Lehigh Valley Business Journal

In what it described as the largest construction project in its 150-year history, St. Luke’s University Health Network has officially opened the new $252 million St. Luke’s Heart Hospital on its Anderson campus St. Luke’s President & CEO Rick Anderson noted the significance of opening the Heart Hospital during United States’ 250th anniversary year.

Greenlight Networks, a fiber-to-the-home internet provider is continuing the expansion of its fiber internet network across the eastern Lehigh Valley region, with new builds underway in Easton and plans for neighboring Phillipsburg, New Jersey as part of a broader regional effort. Greenlight said in a release that it is investing more than $20 million in this latest expansion, and construction is already underway. The first areas of the expansion are expected to become serviceable in early 2027.

ESSA Bank has named Michael McCarty senior vice president, commercial banking team leader. Based in Allentown, McCarty is responsible for leading the bank’s commercial banking division and supporting the growth and success of business clients throughout the communities ESSA serves.

Pennsylvania is on strong financial footing following three months of General Fund revenue collections that are $529.3 million more than expected, Revenue Secretary Pat Browne reported. The Commonwealth collected $4.8 billion in General Fund revenue in September, which was $550.8 million, or 12.8%, more than anticipated. Fiscal year-to-date General Fund collections total $11.2 billion, which is $529.3 million, or 4.9%, above expectations.

A proposed rate increase by UGI Utilities Gas Division has been substantially cut by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. The PUC approved a settlement on Thursday that cuts UGI’s initial request by 35%. The approved settlement does provide for an additional $65 million, or 5.3% increase in annual operating revenues for UGI, compared to the company’s initial request for an additional $99.368 million, which would have been an 8.05% increase.

When Bob Iger published The Ride of a Lifetime in 2019, he was widely regarded as one of the most successful CEOs in America. At the time, Disney had acquired Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and much of 21st Century Fox, transforming itself into a global entertainment powerhouse. Seven years later, the media landscape looks very different.

Summary: Pennsylvania has 2,429 megawatts of hydropower capacity Senator McCormick expresses support for hydropower Hydropower licensing faces costly, unclear regulatory processes For Pennsylvania manufacturers and large-scale energy users, electricity is not just another utility bill. It is one of the most important inputs that determines whether they can operate and thrive.

Technology from automation to AI was the main focus of the 2026 Lehigh Valley Manufacturing Forum at SteelStacks in Bethlehem. Even the Manufacturer of the Year honoree, HAT (Human Active Technology), makes products that help link people with the technology they use. So, “what does a company founded in 1833 have to teach about manufacturing in 2026, asked Thomas Ripsam, president and CEO of the iconic Lehigh Valley Manufacturer, C.F. Martin Guitar & Co. It turns out – a lot.

It’s official. Kerry has opened its state-of-the-art coffee extraction facility in Bethlehem. It’s the company’s first manufacturing site in the state. Kerry marked the opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that brought together customers, industry partners, government representatives, and community leaders for guided facility tours and product tastings.

The Historic Hotel Bethlehem is bucking the AI trend by making what it’s calling The REAL People Promise. While some hotels are allowing kiosks, chatbots, AI agents, and robots to replace real people, Hotel General Manager Kelly Ronalds said her team is committed to doing the opposite. “This hotel is here today because more than 100 years ago the people of Bethlehem pooled their money to create a community hub.