It was announced with much fanfare that Lilly P
harmaceutical is going to build a new facility on Rt. 78 west of Allentown. Attending the announcement were all our elected officials, including presidential hopeful Josh Shapiro. The show featured that the manufacturing plant would cost $3.5 billion and employ 850 workers. They will produce the new injectable for the weight challenged.
Local media articles mentioned state incentives, including a new entrance/exit for Adams Rd.. We apparently offered more incentives than hundreds of other areas, which also entered the LIlly contest. The big winner of course is David Jaindl, who is selling the parcel to Lilly. More so, he owns the adjoining land, whose value is greatly enhanced by the new exit.While there are plans to widen Rt. 22 through Allentown, I expect that you'll still be sitting in traffic on 22, long after the new ramp is built for Jaindl. Supposedly a pill is in development to replace the injectable for the heavyset. We'll see how long, if ever, there are 850 employees at Lilly Lehigh Valley.
“Air Products; Our people are our products.”
ReplyDelete..,.until their not.
DeleteIt is interesting that the biggest segment of the U.S. economy is Healthcare. Are we the most healthy nation or the most sick, indicated by all this spending.?
ReplyDeleteI’m surprised that Matt Tuerk didn’t bring the project to Allentown. I’m told he has a background in economic development. Maybe he feels the city doesn’t need a project like that.
ReplyDeleteanon@8:17: In fairness to Tuerk, it took someone with presidential ambition to heap enough incentives to win the Lilly contest. The value of the victory remains to be seen, and that evaluation will take at least another decade. In the meantime, you'll start hearing about it in Shapiro promotions.
ReplyDeleteTurek could run a Senate campaign in 2028 to replace McCormick, although if that is in his plans he needs to start the fund-raising soon.
DeleteIn a recent interview with several other high profile mayors and exmayors Tuerk said he ran against Ray because Ray lacked the experience or energy to bring major manufacturing or corporations to Allentown. Later in the interview he said that the “Allentown renaissance” was being driven by small business.
ReplyDeleteTuerk is now marketing himself as the “Punk Mayor”.
Now that he is a lame duck, I wonder if Turek will stop promoting Allentown to latinos and promoting latino interests over other groups.
Deleteanon@11:49: In reaction to Pawlowski's fourth term, city council enacted term limits....I believe that was a mistake, I would have recommended three terms. Allentown's biggest issue is all the apartments added in the last 6 years, and who will occupy them? Reillyville has failed to create the hoped for urban scene.
ReplyDeleteReillyville has fulfilled all my expectations.
Deletemj adams
I am certain Reilly will make the homes available to the Allentown Housing Authority. There is never a shortage of the elderely and poor people in need of housing.
DeleteAnon 1:58. I agree. Soon after Reillyvill was announced, I predicted Section 8 in twenty years.
Delete