Pennsylvania -
Pennsylvania boasts a powerful set of advantages when it comes to business and talent attraction. Take it from John Boyd, principal at the Boyd Company Inc., an internationally recognized corporate site selection firm whose clients include PepsiCo, Visa International, Hewlett-Packard, JP Morgan Chase, Royal Caribbean Cruises and Dell.
In the 2017 BizCosts Report, outlined in a July 9, 2017, article, Boyd listed Pennsylvania as the cheapest state for manufacturers to do business in the Northeast - even beating his home state of New Jersey. Plastics manufacturers specifically could save 6.5 percent on total operating costs in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metro area, or more than $1 million a year, according to the study.
What makes the difference, and why PA?
Boyd points out what we already know: a dynamic combination of our three major ports, a robust plastics industry, transportation infrastructure and some of the lowest natural gas prices in the country - all paired with a low cost of living.
The energy aspect is huge. Our competitive natural gas prices, thanks to our prime position atop the Marcellus and Utica Shale reserves, lead to overall lower operating costs for manufacturers.
But all of this is just a fraction of the Pennsylvania story. The rest of the story would reveal our strong workforce, top-notch higher education, proximity to major markets, eight foreign trade zones, rising status as a technology and innovation hub, endless resources and widespread good quality of life as reasons we're positioned to attract more business than neighboring states. Thanks to DCED's hard-working Office of International Business Development, we're not only attracting companies from the United States, but drawing foreign direct investment from around the world.
Forward-Thinking Governor
We're fortunate that in Pennsylvania, Governor Wolf - himself a former manufacturer - appreciates the importance of the manufacturing industry. This understanding helps him and his Governor's Action Team as they work with major companies on some significant projects. There are some exciting prospects on the horizon!
And meanwhile, we continue to celebrate each manufacturer that opens up shop or expands in Pennsylvania. A few recent examples include:
