{"id":124785,"date":"2026-02-27T03:58:21","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T03:58:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/124785\/"},"modified":"2026-02-27T03:58:21","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T03:58:21","slug":"gov-shapiro-announces-round-3-of-pa-sites-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/124785\/","title":{"rendered":"Gov Shapiro Announces Round 3 of PA SITES Awards"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Harrisburg, PA \u2013 Today, Governor Josh Shapiro and Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger announced that the Commonwealth is investing over $31 million in seven projects through the <a href=\"https:\/\/dced.pa.gov\/programs\/pennsylvania-strategic-investments-to-enhance-sites-program-pa-sites\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">PA SITES (Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites<\/a> program to build more shovel-ready industrial sites across the Commonwealth \u2014 helping attract businesses, investment, and good-paying jobs to Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen I took office, I directed our team to put together a plan to make our Commonwealth more competitive and grow our economy \u2013\u00a0PA SITES is a critical part of that effort,\u201d said Governor Shapiro. \u201cWorking in a bipartisan manner, we\u2019ve secured over $500 million for site development across the Commonwealth \u2013\u00a0and we\u2019re now driving out those dollars and turning dirt into jobs and economic opportunity. These new awards will help more communities attract new businesses, create good-paying jobs, and lay the foundation for long-term economic growth.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Governor Shapiro and DCED developed <a href=\"https:\/\/dced.pa.gov\/programs\/pennsylvania-strategic-investments-to-enhance-sites-program-pa-sites\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">PA SITES<\/a> after soliciting feedback from national site selectors who help companies decide where to relocate and grow.<\/p>\n<p>The Governor worked across the aisle to secure $500 million for site development in his 2024-25 bipartisan budget, including $400 million for PA SITES. As a result of the program\u2019s success and the Governor\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/pagetsitdone.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">economic development strategy<\/a>, Site Selection Magazine named Pennsylvania one of the top business climates in the nation. The Commonwealth is 11th in the <a href=\"https:\/\/siteselection.com\/2025-business-climate-rankings-texas-tops-business-climate-rankings-again\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">2025 Business Climate Rankings<\/a>, up seven spots from the previous year.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have built incredible economic development momentum in Pennsylvania thanks to investments like PA SITES, which has given us the ability to win deals we would not have won before,\u201d said Secretary Siger. \u201cPennsylvania already offers so much of what companies are looking for \u2014 a skilled workforce, abundant natural resources, and a strategic location \u2014 and now we\u2019re matching those strengths with development-ready sites. These new investments will create even more good-paying jobs, expand opportunity, and drive long-term economic growth in communities across the Commonwealth.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>PA SITES played a critical role in securing two historic economic development deals announced in the last month \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pa.gov\/governor\/newsroom\/2026-press-releases\/governor-shapiro-secures-historic--3-5-billion-investment-from-l\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Eli Lilly<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pa.gov\/governor\/newsroom\/2026-press-releases\/gov-shapiro-secures--1-billion-investment-from-j-j-to-build-new-\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Johnson &amp; Johnson<\/a>. Lilly is eligible for up to $25 million in PA SITES funding to support the construction of its new $3.5 billion facility in the Lehigh Valley and Johnson &amp; Johnson\u2019s over $1 billion expansion in Montgomery County is eligible for up to $15 million in PA SITES funding.<\/p>\n<p>Governor Shapiro\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pa.gov\/content\/dam\/copapwp-pagov\/en\/budget\/documents\/publications-and-reports\/commonwealthbudget\/2026-27-budget-documents\/2026-27%20budget%20in%20brief.final.web.v.2.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">2026-27 proposed budget<\/a> builds on this momentum by investing in long-term economic growth and ensuring communities across the Commonwealth can compete \u2014 and win. The Governor\u2019s budget proposal creates a new Critical Infrastructure Investment Fund \u2014 a $1 billion initiative that will provide flexible funding for large, transformative infrastructure projects across the Commonwealth, including bringing new energy generation onto the grid, building and preserving housing, and upgrading school and municipal facilities.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pa.gov\/governor\/newsroom\/2025-press-releases\/gov-shapiro-first-pa-sites-grant-awards--64m-11-projects-across-\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">first round<\/a> of PA SITES awards were announced in May 2025 and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pa.gov\/governor\/newsroom\/2025-press-releases\/gov-shapiro-announces-new-pa-sites-awards-over--39m-11-projects-\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">second round<\/a> in October 2025. DCED administers the program, accepting applications and award grants and loans for eligible projects on a rolling quarterly basis. Since the program\u2019s inception, PA SITES has awarded over $146.4 million in funding to 37 projects.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dced.pa.gov\/download\/pa-sites-awards-2026-02-20\/?wpdmdl=128862\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Round 3<\/a> PA SITES program funding is being awarded to the following recipients:<\/p>\n<p>Allegheny County \u2013 $8,980,000 grant to AMS Land Acquisitions, LLC., to develop the 596-acre Pittsburgh Innovation Park Property in Findlay Township. PA SITES funding will be used for Phase I of the project, supporting the development of roadway infrastructure, water and sanitary utility extensions, sidewalks, park lighting, storm sewers and stormwater retention facilities, retaining walls and structures, connection to the existing roadway network, mass grading to mitigate areas of extreme topography and environmental remediation for any unforeseen contaminants.<br \/>\nColumbia County \u2013 $935,789 grant to the Berwick Industrial Development Association (BIDA) to demolish two hazardous buildings located in the BIDA Industrial Complex in Berwick Borough. PA SITES funds will be used for removal and disposal of building structures that are contaminated with asbestos. The two buildings total 14,400-square-feet will be demolished to prepare a site for a 125,000 square-foot building.<br \/>\nLuzerne County \u2013 $11,450,000 to the Greater Hazleton Community-Area New Development Organization, Inc. A grant of $6,300,000 and a loan of $5,150,000 will be used to develop a 150-acre site into the Humboldt Industrial Park Northwest (HIPNW) in Hazle Township. The proposed project will develop five parcels ranging from 18 to 33 acres for multiple 185,000 to 310,000 square-feet buildings. PA SITES funds will be used for site preparation, utility extension, and stormwater management.<br \/>\nNorthampton \u2013\u00a0$250,000 grant to Greystone Capital, Inc., to complete a comprehensive real estate plan for developing a 54-acre site into a shovel-ready industrial campus located in Glendon Borough. PA SITES funds will be used for design services including surveying, floodplain analysis, an environmental assessment, geotechnical reporting, preliminary land development planning and permitting.$875,000 grant to Eastupland Associates to support the demolition of the existing SureStay Hotel in Hanover Township. The demolition will prepare the site for construction of a 250,000 square-foot industrial building.&#13;<\/p>\n<p>Northumberland \u2013 $5,753,400 grant to DRIVE, the economic development entity for five counties in Central Pennsylvania, to develop a 100+ acre site into a pad-ready site for manufacturing or light industrial development in Point Township. This project will complete all required earthwork and grading, relocate utility poles, install a 125,000-gallon water tank, and complete necessary studies required for permitting an on-lot septic system.<br \/>\nSchuylkill \u2013 $3,108,663 to Schuylkill Economic Development Corporation. A grant of $1,554,331 and a loan of $1,554,332 will be used to make improvements to Lot 12, a 26.4 acre parcel within the Highridge Business Park in Foster Township. PA SITES funds will be used for a geotechnical study, clearing and grading of the land, extension of transmission infrastructure, and the installation of stormwater management, paving, and curbing.<\/p>\n<p>Pennsylvania\u2019s Business Climate and Growing Economy is Earning National Recognition<\/p>\n<p>Since taking office, Governor Shapiro has made Pennsylvania more competitive \u2014 cutting red tape, streamlining permitting and licensing, and attracting over $40.4 billion in private-sector investment that has created more than 22,424 good-paying jobs across the Commonwealth:<\/p>\n<p>Pennsylvania is the only state in the Northeast with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/newsletters\/axios-macro-a4b56420-a516-11f0-8a32-b1c1571dfd59.html?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_c\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">growing economy<\/a>, based on analysis done by Moody\u2019s Analytics Chief Economist Mark Zandi.<br \/>\nArea Development ranked Pennsylvania among the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.areadevelopment.com\/Top-States-for-Doing-Business\/q3-2025\/2025s-top-states-for-business.shtml\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">top 20 \u201cBest States for Business\u201d<\/a> \u2014 the only Northeastern state to make the list \u2014 and placed the Commonwealth in the top 10 for \u201cSite Readiness Programs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Learn more about the Shapiro Administration\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pa.gov\/governor\/accomplishments\/economic-development\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">efforts<\/a> to support Pennsylvania\u2019s workers and businesses and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pa.gov\/governor\/accomplishments\/economic-development\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">create economic <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pa.gov\/governor\/accomplishments\/economic-development\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">opportunity<\/a> to build a stronger, more competitive economy for all Pennsylvanians.<\/p>\n<p>Watch the Governor\u2019s full budget address to a joint session of the House and Senate <a href=\"https:\/\/pacast.com\/a?p=28916\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a> and read the Governor\u2019s full remarks as prepared for delivery <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pa.gov\/governor\/newsroom\/2026-press-releases\/governor-shapiro-s-2026-27-budget-address-as-prepared-for-delive\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Read the Governor\u2019s 2026-27 proposed budget in brief <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pa.gov\/content\/dam\/copapwp-pagov\/en\/budget\/documents\/publications-and-reports\/commonwealthbudget\/2026-27-budget-documents\/2026-27%20budget%20in%20brief.final.web.v.2.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Harrisburg, PA \u2013 Today, Governor Josh Shapiro and Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":47278,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[28,30,29],"class_list":{"0":"post-124785","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-pennsylvania","8":"tag-pennsylvania","9":"tag-pennsylvania-headlines","10":"tag-pennsylvania-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/124785","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=124785"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/124785\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/47278"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=124785"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=124785"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=124785"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}