LVEDC Gets Mack Tough

Megatron

The past year has been a bad one for Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC), a publicly funded nonprofit designed to attract and retain business in the Lehigh Valley. In June, their social networker posted a tweet about Friday Summer hours, chirping that "most of the staff leave at noon, many to hit the links." She was fired. Then in September, it came under fire from Northampton County Council for doing too little to attract new business to the County. Finally, last month, CEO Phil Mitman announced his intention to resign.

Perhaps that's why the Lehigh Valley's economic development engine chose Mack Truck's Customer Center, located in Allentown, as the venue for their annual investors' meeting. Several hundred business and government leaders sat among a collection of Mack Trucks, including Megatron, as LVEDC's Mtman credited the company for attracting 12 companies, $238 million in investment and 3,749 jobs in 2011.

Mack trucks gleamed as Coca Cola's Tim Fischbach announced a $46 million expansion project at its 225,000 sq. ft. Upper Macungie plant, where the syrup for Coke and Diet Coke is manufactured. Powerade, Vitamin Water and Fuze will now be processed at the plant.

"LVEDC was our quarterback in this mission, our Eli Manning," claimed Fischbach, who credited the LV's economic development engine for successful negotiations with local officials and more importantly, for securing a $1.25 million infrastructure development grant from the state.

Mack Trucks glimmered as Coca Cola's Fischbach announced 26 employees in Upper Macungie, with an additional 24 people to be hired over the next 3-4 years.

According to Fischbach, the average salary of salaried new hires is $69,000 per year, plus benefits.

After the speeches, as business leaders networked and grabbed their smart phones, Mack Trucks stood at attention, hoping to be noticed.

Mack's oldest vehicle, a 1905 bus

Among them was a 1905 bus, the oldest existing Mack vehicle, which put in a million miles on the roads of Chicago and New Orleans.

"It still runs," a proud Mack employee said. "In fact, they all do."

With businesses like Mack and Coca Cola, so does the Lehigh Valley.

Below is a slideshow of all the Mack trucks on display, from the 1905 bus to Megatron.



Updated 9:58, to make a clarification concerning salary as per Bob Wendt.

Bennett Slams Dent for Refusing to Give Corporate Welfare to Mack Truck

It's all Charlie's fault. That's how Team Bennett is reacting to Mack Truck's decision to relocate from Allentown to North Carolina, where it will be picking up $8.5 million in corporate welfare over nine years.

“Lehigh Valley families who are already struggling to afford gas, groceries and healthcare will soon be without a paycheck, but Dent will still get his $169,000 salary paid for by these taxpayers,” says Kathryn Seck, Bennett Campaign Manager. “Maybe he’s just too wrapped with lobbyist fundraisers in Washington to know what’s going on in his own district. Or did he know about it, tell no one, and do nothing?”

What Team Bennett is really saying is that Congressman Charlie Dent, Governor Rendell and Allentown Mayor Pawlowski have some sort of obligation to play sugar daddy to multinational corporations. After all, some of these handouts times might trickle down to the unwashed masses.

“Our unemployment rate is rising, but my opponent still expects to keep his own job,” says Sam Bennett, District 15 congressional candidate. “The folks I meet along the campaign trail are supporting me because I’ve actually run a businesses and created jobs in our community. And that’s the experience I’ll bring to Congress.”

North Carolina, unlike Pennsylvania, is a "right to work" state. Employees in those states can't be forced to pay union fees or dues, even if they work in a union shop like Mack. So does Bennett advocate changing that law to keep a company like Mack? Of course, the workers in voluntary union states have much lower incomes, but Big Business just loves it.

Congressman Dent did meet with Mack officials, and tried to persuade them to change course.

“I am deeply saddened and disappointed by the painful news of Mack Trucks relocating its world headquarters from Allentown to Greensboro, North Carolina. Mack’s history in Allentown extends over 100 years. The Mack Bulldog not only exemplified the strength of Mack Trucks, but the spirit of the workers. Mack’s closing will be especially painful to the City of Allentown.

I met with Mack officials last night and it appears this decision is irreversible. My primary concern is for the families who will be deeply affected by Mack’s move to Greensboro. Every option and resource must be made available to impacted workers to ensure their immediate needs are met.”