Entrepreneurial Ecosystem of Creative Industries in Lehigh Valley: A Multilevel Framework Approach

Abstract

Entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) play a pivotal role in fostering entrepreneurial activity, revitalizing struggling regions, reducing unemployment and crime, and enhancing community well-being. However, most EEs’ research to date has focused on high-tech and innovative technology ventures, leaving Creative Industries (CIs) and marginalized entrepreneurial sectors underexplored—particularly in peripheral regions. This chapter addresses this gap by examining the dynamics of local EEs in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley and their impact on entrepreneurship within CIs. CI entrepreneurs navigate unique ecosystem challenges and opportunities, highlighting the need for context-sensitive, empirical insights to inform effective support strategies. Drawing on Roundy and Im’s (2024) multilevel framework, the authors analyzed diverse data sources to explore how the Lehigh Valley can be strengthened as a hub for CI entrepreneurs. Using the case of Bethlehem’s postindustrial transformation following the collapse of Bethlehem Steel, the authors demonstrate how EEs, urban development, and economic regeneration intersect. This chapter contributes to the growing literature on EEs by providing new insights into fostering creative entrepreneurship in regions recovering from external shocks.