A central piece of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s new economic development strategy has been launched, with applications being accepted for $400 million in grants to improve sites and get them shovel-ready for speedy development. 
The PA SITES program funds infrastructure, utility, and other improvements. Eligible applicants include municipalities, economic development organizations, redevelopment authorities, municipal authorities, industrial development agencies, and for-profit organizations.
“The $400 million secured by Governor Shapiro for the PA SITES program provides funding to develop more high-quality, pad ready sites for companies looking to expand in Pennsylvania or establish new operations here,” said Rick Siger, Pennsylvania Secretary for Community and Economic Development. “Our investments through this crucial program will bring sites to market faster by funding better transportation access, utility connections, and other site preparation activities. PA SITES will help Pennsylvania compete for even more transformational economic development projects, which create resources to invest back into our citizens and our communities.”
In May, Shapiro visited the Lehigh Valley to personally announce the first recipient of a PA SITES grant, a proposed manufacturing facility in Allentown that could employ 50 people. The $1.1 million grant will allow for utilities to be extended to the site.
In July, Shapiro returned to the Lehigh Valley for a ceremonial signing of the legislation authorizing $400 million in funding for PA SITES. That occurred in front of a former Bethlehem Steel building that is an opportunity for redevelopment.
“PA SITES will turn challenging properties into prime opportunities,” said Kristin Cahayla-Hoffman, Vice President of Business Development and Attraction at Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC). “Businesses prioritize locations where speed to market is maximized, and this program will improve Lehigh Valley’s ability to compete for job-creating investment.”
PA SITES funding consists of planning grants that can be used to conduct plans or feasibility studies for prospective sites, as well as construction grants and loans to help finance strategic investments to enhance sites across the Commonwealth.
Award amounts will be determined based on a competitive analysis that includes the applicant’s need, the marketability of the fully developed site, and the project’s alignment with local and regional priorities, and with the key industries in Pennsylvania’s Economic Development Strategy, which Shapiro unveiled earlier this year in the Lehigh Valley.
More information about the program, including application guidelines, is available on the PA SITES web page.