"We haven't interviewed anybody yet," said Tony Hanna, executive director for the Redevelopment Authority of Bethlehem. "We've got nine proposals, we will interview four firms sometime in the next two weeks, then we will make a decision."

One local firm submitted a proposal and the rest arrived from throughout the country, said Hanna.

In late fall, the authority began seeking proposals from consultants to consider the size, feasibility and location of a convention/exposition center on a site within the Bethlehem Works Redevelopment Area.

This area is bordered by Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, including the Sands hotel, retail mall and event center, and the Lehigh River on the north, East Third Street on the south, the Fahy Bridge on the west and Minsi Trail Bridge on the east.

In addition to the city of Bethlehem, the authority will be working collaboratively with Northampton County, Sands Casino Resort and Discover Lehigh Valley to market and locate the potential site.

The authority said that a facility in the range of 100,000 to 200,000 square feet of flexible space on one level is needed in the market.