President Joe Biden stumped for his infrastructure plan at one of the Lehigh Valley’s signature manufacturing companies – Mack Trucks, -- telling more than 100 workers, dignitaries and residents that it will create good-paying jobs for American workers like them.

Commercial real estate experts were expecting 2020s industrial development boom to continue, but Mike Hess, senior vice president of CBRE in the Harrisburg office said industrial development along the I-78/I-81 corridor was even stronger than expected during the first quarter of the year.

Victaulic in Easton is growing its foundry production capacity by 70% with the acquisition of the 220-square-foot Waupaca manufacturing plant in Western Pennsylvania.

Lehigh Carbon Community College in Schnecksville said it is working with Amazon on a training program aimed at preparing apprentices for careers in advanced manufacturing.

Victaulic, the Easton-based manufacturer of pipe fittings, has appointed Rick Bucher CEO.

The virtual event, hosted by Hobbs and Jim Gerlach, president and CEO of GRCA, was attended by manufacturers, members of the business community, educators and others to discuss challenges and opportunities confronting the manufacturing industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The pandemic has caused manufacturers to think about different aspects of their businesses as they have tried to accommodate many personnel issues, supply chain disruptions and uncertainty in general,”

Mack Trucks said it has completed an $84 million renovation project at its Lehigh Valley Operations in Lower Macungie Township, a project the truck manufacturer dubbed “Reborn.”