Pennsylvania’s new $45.5 billion budget invests significantly more funding aimed at growing the economy with new jobs and businesses.

The 2023-24 budget, signed by Gov. Josh Shapiro in August and enacted with bipartisan support of the Legislature, directs millions more to programs to help attract and retain businesses and develop a skilled workforce.

The budget allocates $33 million for the PA First program, the lead discretionary funding program for business location and retention initiatives. That’s an increase of 65% from fiscal year 2022-23.

The budget increases in other economic development programs include:

• Office of International Development, $7.17 million, up from $5.97 million, a 20.3% increase.
• Manufacturing PA, $13 million, up from $12 million, an 8.3% increase.
• Marketing to Attract Business, $2.06 million, up from $2.02 million, a 2.4% increase.
• Keystone Communities, $37.67 million, up from $36.97 million, a 1.9% increase.

“My administration is moving at the speed of business, and we’re helping companies make transformational investments that are bringing good-paying jobs to Pennsylvania and positioning us to be a leader in innovation and economic development,” Shapiro said.

“This budget is a crucial investment in Pennsylvania’s economy and lets us be more aggressive in attracting and retaining businesses and strengthening our communities,” said Rick Siger, Secretary of Community and Economic Development. “Economic prosperity requires more than just business expansion and development – this spending plan also invests in building a skilled workforce and vibrant communities. Pennsylvania is open for business and on its way to becoming an economic powerhouse.”

Among the programs renewed is the Partnerships for Regional Economic Performance, which is Pennsylvania’s network of business assistance partners who are designed to help companies start, grow and prosper. Among the work Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC) supports is the Engage!, a business outreach program. The program is designed to identify opportunities and challenges businesses have and to offer those companies technical assistance.

The budget also allocates $23.5 million for workforce training and career and technical programs and $6 million in pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programming. An additional $3.5 million funds the Schools-to-Work Program to develop and expand career pathways for high school students via partnerships between schools, employers, organizations, and the Commonwealth.

And the state is dedicating $400 million in federal infrastructure funding to workforce development in what Shapiro said is the first program of its kind in the nation, which will train 10,000 new workers. Organizations performing work that is paid for with funds from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act are eligible to receive up to $40,000 for each new worker they train.

Weeks after the budget was passed, Shapiro visited the Lehigh Valley, which has added 13,000 jobs in the last five years, to underscore the investment the budget makes in workforce training.

“This is the biggest investment in workforce training in the history of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” Shapiro said during an Aug. 30 visit to the Allentown campus of the Eastern Atlantic States Carpenters Technical College where he highlighted the state’s commitment to developing the workforce of the future in the building and construction trades.

“I've heard so many companies and contractors and unions who've told me they're struggling to find enough workers to meet this demand, to meet this unique moment where we've got the dollars to do the work,” Shapiro said. “We've got to have the hands on the project sites to make sure it happens. If you don't invest in our workers today, we will fail to capitalize on this historic moment of opportunity.”