When speaking with Phil Armstrong, he says he has never enjoyed anything more than what he is doing now, being a County Executive. You can feel the passion in his voice when talking about Lehigh County and what it means to him.
There are many accomplishments Phil can be proud of. One is keeping the IronPigs at Coca-Cola Park in Lehigh! The AAA baseball team is a large part of the community so when the stadium was told to make $15 million in renovations in order to keep the team, Phil knew he had to step in. Together as a group, Phil worked with the team owner, the Chamber of Commerce and several sources including state and local government to keep the Coca Cola Park running! Just last year, the stadium’s attendance was the #1 in the AAA baseball league!
Phil finds networking with other counties to be extremely beneficial. Whether teaming up with Northampton County in preserving farmland in all of Lehigh Valley or representing PA, NY, NJ and DE on the National Association of Regional Councils, working with other counties even on a regional scale will help an entire area. Phil’s goal is to put Lehigh County on the map and he is right on track!
Most recently, Phil was on the cover of the NACo newsletter highlighting Lehigh County to be the only county in the state of Pennsylvania who has a lawyer dedicated specifically to the pardon project. The project allows for individuals to have a lawyer dedicated in helping them gain personal and financial growth such as housing, jobs, education, clothing, etc. after their small conviction. As of this year, there has been a 98% success rate!
Phil runs a webcast every Friday where he highlights upcoming events in the community. It is his way to reach several thousands and engage with them the amazing things Lehigh County has to offer. From hanging with goats on the farm to a “Kiss the Pig” contest, Phil is right there in the mix!
After becoming a member of the CEA during his 1st month of office, Phil has found an unbelievable amount of information and opportunities within the CEA. He expressed that since joining, Lehigh County has saved 5 million dollars, medical bills have gone down, received 10,000 kits from Deterra for hospitals to give away, expanded opportunities to bid on different offerings and continues to utilize everything else the CEA has to offer.
Phil is a proud member of the County Executives of America and we are honored to highlight him this season!