Allentown, PA- On Thursday, February 20th, Lehigh County Executive Phillips Armstrong addressed several business leaders and community members at Coca-Cola Park. Armstrong, who is unable to run again due to term limitations, highlighted his administration’s accomplishments over his seven years at the helm of Lehigh County.
“I have had a great run as County Executive,” said Armstrong, “Over the past seven years, I have had the good fortune to work with some very devoted county employees who have accomplished many great things for the people who live in Lehigh County.”
During Armstrong’s tenure as County Executive, the world was faced with a crippling pandemic that changed our communities forever. However, Lehigh County emerged better than most, with the county Emergency Management Team leading the way to coordinate a plan to maintain and update best practices in real time. We coordinated relief funding where it was most needed, delivering nearly $10 Million to almost a thousand small businesses, distributing more than $50 million to hospitals, school districts, non- profits and in rental assistance. In all, Lehigh County distributed more than $150 million in COVID relief funding.
Armstrong’s time in Lehigh County was marked by a focus on quality of life, with almost $1.5 Million distributed to Quality of Life and Tourism initiatives and organizations. Also, Lehigh County’s farmland preservation program exceeded 28,000 acres preserved on more than 400 farms.
At a time when many Civil Rights and Equal Protections gains are being eroded, Lehigh County initiated a Human Relations Commission to protect the rights of all of our residents at a county level.
Over the past seven years, Lehigh County earned and maintained a five-star rating for Cedarbrook, which also won Newsweek’s best nursing home in America in 2025.
Lehigh County initiated the first ever non-municipal call center consolidation. We replaced, engineered or renovated a number of county bridges including the Wire Mill Bridge in Allentown, The Walnut Street Bridge in Slatington and the Geiger Covered Bridge near the Trexler Nature Preserve.
Justice, law and order has been a recurring theme over the past seven years. The Lehigh County Public Defender’s Office has helped over 100 non-violent offenders work to clean up their minor criminal records and rejoin society in full, through an initiative known as The Pardon Project. The county initiated mental health services and peer counseling to include provided training to all police departments in Lehigh County.
“I am proud to have been a part of so many great programs and initiatives over the past seven years,” said Armstrong. “But we’re not finished yet. We will continue to make announcements and move forward with ideas to improve the lives of everyone in Lehigh County over the next year.”
County Executive Armstrong’s presence on a number of national organizations has given Lehigh County a prominent seat at the table for federal and state policy discussions that affect counties.
County Executive Armstrong currently serves as the First Vice President of the County Executives of America. He also serves as a member of the National Association of Counties’ 21-member National County Executives Board and represents four mid-Atlantic states on the board of national regional planners.
The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce hosted the 2025 State of the County Address.
Workforce Board Lehigh Valley is the Presenting Sponsor, Natural Food Group is the Platinum Sponsor. Our Gold Sponsors are Astound Business Solutions and Lehigh Valley International Airport.
Our Silver Sponsors are: City Center Group, Cornerstone Companies, Highmark Blue Shield, New Tripoli Bank, Saint Luke’s University Health Network, and Service Electric Business.
Our Bronze Sponsor is McGriff Insurance Services. Our Print Sponsor is EBC Printing and Signs.
Our Photography Sponsor is Mike Robinson Productions.
Information provided to TVL by:
Adrianna Calderon
