -- serves as the opening round of the three-day race weekend in eastern Pennsylvania. Teams will compete over two laps of a tough and technical 3.8 mile loop that takes them through Allentown’s Center City commercial district, its scenic residential neighborhoods and nationally renowned park system. The racers then must negotiate a short and steep uphill chicane before a final, 500-meter sprint to the line.

WFMZ Channel 69, Allentown, and Universal Sports will broadcast the Allentown and Souderton races live from start to finish and Comcast SportsNet will also provide regional post-event coverage.

But, you will want to say you were actually here! The Allentown races will feature a jumbo television at the finish line to allow spectators to follow the action throughout the course and you'll be sure not to miss anything.

For more information visit www.univestgrandprix.com.

Allentown Run Amuck: Zany Race To Take Place in Allentown

2009-08-15T17:18:00.004-04:00

The next "Allentown Run Amuck" race takes place tomorrow at 10 a.m. That's Sunday, August 16th.

Just proving that people in Allentown still have a sense of humor, some local creative-types have created a race like none other.

Called "Allentown Run Amuck," runners are instructed to show up at the appointed time and place in the costume of their choosing to find out the destination of their run. The general distance of the race is 3 miles.

There is no predetermined race course, hence the name. This means that a working understanding of the street grid of Allentown is a distinct advantage, although last month runners helped each other and no one got lost. This, even though one runner came all the way from England.

Last month during the inaugural "Allentown Run Amuck" race, one man ran in a speedo swimming suit. Another showed up in a tutu. Another painted his face. You get the idea.

I will never forget the looks on the faces of the people of the first ward as these zany runners ran through the streets of their neighborhood.

If you're game, meet tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. (Sunday) at PPL Plaza at 9th and Hamilton in costume, if possible. There are prizes.

Even if you're not a runner or someone who likes to run in funny getup, it will be worth the effort to roll out of bed and experience this uniquely Allentown event.