DCED Newsletter | July 2025

July brought major investments in manufacturing, clean energy, infrastructure, and workforce development. Our community and economic development activities — including business expansions, broadband and infrastructure investments, and new Main Street designations — are creating jobs, expanding access to opportunity, and supporting vibrant, connected communities.

Pennsylvania’s manufacturing sector continues to gain ground with significant new investments supporting job creation. At the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Rhoads Industries is investing nearly $100 million to expand its shipbuilding and manufacturing operations and create 450 new jobs. In York County, Baltimore Fabrication is investing $6.2 million to grow operations and add 75 jobs. Kolmar celebrated the opening of its new $60 million facility in Lackawanna County, and Module Design Inc. is expanding its Allegheny County operations with a $2.4 million investment that will bring 58 new jobs. Rounding out the month, the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) awarded a $1 million low-interest loan to Filter Services Inc. to support the manufacturer’s relocation and expansion after outgrowing its current site.

Demand for skilled talent is growing, and Pennsylvania is rising to the challenge with targeted investments in workforce development. In the Lehigh Valley, DCED’s Manufacturing PA Training-to-Career program awarded nearly $200,000 to help Northampton Community College expand skilled manufacturing training and connect students with high-demand career opportunities. A new community college-led initiative — the ADVANCEPA Technology and Trades Workforce Consortium — has also launched, supported by state and federal partners, local CTE schools, and labor unions. The consortium will focus on preparing the next generation construction, trade, and technology workers.

Pennsylvania is becoming a hub for clean energy and advanced manufacturing, attracting millions in new investment. Verne Inc., an energy storage innovator, announced a nearly $4.5 million investment to open its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Lycoming County — a move expected to create 61 jobs and strengthen the state’s clean energy supply chain. GE Vernova is investing up to $100 million to expand its footprint, create 700 jobs, and modernize critical energy infrastructure in the Commonwealth. This month, state and business leaders also gathered to celebrate plans to open the Crane Clean Energy Center — formerly known as Three Mile Island — as soon as 2027, in an initiative aimed at boosting energy reliability and adding more than 400 new jobs to the economy.

Secretary Rick Siger joined colleagues from the PA Department of Agriculture and PA Department of Education to kick off the 2025 Urban Agriculture Tour this month, highlighting community-led projects that support food access, sustainability, and economic opportunities in Pennsylvania’s cities. Major investments in food processing also made headlines, including Clemens Food Group’s $130 million investment to expand and renovate its Hatfield processing facility. The Lehigh Valley welcomed Kervan USA, a Turkish candy company opening a new $20 million packaging and manufacturing facility in a move that also expands international investment in the Commonwealth.

Governor Josh Shapiro visited downtown Lewistown to announce the community’s new Main Street designation — a step that will support their revitalization and economic development efforts. In Butler County, the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PBDA) and DCED Secretary Siger joined Armstrong Telecommunications to break ground on a major fiber optic broadband expansion, improving high-speed internet connectivity in underserved areas. Additionally, PBDA opened the final application round for the $1.16 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program — offering critical support to help close the digital divide. At PhilaPort, ongoing infrastructure improvements are solidifying the port’s standing as a leading East Coast logistics hub.

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.