C2C Greater Springfield will be visiting Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley and the cities of Bethlehem, Allentown and Easton on November 28 through 30, 2012.

In addition to similar geography, the Lehigh Valley tri-city region has other similarities to the Pioneer Valley and the Springfield-Holyoke-Chicopee area. Population is similar (Allentown has 118,0000 residents, Bethlehem has 75,000, Easton 27,000) and the region is home to a large Hispanic population. Both regions have suffered the loss of an industrial base. Allentown is a two-time winner of the All-America City Award and Springfield earned its first recognition as an All-America City by the National Civic League for Grade Level Reading.

The Lehigh Valley region is also host to the Sands Casino Bethlehem opened in 2009 on the site of the former Bethlehem Steel plant. With Western Massachusetts the future site of one of the three casino licenses to be granted by the state and with several applications likely for the Western Massachusetts license in the region, C2C organizers believe the trip to Pennsylvania will be instructive.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, through the efforts of Anthony Poore and Richard Walker, is again helping to organize the program. Representatives of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia will join the Greater Springfield contingent on the trip.



While still in the planning stage, participants will get a close look at two economic drivers for the region—health care and education (“Eds and Meds”). The group will also engage with the Bethlehem Redevelopment Authority, the Lehigh Valley Research Consortium, Lehigh Valley Economic Development Council and Lehigh University.

The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts will continue to serve as fiscal agent and will be an active participant in the planning of the C2C trip. Details about cost, travel arrangements and registration information will be made available in early fall. The trip is open to anyone in the Greater Springfield area interested in participating.