By PA Department of Community & Economic Development
2023 has been an exciting year for growing businesses in Pennsylvania. When Governor Josh Shapiro took office in January, he brought with him a renewed energy for winning business projects, creating jobs, and increasing Pennsylvania’s competitiveness on the national and global stage. By investing in the Commonwealth’s workers and streamlining regulatory processes like permitting, the Administration has sent a clear signal that Pennsylvania is open for business. In fact, since January, Governor Shapiro has announced over $1 billion in new private sector investment in Pennsylvania as a direct result of his Administration’s work.
An early win for Pennsylvania occurred in April, when Governor Shapiro and EMD Electronics, a global leader in semiconductor and electronics manufacturing, announced a $300 million investment in semiconductor specialty gases manufacturing that will create nearly 200 jobs in central Pennsylvania – including 68 permanent, union jobs. As part of its investment, the company announced it would build a new 96,500-square-foot facility, creating the largest integrated specialty gases facility in the world. The expansion is enabling EMD Electronics to meet surging demand in the electronics and semiconductor industries by doubling the production capacity of tungsten hexafluoride and nitrogen trifluoride, critical components in semiconductor manufacturing. As the United States renews its focus on reshoring the semiconductor supply chain, EMD Electronics’ expansion will help ensure a healthy and stable domestic supply of critical semiconductors in the years ahead.
Additional project announcements have solidified the Commonwealth’s leadership in other industries as well. Pennsylvania is a global hub for life sciences, with a concentrated cluster of universities, talent, and biotechnology infrastructure booming in the Philadelphia region. That’s why, in June, Governor Shapiro announced that Purolite – an Ecolab company and manufacturer of high-quality resins used to make life-saving drugs – will expand and create the first U.S. operations of its Global Biologics Division in southeast Pennsylvania just outside of Philadelphia. Purolite will invest at least $190 million into the local economy and create a minimum of 170 new jobs over the next five years. The company will manufacture health care and life science products for the global medical device, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries. It’s just the latest major example of the life sciences flourishing in Pennsylvania.
Innovation is found throughout Pennsylvania’s economy. The Commonwealth is leading the way for the global energy transition to lower-carbon solutions. In October, Governor Shapiro and President Joe Biden announced a $750 million federal investment for the Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen Hub in Philadelphia. The hub will create thousands of good-paying union jobs across the region and ensure that Pennsylvania is a national leader in clean energy for decades to come. The Biden Administration also selected the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub which will create 21,000 jobs for the Appalachian region, including in Southwestern Pennsylvania – making Pennsylvania the only state in the country that will be home to two hydrogen hubs.
And just a few weeks later, Governor Shapiro and Westinghouse announced that the Pittsburgh-based company will develop its eVinci™ microreactor in Allegheny County. As part of its project, the company will invest at least $18 million and create more than 40 new high-paying jobs to develop the transportable nuclear battery technology. This new technology will provide clean energy for a variety of applications including off-grid communities, remote mining, defense facilities, and data centers. From hydrogen to nuclear to other low-carbon energy sources like wind and solar, Pennsylvania is leading the charge to a cleaner energy future.
The Shapiro Administration is committed to growing Pennsylvania’s economy, strengthening its communities, and empowering its workers. With a strategic East Coast location, world-class educational institutions, and unique mix of quality of life and affordability, the Commonwealth is a great place for businesses and people to call home.
