Gov. Shapiro touts ‘great team, solid plan’ for state’s economic development

DURYEA — Using several sports-related references, Gov. Josh Shapiro on Friday said in the game of economic development, Pennsylvania was not competitive — the Keystone State wasn’t even in the game.

“We couldn’t even get on the field to compete,” Shapiro said during his visit to Production Systems Automation, Inc., in Duryea. “We now have a great team and a solid game plan. The future is now bright for Pennsylvania.”

As the governor of the only state in the U.S. with a divided legislature, Shapiro said he and his team when to work to — as he has said over and over — “get stuff done.” The state House of Representative is controlled by Democrats and Republicans hold the majority in the Senate.

Shapiro and Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger joined leaders in Luzerne County for a ceremonial bill signing of the new bipartisan budget that Gov. Shapiro signed into law last week.

The 2024-25 budget delivers on the governor’s key priorities to make Pennsylvania more competitive economically — securing $500 million for site development, including $400 million for the PA SITES — Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites — program, which could build on the manufacturing progress local companies are making in Northeast Pennsylvania.

“As Secretary Siger and I have traveled the Commonwealth meeting with businesses, we’ve heard loud and clear that more state investment is needed to develop more sites so that these companies can grow and expand their operations right here,” Shapiro said. “Last year, our PA SITES pilot program made $10 million in grants available for developers and companies — and we secured $500 million for site development in this year’s budget to build on that progress to turn more dirt into jobs, help Pennsylvania compete for more transformational economic development projects, and invest that money back into our communities.”

Production Systems Automation is a system integrator and manufacturer of robotic solutions, experimental ammunitions, drive systems, controls and custom machine building.

Since 2016, PSA has grown from five employees to 90 employees across its Aston, Duryea, and Lawrence locations. The PA SITES program could help companies like Production Systems Automation expand to new sites, further growing their presence in Pennsylvania and creating jobs.

“I am deeply honored to stand before you today for the signing of such an important package for the future of Pennsylvania’s manufacturing and technology industry,” said Michael McHale, President & CEO of Production Systems Automation, Inc. “The PA SITES program will allow manufacturing companies like ours to grow, develop the next generation of manufacturing talent and provide a future for Pennsylvanians, and gives companies like ours a chance to grow and compete on a national stage.”

McHale said the PA Sites program will allow him to hire 100 more people for family-sustaining jobs over the next 36 months.

Gov. Shapiro and Secretary Siger said they have heard from companies across the Commonwealth — and those outside of the Commonwealth who are looking to expand into Pennsylvania or establish operations here — that having more readily available state funding to develop vacant sites is an important priority for them.

During the application period for the PA SITES pilot program, Siger said DCED received 102 applications requesting more than $236 million in funding — far outweighing the existing $10 million in funding from the 2023-24 budget.

The bipartisan budget Gov. Shapiro signed last week delivers that critically needed state investments to make sites more competitive for prospective businesses through better transportation access, utility extensions, or grading of pad-ready sites.

“We’re here today to celebrate a huge win for Pennsylvania’s economy and for our competitiveness,” Siger said. “Thanks to bipartisan support for Governor Shapiro’s budget, we now have $500 million to invest in site development, which our communities and regions, like right here in NEPA, need to compete to attract good, family-sustaining jobs. I’m excited to get to work on getting these additional funds out the door to our communities and can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

Shapiro said the 2024-25 budget received bipartisan support for site development incentives to help Pennsylvania catch up to other states like Ohio, New York and Virginia, who allocate more annual funding to site development to support companies’ major business expansions.

Lindsay Griffin-Boylan, President & CEO of the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce and Chamber of Business & Industry, introduced Gov. Shapiro.

“Today, we also celebrate the historic investment made in Economic Development in this year’s bipartisan budget and the significant impact this will have for our future economy and growth,” Griffin-Boylan said. “This budget not only makes us competitive now, but prepares this region and this Commonwealth to be the leader in economic development, job creation, and innovation for years to come.”

Rep. Aaron Kaufer, R-Kingston, co-prime sponsor of the PA Sites legislation, said the job of those in the legislature is to leave the Commonwealth better than the way they found it.

“And in my final budget here as a legislator in my 10 years, I’m proud to say that we have done that,” Kaufer said. “Governor, when you came to announce this budget, you said we are going to transform and compete and win in Pennsylvania — and that’s exactly what this budget did. This budget is a win for northeastern Pennsylvania. I’m proud to be part of the bipartisan team that helped bring this together help get this budget done. The PA SITES program will truly transform Northeastern Pennsylvania, allowing us to compete on an international scale and make sure that we’re winning.”

Rep. Jim Haddock, D-Pittston Township, is a native of Duryea and formerly served as mayor of Avoca Borough.

“I am excited to join Gov. Shapiro hear today in Duryea to highlight innovative economic growth and development programs include in this year’s budget,” Haddock said. “This brings a new $500 million in site development program, including $400 million to create the PA SITES program to bring more shovel ready commercial and industrial sites to Pennsylvania and $20 million for the Main Street Matters program to support small businesses that are the backbone of communities here in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties.”

Michelle Mikitish, President of the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce, said in addition to the PA SITES Program, the budget also includes $20 Million for the Main Street Matters program to support small business.

“Over 7,000 small businesses are the backbone of the 76 municipalities that make up Luzerne County,” Mikitish said. “The Main Street Matters program is a much-needed resource that will support the growth of small business and strengthen our communities.”

Griffin-Boylan added, “The recently approved state budget not only makes Pennsylvania competitive now, but prepares this region and the Commonwealth to be the leader in economic development, job creation and innovation for years to come.”