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The state's new economic development strategy was the topic of conversation at Thursday's Blair County Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Club.
Rick Siger, secretary of the state Department of Community and Economic Development, said the development plan is the state's first in 20 years. It is included in the recently approved 2024-25 state budget.
"We want to grow our economy," Siger said. "We wanted to develop such a plan by engaging folks all across Pennsylvania. We took a look at what people were saying, we asked people what is working and what is not. We want to open doors of opportunity for all Pennsylvanians."
President/CEO Steve McKnight of Altoona Blair County Development Corp. said Gov. Josh Shapiro "promised to put together a team of doers, with him (Siger) we have someone who is focused on getting things done."
The state's last economic development plan was done in 2003, McKnight said.
Siger led the effort to develop the strategy, working for months with the DCED team to obtain extensive input from partners in local government, the private sector, the economic development community, labor, higher education and the nonprofit sector. The 10-year strategy aims to help the commonwealth reach its full economic potential and ensure every Pennsylvanian has the opportunity to succeed by focusing on five key sectors: Agriculture, Energy, Life Sciences, Manufacturing, and Robotics and Technology.
Siger said five things are important.
One is investing $500 million in site development through the PA SITES program -- Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites.
"Last year we had $10 million and received $236 million in applications. The demand is there, if we don't have sites for the projects we don't win," Siger said. "This is a huge opportunity for us to get into the game for large scale projects."
Another $20 million is included for the Main Street Matters program, which supports small businesses and commercial corridors.
"We need to invest to win," he said, stating the program "will help make some downtowns great."
The program includes $36 million in neighborhood assistance programs.
"This focuses on strengthening communities and is a tax credit program," Siger said. "It Is one of the most valuable tools that we have."
Some $15 million in new dollars is included for tourism, and with 2026 being the semiquincentennial, "it will be extremely busy for Pennsylvania," Siger said, noting there will be many marquee events across the state.
"Our goal is to take advantage of that time. We hope 2026 creates a new baseline of visitation," he said. "It is a big opportunity to make the celebration about all of Pennsylvania."
Siger said the celebration "will be fun and important, it is a generational opportunity for us."
Outside recreation is also an important part of tourism and is important for business growth, he said, adding "It is one of the top three reasons people visit Pennsylvania."
Siger said Shapiro and the legislature cut the corporate net income tax and secured a major expansion of the net operating loss reduction to catch up with other states to make Pennsylvania more competitive.
"We've been dedicated to building opportunities and getting people excited about what we are doing," Siger said.
Siger also said he is a member of the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority.
"The most impactful thing we are working on is to connect everyone to high speed Internet by 2030. We are really close. We want to make sure we get it right, we are one of the fastest states in getting this done," Siger said.
"We are trying to strengthen communities and improve people's lives," he added.
Following his stop at the Chamber breakfast club meeting, Siger toured the downtown to tout the bipartisan Main Street Matters program. (See related story.)
Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.