Envision Lehigh Valley’s Public Meeting Results Are In!

Through their website, Envision Lehigh Valley received a total of 1,118 completed surveys as well as feedback from 47 public meetings that were held through the fall. The breakdown of the participants represented an  accurate cross section of our regional population on the   characteristics of race, age,   income and location.

In the 47 focus groups that were held during the public meetings, Lehigh Valley residents appeared to be most interested in discussing economic development, which they saw as a positive thing for the region.

They mentioned large projects currently being undertaken across the Lehigh Valley. Participants discussed projects such as the hockey arena, casino, and ArtsQuest. Projects involving specific companies, including Ocean Spray, and the Lehigh Valley Hospital Expansion, were mentioned as well as more   generic business expansions like the Allentown waterfront      project, the P&P Mill, and new hotels and retail space in various locations.

Focus group participants were generally dissatisfied with the types of jobs available to Lehigh Valley workers and didn’t believe the job market matched the qualifications most workers have.

The groups also examined other topics; citizens talked 652 times about housing, 549 times about fresh food access, and 378 times about climate and energy.

One of the most interesting findings to come out of the focus group analysis is that the overall interests and topics of discussion varied very little in the different cities, boroughs, and townships where they were held.  These  commonalities suggest that quality of life factors in the Lehigh Valley are important across the valley, not just in one or two communities.

Read the full report, including  survey results and focus group discussions, right here!

Envision Lehigh Valley Kick-Off Scores Big

Last night’s kick-off event for Envision Lehigh Valley, the three year grant-funded visioning project for the Lehigh Valley, was a great success!  If you were there, you know what I’m talking about.  If you weren’t able to join us, I’m sorry you missed a great conversation among neighbors discussing their views on the future of the Lehigh Valley.  But don’t worry, there will be many more public meetings for you to attend and share your ideas.

Two sessions were held to accommodate attendees’ schedules– one at 4:00pm  and another at 6:30pm with over 200 people total.  The Lehigh Valley Tweet Up joined us for the 6:30pm session with lots of tweets, socializing, and networking!

The audience heard from Holly Edinger, Director of Sustainable Development at LVEDC, Pam Colton, Executive Director of Renew Lehigh Valley, and representatives from the regional HUD office, who granted this three year project to the Lehigh Valley Sustainability Consortium.  Attendees heard the purpose and goals of Envision Lehigh Valley over the next three years.  They then sorted themselves into five different groups based on interests to discuss five key areas of the project: Economic Development, Fresh Food Access, Housing Choices, Transportation Choices, and Energy Efficiency.  Attendees discussed their opinions and perspectives on their topics, followed by a larger community discussion once the entire group came together at the close of the event.  A short survey was also distributed.

If you were not able to join us last night, visit our website www.envisionlehighvalley.com to take the same short survey and to join our membership list.  While you’re there, check out our next events coming up on July 24th and 25th!  Stay up to date on the Envision Lehigh Valley project over the next three years.  Let your voice be heard!  Let’s determine the future of the region by choice, not by chance.

What Is Your Vision for the Valley?

What will the Lehigh Valley be like in 5, 10, or 20 years?  Whether your live or work in the Lehigh Valley, the answer will directly affect you.  Join Envision Lehigh Valley, a three year visioning project, and help us plan the future for the Valley!

Envision Lehigh Valley is a public outreach effort designed to engage the residents of Northampton and Lehigh Counties to create a truly sustainable Lehigh Valley.  More than ever, the residents of the Lehigh Valley need to work together to create a shared vision for our community.  This three year project was made possible by a Sustainable Communities Grant from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) .

The Lehigh Valley is comprised of 62 municipalities, each with its own governmental authority. However, if you ask anyone who lives in the Lehigh Valley you will quickly learn that we live “regionally.” Many of us live in one town, work in another town, and have dinner in yet a third. The municipal boundaries that are crossed to reach a desired destination are usually invisible. In order to be a sustainable community, the Lehigh Valley should consider the value of all our communities, how we can enhance our economic competitiveness, and perhaps most importantly how we can coordinate policy and leverage investment within our community.

Over the course of the next three years, Envision Lehigh Valley will be gathering input from ALL residents of the Lehigh Valley in order to create a vision for the future of the region.  The project will focus on the main areas of economic development, fresh food access, transportation choices, housing choices, jobs/housing balance, and climate and energy.  All the input from social media, public meetings, surveys, and individual conversations will be used in the “Comprehensive Plan the Lehigh Valley…2030.”

Please join us to kick off this effort at our first meeting on Wednesday, July 11th at ArtsQuest at SteelStacks.  Two sessions are being offered– 4:00 to 6:00pm and 6:30 to 8:00pm.  The next three years promise to be exciting and innovative.  Join us as we work together– as a region– to create a shared vision for our community.

Visit www.envisionlehighvalley.com for more information! Follow us on Twitter and friend us on Facebook too!

Good Stewards of Our Resources on Earth Day

Earth Day first started on April 22, 1970 through the efforts of Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin.  Since that day over 30 years ago, the Earth Day movement has grown to become an international effort to protect the planet and appreciate the resources it provides.  In other words, we are being called to be good stewards of our resources in order to have a sustainable future.  Good stewardship doesn’t just mean celebrating the Earth once every year.  It requires action every day of the year to appreciate the resources we have and protect them for future generations.

So what does this mean to you, the average citizen?  Consider how much waste you throw out every day at lunch.  That’s what Broughal Middle School students in Bethlehem did on March 21 with the help of Community Fellow, Christina DeSalva.  As the students finished their lunches, they brought their trays to Christina and other volunteers to weigh their waste.  The total amount of food waste weighed approximately 120 pounds!  Imagine the impact we could have if we reduced the amount of waste we produced!

Good stewardship also means preserving the open space and farmland we have.  Did you know that since 1950 Pennsylvania has lost farmland equal to the combined size of Connecticut and Rhode Island?  The sprawling nature of development rapidly eats away at the farmland and open space we have.  It is our responsibility to preserve these areas for sustainable food production and for our future generations.  According to Greater Lehigh Valley Buy Fresh, Buy Local, “Lehigh Valley consumers spend $1.6 billion on food annually. If 10% of this were spent on locally-grown food, this would generate $160 million in income for our farmers and an extra $72 million to circulate in our community and create new jobs.”  If we keep sprawling outward, what green spaces will be left and what resources will be around for our children and grandchildren?

Earth Day is a chance to educate our communities about our environment and what we can do to protect it.  But these efforts should go far beyond April 22.  Smart growth development sustains our natural resources while allowing for growth and revitalization in the core communities that already have the infrastructure in place.  We need to protect our green spaces and preserve the resources we have for a more sustainable future.

For more information about Earth Day activities in the Lehigh Valley, go to the Lehigh Valley Events Calendar at http://www.discoverlehighvalley.com/events/.  Want to learn more about smart growth initiatives?  Visit our website or contact us directly to get involved!

State of the Lehigh Valley

Thank you to everyone who attended the “State of the Lehigh Valley” lunch event on February 15th, and a special thanks again to our sponsors, without whom this event would not have been possible:  Highmark Blue Shield, Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation, Capital Blue Cross, PPL, Air Products, Susquehanna Bank, Lehigh University’s Social Science Research Center, Just Born, Inc., Spillman Farmer Architects, and the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley!

With President Obama recently delivering his State of the Union address and Governor Corbett giving us the state of the commonwealth budget, it is an appropriate time to consider the “State of the LehighValley.” (To read the report: State of the Lehigh Valley 2011.) Last year the Lehigh Valley Research Consortium (LVRC) partnered with Renew LehighValley (RenewLV) to present “State of the Lehigh Valley 2010: Community Trends at a Glance” to an audience of 250 concerned LehighValley residents.

 This year’s presentation of the 2011 data focused on the livability of the LehighValley as measured by indicators like health, economics, education, environment, and quality of life standards. This year’s results suggest that the LehighValley “is in a better position economically and socially than in the recent past” even though most will agree that there are still many challenges to overcome before we can boast of regional prosperity.  The luncheon was very participatory, with audience members providing their perspectives about the LehighValley’s competitiveness, public schools, disparities in access to health care, air quality, jobs, housing, and quality of life using a hand-held electronic response system, thus allowing for real time results. There were community experts in attendance to facilitate discussion based on these results.

The LehighValley is a very diverse collection of 62 municipalities and 17 public school districts within two of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties, all acting independently to govern and lead in the best interest of each area’s residents. While it is the uniqueness of each area that makes it pleasing to its inhabitants, the similarities from one municipality to the other and how they assimilate to form the Lehigh Valley is a natural progression of governance and decision-making, unnoticed by most who live here.

 In looking at just one section of data from the report, one sees that the Lehigh Valley’s current unemployment rate is higher than the Pennsylvania average, but lower than New Jersey and the national average, and our job growth is also below the rate of growth of Pennsylvania as a whole. On the other hand, average weekly wages in the LehighValley are higher than the state average but lower than New Jersey and the national average, and LehighValley residents as a group had higher median household incomes than the state and the nation. The report highlights how educational attainment is tied to this data. Perhaps a surprising statistic, graduation rates are not very different when economically disadvantaged student rates are compared to overall graduation rates, and in some districts the rate of graduation is higher among the economically disadvantaged students.

What does this mean?  Well, 90 percent of all residents surveyed rated the LehighValley as either good or excellent with regard to living in this area.  In light of the dissatisfaction with the economic situation, this is a significant statistic. It is indicative of the many great things the LehighValley offers its residents that are above and beyond dollars and cents: a relatively low crime rate, good public schools, easy access to goods and services, and a great network of hospitals and health care professionals. All of these are highlighted in the report.

I’m going to borrow a thought from this Sunday’s sermon (hope you don’t mind Father Steve) and if you have ever played sports, you will appreciate this. Were you ever a bench warmer?  Did you like sitting on the bench?  Or for that matter, if you were a starter, did you like coming out and watching from the sidelines?  I bet the answer is no. You wanted to be involved, to make your mark, to influence the outcome of the contest, to be heard and noticed.

Well now is your chance to do that for your community, our community, the community we all call home. Whether you live in the northern-most point of the Slate Belt or the west end of Allentown, you are a LehighValley resident and the health and well-being of our residents and our cities and boroughs is your business and your voice should be heard.  Time to get off the bench. Time to get involved. This is your opportunity to be in the starting five.  Take it and join the discussion.

Governor Corbett to Propose Fiscal Budget Feb. 7th

Stay tuned for Governor Corbett’s presentation of his proposed budget for fiscal year 2012-2013 on Tuesday, February 7th before a joint session of the PA House and Senate.  This is only the first step in the annual fiscal process, as legislators will be in budget meetings discussing the proposal in the days and weeks following Corbett’s proposal.

You may be asking, “Well, who cares?  It’s only the first step in the process.”  Guess what?  It does matter and you should care!  If you are concerned about cuts in funding for a particular program or agency, you need to speak up.  Take for example the students from four state-related universities who rallied at the Capitol building to advocate for state education funding.  They are concerned about financial aid and affordable tuition for college, and they made sure their voices were heard.

What are your biggest concerns as the state budget is debated and determined?  Share with us your thoughts.  But more importantly, share your thoughts with your local representatives and senators.  Let them hear your concerns so that they can be your voice in the debate.  Change won’t be accomplished unless you participate.

Watch the address at: http://www.governor.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/governor_pa_gov/20650

Health Commission To Meet in January

On Monday, January 9, 2012, the Health Commission will hold its annual meeting at the Lehigh County Government Center. The newly elected Northampton County Council members, along with the Lehigh County commissioners, will be present at this meeting. This is the perfect opportunity to speak out in support of the Bi-County Health Bureau which has been studied and proposed for the Lehigh Valley and is supported at the state level (October 17 2011 Health Commission Presentationfinal [final10-17]).  All we need is support from both county councils to create the first bi-county health bureau in the state. This type of cooperation and partnership is indicative of joint ventures for which the Lehigh Valley is known and rewarded across the state. Please mark your calendar!

Marcellus Shale Citizen Organizer Training

Sure, the Marcellus Shale drilling isn’t happening here in the Lehigh Valley, but the effects will certainly be felt statewide both economically and environmentally.  This is a hot-button issue in Pennsylvania right now.  Even if the drilling isn’t occurring right in the Lehigh Valley, it is still every Pennsylvanian’s responsibility to become educated about the issue as an informed and active citizen.

PennEnvironment, a state-wide citizen-based environmental advocacy organization will be in Bethlehem on December 6th for a Marcellus Shale Citizen Organizer Training Session.  Their goal: “to train 1,000 Pennsylvanians with the skills they need to protect their communities from gas drilling. Whether you’re new to activism or been [sic] on the front lines of the Marcellus Shale, this training will help you take the fight to the next level.”  Below are the details of the training:

WHAT: Lehigh Valley Marcellus Shale Citizen Organizer Training
WHERE: Unitarian Universalist Church of the Lehigh Valley, 424 Center St, Bethlehem, PA
WHEN: Tuesday, December 6, 6-9 p.m.

RenewLV is not a sponsor of this event, but strongly encourages citizens to become educated to participate in their local communities.  If you are interested in this event or want more information regarding PennEnvironment, visit: https://secure3.convio.net/engage/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=3865.

Board of Health Meeting this Monday

This upcoming Monday, January 31, at 6:00 pm., The Board of Health will be holding a meeting at the American Red Cross Building (Room 103) located on 2200 Avenue A in Bethlehem. At this meeting, The Board of Health will discuss available funding and staff to support its work, and confirm the next steps for 2011.

Despite the January 10th vote from the Health Commission against approving a planning budget for the Board of Health, the Board still remains committed to continuing its work to create a services and business plan for the regional health department.

For additional information, visit our Regional Health Initiative page or contact Steven Bliss at 484-893-1060 or sbliss@renewlv.org.

Sights and Sounds: State of the Lehigh Valley, January 13th

Check out RenewLV’s podcast of the “State of the Lehigh Valley” event on our multimedia page or on iTunes!

Here are some pictures from Iacocca Hall done by photographer Matt Blum of Lightly-Salted Productions:

A packed house settles in as RenewLV co-chair Deana Zosky makes the opening remarks.

 

LVRC director Michele Deegan presents the report.

 

Mayor Sal Panto, Jr. (panel moderator)

 

The panelists (from left to right): Mayor Sal Panto, Jr., Michele Deegan (LVRC), Don Bernhard (PPL), Olga Negron (Council of Spanish Speaking Organizations), Bonnie Coyle (St. Luke's Hospital), and Chris Borick (Muhlenberg College).