City Deputy Economic Development Director Resigns

Bethlehem’s deputy director of community and economic development, Kathy Vossough, has resigned her post after six years to take a position with her brother’s growing New Jersey-based business, the mayor’s office announced.

“It has been an amazing privilege to serve this City in the capacity that I have,” Vossough wrote in her resignation letter to Mayor John Callahan.

“Kathy has been a true asset to the City of Bethlehem, and we will miss her greatly,” Callahan said. “At the same time, we understand her decision, and are very excited for her.”

Vossough will become operations director for her brother’s growing business, which will include “several urban redevelopment projects that are in the pipeline,” according to the news release. The resignation is effective in mid-August.

Vossough said the decision was not an easy one.

“While I am excited to be working along side my brother, I will wholeheartedly miss working with my Bethlehem peers, the business community, and our various Lehigh Valley partners,” she said.

Vossough manages the city’s revolving loan fund, which provided low-interest borrowing to help new business start and existing business grow in Bethlehem. In many cases, she has been the initial City Hall contact for businesses looking to relocate, expand or start, according to the mayor’s news release.

As Deputy Director, Vossough also served on a number of boards and committees, including the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce, Community Action Development of Bethlehem, Discover Lehigh Valley, Lehigh Valley Recycling Initiative, Bethlehem Fine Arts Commission and Friends of the Levitt Pavilion.

“She has been an excellent resource for merchants and businesses old and new when they need something from City Hall,” said Joe Kelly, the city’s economic development director. “She will be sorely missed by this department, and the business community with whom she has developed strong relationships,”

Vossough was hired as deputy economic development director in December of 2005, just before the city received a gaming license for the development of the . She brought with her experience from both the private and public sectors.

“I know that City Hall and the business community will miss her deep rooted dedication, high level of professionalism, and her natural ability to build the relationships that she has over these years within our business community – even sometimes under the most tenuous of circumstances,” said Tony Hanna, executive director of the Bethlehem Redevelopment Authority and the former director of community and economic development when Vossough was hired.