Lebanon Valley Economic Development Corporation
About Lebanon Valley
Why Lebanon
Lebanon County, a county with a population of 120,327, covers 363 square miles and includes 18 townships and 7 boroughs. The city of Lebanon, the county seat, is the 22nd largest city in PA with a population of 24,461.
Ideal because of its blend of big-city accessibility and small-town beauty, Lebanon County is strategically located approximately 102 miles northwest of Baltimore, 200 miles southwest of New York City, 85 miles west of Philadelphia, and 152 miles northwest of Washington, D.C. It is within 30 miles of the state capitol of Harrisburg and the well-known Pennsylvania cities of Lancaster and Reading.
Superior transportation networks link our businesses and consumers to regional and overseas markets. Interstate Routes 81, 78 and 76 (the Pennsylvania Turnpike) run through the County and connect to other major roadways serving the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states. More than 30 motor freight lines in the Northeast cross the Lebanon Valley, handling double stack cars. These lines also provide local switching facilities, numerous sidings, piggy-back pick-up and drop shipment distribution and deliveries. Scheduled passenger and air freight service is available through Harrisburg International Airport, less than 30 miles west along the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Direct overseas travel can be easily accessed through Philadelphia International, Newark International and Baltimore-Washington International Airports, located less than two hours from Lebanon County. Corporate aircraft are also served at nearby private airstrips.
Businesses transporting goods via ship have discovered that this area's proximity to the ports of Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York and Wilmington provide another cost advantage. Cargo-handling facilities, container capability and intermodal connections (with rail and truck) are readily available.
Many business opportunities are available in Lebanon County. The top five industries by employment are manufacturing, health care/social services, retail trade, educational services, and accommodation/food services. Lebanon County is diversifying, seeing new growth in technology-based business research and development, printing, pharmaceutical operations, warehousing, distribution and services. Understanding this workforce advantage and market location, many smaller entrepreneurs have also chosen Lebanon County because it provides a solid base for their future expansions.