Gov. Josh Shapiro, Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger, and Ben Kirshner, Chief Transformation Officer, Office of Transformation and Opportunity, recently announcing nearly $1 billion in new private sector investment in businesses.

EMD Electronics of Hometown, Prysmian Group North America, and Re:Build Manufacturing are creating over 1,400 new jobs and retaining over 5,300 existing jobs statewide in just nine months.

The Shapiro administration is developing a strategy to assess the commonwealth’s areas of strength, a clear-eyed analysis of barriers to growth, and concrete goals and initiatives to guide policymaking and investment decisions for years to come.

Key elements include:

• Simplifying the landscape of available programs and incentives available through DCED and growing a smaller set of essential tools that will be the most useful;

• Streamlining the process for businesses relocating or expanding in Pennsylvania, including through the work of the newly created Office of Transformation and Opportunity;

• Addressing the lack of “shovel ready” sites to attract new business to the Commonwealth and retain existing companies that require space to expand and grow.