Contact Information:
City Hall
435 Hamilton Street, 3rd Floor
Allentown, PA 18101
Telephone: 610-437-7610
Fax: 610-439-5947

The Department of Community & Economic Development plays a comprehensive role in the ongoing revitalization of our city. DCED offers assistance to small business, large business and housing developers. DCED works with businesses to determine the right location, what paperwork and permits are necessary and what financial assistance may be available.

DCED places a strong emphasis on Allentown's growth. Some of the revitalization projects include:

• America on Wheels- The keystone of the Lehigh Landing riverfront project, the transportation museum opening in April will highlight the evolution of the vehicles and systems that moved people and products across this great nation of ours. America on Wheels will offer a glimpse of the past, present, and future of our nation's over-the-road transportation system and preserve our transportation history by looking back in time, collecting valuable artifacts and vehicles and illustrating the tremendous impact transportation has had on our daily lives.

• Coca-Cola Park Baseball Stadium- The brand new stadium is the home field of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the Philadelphia Phillies' AAA-level Minor League baseball team. The $50 million stadium seats 8,100, which does not include lawn seating. A capacity crowd of more than 10,000 watched the Phillies open the stadium against the IronPigs on March 30, 2008.

• Allentown Arts Park - Allentown Arts Park is the centerpiece for the city's Arts District. Governor Ed Rendell helped finance construction of the 0.6 acre park with approximately $1.8 million in state grants. Mayor Pawlowski said, "This park will provide a base for entertainment and celebrations throughout the year and serve as an anchor for art and music programs that will bring people to our downtown and give them a reason to stay."

• Allentown Transportation Center- The 550-space garage and the public parking deck at Linden and North Sixth streets and new 600-space garage at Fourth and Hamilton streets opened in 2007. Together, the two Allentown Parking Authority-built garages cost about $28 million.

• The Townes at Trexler Square- Lehigh Valley Builder/Developer Nic Zawarski and Sons broke ground in the summer of 2007 on Phase II of its Center City Allentown project the Townes at Trexler Square. Phase I, which sold out in July 2006, consisting of 14 units, was completed in the Fall of 2007. Phase II which is currently under construction, is located on 8th and Walnut Street, adjacent to Phase I. Phase II will consist of a total of 18 units and will be priced from the low to mid $200,000. Located in a Keystone Opportunity Zone, residents will have the same tax abatement as in Phase I, no real estate taxes nor state and local income tax until 2011. Phase III will consist of 30 units. Construction for Phase III will begin in 2008. For more information please call Luis E. Campos at 610-865-1441.

• Allentown Brew Works- The Allentown Brew Works is housed inside the historic Harold's Furniture Building at 812 West Hamilton Street. The 400 seat restaurant is a testament to the vibrant heartbeat that thrives in this "Queen City." Offering two and a half levels of dining, plus state of the art banquet facilities in the Hamilton Room, and multiple bars offering different atmospheres including an outdoor casual Biergarten, and a new seductive lower level lounge-Silk.

• Overlook Park - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded the Allentown Housing Authority a $20 million HOPE VI Revitalization grant to demolish and rebuild Hanover Acres and Riverview Terrace public housing developments and introduce a new mix-income model of affordable housing and community revitalization. The $87 million development includes 269 rental town homes and twins for public housing and 53 for sale homes.

  Bridgeworks by the Creek - An estimated $5.4 million investment has helped to develop and revitalize a core industrial site at 610 South 10th Street in Allentown bringing approximately 100 new jobs to the area. The Allentown Redevelopment Authority and the Allentown Economic Development Corporation and developer J.G. Petrucci have turned the facility into a 90,000-square-foot industrial flex space aimed at revitalizing the city's industrial markets.  15,000 square feet of space is still available.  The site is in the city's Enterprise Zone and Keystone Opportunity Zone, making it tax-free through 2010.

Interested in Opening your Business in Allentown? 
Download the From Opportunity to Opening guidebook.