On Wednesday, Gov. Josh Shapiro announced the state would make $10.6 million in grant funding to create sites across Pennsylvania become “shovel ready” to attract more businesses.
In conjunction with the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger, Shapiro said the funding from the Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites (PA SITES) will fund seven sites across the state and help local economic development agencies develop the sites to be ready for businesses to move in – from securing permits to building out critical infrastructure.
“Last year, we launched a pilot program for site development through DCED, asked for applications, and made $10 million in grants available for developers and companies to begin that process,” Shapiro said. “These sites are key to growing our economy, creating more jobs and thriving communities, and helping Pennsylvania compete – and win.”
Shapiro’s office said that Pennsylvania lacks readily available sites for major businesses to expand into when compared to neighboring states. The PA SITES program was created, Shapiro said, to build those sites and help the state remain competitive.
DCED said it has received more than 100 applications worth $235 million for site development since the program was launched.
Among the recipients of this year’s grant were Allentown Commercial and Industrial Development Authority, which received more than $1.1 million to run utility extensions for water, sewer and natural gas to a proposed business site; the RIDC Southwestern Pennsylvania Growth Fund, which received more than $2.3 million for development of the Carrie Furnace site; the Wayne Economic Development Corporation which received $900,000 for the expansion of a wastewater treatment plant within the Sterling Business & Technology Park in Sterling Township.
“The PA SITES program will allow AEDC to accelerate our redevelopment of a vacant brownfield and return the property to productive use,” said R. Scott Unger, Executive Director of the Allentown Economic Development Corporation. “The funding will address a unique need of this property that requires utility extensions and with the help of the pilot program, AEDC can continue our mission of increasing access to manufacturing employment and restoring economic activity to underutilized sites throughout the City of Allentown.”