Envision Lehigh Valley is a public outreach effort designed to engage the citizens of Northampton and Lehigh Counties to create a truly sustainable Lehigh Valley. We received a three year, $3.4 million Sustainable Communities grant. The project began in early 2012 and will conclude at year end 2014.
The Lehigh Valley’s natural environment is truly unique in the region with its vast amounts of preserved farmland, two major rivers, and internationally recognized mountain ranges. To each resident and visitor the Valley offers a multitude of opportunities to engage working farms and buy fresh produce; swim, fish and boat in clean rivers and streams; and walk, hike and bike along trails and greenways—including The Appalachian Trail. In order to maintain the health of the Lehigh Valley’s natural environment, and the opportunity to enjoy its bounty, steps should be taken to highlight what exists and to preserve and protect what remains undeveloped.
An important issue confronting the Lehigh Valley is creating affordable housing opportunities for households at or below the area median income. The availability of a wide range of housing types and price points makes for competitive and vibrant communities. Access to suitable labor pools influences corporate location decisions and quality, affordable housing is a critical factor in retaining employees. The increasing cost of transportation, health care and child care along with housing and utilities expenditures makes owning or renting a home out of the reach for many individuals and families leading to coupled families and multigenerational households.
The Greater Lehigh Valley chapter of Buy Fresh Buy Local (BFBL-GLV), a program of the Nurture Nature Center in Easton, PA, is acting as a sub-awardee under the Sustainable Communities Grant to develop a Fresh Food Access Plan (FFAP) for the Lehigh Valley. The FFAP will include both an Assessment Report of the current state of the Lehigh Valley food economy and a strategies plan to improve this economy in the future.
It takes Lehigh Valley residents an average of 25 minutes to get to work. There is little recurring congestion outside of the morning and afternoon rush hours in the Lehigh Valley. Our regional transportation network is complete and functions reasonably well in terms of ease, safety and convenience. The key question is: can it be sustained? Without a significant increase in capital funding, the answer is no.
The Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC) is a not for profit regional agency founded to promote and foster economic prosperity in the Lehigh Valley, while creating a culture of collaboration and regionalism in order to retain, create and grow jobs in the region. Our mission is straightforward: promote economic prosperity.
Working in close partnership with the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, Northampton County DCED, Lehigh County DCED and the cities of Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton, LVEDC will create a Regional Economic Development Plan.
Creating a sustainable Lehigh Valley will be furthered by three catalytic demonstration projects, one in each city. These projects will enhance existing neighborhoods and create quality live/ work communities. Each project is unique and under the supervision of the city government. The projects are: