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Tuesday of this week was our annual Economic Outlook event. There were over 700 Lehigh Valley business leaders in attendance. It never ceases to amaze me how large this chamber has become. Of course large is one thing, good is another, and we will continue our relentless pursuit of excellence. I can tell you this, our membership keeps growing and our reach keeps expanding. Even I never thought we'd become one of the top 10 chambers in the United States. So, how did that happen? It happened because communities joined together. After business leaders came to the table to discuss a regional chamber, they realized how interrelated the Lehigh Valley has become. That it's best to leave no community behind. That not only do we need vibrant cities, but we must equally have the economic strength in our smaller suburban boroughs and towns. And that together we're a force and can be at the table with the largest of regions in the country. So, back to the Outlook event. We heard from Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. President and CEO Don Cunningham that the Valley's future continues to look bright. That of all sectors, MANUFACTURING is our major business driver and growing. That's good news for all of us. Manufacturing jobs tend to be solid, stable and a middle class driver. Don and his staff continue to do great work in not only the recruiting of businesses, but also the fostering of their growth, which pays benefits to all of us. How about this one? The ever-energetic Nancy Dischinat, executive director of the Lehigh Valley Workforce Development Board, told us there are more job openings than there are available workers. She encourages what I'm now hearing more often and with more urgency, the four year college degree isn't the ONLY path for success. In fact, your job prospects will greatly improve if you learn a skill. We need auto mechanics, CDL licensed drivers, carpenters and many more skilled labor jobs ... more than ever! We heard from national economist Dr. Jay Bryson of Wells Fargo that things are looking good. There's no recession in sight. The ever-improving stock market has a good chance to remain vibrant. All this with one footnote: as long as President Trump doesn't do anything to shock the system! So, again, it's about Donald Trump. If he doesn't get us into a trade war with China or a major border dispute with Mexico or any other unforeseen drama, the future looks bright. Can his tax breaks fuel this growth or will it increase the national debt? Will his commitment to improving our declining infrastructure fuel job growth with millions of good-paying construction jobs for working class Americans? Here are some early positive signs. How about the Dow rising above 20,000 for the first time ever? How about the reduction in taxes for companies that will allow them to grow and invest in America? How about our friends from the trades and middle class workers who have great concerns about competing against lesser-paid undocumented workers for jobs? How about the tough stance on companies who threaten to move abroad but now are committed to remain here and expand business ... meaning more jobs and an expanding economy? I said it before and I'll say it again. I know lots of people are somewhere between anxious and furious, but business is mostly giddy. They're happy they have a pro-business voice in the White House. The new tax structure may be more business-friendly. I sense they're going wait a bit more, but I believe they will soon be "all in" in terms of hiring and/or expanding investment. So, hang on to your hats, things are looking good. Most everyone is still holding their breath, waiting for a shoe to drop. We Americans are an optimistic lot, but we've grown a tad cautious on the business front. But maybe, just maybe, we're in for future growth and prosperity as Trump would say: big league ! Tony Iannelli is president and CEO of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. His column appears weekly on the Business Cycle. He can be reached at tonyi@lehighvalleychamber.org Read the original article here.