DCED Newsletter | November 2025

This month, we share updates on Pennsylvania’s competitive business climate, new investments in small business support, innovation-driven growth, preparations for major tourism events in 2026, and more.  

Pennsylvania’s business climate continues to earn national attention. A new report from Axios revealed our startup five-year survival rate ranks 3rd in the nation, and Site Selection Magazine named Pennsylvania one of the top business climates in the United States. These rankings reflect the impact of Governor Josh Shapiro’s investments in innovation, permit reform, site development, and overall competitiveness.  

This month, we celebrated First Quality’s $143.2 million expansion to add four new production lines, along with Thermo Fisher Scientific’s grand opening of their new Advanced Therapies Collaboration Center, and US Durum’s announcement to relocate and expand its operations in Harrisburg — a move that will modernize production and create and retain 64 jobs. DCED also approved more than $4 million in new PIDA loans to support business growth and jobs in Berks and Lancaster counties — investments expected to generate over $15 million in economic impact.   

The Shapiro Administration continues deploying the $500 million in site development funding secured in the 2024-25 budget. Through DCED’s PA SITES program, more than $113 million has already been awarded to create shovel-ready sites statewide — including projects in Bedford and in Mayfield that are now being transformed into major job-creating development opportunities. 

On November 5, DCED announced a $21 million investment to create 11 new Business Assistance Service Centers through the Historically Disadvantaged Business Assistance Program. These centers will expand access to technical assistance for historically disadvantaged businesses, including one-on-one counseling, accounting support, employer responsibility training, and additional resources. Each center will also hire bilingual staff and offer translation services to ensure services are accessible to all. 

The recently signed 2025-2026 state budget includes an additional $20 million to expand support for minority-owned businesses under the Historically Disadvantaged Business Assistance Program, along with $20 million for the Main Street Matters Program to strengthen small businesses and commercial corridors in communities across the Commonwealth.   

Pennsylvania’s innovation ecosystem continues to generate strong investment activity. Pittsburgh’s global reputation for robotics is increasingly matched by growth in Philadelphia’s robotics sector. Eastern Pennsylvania companies Sojo, Asylon, and Burro have each completed strong Series A funding rounds, while Ghost Robotics and VideoRay achieved significant exits this year.

In a major win for the life sciences sector, Orchestra Life Sciences unveiled plans to relocate their headquarters from Montreal to the Philadelphia Navy Yard — a move that highlights the region’s expanding capacity in advanced therapies, biomanufacturing, and workforce development.

Tourism continues to be a key economic driver. This summer, the United States Golf Association (USGA)’s 2025 U.S. Open golf championship in Allegheny County, generated an estimated $288.8 million in economic impact.

Looking ahead, 2026 will be a landmark year as Pennsylvania hosts a series of world-class events in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. In addition to semiquincentennial events throughout the Commonwealth, Pennsylvania will welcome NCAA’s March Madness, the FIFA World Cup, the MLB All-Star Game, and the 2026 NFL Draft. Millions of visitors are expected, and Governor Shapiro’s new budget invests $50 million to ensure Pennsylvania is prepared to host these high-impact events successfully and safely.

Business leaders continue to highlight Pennsylvania as an excellent place to grow and invest. In recent interviews with Area Development, Astrobotic CEO John Thornton and Filter King CEO Rick Hoskins emphasized the Commonwealth’s strengths in advanced manufacturing, workforce talent, and access to major markets, and supply chains.

Leaders from Olympus also shared strong testimonials about their experience doing business in Pennsylvania, noting the state’s affordability, community assets, and high quality of life as key factors supporting their employees and long-term growth.

And this isn’t just internal praise. In a recent Standard & Works report, New Jersey business leaders admitted that PA’s aggressively low corporate tax rate (under 5%) and strong energy infrastructure are pulling in projects New Jersey can’t match.

Want to see the good news from your community featured on our social media channels or in our next newsletter? Let us know what’s happening in your area! Whether a new investment, business expansion, or community development, we’re here to help you celebrate. Send your updates (and a link to a news story, blog, or press release) to the DCED Communications Office.