Northeastern Pennsylvania has been ranked in the top 10 metropolitan areas in the United States for economic development, according to Penn’s Northeast.
Penn’s Northeast said in a press release that it had compiled and submitted a list of economic development project to Site Selection Magazine for consideration in its annual ranking of metro areas. Northeastern PA ranked in the Top 10 Tier 2 Metros (with a population of 200,000 to one million for both the total number of projects and per capita, the magazine said. It was the first time Northeastern Pennsylvania was recognized nationally as one of the best locations in the country for economic development projects.
“This impressive ranking demonstrates the exceptional work we do as economic developers in cooperation with our members and partners at the local, regional, and state levels,” said John L. Augustine III, president/CEO of Penn’s Northeast. “There’s no question that more and more companies are seeking out Northeastern PA as a place of choice for new business development… You can reach one-third of the United States and half of Canada in a one-day drive from Northeastern Pennsylvania. Companies continue to recognize this as they need to get their products to market and consumers as quickly as possible.
Officials said location coupled with reliable utilities and a dedicated workforce, and the region’s education network helped the area to stand out.
Penn’s Northeast is a regional economic development agency whose goal is to attract employers to the area. Conway Data produces Site Selection magazine, a bi-monthly expansion planning publication recognized as the leading publication in corporate real estate, facility planning, location analysis and foreign direct investment.