CEO Guide to Site Selection

#35

Pennsylvania

CEO Rank on Best & Worst States for Business

THE KEY TO THE KEYSTONE STATE’S SUCCESS

The Keystone State landed several notable projects in the past year. Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed 2021-2022 budget prioritized economic recovery and growth through business tax cuts and investments in workforce development. Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Davin noted in a press release that the governor’s plan would lead to a tax cut of more than $240 million, with more than 400,000 business owners paying less in tax than they currently do.

“Our commonwealth is the perfect location for innovative companies. Pennsylvania has a highly educated, skilled and talented workforce, we’re home to leading universities and research centers, and the state is conveniently located near other major cities. The research pursued, and the technology created right here, right now, in Pennsylvania will power the next generation of economic growth and development.”
Tom Wolf
Governor

TAXES

0 %

top corporate income tax

# 0

on the Tax Foundation’s State Business Tax Climate Index ranking

EDUCATION

0 %

of students graduated high school in 2019

0 %

of adults age 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or higher

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

0 %

RIGHT TO WORK STATE

No

QUALITY OF LIFE

# 0

POPULATION GROWTH

0 %

increase between 2010 and 2020

“As the transportation industry shifts toward electric vehicles, developing new innovations for customers relies on our ability to attract, develop and retain qualified talent. Relocating our headquarters to Knowledge Park and expanding our association with Penn State Behrend—a major college of one of the country’s top universities and a longstanding Truck-Lite partner—creates a strong pipeline of future electrical engineers, data scientists and business leaders in the years to come.”
Brian KupchellaCEO, Clarience Technologies
“We are grateful for the support from the York County Economic Alliance, the Governor’s Action Team and Governor Wolf for their generous support to enable Bio- Technique to relocate from Wisconsin to Pennsylvania. We are excited to become a contributor in the success of the Pennsylvania economy.”
John ClaphamCEO, PSC Biotech
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KEY INCENTIVES

Job Creation Tax Credit (JCTC): Offers a tax credit of $1,000 per year for three years for each job for companies that create at least 25 jobs or expand existing employment by 20%.

Pennsylvania First Program (PA First): Offers grants, loans or loan guarantees for large-scale competitive “targeted industry” projects that involve significant job growth and capital investment.

Qualified Manufacturing Innovation & Reinvestment Deduction: Offers a 5% corporate tax deduction for up to five years for companies that invest more than $100 million in a manufacturing facility.

Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) Loan: Offers low-interest loans to finance land, building, machinery and equipment costs for businesses that commit to creating or retaining jobs.

EDCs

PA Department of Community & Economic Development

dced.pa.gov

Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC

harrisburgregionalchamber.org/economic-business-de- velopment

PIDC Philadelphia

pidcphila.com

Pittsburgh: Next is Now

pittsburghregion.org

HIGHLIGHTED PROGRAM OR INITIATIVE

Since its creation in 2017, the Pre-Apprentice and Apprenticeship Grant Program, housed at the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), has been a success story in the state. It helps employers develop specialized training for their workers to close the skills gap and to provide career opportunities for students and adults. More than 4,700 Pennsylvanians have become apprentices since the program started.

BIG DEALS

  • Stir Foods Lancaster announced in August 2021 up to 100 new jobs at an expansion in Lancaster.
  • West Pharmaceutical Services announced in August 2021 an $18 million investment and 200 new jobs at its locations in Williamsport, Jersey Shore and Exton.
  • Chewy announced in August 2021 500 new jobs at an expansion in Pittston Township.
  • Express Med Pharmaceuticals announced in Septem- ber 2021 an $8 million expansion and 700 new jobs in Beaver County.
  • Great Dane announced in September 2021 a $3.5 mil- lion expansion in Elysburg and 200 new jobs.
  • Chance Aluminum announced in September 2021 it would open its first manufacturing operation and create 100 new jobs in Williamsport.

BIG COMPANIES

24 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in the state, including:

  • AmerisourceBergen 
  • Comcast
  • PNC Financial Services Group 
  • Rite Aid
  • Aramark
  • Crown Holdings 
  • Dick’s Sporting Goods 
  • Alcoa
  • Erie Insurance Group 
  • Hershey

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