What This Means for You
- State leaders are investing in tourism events, film production, sports marketing, and housing initiatives aimed at generating jobs and economic activity.
- Major events and productions are expected to bring hundreds of millions of dollars in projected spending to communities across Pennsylvania.
- A new statewide housing plan proposes regulatory changes and funding initiatives that could affect renters, homeowners, and developers.
HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania officials this week announced a series of tourism partnerships, film production tax credits, sports marketing grants, and a first-ever statewide housing action plan — initiatives projected to inject billions of dollars into the Commonwealth’s economy and address long-term housing shortages.
The announcements, made between February 10 and February 13, outline state-backed investments designed to boost visitor spending, expand film production, attract major sporting events, and tackle housing affordability.
Tourism and Major Events
The Department of Community and Economic Development confirmed that Pennsylvania will again partner with Pocono Raceway to host The Great American Getaway 400 NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, June 14.
The 400-mile race, part of a tripleheader weekend, is estimated by the state to generate between $75 million and $100 million annually in economic impact. The event will be broadcast nationally and internationally, placing Pennsylvania before audiences in more than 195 countries.
State tourism officials reported that Pennsylvania’s tourism industry generated $83.9 billion in economic impact in 2024, supported more than 514,000 jobs, and welcomed over 201 million visitors.
Film Tax Credits for Television Production
On February 11, the Pennsylvania Film Office awarded $34 million through the state’s Film Production Tax Credit Program to support production of Season 3 of Netflix’s TIRES and Season 5 of Paramount+’s Mayor of Kingstown.
The Film Production Tax Credit Program provides a 25 to 30 percent tax credit to productions that spend at least 60 percent of their total budget in Pennsylvania.
According to the state, the two projects combined are expected to generate more than $131 million in direct spending and support nearly 3,500 jobs.
TIRES, filmed in the Greater Philadelphia region, received approximately $6 million in credits and is projected to spend more than $24 million locally.
Mayor of Kingstown, filmed in Pittsburgh, received nearly $28 million in credits and is projected to spend more than $107 million.
Since the start of the current administration, the Film Office reports approving 135 productions projected to inject more than $1.34 billion in direct spending statewide.
Statewide Housing Action Plan
On February 12, Governor Josh Shapiro announced Pennsylvania’s first comprehensive Housing Action Plan, citing projections that the state could face a shortage of roughly 185,000 homes by 2035 without intervention.
State officials reported that more than one million Pennsylvania households spend over 30 percent of their income on housing — a threshold commonly used to define housing cost burden. More than half of the state’s housing stock is over 50 years old.
The plan outlines five core goals: building and preserving housing, expanding access to homeownership and rental opportunities, supporting residents facing housing instability, modernizing development regulations, and improving coordination across state agencies.
Proposals tied to the governor’s 2026-27 budget include:
- A proposed $1 billion infrastructure initiative funded through general obligation bonds to support housing and related projects.
- A statewide cap on rental application fees tied to actual screening costs.
- Lease termination protections for victims of domestic violence.
- Sealing eviction records for individuals who were not removed from their homes.
- Limits on lot rent increases in manufactured home communities.
- Updates to local planning and permitting rules to reduce development delays.
The plan was developed following Executive Order 2024-03, signed in September 2024, directing state agencies to create a long-term housing strategy.
Sports Marketing and Tourism Grants
On February 13, DCED announced nearly $5 million in grants through its Sports Marketing and Tourism Program to support 15 events statewide.
The program was created to attract amateur and professional sporting events to Pennsylvania, with the goal of increasing visitor spending and regional economic activity.
Among the largest awards:
- $1.7 million to Philadelphia Soccer 2026 for the FIFA World Cup.
- $1.4 million to the Philadelphia Phillies to host the 2026 Major League Baseball All-Star Week.
- $600,000 to the PGA Tournament Corporation for the 2026 PGA Championship in Newtown Square.
- $180,000 to the United States Golf Association for the 2026 U.S. Amateur Championship in Ardmore.
Additional grants support events in counties including Allegheny, Beaver, Centre, Chester, Clearfield, Erie, Lehigh, Montgomery, and Philadelphia.
Next Steps
Many of the housing initiatives require legislative approval as part of the proposed 2026-27 state budget. Tourism, sports, and film investments will continue rolling out in advance of major national and international events scheduled through 2028.
State officials framed the announcements as part of a broader economic development strategy focused on tourism growth, workforce support, and housing supply expansion across Pennsylvania.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.