Governor’s Action Team – A Business Concierge
Pennsylvania continues to attract and retain companies thanks to the people, places, and resources found in every corner of our state. We have seen considerable activity from a growing range of industries including agribusiness, life sciences, manufacturing, energy, and services.
For companies considering Pennsylvania as a place to do business, the state offers a suite of complementary and confidential services to help with your location decision. The Governor’s Action Team (GAT) is a single point of contact within state government, ateam of experienced economic development professionals that work with site selectors and corporate real estate professionals to help existing companies expand and new companies relocate to Pennsylvania. GAT is headquartered in Harrisburg, the state capital, and has six regional offices covering territories throughout the commonwealth. In existence for more than three decades, GAT has always acted as the representatives for the current administration and provided a strong foundation for economic development activity in Pennsylvania.
Manufacturers of all sizes have found Pennsylvania to be an attractive option for new projects and expansion. With Pennsylvania’s strategic location within a day’s drive to six of the ten major U.S. markets, as well as sixty percent of the U.S. and Canada’s population, Pennsylvania offers access to some of the most developed and robust markets in the nation. The state has many recent examples to share as evidence of its continued growth.
First, there is DeVilbiss Healthcare LLC — a global manufacturer of respiratory and sleep products, which recently announced plans to expand operations in Somerset County. With an investment of more than $1.9 million, this move will create and retain 231 
full-time positions over the next three years. DeVilbiss wanted to remain a part of the business community in Somerset County and acknowledges the project is good news for DeVilbiss’ many suppliers located in Pennsylvania.
Sutphen East Corporation chose to expand in Pennsylvania as well. The manufacturer will create at least sixty new jobs, at its facility in Sterling Township, Wayne County over the next three years. This strategic move will double the company’s manufacturing capacity of firefighting equipment. Sutphen is in its 125th year of operation and is touted as the oldest continuously owned and operated fire apparatus manufacturers in the country.
Tyber Medical LLC, an orthopedic device company that develops and markets implants designed for the spine and trauma markets, recently announced plans to establish a new site in Northampton County to serve as its corporate headquarters. Tyber is relocating from New Jersey, crediting Pennsylvania’s centralized location with close proximity to leading academic institutions for the move.
As a final example, Nihon Kohden America, Inc., a developer and distributor of medical electronic equipment, chose to establish its first East Coast facility in Allentown, with plans to create 27 new, high-paying jobs. Nihon knows it can find a knowledgeable support staff in the Lehigh Valley that can provide technical and product support to key installations and has plans to add other functions here in the future.
Through working with the Governor’s Action Team, these companies received personal assistance, including identifying and visiting suitable business sites; customized, in-depth research on available workforce, infrastructure, taxes, and more; introductions to regional and local economic development partners and elected officials; coordination with all state agencies on their project; and targeted access to a variety of state-level incentive programs. The state’s technical services and assets are often critical to a company’s final location decision, and Pennsylvania takes pride in their responsiveness to clients’ needs.
Well-Trained Workforce
One of the factors companies find most attractive is Pennsylvania’s skilled workforce. Nearly three hundred colleges and universities add more than 168,000 highly-skilled graduates to a labor force of more than 6.4 million every year. Through a range of job-training programs and partnerships, the state also ensures that Pennsylvanians are equipped to meet the needs of manufacturers.
WEDnetPA is an example of one of Pennsylvania’s most widely-used training programs. This program helps employers to determine their workforce training needs and select from a wide range of training providers — 27, to be exact. The employers can also choose how and where employees will receive the training, allowing these businesses to become more competitive while keeping employees’ skills current and relevant.
Many companies have taken advantage of WEDnet’s valuable training resources, which span several skill levels from Essential Skills to Advanced Technology. For example, Greiner Packaging Corporation — a plastic packaging manufacturer — trained 25 employees on quality standards, team building, safety, plastics extrusion, and more when it established its U.S. headquarters in Pennsylvania. The training was a crucial step to building the company, improving the overall quality of the product and driving business success. Edward Marc Brands, a prominent chocolatier in Pittsburgh, also utilized WEDnetPA to train employees on all facets of the business, including cooking with caramel, fudge and toffee, forklift training and Class C vehicle driver training.
Driving Business Success in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s growing industries, established business community, and well-known heritage brands are the keystones to its successful and diverse economy. Today, Pennsylvania is building on this foundation while stimulating innovation and renewal, by bringing brains and expertise to the table. With abundant natural resources, well-trained workforce, world-class universities and strategic location, Pennsylvania is well-positioned for the businesses of today and industries of the future.
Governor’s Action Team – A Business Concierge
Pennsylvania continues to attract and retain companies thanks to the people, places, and resources found in every corner of our state. We have seen considerable activity from a growing range of industries including agribusiness, life sciences, manufacturing, energy, and services.
For companies considering Pennsylvania as a place to do business, the state offers a suite of complementary and confidential services to help with your location decision. The Governor’s Action Team (GAT) is a single point of contact within state government, ateam of experienced economic development professionals that work with site selectors and corporate real estate professionals to help existing companies expand and new companies relocate to Pennsylvania. GAT is headquartered in Harrisburg, the state capital, and has six regional offices covering territories throughout the commonwealth. In existence for more than three decades, GAT has always acted as the representatives for the current administration and provided a strong foundation for economic development activity in Pennsylvania.
Manufacturing: A Leading Industry in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has the 8th largest manufacturing output in the country, and manufacturers employ more than 571,000 employees across the state. The manufacturing industry remains at the forefront of Pennsylvania’s economy, with more than 14,400 establishments contributing $82 billion in economic impact. Throughout the history of the United States, Pennsylvania has been a leader in manufacturing with world-class R&D institutions, technology commercialization programs, technical and industrial resources, and skilled workforce, offering companies the total package.
Advanced Infrastructure
Another advantage Pennsylvania offers companies is an advanced infrastructure. With unimpeded goods movement, the state can transport manufacturers’ products to any destination, whether via port-to-rail or by truck. And, Pennsylvania is also home to six international airports, 66 operating railroads, three major ports and eight foreign trade zones.
And it doesn’t stop there — the Port of Philadelphia recently welcomed a new shipping service that will link directly with port operations on the Gulf of Mexico. This is great news for exporters in the greater Philadelphia region, providing economical access to the growing markets of Mexico. This demonstrates that going global in the commonwealth is hassle-free; the state has the infrastructure in place for convenient international importing and exporting.
It is a time of growth and prosperity in Pennsylvania, and the Governor’s Action Team is committed to advancing Pennsylvania’s long tradition of being a global leader in the manufacturing industry. We will continue to capitalize on our strengths and assets to welcome businesses of every shape and size, now and into the future.
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