The first awards from Pennsylvania’s new $400 million site improvement program will be made early next year. To be considered for that round of approvals, applications must be submitted by Dec. 31. 
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.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis year-round, with approvals issued quarterly. To be eligible for consideration at the next quarterly approval, applications must be received by the end of a calendar quarter to be considered for a funding round.
The online application portal and guidelines can be viewed here.
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 Gov. Josh Shapiro unveiled earlier this year in the Lehigh Valley.
The Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites Program (PA SITES) is a central part of that strategy. It was established by the Shapiro administration to provide grant and loan funding to develop competitive sites for businesses to relocate or expand within the Commonwealth. The program received bipartisan support from the state Legislature.
“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,” said Rick Siger, Pennsylvania Secretary for Community and Economic Development.
“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.”
Funding is issued in two categories: planning grants, and construction grants and loans.
Planning grants may be used to pay for costs associated with: predevelopment planning; marketing, physical, and financial feasibility assessments and projections; geo-technical assessments; environmental assessments; wetlands delineation; planning and engineering design and cost estimates; impact analysis; and other work or activity deemed by the Department of Community and Economic Development as necessary to undertake a site-ready project.
Construction grants and loans may be used for: acquisition of land, buildings, rights of way, and easements; stormwater drainage systems; sanitary sewer systems; transportation, telecommunications, energy, and water supply infrastructure; demolition; building rehabilitation; land clearing and preparation; environmental site assessment and remediation; engineering, design, and inspection costs; signage, landscaping, and street lighting; administrative costs, permit fees, legal costs, and professional services (not to exceed 5% of the grant or loan award).
(Photo courtesy of PA Cast)