LVEDC Extends Congrats to our 2010 Investor Appreciation Award Winners

7/1/10

About 170 LVEDC investors and others made the trip to Coca-Cola Park to take in the Mid-Year Investors’ Appreciation Meeting set against the lush backdrop of the baseball diamond. It’s too cheesy to say the event was a “home run.” We will say the depth and substance of the winners “covered all the bases.”

LVEDC President and CEO Phillip Mitman summarized the truly important thing about the stylish event.

“This isn’t about us this is about you, our investors,” he noted. “You are the people that allow us to do what we do to better the Lehigh Valley and create a better quality of life for all Lehigh Valley residents. We appreciate all you do.”

The 2010 Investors' Appreciation Award Winners are profiled and pictured below. 

The Award winners from left to right are: David Goodman – American Atelier, Donald Goodman – American Atelier, Tim Marks – EcoTech Marine, Justin Lawyer  – EcoTech Marine, Kevin Fisher - Zep, Joe O’Brien - Zep, Patrick Clasen – EcoTech Marine, Alan Jennings - CACLV, Tim Fritz – Scot Lubricants, Adam Fritz – Scot Lubricants, Sheila Horwith – Horwith Trucking, Regina Grim – Horwith Trucking, Karen Derr - KNBT, Kim Kmetz – Easton Main Street, Pat Doran – Synchronoss Technologies, Dan Reavy – Verizon (Title Sponsor), Phil Mitman – LVEDC.

To see additional photos from the event, visit our Facebook album.


Business Attraction Project of the Year
Zep Inc.
In 2009 the Atlanta-based company, a top-flight producer, marketer and service provider of cleaning and sanitation products, opened a state-of-the-art warehouse in Upper Macungie Township creating more than 100 jobs in the region. “LVEDC played a part showcasing the Lehigh Valley and getting us here,” said President of Zep East, Joe O’Brien.

Zep’s products are marketed in three segments – Zep, Zep Commercial and Zep Professional. The warehouse facility is open 14 hours a day accepting and transporting Zep’s inventory — ranging from floor finish to ice melter — to consumers.

Their products are the leading brand in the cleaning and maintenance category for folks who are looking to keep their homes spotless or for small business owners and contractors who want professional grade projects.

Retention Project of the Year
Scot Lubricants and Horwith Trucks, Inc.
Horwith Trucks, a long time LVEDC investor, had worked with the Lehigh Valley
Land Recycling Initiative to have a site they owned officially declared a brownfield by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and to secure grants for environmental tests.

Scot Lubricants was working with LVEDC to secure financing for their business growth needs, which included relocation plans to a new site in Lehigh Valley. They learned of the Horwith Trucks property and were able to work through LVEDC’s financing programs to purchase the site.

The relationship between Scot Lubricants and Horwith Trucks showcases the value of working with economic development professionals who can see multiple sides of a development deal. LVLRI’s involvement with Horwith helped lead Scot Lubricants to the property they eventually purchased. LVEDC assisted Scot Lubricants in accessing various financing programs to help get the deal done.

Entrepreneur of the Year Award
EcoTech Marine
The Southside Bethlehem Keystone Innovation Zone (SBKIZ) program, administered by LVEDC in partnership with 12 private and public sector organizations, has helped more start-up companies take off than an air traffic controller. EcoTech Marine, manufacturer of propeller pumps for reef aquariums, is a case in point.

The brainchild of three ambitious Lehigh University students, Patrick Clasen, Tim Marks, and Justin Lawyer, EcoTech entered the SBKIZ five years ago seeking a grant to help fund the pre-production costs. LVEDC and SBKIZ delivered, securing two SBKIZ grants followed by a line of credit. EcoTech used various resources including Ben Franklin Technology Partners, the City of Bethlehem, the Small Business Development Center, the Lehigh Valley Workforce Investment Board and several programs at Lehigh University.

Today, their products are sold in more than 400 stores globally and they have 20 employees working in a former firehouse in Bethlehem. “My plan was never to stay here,” said Patrick Clasen, co-owner of EcoTech Marine. “But because of the programs and the facilities, this is a great place to start a business. Hopefully we’re blazing a trail that other student companies can follow.”

Urban Project of the Year - Allentown
American Atelier
Retaining quality businesses such as American Atelier is a hallmark of Priority A in LVEDC’s Five-Year Strategic Plan.

The furniture manufacturer for the hospitality industry sought to expand in Allentown. They discovered an ideal 240,000 sq. foot location at the former General Mills factory on Downyflake Lane near Lehigh Street.

The company started the purchasing process with its lender, KNBT, who brought in LVEDC. In turn, they helped American Atelier secure a loan from the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority to help purchase the General Mills facility.

“Our new facility is a real step up from where we had been,” said Donald Goodman. “LVEDC did an excellent job of assisting us with applying for the state financing. They met all of our project’s goals and objectives and provided us with all of the information we needed.”

Urban Project of the Year – Bethlehem
Synchronoss Technologies
Moving confidently in the direction of your goals requires confidence and space.

While Synchronoss Technologies had the courage of their convictions, the software company was decidedly short on office space. Synchronoss’ quest for expansion led them to a brownfield on the former Bethlehem Steel site at LVIP VII.

LVEDC helped them secure grants to assist with the site’s remediation and the result is a sterling new 61,000 square foot building, built by J.G. Petrucci Co., Inc. The assistance Synchronoss received kept them from leaving the state. They have doubled their number of employees to 650 within two years.

“LVEDC couldn’t do enough for us,” says Mike Cocco, Director of International Operations for Synchronoss. “They were extremely helpful throughout the entire process. It was great working with them.”

Urban Project of the Year – Easton
Easton Main Street Initiative
The Easton Main Street Program is a non-profit economic revitalization group that works with business and building owners, city government, the Chamber of Commerce and the community to promote Downtown Easton as a shopping destination by encouraging a healthy business mix. The program has produced dividends not only for the 20 square block area it covers, but for the entire City of Easton. Easton Main Street is recognized by the Pennsylvania Downtown Center as a top Main Street program in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Its two paid staff members and more than 70 volunteers are committed to making the downtown successful.

“Our organization is primarily thought of for our special events and volunteers efforts,” says Kim Kmetz, Main Street manager. “So it’s good to be recognized for the true economic development work we do from an esteemed organization such as LVEDC. This is truly the ‘meat and potatoes’ of our mission and we are getting it done in Easton!”

The Easton Main Street Initiative was presented with an award for “Organizational Excellence in Community Partnerships” at the Pennsylvania Downtown Center’s annual Townie Awards gala recently held in Lancaster. The award was for the thriving town-gown relationship that has been established between Lafayette College and downtown Easton. Easton Main Street Initiative was also recognized as second out of 92 Main Street communities throughout the Commonwealth. LVEDC has provided financial support for the program since its inception five years ago.

Volunteer of the Year
Karen Derr, KNBT
Karen Derr embodies the mission of LVEDC: To lead economic prosperity throughout the Lehigh Valley.

Since 2003 Karen’s position as a commercial lender for KNBT Bank has spurred her involvement with the Lehigh Economic Advancement Project’s (LEAP) board of directors. As president, Karen leads the LEAP board in pre-approving loan applicants for the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority, a financing program administered by LVEDC.

Karen also serves as vice chair of the Regional Loan Pool administered by LVEDC, as well as on its screening and technical committees, where she helps award loans to businesses requiring more than one lender. The volunteer position demands much of Karen’s talents and time. Many hours are devoted to attending board meetings, reviewing applications and ascertaining financial viability. Karen never loses sight of the reason behind the work. “I love watching a company that can’t get funding elsewhere realize its dreams when we are able to give it the loan it needs to grow and develop,” she noted. “It feels good when it all comes together.”

Spirit of LVEDC Award
Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley, Inc.
Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley, Inc. (CACLV) has demonstrated the true spirit of partnership through programs and initiatives that economically benefit the businesses and citizens of our region. CACLV helps to advance LVEDC’s strategic priorities in economic development, job growth, urban revitalization and sustainability.

The mission of CACLV is to improve the quality of life in the Lehigh Valley by building a community in which all people have access to economic opportunity, the ability to pursue that opportunity, and a voice in the decisions that affect their lives. Together, LVEDC and CACLV have partnered on many economic development projects which have helped grow and sustain businesses and have created and retained jobs. The LVEDC mission is served well by CACLV’s work.

• The Rising Tide Community Loan Fund meets a community need for accessible microfinancing options to business owners whose risk factors make it difficult to obtain funds from traditional lenders. The program fits LVEDC’s mission to help these businesses grow.

• Allentown’s Main Street Program on Seventh Street is administered by CACLV’s subsidiary, the Community Action Development Corporation of Allentown. It is revitalizing the gateway to the downtown by attracting new businesses, improving the quality of the place and opening economic opportunity for residents. LVEDC provides funding and volunteer support for Main Street, which has received two statewide awards and is transforming Seventh Street with façade improvements, decorative trash receptacles, sidewalk café seating, new businesses and promotional efforts.

• Recession Response and Recovery Task Force was created in 2009 by CACLV and Northampton Community College in response to the recession. Several committees were charged with deciding the best way to use $1.4 million in federal stimulus money to help the region survive the recession. $300,000 was committed to helping distressed small businesses survive the recession. LVEDC led the Business Retention Committee.

• Build Your Own Computer Program in Bethlehem creates a learning environment for future graduates and entrepreneurs in the high tech industry. This program provides students with an opportunity for a better job in the future. Students learn the basics of computer hardware and software as they design and build a computer. The program was funded initially by the Southside Bethlehem Keystone Innovation Zone which is administered by LVEDC.

• Most recently, CACLV partnered with LVEDC to create and launch the Lehigh Valley Lender’s Network: Peer Review Program, designed to improve access to small business credit and capital. The program facilitates a systematic review by participating lending entities, The Rising Tide Community Loan Fund, the Small Business Development Center and LVEDC to carefully scrutinize the creditworthiness of applications, enable a borrower to access credit more quickly, improve opportunities among banks to participate in loans, and enable community development lenders to assess gaps in access to credit for the purpose of developing new tools to expand economic development.

• CACLV and its subsidiaries share the LVEDC agenda and mission in many ways, whether it is creating or expanding microenterprises, supporting neighborhood revitalization partnerships, Renew LV’s agenda, or specific economic development projects.