Gov. Josh Shapiro Announces $39 Million in PA Sites Funding for Economic Development

Economic Development Initiatives in Pennsylvania

• 🚀 Governor Josh Shapiro highlighted Pennsylvania's renewed focus on economic development, aiming to attract new businesses, industries, and jobs.
• 💡 The administration has implemented a comprehensive economic development strategy, the first in 20 years, focusing on site readiness and speed to market.
• 🤝 Shapiro emphasized the importance of bipartisan cooperation in funding economic development initiatives, noting his administration's success in working with a divided legislature.

PA Sites Program and Site Development

• 💰 The PA Sites program has secured historic funding, with $500 million allocated for site development to lay the foundation for economic growth.
• 🏗️ The program has already invested $75 million in 18 projects, leading to the creation of 7,840 permanent jobs.
• 📍 Today's announcement includes $39 million for 11 new projects, with $6 million dedicated to a new logistics center on 87 acres of abandoned mine land in Lackawanna County.
• ⏱️ The Office of Transformation and Opportunity (OTO) has streamlined the permitting process through the PA Permit FastTrack initiative, saving up to 1.5 years on projects.

Job Creation and Community Impact

• 👷 The new logistics center project is expected to create at least 150 construction jobs and 700 permanent jobs in Lackawanna County.
• ✨ Governor Shapiro views this project as turning "dirt into jobs and opportunity," providing real freedom and economic stability for families and young people.
• 🏆 Pennsylvania has been recognized for its economic competitiveness, ranking high in the Northeast and nationally for business development, quality of life, and affordability.

Addressing Data Center Development and Energy Policy

• 🏭 The governor discussed the growth of the warehousing and data center industries, emphasizing the need to work with local communities to address concerns like water and electricity use, and noise.
• ⚡ Pennsylvania's status as a net energy exporter allows for energy-intensive economic development, such as data centers, without compromising power reliability or affordability.
• 💡 The state is increasing energy production through initiatives like restarting Three Mile Island and repurposing coal-fired power plants, supporting an "all-of-the-above" energy strategy.

International Trade and Partnerships

• 🇨🇦 Governor Shapiro stressed the importance of strong ties with Canada, a critical trading partner for Pennsylvania, exporting and importing approximately $14 billion worth of goods annually.
• 🗣️ He criticized any rhetoric that undermines Canadian sovereignty, stating it harms the interests of Pennsylvania's farmers and factory workers.
• 🚢 Shapiro was elected chair of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Commission, focusing on protecting the Great Lakes and fostering economic development opportunities between US states and Canadian provinces.