ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Allentown is the poster child for the success of President Joe Biden’s economic recovery policies, Mayor Matt Tuerk said ahead of Biden’s expected visit to the city Friday.
“He’s here to talk about his economic recovery [plans], and I can tell you that we felt that in Allentown,” Tuerk told LehighValleyNews.com after his 2024 State of the City address Thursday.
Tuerk on Friday posted some statistics on social media that he says proves the “Biden-Harris team strengthens our economy.”
Allentown handed out 525 business licenses in 2023 — a three-year high — after issuing 424 in 2021 and 455 in 2022, Tuerk said.
“The work that is happening from the federal government is resulting in economic growth."
Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk
The city also posted “quarter-over-quarter wage growth” over the past few years, “so I know that [Biden’s policies are] effective,” Tuerk said.
Those policies have helped drive the Lehigh Valley’s GDP past the $50 billion mark, he said. And Allentown has added more than $4.6 billion in total property values in recent years, due in large part to new development, he said.
“The work that is happening from the federal government is resulting in economic growth,” Tuerk said.
Biden is expected to tout his economic achievements during a speech at Lehigh Valley International Airport on Friday afternoon before touring locally owned small businesses.
The Biden administration has still not disclosed exactly where Biden, a Scranton native, will tour during his second presidential visit to the Lehigh Valley.
But much of downtown Emmaus will be holding a special event that local officials won't disclose. And East Penn School District is dismissing students early Friday for "unforeseen circumstances."
Click here for more about President Biden’s planned visit to the Lehigh Valley.