BETHLEHEM, Pa. — If there is one word to best describe the Lehigh Valley in present and future terms, it is growth.
The region is growing faster than a weed in a cow pasture in areas of employment, population and housing needs, and is expected to continue for the next quarter-century.
Such growth was highlighted at the Lehigh Valley Awards Gala at Historic Hotel Bethlehem on Wednesday.
“The region is experiencing steady growth over the past six decades. Our projections indicate this trend will continue for the next 25 years and beyond.”Minsoo Park, an economist with the LVPC and Workforce Board Lehigh Valley
The annual celebration was sponsored by Lehigh Valley Planning Commission.
In addition to the shared data on current and projected growth, several area organizations and municipalities were honored in areas of impactful planning, design and community development achievements throughout Lehigh and Northampton counties.
The rapid present growth, and that expected over the next 25 years, was outlined at the awards gala by Minsoo Park, an economist with the LVPC and Workforce Board Lehigh Valley, and Subham Kharel, LVPC senior data and analytics planner.
“Every four years, we update our projections,” Park said. “The region is experiencing steady growth over the past six decades. Our projections indicate this trend will continue for the next 25 years and beyond.”
Since 1970, the Lehigh Valley has added 240,000 residents and jobs continue to keep pace, they said.
Employment is projected to increase 24.9% and reach 404,976, Park said.
Population is expected to increase 18.6% and reach 816,287.
“We expect the Lehigh Valley to grow by more than 100,000 people to get to 816,000 by 2050,” Park said. “That’s growth of nearly 19%, or roughly 4,300 a year, for the next 25 years.
“Employment will grow faster, by 25%, or more than 80,000 jobs, by 2050.”
'Plan for a successful future'
Projected major job hubs will be in Lehigh County in Allentown, Upper Macungie Township and Whitehall Township, the data indicated.
Strengths will be in health care, professional services, and manufacturing logistics and retail.
“These population and employment forecasts are a tool for all of us — policymakers, business leaders and residents — to plan for a successful future."Becky A. Bradley, LVPC executive director
In Northampton County, Bethlehem, Easton and Hanover Township stand out with major employers in education, healthcare, corporate offices and retail and manufacturing.
Municipalities with the greatest job growth will be Upper Macungie Township, Allentown, Bethlehem, Lower Macungie Township and Upper Saucon Township.
“Planning for these hubs means coordinating land use, transportation and housing policies to support access to jobs, while minimizing congestion and environmental impacts,” Kharel said.
Municipalities projected to have the greatest influx of residents are Upper Macungie (29,000), Allentown (17,600) and Palmer Township (8,000).
Others expected to have increases are South Whitehall, Lower Macungie and Bethlehem townships.
The projections offer regional planners an invaluable roadmap for the future of the Lehigh Valley, LVPC Executive Director Becky A. Bradley said.
“These population and employment forecasts are a tool for all of us — policymakers, business leaders and residents — to plan for a successful future,” she said.
“They provide a roadmap for decision making, helping communities understand not just how many people and jobs are coming, but where and in what sectors.
“With this information, we can work together to balance growth, preserve quality of life and support economic opportunity across the Lehigh Valley.”
Additional data
Other shared data included:
Commuting Patterns: The region is a net importer of workers. More people commute to the Lehigh Valley for work than leave for work, by nearly 5,000 per day.
Ethnicity: Hispanics will continue to be the fastest-growing ethnicity in the Lehigh Valley, increasing to become 28% of the total population.
By 2050, the white non-Hispanic population that was 78% in 2010 will decrease to 57%.
Generational Shifts: Baby Boomers, who have made up a majority of adults, will slowly decline from 143,000 to less than 19,000 by 2050. Generation X will decrease from 140,000 to about 83,500.
Millennials and Generation Z will grow, with Millennials peaking at 175,000 in the mid-2024s and Gen Z at nearly 165,000 by 2050.
Three major Lehigh Valley Awards were presented.
The criteria consisted of originality and innovation, effectiveness and results, compatibility, engagement and transferability.
Community, Land Development, Revitalization and Ordinance: Allentown Metal Works, a large-scale redevelopment/modern manufacturing facility, was named the Lehigh Valley Award in the category.
Its mission is to remove barriers to employment, boost economic growth and provide job stability.
Other finalists were:
Allentown Works, whose mission is to remove barriers to employment, boost economic growth and provide job stability.
ZONEAllentown, a comprehensive update of the City of Allentown’s Zoning Ordinance, as well as strategic revisions to the subdivision and land development ordinance, or SALDO.
Wesley Works, a real estate company based in Emmaus.
Palmer Indigenous Unity Garden, Palmer Township, creates public space to honor the Lenni Lenape and other indigenous communities.
Palmer MRP Industrial (sometimes referred to as Park 33 at Lehigh Valley East) is the developer of two warehouses at Van Buren Road and Main Street in Palmer Township.
Open Space and Environment: Palmer Bikeway: transformed an abandoned rail line to connect parks and neighborhoods.
The other finalist was South Whitehall Township Landscapes Plan, which provides a blueprint for protecting open spaces.
Transportation: Borough of Freemansburg Main Street Reconstruction, which is aimed at revitalizing the borough’s central corridor, enhancing safety mobility and community identity and replacing infrastructure and implement traffic-calming measures.
Other finalists were Palmer Active, Palmer Township: Expands and improves walk and bike infrastructure, and South Whitehall Township Active Transportation Plan: A blueprint for advancing safer, healthier and more connected mobility in the township.
The inaugural Percy H. Dougherty Planning Award was presented to the former LVPC Commissioner and Lehigh County Board of Commissioner who served the community for nearly 30 years. Dougherty is noted for numerous civic commitments and his dedication to planning in the Lehigh Valley.
Dougherty’s son, Bob, accepted on his behalf.
“My father couldn’t be here tonight, but he’s here in spirit,” the son said. “He has a passion for Lehigh County and the planning commission
“He would appreciate this event … because of the people who give their time and talents in the Lehigh Valley.”
Community of Distinction Award went to the Borough of Emmaus, which aligns development with community goals though the Emmaus Vision 2030 and regional planning efforts.
Other finalists:
Borough of Hellertown: blends historic assets like the Heller-Wagner Grist Mill with adaptive reuse projects such as the micro-hospital. Other priorities include ADA crosswalks, streetscape improvement and the Saucon Rail Trail expansion, park renovations and the community pool.
Borough of Coopersburg: safe sidewalks, trails and 80-acre expansion linking neighborhoods to key community assets. The borough has no debt and has community reserves.
The LVPC also recognized the retirements of Lehigh County Executive Phil Armstrong and Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure Jr.
Municipal retirees recognized were Larry Geiger, Lowhill Township, 47 years; John Diacogiannis, Hanover Township, Northampton County, 40 years; Cathay Bonaskiewich, Salisbury Township, 40 years; Gary Ritter, City of Allentown, 36 years; Matthew Reimert, South Whitehall Township, 35 years.
Also, Ron Heckman, Northampton County, 35 years; Cathy Martino, Roseto Borough, 34 years; Chris Spadoni, Northampton County, 30 years; Barry Betz, Lowhill Township, 29 years; and Mike Mitchell, Palmer Township, 26 years.
The LVPC made check presentations of $2,000 each to the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley and public radio station WDIY 88.1 FM.
