Allentown, Pennsylvania is the home for the global and U.S. corporate headquarters of several companies, includingAir Products,PPL Corporation, and others. The largest employer in the Lehigh Valley isLehigh Valley Health Network with almost 8,000 employees.
The arrival of two professional athletics teams in the 21st century have helped bolster the Allentown economy, which has historically been considered part of theRust Belt. InCenter City Allentown,PPL Center, an 8,500-capacity indoor arena, opened in September 2014 as the new home for theLehigh Valley Phantoms of theAmerican Hockey League, the primary development team of theNational Hockey League'sPhiladelphia Flyers. PPL Center also hosts major concerts and entertainment events. In East Allentown,Coca-Cola Park, a 10,178-capacity baseball stadium, opened in March 2008 as the new home for theLehigh Valley IronPigs of theInternational League, theTriple-A-levelMinor League affiliate of thePhiladelphia Phillies ofMajor League Baseball.
Previously established attractions include theAllentown Art Museum, which completed a $15.4 million expansion projected in 2010–11, and theBaum School of Art, the city's primary art school. Several Allentown-based universities, includingCedar Crest College andMuhlenberg College, attract scholars and academics from all over the country.
The city and its suburbs have several shopping malls, includingLehigh Valley Mall (the largest in the region) andWhitehall Plaza (formerly Whitehall Mall), both located inWhitehall Township,South Mall onLehigh Street inSalisbury Township, andPromenade Saucon Valley inCenter Valley.
The following is a list of corporations based in Allentown and the surroundingLehigh Valley metropolitan area:
The following is a list of companies formerly headquartered in Allentown and the surrounding area:
