HARRISBURG, PA — The Shapiro Administration rolled out a sweeping wave of economic and community investments this past week, approving hundreds of projects across Pennsylvania that funnel new money into neighborhood revitalization, infrastructure upgrades, public safety, and workforce development.
On Tuesday, Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger announced approval of 17 Philadelphia projects totaling $5 million through the Local Share Account Philadelphia program. The funding targets community improvement, economic development, and public-interest projects ranging from maternal health care to blight remediation and park upgrades.
Among the largest awards, $500,000 will go to the Oshun Family Center to create a maternal health center in Frankford, while another $500,000 will support construction of a multimodal roadway and trail extension along the Delaware River. Additional grants will expand Boys & Girls Clubs facilities, rehabilitate blighted commercial properties, install hundreds of security cameras and floodlights in West Philadelphia, and renovate community centers, parks, and public health facilities across the city.
Siger said the investments are aimed at making Philadelphia safer, healthier, and more vibrant while strengthening the Commonwealth’s broader economy. The LSA Philadelphia program distributes a portion of slot machine license fees from gaming facilities in the city under Act 71, directing those dollars into neighborhood revitalization and public-interest projects.
The funding announcements continued Wednesday, when the Commonwealth Financing Authority approved 768 projects statewide totaling more than $279 million in grants. The approvals include $169.3 million through the Multimodal Transportation Fund and $110 million through the PA Small Water and Sewer Program.
Transportation grants will support sidewalks, bike lanes, bridge replacements, and streetscape improvements from Erie to Berks County, while water and sewer funding will address lead line replacements, stormwater systems, drainage improvements, and water main upgrades in dozens of communities.
State officials said the projects are designed to modernize infrastructure, improve public safety, and position Pennsylvania as a competitive destination for investment and growth. The Commonwealth Financing Authority, created in 2004, oversees these programs as part of the state’s economic stimulus efforts.
The investment push culminated Friday in Allegheny County, where Governor Josh Shapiro joined Siger and Labor and Industry Secretary Nancy A. Walker to announce a $3.3 million investment in workforce development through the Manufacturing PA Training-to-Career Program. The funding supports 21 new awards aimed at expanding training in manufacturing and the skilled trades.
Since 2023, the administration has invested more than $15.1 million through the program, helping train more than 3,300 Pennsylvanians. Officials said funding secured in the 2025–26 budget will allow those efforts to continue, connecting students and job seekers with in-demand, family-sustaining careers.
One of the highlighted recipients, Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania, will receive $100,000 to expand its Careers in Skilled Trades initiative, which introduces middle and high school students to manufacturing careers through hands-on learning, virtual reality exploration, and industry site visits. The organization estimates the program will reach more than 6,500 students across Beaver, Crawford, and Erie counties.
Administration officials framed the combined announcements as part of a coordinated strategy to rebuild communities, modernize infrastructure, and prepare the next generation of workers, arguing that sustained investment at the local level is critical to Pennsylvania’s long-term economic strength.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.