Dear Members of the Lehigh Community,
I’m pleased to share the release of Lehigh’s Community and Economic Impact Report for fiscal year 2024, developed in partnership with Lightcast, a leading labor market analytics firm. This marks the first time in more than a decade that we’ve quantified the full scope of Lehigh’s impact on the Lehigh Valley. The findings speak powerfully to the role we all play in advancing our region’s vitality.
In FY24 alone, Lehigh—an R1 research institution, a designation held by only seven universities in Pennsylvania—added $1.4 billion to the regional economy, supported more than 14,000 jobs, and generated nearly $800 million through the start-ups, spin-offs and manufacturers connected to university programs, including Lehigh’s wholly owned subsidiaries Manufacturers Resource Center and Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Our research, volunteerism, partnerships and presence continue to shape a stronger, more innovative and more inclusive community.
This work supports the goals of our Inspiring the Future Makers strategy and its “Enhance the Shared Bethlehem Experience” initiative, grounding our aspirations in measurable outcomes and reaffirming our position as an anchor institution in the region.
Visit the Community and Economic Impact website to access the Executive Summary and Full Report.
Thank you for the many ways you contribute to Lehigh’s impact—through your scholarship, service, research, teaching and deep connection to our community.
Joseph J. Helble ’82
President, Lehigh University
