HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania officials early last week unveiled a sweeping economic development win anchored by a $195 million private investment that will bring a massive new manufacturing facility and hundreds of jobs to Philadelphia, while also advancing a broader push to revitalize business districts and main streets across the Commonwealth.
Governor Josh Shapiro announced that DrinkPAK, a leading North American canned beverage manufacturer, will establish its first Pennsylvania facility in Philadelphia’s Bellwether District, leasing a 1.4 million-square-foot, build-to-suit plant on nearly 75 acres. The project is expected to create 174 new jobs over the next three years, supported by a $2 million state investment.
The facility will serve as DrinkPAK’s flagship East Coast manufacturing hub and a cornerstone tenant for the Bellwether District, a 1,300-acre redevelopment of the former Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery in South and Southwest Philadelphia. State and local leaders described the project as a major milestone in transforming the long-dormant industrial site into a center for advanced manufacturing, innovation, and large-scale employment.
Shapiro said the Commonwealth competed aggressively against other states to land the project, pointing to Pennsylvania’s workforce, infrastructure, and streamlined permitting as decisive advantages. He said the DrinkPAK investment signals confidence in the region’s economic future and reinforces the state’s national standing as a top destination for business growth.
DrinkPAK received a funding proposal through the Department of Community and Economic Development for a $2 million Pennsylvania First grant and is eligible to apply for manufacturing tax credits. Because the Bellwether District sits within a Keystone Opportunity Zone through 2043, the company may also qualify for additional tax benefits.
DCED Secretary Rick Siger called the project a significant boost for Pennsylvania’s manufacturing sector, one of the pillars of the state’s ten-year economic development strategy. He said the investment reflects a broader effort to support companies that generate long-term job growth and anchor large redevelopment projects.
Founded in 2020, DrinkPAK has rapidly expanded as a full-service manufacturer for alcoholic and non-alcoholic canned beverages, offering high-capacity, flexible production supported by advanced technology. Chief Executive Officer Nate Patena said the Philadelphia facility will strengthen the company’s ability to serve clients across the East Coast while embedding DrinkPAK in the region’s manufacturing resurgence.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker said the decision reinforces the city’s message that it is open for business, crediting cooperation among state, city, and private partners for securing the investment. HRP Group, which is redeveloping the Bellwether District, said DrinkPAK’s arrival validates the site’s potential as a global model for sustainable industrial redevelopment.
The project was coordinated by the governor’s BusinessPA team and is included in Pennsylvania’s Permit Fast Track Program, designed to accelerate approvals for large, high-impact projects. State officials say the approach has helped attract nearly $32.5 billion in private-sector investment since Shapiro took office, creating more than 18,000 jobs statewide.
Days later, DCED officials highlighted a parallel effort focused on smaller-scale economic vitality. On December 11, Siger announced that the City Ave District, spanning parts of Bala Cynwyd in Montgomery County and Philadelphia, has received a new Main Street designation under the state’s Main Street Matters program.
The designation allows the multi-county district to seek up to $225,000 in funding and technical assistance to implement a five-year strategy aimed at improving walkability, attracting retail and dining, expanding greenspace, installing public art, and redeveloping underused properties along Bala Avenue, 54th Street near Saint Joseph’s University, and 63rd Street near the Overbrook Train Station.
State and local leaders said the designation reflects the Shapiro Administration’s emphasis on strengthening neighborhood business corridors alongside major industrial projects. Main Street Matters, launched in 2024, received more than 229 applications in its latest round, underscoring strong demand for targeted investment in downtowns and commercial districts.
Together, the DrinkPAK announcement and the City Ave designation highlight a dual-track strategy playing out across Pennsylvania: courting large-scale manufacturers to drive job creation while investing in local main streets to support small businesses, residents, and community life.
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