MENU Close
Close
  • Home
  • Services
  • Attorneys
  • Resources
  • News & Events
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Join our Team
Search
Back
    Quick Links:
    Join Webinar
    Read News
    Our Location
    A
    Alternative Dispute ResolutionAntitrust & Trade RegulationAppellate Practice
    B
    Banking & Financial ServicesBankruptcy, Creditors’ Rights, and Financial RestructuringBeer LawBusiness Law
    C
    Cannabis LawConstruction LawCriminal Defense
    E
    Economic Development LawElder Care & Special Needs LawElectronic Discovery ("E-Discovery")Environmental LawEstate Planning and Administration & Wealth PreservationExecutive Compensation, Employment, ERISA, and Employee Benefits
    F
    Food, Beverage & HospitalityFranchise Law
    H
    Health Care & Life SciencesHealth Care ProvidersHigher EducationHospitals and Health Networks
    I
    ImmigrationInsurance CoverageIntellectual PropertyIntellectual Property Litigation, Arbitration, and Dispute ResolutionIntellectual Property Portfolio Strategy, Management & LicensingInternational BusinessInternet Law
    L
    Labor & EmploymentLiquor Law, Licensing, Manufacturing, and DistributionLitigation
    M
    Media LawMergers & AcquisitionsMunicipal Law
    N
    Non-Profit Law
    P
    Patent Preparation and ProsecutionPharmaceutical / Medical Devices / Pharma ServicesProducts and Consumer Liability DefenseProfessional LiabilityPublic Utilities
    R
    Real Estate, Finance, and Land Use
    S
    SecuritiesSolar Energy
    T
    TaxationTelecommunicationsTrademark & Copyright Protection & Enforcement
    V
    Venture Tech & Emerging Growth Companies
    W
    White Collar Investigations & DefenseWorkers’ Compensation
    • New Jersey
    • New York
    • Pennsylvania
    • Blogs
    • Articles
    • Podcasts
    • COVID-19 Resources
    • News
    • Events
    • Webinars
    • About Us
    • Delivering Value
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Meritas

    New Jersey

    400 Crossing Boulevard
    8th Floor
    Bridgewater, NJ 08807
    Phone:(908) 722-0700
    Fax:(908) 722-0755

    28 Valley Road
    Suite 1
    Montclair, NJ 07042

    New York

    7 Times Square
    21st Floor
    New York City, NY 10036
    Phone:(212) 808-0700
    Fax:(212) 808-0844

    Pennsylvania

    515 West Hamilton Street
    Suite 502
    Allentown, PA 18101
    Phone:(610) 391-1800
    Fax:(610) 391-1805

    • What sets us apart
    • Attorneys
    • Other Professionals
    • Professional Development
    • Non-Discrimination Policy
    Back to all services

    Economic Development Law

    Norris McLaughlin knows that a key component of the lifeblood of every community is economic development.  Without economic development and the strong tax base that comes with it, a community is destined to stagnate, or worse, regress.  Norris McLaughlin also knows that without proper planning, input, and guidance from the right team of professionals, the best-proposed economic development projects can quickly go astray.

    • Overview
    • Attorneys
    • News

    Who We Are

    As one of eastern Pennsylvania’s most prominent law firms, Norris McLaughlin has been in the forefront of economic development projects for more than two decades. The economic development attorneys in Norris McLaughlin’s Allentown office offer a wide array of economic development-related services, including legal assistance and guidance with the formation of transaction structures, the identification and evaluation of financing and other funding options, and the development of implementation strategies.

    Our economic development attorneys have vast experience working with state, county, and local officials and private developers on some of the most transformative projects in eastern Pennsylvania, which have had a profound economic impact and made the region more attractive to corporations, businesses, and developers.

    Also, our economic development attorneys are members of Pennsylvania Economic Development Association, Urban Land Institute, Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation, and the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce.  

    Who We Help

    Because the economic development of a city, borough, or township must include a variety of professionals and other stakeholders, our clients include private companies, 501(с)(3) non-profit companies, developers, and municipal governments and authorities.  

    As legal counsel, we have advised lenders seeking to leverage the benefits of the Neighborhood Improvement Zone (NIZ) in Allentown, and the City Revitalization and Improvement Zone (CRIZ) in Bethlehem. 

    As special counsel, we served Easton’s Redevelopment Authority regarding the Silk Mill Complex and the City of Easton regarding the redevelopment of the former Stewart Silk Mill (Black Diamond site). 

    We have served as environmental counsel to Sands Casino and currently serve as environmental counsel to Lehigh Valley Industrial Park, the developer of the Waterfront Project, a brownfield redevelopment along the Lehigh River in the City of Allentown, and Lehigh Valley Land Recycling Initiative.

    Our firm has handled numerous tax-exempt financings for public authorities that issue conduit debt for the benefit of both public and private entities including Morningstar Senior Living, Lafayette College, Moravian College, Lehigh University, St. Luke’s Hospital, Cetronia Ambulance Corps, and the Da Vinci Science Center.  

    Most recently, we served as lead counsel on the Northampton County P3 Bridge Renewal Project, the first-of-its-kind project in Pennsylvania.

    Our representative Solicitorships include:

    • Easton Parking Authority
    • Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Foundation

    What We Do

    Our economic development services include:

    • Representation on Real Estate and Title Matters
    • Land Development, Use, and Zoning
    • Public and Private Loans and Grants including Pennsylvania Infrastructure Bank and Business in Our Sites Loans
    • Neighborhood Improvement Zone (NIZ) Projects in Allentown
    • City Revitalization and Improvement Zone (CRIZ) Projects in Bethlehem.
    • Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Projects
    • Creation of Public-Private Partnerships (P3)
    • Qualified Opportunity Zone (QOZ) Projects
    • Brownfield Redevelopment and Environmental Services
    • Adoption of Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance Act (LERTA) Ordinance
    • Special Purpose Legal Entity Formation and Tax Analysis
    • EB-5 Projects 
    • State and Federal Advocacy on Special Projects
    • Complex Contract Negotiation and Drafting

    Project Successes

    The following are some of the successful economic development projects in which Norris McLaughlin has played a major role:

    • Easton Intermodal and City Hall Project (located on 3rd Street) 
    • West Hills Business Center I-78 and PA 863 (TIF)
    • Hamilton Crossings -Lower Macungie Township (TIF)
    • City Center development financing – downtown Allentown (Allentown)
    • Chrin/Tatamy Interchange- Route 33 (TIF)
    • Bethlehem Steel Plant – Brownfield Remediation including Bethlehem Technology Centers
    • William Penn Highway and 25th Highway Improvements (TIF)
    • Social Still – Bethlehem 
    • LERTA Ordinance – 850 acres – Upper Mount Bethel Township
    • Simon Silk Mill (SILK) in Easton, PA 

    2 Attorneys found

    John F. Lushis, Jr.

    Member
    Pennsylvania

    Education

    • Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law
      • J.D.
    • University of Notre Dame
      • B.S.M.E., cum laude

    Area of Practice

    • Business Law
    • Economic Development Law
    • Environmental Law
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Solar Energy

    S. Graham Simmons, III

    Member
    Pennsylvania

    Education

    • Villanova University School of Law
      • J.D., magna cum laude, Order of the Coif
    • Roanoke College
      • B.A.

    Area of Practice

    • Banking & Financial Services
    • Business Law
    • Economic Development Law
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Real Estate, Finance, and Land Use
    • Health Care & Life Sciences
    • Hospitals and Health Networks

    News

    August 19, 2019
    John Lushis a Presenter at CDFA Summer School
    May 22, 2019
    S. Graham Simmons III Named Honorary Chair of the 31st Annual Children’s Home of Easton’s Golf Tournament
    May 8, 2019
    S. Graham Simmons III Named Pennsylvania’s Administrative Partner
    October 5, 2018
    Norris McLaughlin to Present at Mid Atlantic Brewers Symposium
    November 7, 2017
    John Lushis Presents at 2017 RE3 Conference
    October 17, 2017
    Norris McLaughlin, P.A. to Sponsor and John Lushis & Graham Simmons to Participate in 2017 PEDA Fall Conference
    August 1, 2017
    John Lushis, a Co-Presenter at NACo Annual Conference & Exposition
    April 8, 2014
    Norris McLaughlin, P.A.Launches Economic Development Law Practice Group
    October 20, 2010
    S. Graham Simmons Featured in Express Times Article Regarding New Position as Chairman of Easton Area Chamber of Commerce

    Can't find what you're looking for?

    Contact us

    Helpful links

    • About Us
    • News
    • Services
    • Blogs
    • Attorneys
    • Articles
    • (COVID-19)
    • Events
    • Join our Team
    Connect

    Connect with Us

    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • Youtube

    Join our growing team

    We are looking for quality attorneys to help us do more for our clients. At Norris McLaughlin, each attorney has the same opportunity to succeed whether you’re at the beginning of a career or pinnacle of the profession.

    Learn More

    Subscribe to our content

    Receive timely legal information delivered to your inbox

    This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
    © , Norris McLaughlin, P.A., All Rights Reserved. Attorney Advertising.
    VIEW OUR DISCLAIMER,  TERMS OF USE,  AND PRIVACY POLICY

    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume you consent to our cookie policy. Learn more