LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa. – When it comes to having an economy that’s firing on all cylinders, the Lehigh Valley is at the top of the heap, as far as Site Selection Magazine is concerned.
The popular trade publication has crowned the Lehigh Valley the number one mid-sized market in the United States for economic development.
The Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC) touted the new ranking on Friday.
“The Lehigh Valley is no stranger to being in the top tier of economic development in the U.S. but now we can shout, ‘we’re number one’ in the prestigious Governor’s Cup Awards,” said Don Cunningham, LVEDC President and CEO. “While the ranking is great for having the Lehigh Valley recognized across the country, what matters are the jobs and economic opportunity being created for our residents here.”
Site Selection’s Governor’s Cup awards recognize the U.S. states and metro markets with the highest number of new and expanded corporate development projects.
Site Selection recognized 49 Lehigh Valley projects in 2025 for the ranking, the LVEDC said, including B. Braun’s $20 million manufacturing expansion with 200 new jobs in Hanover Township; Filter King opening a new facility in Bethlehem Township, creating up to 120 jobs; and Bosch Rexroth breaking ground on a $20 million logistics hub in Bethlehem.
To be included in the ranking, projects (either completed or announced) must be at least 20,000 square feet, bring an investment of at least $1 million, or create at least 20 new jobs.
The Lehigh Valley has ranked in the top ten of mid-sized markets, defined as regions with a population of 200,000 to 1 million people, for the last decade, LVEDC said. In 2024, the Lehigh Valley was third.
This time around, the Lehigh Valley came out on top of Metro Des Moines-West Des Moines, Iowa (ranked #2); and Wichita, Kansas (ranked #3).
Site Selection cited the Lehigh Valley’s dominance in the logistics market, as well as its growing presence in the life sciences, thanks in part to the $3.5 billion campus Eli Lilly is building in Upper Macungie Township.
“That project, known by the code name ‘Project Kennedy,’ only counts as one tally mark on the Top Metros scorecard, but it’s indicative of sectoral strength in life sciences, from Thermo Fisher Scientific and B. Braun to Ilico Genetics,” Site Selection wrote in its assessment.
“All told, the Lehigh Valley is home to more than 170 life sciences businesses that employ more than 6,000 people,” Site Selection said.