Allison BarnetteThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has awarded $64 million to 11 site development projects as part of the $500 million Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Advance Sites (PA SITES) program, with additional funding awards anticipated in the third quarter of 2025.
Launched under Gov. Josh Shapiro’s economic development strategy, PA SITES intends to create shovel-ready sites to attract businesses and spur job growth. The program received 66 applications in this first round. Funding supports site planning, feasibility studies, infrastructure upgrades and environmental remediation, with awards based on a competitive review of need, marketability and alignment with state economic priorities.
Gov. Shapiro announced the initial awards in Bedford County, where the Bedford County Development Association received $2.8 million to develop two sections of a 151-acre business park. The project, which includes nine lots, represents a mid-range investment compared to others in this round.
At the high end, Philadelphia’s Ensemble/Mosaic Navy Yard project received $30 million to prepare 54 acres for life sciences and manufacturing. Other projects include $2.3 million for infrastructure in Berks and Bucks counties, nearly $7 million to revitalize a former manufacturing site in Westmoreland County and various other grants supporting long-term industrial readiness across the state.
The Shapiro administration has taken other steps to make Pennsylvania more business-friendly, including reducing business filing times from eight weeks to two days, raising the Net Operating Loss deduction limit to 80% by 2029 and proposing a phased reduction of the Corporate Net Income Tax to 4.99% by 2029.
