Business News

One affordable housing project is rapidly taking shape in the shadow of a historic downtown church, and work to convert another church’s sanctuary into "deeply affordable" apartments could soon begin.

Officials are projecting a significant growth in traffic to and around the plant, which could cause strain on local roadways.

PBS39 broadcast a special, hourlong community forum on "housing gridlock," in which record-high prices, a 9,000-unit deficit and high interest rates have frozen the market for the workforce and first-time buyers.

A Lehigh Valley Planning Commission committee met Tuesday to go over regulations under consideration in Lowhill, Bushkill, Washington and Plainfield townships.

U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Lehigh Valley, secured almost $3.7 million in federal funding to support the first phase of a project to redevelop the former Iron Works site in Catasauqua.

Officials and executives at the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation's annual meeting Tuesday pulled back the curtains on Eli Lilly's decision to open in the region.

PPL Electric said it expects electric demand on its system could triple over the next decade. That growth is being driven largely by expansion of advanced manufacturing, new data centers and other large industrial electricity users.

Municipalities should work to plan for data centers that can cover millions of square feet and reshape local economies, according to regional officials.

PBS39 will broadcast a special, hourlong community forum tonight on data centers — their demand, their needs and their potential impact on the Lehigh Valley.

The project, known as The Shoppes at Hamilton, would include 318 apartments, a 160-room hotel and roughly 20,000 square feet of retail space.

Specifics for the plan are still under wraps as Upper Macungie Township is processing the application. The proposal would develop the data center at the former Air Products headquarters on Hamilton Boulevard.

Community Bank announced in June it would assume seven Santander Bank branches in the Lehigh Valley by the end of 2025. In November, the company announced that acquisition is now complete.

Despite concerns over potential safety issues regarding tractor-trailer traffic near the proposed Fullerton Terminals distribution center, the Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners approved the plan by a 4-3 vote on Monday.

Gov. Josh Shapiro says Pennsylvania's utility companies have stepped up to shelter low-income households this winter. The customers are usually covered by LIHEAP, but the federal assistance program has experienced delays due to the federal government shutdown.

Employees at two union Starbucks stores are set to strike this week after months of what they say are unfair labor practices and low pay.

Ready for a retro racing game with a touch of local flair? Lightly-Salted Productions soon will release Route 22 Rampage, an Atari 2600 game set right in the Lehigh Valley.

Members of Northampton County Council voted 5-4 Thursday to reject tax increment financing for the former Dixie Cup plant in Wilson Borough. A developer has plans to turn the 640,000-square-foot building into more than 400 apartments.

Another energized, entertaining and successful annual meeting and awards show of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce had ended.

The new 68,000-square-foot store and on-site fuel station at 3300 Lehigh St. will open at 8 a.m. Nov. 21 and afterward operate from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, the chain said in a release.

Easton Planning Commission heard testimony from those in opposition to the Easton Commerce Park project Wednesday, with experts raising questions about the developer's submitted plans and studies.

Developers said the restaurant is planned to be open serving burgers, flatbreads and other American-style food by this time next year.

Potential tractor-trailer safety issues at a proposed Fullerton Terminals distribution center near Range Road were addressed by the Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners during a workshop session Monday.